Roussillon

Tucked away down a quiet backstreet on the Chelsea/Pimlico borders, Roussillon remains one of London’s best-kept secrets. Its dining room, mostly frequented by the silver-tinged crowd, has a grown-up yet relaxed feel about it (great for business & formal first dates) & both kitchen & front of house staff work at the top of their game, turning out near flawless food that’s lifted to new heights with clever wine matches from a sommelier who knows his sizeable list inside out. Head chef Alexis Gauthier is famous for his way with vegetables & the green stuff never disappoints. Plain-sounding barley risotto with summer vegetables is in fact a feast of complementing textures & flavours, generously speckled with fragrant black truffle. To follow, opt for the delicious plate of salt marsh lamb (braised shoulder, roasted leg & grilled cutlet) with spiced aubergine & a light dessert – you’ll want to save space for coffee & petits fours.

Wine List: This is a cracking list. Specialising in two areas – Italy & southern France – it also offers excellent select bins from elsewhere. The tone is set by the fabulous house Champagne Gosset &, from there on, we can’t find a poor bottle on the list. A great range is offered by the glass, while interesting tasting notes & ready-matched wine flights speak of someone putting a serious amount of thought & effort into the offer. Best Buy White 2004 La Bastide Corbieres, France, £21. Best Buy Red 2002 Cuvee Juline Cahors, Domaine la Berangeraie, France, £30.