Brasserie One at One Great George Street

The building that houses this unassuming restaurant was featured in the BBC’s Spooks, & Brasserie One is as undercover as that series’ protagonists. Hidden in the basement of One Great George Street – home to the Institution of Civil Engineers & a conference centre – its trade comes mainly from ICE members or visitors eschewing mid-meeting bulk catering. In contrast to the fabulous architecture in the entrance, the dining room isn’t memorable – although Tiffany-style lamps & classical music do their bit, while courteous staff ensure lunch runs smoothly. The menu incorporates sustainable fish & a few buzzy ideas from the noughties (pulled pork & pumpkin pie, for example), although most dishes take their cue from early gastropub menus – think wild-mushroom stroganoff & breaded tiger prawns. All things considered, Brasserie One fits the bill for a reasonably priced working lunch in Westminster.