Restaurants

Arbutus
For no fuss mums
Arbutus is inconspicuously located at the top of Frith Street, just before you hit Soho Square. The entrance looks like a terraced house with big windows and a simple white doorway. The interior is open and minimal with unfussy tables and chairs in tones of muted brown. Both the service and menu are equally fuss-free: fresh sheep’s ricotta and summer vegetable salad is a pretty dish and to follow, try the bavette of beef persillade with exquisite dauphinois potatoes. Veggie mums, should go for gnocchi (in thin blocks) with parmesan and vegetables. Arbutus has just accepted a Michelin star, modestly, of course.
Arbutus, 63-64 Frith Street, W1D 3JW (020 7734 4545 / www.arbutusrestaurant.co.uk)Tottenham Court Road tube
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Bar Shu
For mums who like spice
The smart three-storey site is decorated in an appealing mix of dark stone, carved wood, blue lighting and bold graphics using Sichuan opera masks. The menus are glossy and beautifully illustrated, with photographs of the dishes. Two of the most distinguishing features of Sichuan cooking are chilli heat and sichuan pepper, so try the ‘Numbing and Hot Dried Beef’ or the ‘Fire-exploded Kidney Flowers’ - which are pigs’ kidneys cut and cross-hatched before being stir-fried at a high temperature so they ‘flower’.
Bar Shu, 28 Frith Street, W1D 5LF (020 7287 6688) Leicester Square tube
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Dorchester Grill Room

Dorchester Grill Room
For busy mums
If your mum is a busy lady, make a morning reservation at the Grill Room. Breakfast is served early, it looks the part and the service is efficient and calm. Choices run from toast and top-notch preserves to smoked haddock kedgeree or, for the famished, a full English brings a generous basket of dainty pastries and a vast plate of sausage, bacon, black pudding, tomato, mushrooms, and poached eggs on muffins, plus juice and coffee. Treat yourselves, it's not far to go for a lie-down.
Breakfast served 7-10.30 Mon-Fri, 8-11 Sat-Sun.
The Grill Room, The Dorchester, 53 Park Lane, W1A 2HJ (020 7317 6336 / www.dorchesterhotel.com) Hyde Park Corner tube
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Le Gavroche
For Francophile mums
If your mum is a fan of all things French, you can't go wrong with the wonderfully gaelic Le Gavroche. First in the UK to be awarded one, two and now three Michelin stars, expect the very best in classics spruced up by Roux junior. Milky new lamb from the Pyrenees comes with sun-baked thyme jus, garlic and flageolets. Follow with a romp over French mountains via the cheeseboard and on to divine desserts – bitter chocolate-steeped pears, salted caramel and then coffee and petits fours.
Le Gavroche, 43 Upper Brook Street, W1K 7QR (020 7408 0881/ www.le-gavroche.co.uk) Marble Arch tube
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	Giraffe

Giraffe
For mums with small kids
A fun, vibrant restaurant covered in swooshes of bright paint and murals of wild animals. Great for mums and children alike, the menu is packed with healthy world food creatively presented, appealing to all ages. It's fine for kids to run around if taking a break from colouring-in and giraffe-spotting so mum can take a breather while enjoying grown-up Vietnamese curries and boozy fruity cocktails. Children’s options are as tasty, such as grilled salmon fingers with baby carrots and peas or the falafel burger and fries.
Giraffe, 11 branches in central London, as well as Richmond, Wimbledon and Heathrow (www.giraffe.net)
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