If you’re looking for somewhere to make the most of the recent good weather in London, try Docklands-based gastro pub The Gun.

From today, The Gun is firing up its charcoal barbecue and offering al fresco dining on its gorgeous terrace, A Grehla, for the summer.

Having recently returned from a trip to Portugal and knowing The Gun’s strong reputation for its food (and Best Gastro pub award from a few years back) I was eager to sample its Portuguese menu and see if it really could serve up a taste of the Algarve.

The Portuguese salt cod croquettes (baccalau) were as tasty as any I’d had in Portugal. We also tried spicy chicken piri piri, lamb espetada (kebab) and delicious Valencian paella (not so Portuguese!) which was cooked in a giant paella pan.

If you’ve ever had a beer in Portugal, it was probably Super Bock or Sagres. If you developed a taste for either, you’ll be happy know that both brands are served at The Gun.

I didn’t try any desserts but if you have a sweet tooth you can’t go wrong with a Pastel de Nata (Portuguese custard tart) or if you’d prefer a savoury option, The Gun serves a selection of Portuguese and Spanish cheeses to round off the meal.

You won’t be looking out onto a beach, but A Grehla does offer nice views across the Thames and of The O2.

Definitely worth a visit on a sunny summer’s evening.

A Grehla at The Gun. From 12 May until mid- September 2011 (or longer if the weather stays good!)

Last Sunday, I went for dinner at the recently-refurbished County Arms pub in Wandsworth.

The pub is huge and just a few minutes’ walk from Wandsworth Common – great for a Sunday lunch if you’ve just been for a stroll.

The County Arms is a pub at the front, a restaurant at the back and also has a conservatory, comfy lounge and a beer garden. Our waiter told us there is even an upstairs section of the restaurant should they need it.

Like the pub, the menu was extensive! The mains were divided into lighter options, Sunday roasts, and the regular menu. There really was a great variety – from risotto to burgers to guinea fowl.

To start, we had rustic tomato soup and organic pearl wen brie, pear and hazelnut salad with apple and honey vinaigrette. The soup was thick and tasty and the salad was refreshing. I thought the balance of cheese, pear and dressing was just right.

As it was a Sunday, we both opted for roast dinners. I ordered the vegetarian option of a root vegetable parcel: a puff pastry parcel served with green vegetables and roast potatoes. My dining partner had roast chicken.

The root vegetable parcel was a perfect autumnal meal – warming and full of seasonal orange and red veggies. The only thing missing for me was a Yorkshire pudding – although perhaps it would’ve been too heavy alongside the pastry.

Although I was full, I did manage a dessert – pecan pie with ice cream. Again, a nice winter treat, the pie was very sweet and I had to go home before the post-sugar slump hit!

The County Arms would be a great place to meet up with friends for a Sunday lunch – due to its size you’d have a good chance of getting a table for a group and the pub does take reservations. Plus, you can work it all off with a brisk walk on Wandsworth Common afterwards…

 The County Arms, 345 Trinity Road, SW18 3SH