Five to try: Spring has sprung

Seamless: Le Colombier
10 April 2012
THE ATLAS
16 Seagrave Road, SW6 (020 7385 9129) £34
GREAT QUEEN STREET
32 Great Queen Street, WC2 (020 7242 0622) £37

LE COLOMBIER
145 Dovehouse Street, SW3 (020 7351 1155) £47

Didier Garnier's corner of France in Chelsea has a loyal local following thankful that they don't have to cross the Channel to realise a fantasy complete with blue awning over a glassed-in terrace, chairs made of woven strips of plastic and culinary classics that dear Elizabeth David used to wax lyrical about. Oysters make a fine start, sole de Douvres mèuniere or fricassée de rognons de veau à la Dijonnaise follow seamlessly. As does crêpe Suzette.

PETERSHAM NURSERIES
Church Lane, off Petersham Road, TW10 (020 8605 3627) £50 (set menu)

Walk, cycle, skateboard, balloon but don't drive to this greenhouse restaurant if you want it preserved for the future. Skye Gyngell, who writes as inspirationally as she cooks, is rigorous in her choice of ingredients and deft in her dealings. Moans about price have been countered with a set-price deal this month — £22.50/27.50 for two/three courses Wednesday to Friday — but at weekends it is à la carte with chickpea curry and Indian bread at £17. Lunches only.

EL FARO
3 Turnberry Quay, Pepper Street, E14 (020 7987 5511) £43

Soft, sunny days turn workers' thoughts to holidays. Now that we have to remain in Britain, perhaps I can suggest dipping your toes into the waters of Crossharbour Dock while nibbling on acorn-fed jamon and sipping Manzanilla. Turnberry Quay is not Sanlúcar de Barrameda but Javier Capella leads a competent kitchen and the cooking here is about as authentically Spanish as it gets. Some sing the praises of roasted suckling pig served Mondays to Thursdays.
Prices estimate a meal with wine
for one.

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