Find the Best in Town! The Big Blue Challenge 26 www.bluetomato.co.uk The Modern Pantry This beautifully restored dining venue is a true mixture of modern attention to detail and a more traditional charm. Clear and well-presented café and restaurant spaces create the perfect shop window for chef Anna Hansen to display her brilliant wares. There are many global influences, some surely from her time with Peter Gordon – most tellingly the roast rack of lamb. The brave combinations such as Barbary duck breast with vanilla and chocolate make a visit to this café / restaurant worthwhile. The alfresco dining in an area of such class only complements that of the food. 48 St. John’s Square EC1V 4JJ www.themodernpantry.co.uk Royal China Canary Wharf offers a wide range of dishes, traditional and exotic. Think crispy chicken, sizzling beef and roast duck, along with a selection of ‘Chef’s Favourites’, including bean curd hot pot and stuffed spicy squid. Servings are generous, service is good. With an extensive wine list and traditional yet intriguing desserts, the outside seating provides the scenic cherry on the Dim Sum cake. (Note: actually ordering Dim Sum cake may result in pointing and laughter.) Get down there while weather permits, and a dumpling or two can still be enjoyed by the Thames. 30 Westferry Circus E14 8RR www.royalchinagroup.co.uk Courtyard at 51 Buckingham Gate If you’ve never heard of this place, it’s probably because anyone who visits wants to keep it their own personal secret. In the heart of bustling London town, the privacy and discretion assured to all visitors is unmatched. Sumptuous surroundings and a choice of mouth-watering barbeque menus which vary in theme throughout the week create a truly unique dining experience. The seafood grill and buffet (Fridays) brings the business week to a luxurious end, and the Lebanese buffet (Mondays) is magnificent too. You want great alfreco dining? You got it. 51 Buckingham Gate SW1E 6AF www.51-buckinghamgate.com Athan Liam Adrian 8/10 8/10 9/10 So the nights are drawing in and the sun is losing its lustre, but it’s still there. Just. If you squint and rub your arms a bit – it’s still there! We at Blue Tomato, being a hardy lot, challenge you to prove your Brit grit and take a last chance to enjoy the capital’s best alfresco dining while you still can. Preferably in a t-shirt and flip flops. Just to prove how hard you are.