St John Bread & Wine is my favourite restaurant in London although the next hour after leaving the bar your stomach feels like it’s going to explode, although that is probably my fault, not theirs.
We went to Bob Ricard a couple of times this year and even though things like the champagne button are bullshit gimmicks, the staff are weird and the prices are crazy, the venison carpaccio with white truffle oil is insanely good.
Nikita’s is a Russian restaurant in Earl’s Court that has private booths, low red lighting and amazing caviar and blinis that you can afford to eat even if you’re not a millionaire (once a year). They serve vodka with everything.
Whenever I’m in Paris I try to go to Au Pied De Cochon. My dad told me about it years ago. It’s a 24-hour brasserie that’s a billion miles away from the current Hotel L’Amour “cool scene” but I love it. The andouillette sausage is not for lightweights but I dream about it.
This year my resolution is to stay out of The Griffin pub in Leonard St, but the lure of the low light and the bonhomie of the regulars is hard to resist.