Paternoster Chophouse, London
The latest offering from the Conran empire offers the best of British in the way of food and the cool, clean interiors we've come to expect from Sir Terence. It's a bustly, brasserie-type place nestled in the heart of the city in Paternoster Square. While the menu does have a rather masculine tilt (lots of meat, pies and tankards), there's choice enough to keep everyone satisfied. An open kitchen gives the place a bit of drama and there's a courtyard area seating 32, which is going to be a winner come the spring.
Opened: 4 October
Owners: Conran Group
Chef: Peter Weden (formerly at Conran's Coq d'Argent)
Manager: Spero Panagakis (formerly at Quaglino's)
Seats: 110
Food: A resolutely British menu is the result of intensive research and collaboration with small British food suppliers. Classic dishes on offer include rabbit and pork pie or dressed Dorset crab for starters and skate wing or steak and kidney pudding for mains. There are also oysters aplenty and an indecently good sticky toffee pudding.
Average spend: £25-£40 for three courses without wine
Crowd: suits
Address: Warwick Court, London EC4M 7DX
Tel: 020 7029 9400
Relais de Paris, LondonThe Cotton House, Manchester
After opening 14 outlets around the world from South America to the Middle East, the Relais de Paris team has at last arrived in England. The concept is simple and is based on a signature secret sauce which is really very tasty. Design conforms to classic French dimensions, featuring dark velvet banquette seating and rich mahogany tables, while the overall value and quality explains the brand's global popularity.
Opened: 14 September
Owners: Azad Cola, Amre Al-Khyami and Arash Masoumzadeh
Chef: David Nolan (formerly at the Fish Shop)
Manager: Yves Calabre
Seats: 76
Food: The central focus of this restaurant is the famous Sauce Original Entrec“te. Eat it with steak, tuna, duck or chicken and as many fries as you can eat, or fresh veg. There are three different salads to start and a delectable array of classic French desserts.
Average spend: three-course meal including aperitif, from £13.95
Crowd: international
Address: 103-105 Walton Street, London SW3 2HP
Tel: 020 7052 9333
The Cotton House Manchester
This new bar and restaurant occupies a listed Victorian cotton warehouse in the heart of Manchester. The design came from the team behind London's Cinnamon Club, and the industrial character of the building's previous life, with a 20ft-high ceiling and cast-iron columns throughout, has been retained.
Opened: 1 October
Owners: Paul and Ann Wharton
Chef: Stephen Mcloughlin (formerly at the city's Lowry hotel)
Seats: 120
Food: A combination of classic British produce and ingredients sourced from Manchester's diverse food markets. Expect dishes such as foie gras terrine with poached fig and port marmalade, red snapper with sweet pea risotto and marigold garnish. For dessert, try the rum'n'raisin br–l‚e with tangerine essence.
Average spend: £30-£40 per person with wine
Crowd: trendies
Address: Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2TP
Tel: 0161-237 5052
Covent Garden Grill, London
Think very sleek and very modern. Wooden floors enhance the warmth of the chocolate-and-cream colour scheme and there's an emphasis on space and comfort.
Opened: 7 September
Owner: the Earl of Bradford
Chef: Hussain Abraham
Manager: Adam Garfield (formerly at Porters English Restaurant)
Seats: 80
Food: Predictably, its all about the grills, with 28-day hung Black Aberdeen Angus beef featuring strongly. Elsewhere, expect a few surprises such as lime and chilli panna cotta, alongside classics such as beef carpaccio and grilled calves' liver with bacon and caramelised onions.
Average spend: pre- and post-theatre menu from £13.95 for two courses; … la carte mains from £9.95
Crowd: theatre-goers, shoppers, sightseers
Address: 16 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London WC2 8QH
Tel: 020 7240 9600