As you might expect, Hungarian ex-pats are among the regulars. “There has been a great increase since Hungary joined the EU [in 2004],” explains manager John Wrobel.
 
“We can bet every evening there will be one or two Hungarians here. They’re nearly all young professionals who bring their friends and colleagues.”

But it’s not just Hungarians that frequent the restaurant. The Gay Hussar has long been a haunt for the great and good of London’s political world.

Peter Mandelson popped in the other day for cherry soup and crispy roast duck. Portraits of famous diners by political cartoonist Martin Rowson adorn the walls, among them Michael Foot, Alastair Campbell, Glenda Jackson, Jeremy Paxman and Greg Dyke.

The Gay Hussar menu hasn’t changed much over the years. Customers come for the staple dishes, which include chilled wild cherry soup, crispy roast duck, beef goulash soup, stuffed cabbage, and chicken in paprika sauce.

“In some cases cuisine in Hungary has evolved, but this hasn’t evolved much,” says Wrobel.

“This is very old-fashioned Hungarian cuisine,” adds assistant manager Gizella Suke. ”It’s very hard to find a traditional Hungarian restaurant in Budapest now.”

The staff are another constant. The Gay Hussar has had the same chef for 25 years and, after 23 years, Wrobel is a Soho institution in his own right.

Hungarian food can be difficult and time-consuming to make – stuffed cabbage can take six hours. But once prepared, a dish could last a Hungarian family a week or more, and many dishes improve with time.

“Customers would call and say ‘How old is your stuffed cabbage’,” laughs Wrobel “meaning not that they wanted it fresh, but that they wanted it at least three days old!”

Read more about the history of the Gay Hussar at www.gayhussar.co.uk

I’d been meaning to visit The Lonsdale in Notting Hill since it was refurbished a few months ago, and I finally made it this week.

I was expecting a nicely renovated gastro pub with lots of wood and traditional touches, so I was surprised to see an interior full of expensive-looking chandeliers and mirrored walls. It looked more like an upmarket casino.

The bar was packed with uber-trendy twenty-somethings who looked as though they worked in fashion and had spent the whole day getting ready. 

But despite the smart décor and cool crowd, there was a relaxed atmosphere: staff were friendly and it was the kind of place where you ended up talking to people at neighbouring tables (as we did, to a middle-aged American couple who were visiting their son in London).

For dinner, we shared a tomato and goats cheese galette, then I chose the only veggie option: a deliciously fresh risotto with peas, tomato and asparagus. Steak is The Lonsdale’s speciality, and Jenny, my dining companion, enjoyed her sirloin with béarnaise sauce.

The Lonsdale is tucked away in a side street just off Westbourne Grove.  Next time you’re in the area, I’d recommend seeking it out and joining the Notting Hill set for drinks or dinner.

www.thelonsdale.co.uk

The American steakhouse’s menu is centred (unsurprisingly) around beef. But not just any beef, this is USDA prime corn-fed Kansas beef and select cuts of Aberdeen Angus. The signature steak is “The Tomahawk”, a 32 ounce, on-the-bone rib eye.

I tasted the Aberdeen Angus, cooked rare, and, although I often get overenthusiastic about steaks and declare they’re the best I’ve ever eaten, this one really is up there.

It’s hard to describe everything else without drooling uncontrollably but I’ll try! Delicious rich crab cakes, salty rock oysters, mini burgers and mustardy steak tartar.

There’s not much choice for vegetarians on the menu apart from salads (again, not surprising at a steak house) but personally, I wouldn’t have minded eating a whole plate of side dishes as they were so good; bourbon sweet potato mash with marshmallow crust, buttery mash, green beans and sautéed wild mushrooms.

And then to desserts, I tried whoopee pie with Bailey’s milk shake – a bit like the adult equivalent of Oreo cookies and milk. Whoopie pies look like a macaroon but are made of two pieces of round chocolate sponge with frosting in between. They were sweet and yummy and the Bailey’s milkshake took the edge off the richness.

Other desserts I saw but was too full to try included a JW cheesecake and carrot cake. They were being snapped up off the plates though so I’m sure they were just as tasty.

JW Steakhouse is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch

Last night I visited the new Park Terrace restaurant in the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington. The revamped venue has a floor-to-ceiling glass wall with views over Kensington Gardens, and the park theme continues in the food and drink menus.

We started off in the relaxed bar area, with two non-alcoholic cocktails: a Parkside Cooler (strawberry puree, peach juice, fresh mint, orange juice) and a Virgin Vanilla Mojito (apple juice, fresh mint, lime juice, vanilla sugar, lemonade).

Next, we moved into the fine dining restaurant to sample chef Steve Munkley’s food. The restaurant sources lots of ingredients from small, local suppliers – including meat from Essex, sea bass farmed in a disused quarry in Anglesey, British cheeses, and wild mushrooms from the New Forest.

I chose Ticklemore goats’ cheese with ratatouille for starters. It came wrapped in thin slices of green and yellow courgette, and was fresh and creamy. My guest opted for the Shetland organic salmon, which was also delicious.

There was only one vegetarian main course – ravioli of Ogleshield cheese with chanterelle mushrooms, pesto and black olives, which was tasty and not too heavy. My guest enjoyed the English chicken breast with herb gnocchi.

We both agreed that one of best things about the meal was the amazing carrots. Whatever main course you choose, make sure you order the carrots. We were literally fighting over the last one in the vegetable dish!

For pudding we shared a raspberry flapjack with pear sorbet and soured raspberries, which was light and fruity and beautifully presented.

Park Terrace is hidden away at the back of the Royal Garden Hotel, without its own entrance from the street. But it’s worth seeking out for the lovely fresh food and refined but friendly service.

Park Terrace, Royal Garden Hotel, 2 Kensington High Street, London, W8. Two courses £26.50, three courses £31.50