Savoir Faire

Savoire Fair - rarely has a restaurant been so perfectly named. Fresh food, good wine, mellow atmosphere, satisfied staff, value for money - this traditional French bistro knows how to please and over the past nine years it's perfected the art. The mouthwatering menu reads like that of any major London restaurant - rib eye steak served on a fromage frais pancake with a brandy and mushroom sauce, for example - apart from the prices. Although the menu changes every fortnight, the big sellers such as the traditional French bourguignon and tarte tatin are faithfully there for the savouring, much to the satisfaction of the regulars, many of them celebrities and actors from the local shows and plays. Every dish is freshly prepared on the premises daily. "If we can't cook it, we don't have it," declares the owner, Max. There's only one thing for it; cancel The Ivy and try a little Savoir Faire.Average price - £15 - £20 (€22 - €30)Solution Bar 9 - 13 Bloomsbury Street London WC1 This contemporary bar with its Italian marble floor and art decor offers a large range of beverages to suit all tastes. Very friendly and informal, it's the ideal place for a relaxed drink.