Cantina Vinopolis

Brick arches, exposed ducting & terracotta floor tiles all contribute to the odd acoustics of Vinopolis’s restaurant, but when the place is busy – which it often is – it all helps to create a lively atmosphere. Wine, of course, is the raison d’etre of the restaurant, & the long, reasonably priced list has plenty of exotica, fashionable grapes & objects of desire, many of which you can have by the glass. The menu doesn’t excite in quite the same way, but provides a fair selection of dishes, some of which nod in an Asian direction & others lean toward the Mediterranean. You’ll also find the almost obligatory Caesar salad – with smoked chicken & anchovies – in among dishes such as salmon with assorted veg, lamb with spring greens & herby potatoes & seafood linguine.

Wine List: As befits a building dedicated to wine education, Cantina Vinopolis has a serious list, taking in the whole wine-producing world & lifted above the ordinary by a host of add-ons. There is an extensive range of by-the-glass wines, weekly specials, an attractive collection of bin ends offered at a 15% discount & one page dedicated to a featured producer. Best Buy White 2006 Heartland Pinot Gris/Viognier, Langhorne Creek, South Australia, £29.95. Best Buy Red 2005 Agostinelli Barbera, Fairview, Paarl, South Africa, £29.95.