The building is a former magistrates’ court, with high ceilings and bright panels of colour giving the meals here a real sense of occasion. The cooking is more than a match for the interior, because the chef is Cyrus Todiwala, one of London’s best. He is keen on pushing the boundaries, so don’t be surprised to see kangaroo or emu on the specials list. There is a branch in Battersea with essentially the same menu. Where: 16 Prescot Street, E1 (020 7488 9242), Tower Hill or Aldgate East tube.When: Mon-Fri, 12noon-3pm, 6.15pm-10.30pm; Sat, 6.30pm-10.30pm.How much: Set meals, £25-£35 (minimum two); main courses, £9.95-£15.95.. The menu is French and, in the very best sense, old-fashioned. Thin pickings for vegetarians, though.Where: 30 Almeida Street, N1 (020 7354 4777), Highbury & Islington tube.When: Mon-Sat, 12noon-2.45pm, 6pm-10.45pm; Sun, 12noon-2.45pm, 6pm-10.15pm.How much: Set lunches and pre-theatre meals (6pm-7pm), £14.50 for two courses, £17.50 for three courses.
Bierodrome The Belgo “beer, mussels and frites” empire marches on, and now includes grills and fish.

But the best bargain is still a bucket of bivalves with chips and mayo, or the “Beat the Clock” lunch for £5 The beers are worth sampling too. Where: 173-174 Upper Street, Islington, N1 (020 7226 5835), Angel tube.When: Mon-Thur, 12noon-3pm, 6pm-11pm; Fri-Sun, 12noon-11pm.How much: Main courses from £7.95.Huong-Viet This Victorian building has been used as a Vietnamese community centre for some time, but it’s only in the last few years that word has got round that this canteen serves up really good Vietnamese food. As a result, weekends can get busy, so make sure you book a table and go earlier in the week if you can. The cooking is as good as you’ll find in restaurants that charge three times as much: the beef-stock soup (pho), vegetable-filled pancakes, noodle dishes and spring rolls are all bursting with flavour. Huong-Viet is unlicensed, so you’ll need to bring your own wine or beer. Where: An Viet House, 12-14 Englefield Road, N1 (020 7249 0877), Essex Road rail.When: Mon-Fri, 12noon-3.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm; Sat, 12noon-4pm, 5.30pm-11pm.How much: Main courses, £4.50-£7.Two Brothers Regents Park Road in Finchley seems a million miles from the sea, but as soon as you step inside the Two Brothers you feel as though you’re breathing fresh, salty air.

Fish is delivered from Billingsgate every day and menu staples such as lemon sole, cod and haddock compete with daily specials. A recommended starter is Tony’s Arbroath Smokies ælsquo; haddock in a cream sauce ælsquo;or you could plump for jellied eels. For locals there’s a thriving takeaway next door and you can order fish fried in matzo meal as a tasty alternative to batter Great fish and chips. Where: 297/303 Regents Park Road, N3 (020 8346 0469), Finchley Central tube.When: Tues-Sat, 12noon-2.30pm, 5.30pm-10.15pm.How much: Main courses £8-£18.Tblisi Georgian food may not be the first idea that comes to mind for a night out, but Tbilisi is such good value, and so friendly, that it deserves its great reputation. Fill up on hearty meat stews and tasty salads ælsquo; this is the perfect spot for cheap celebration dinners (the restaurant boasts a separate room for large groups).

Where: 91 Holloway Road, Lower Holloway, N7 (020 7607 2536), Highbury & Islington tube.When: Daily, 6.30pm-11pm.How much:Main courses from around £5.La BotaAlways a bustling place with plenty of places to eat, Crouch End attracts a wide variety of locals. La Bota is its friendly tapas bar catering for lunchtime diners as well as lively evening crowds. You can choose from more than 50 tapas dishes on the menu, or you can go for traditional Spanish main courses like paella. Where: 31 Broadway Parade, Tottenham Lane, N8 (020 8340 3082), Finsbury Park/Turnpike Lane tube then bus.When: Mon-Fri, 12noon-2.30pm, 6pm-11.30pm; Sat, 12noon-3pm, 6pm-11.30pm; Sun, 12noon-11pm.How much: Individual dishes, £1.80-£6. Paella, £8 per person.OshobashoA pastoral delight in the middle of the woods, a visit to Oshobasho is like a trip to the country without the traffic jams. Carnivores won’t mind the lack of meat dishes at the veggie caf?as everything is flavoursome and fresh. A lovely family hang-out, and even better when the sun comes out.Where: Highgate Woods, Muswell Hill Road, Highgate, N10 (020 8444 1505), Highgate tube.When: Mon (coffee and cakes only), 10am-3pm; Tues-Sun, 8.30am-half an hour before dusk.How much: Main courses around £5.Rasa TravancoreRasa restaurants are a bit of an institution and this has the same magic touch with Indian cuisine as its other branches, although the menu here extends beyond the vegetarian norm.