After weeks of web-searching, deliberation and consultation with friends living in London (I live in Japan) Clos Maggiore turned out to be the very best place to hold my 50th birthday party. My guests were ecstatic. We had a charming first-floor private room – 14 for lunch from 11.30 mid- August – and weren't evicted until almost 5pm. The dishes were beautifully-presented and the risotto and sea bass in particular were exquisite. The staff were very helpful in suggesting wines to go with the menu we chose* and though we ultimately opted for some fairly pricey ones (Meursault 2006 and Savigny les Beaunes 2004) they weren't pushy on this score and suggested many reasonably-priced bottles from the U.S., Italy and France, as well as a South African wine. We chose the Pannier Vintage Champagne 2002 for the apéritif, new to me but which was one of the champagnes recommended by the restaurant. We weren't disappointed. Other unexpected little plusses were menus and place-cards printed at no extra charge – one of them rustled up moments before lunch when the guest list changed! Also, no charge was made for the flower arrangements owing to a misunderstanding about the type of flower to be used. Obviously, such touches encourage repeat visits.

Negatives: a minor inconvenience but one to note nonetheless, the turnover in staff seems higher than average, which made planning from a distance a bit nerve-wracking. I spoke with at least 3 different people who expected to be there for the duration but disappeared overnight. However, the French maître d' who made final arrangements was terrific and the Italian head waiter was attentive but unobtrusive throughout the meal. I thought it was in-keeping that a restaurant with an Italian and French theme should also have a Franco-Italian team. Excellent: 10/10 for service and atmosphere

*Parmesan & Wild Mushroom RIsotto, Steamed Fillet of Weymouth Sea Bass with Dill, French Cheese Plate, Pina Colada Baba