Grocer by appointment to the Queen, Partridges is an Aladdin’s cave of international culinary treasures, selling anything from root-beer ‘drops’ & Marc de Champagne truffles to Scotch eggs & deli delicacies. Tucked at the back of the store is a dinky café peddling plates of cheese & charcuterie, plus a curious assortment of dishes ranging from homemade soup ‘served cold’ to organic chicken & mushroom pie or stir-fried rice with tiger prawns. Prices are steep for the privilege of eating in a rather sterile café environment (think exposed pipes & strip lighting), although you can liven things up with a bottle of wine from the shop. However, our experience (bitter latte, sloppy service) suggests that takeaway is probably the best option.