Restaurants

Hidden away in a tiny courtyard, Rocket is a popular spot with Mayfair shoppers. On fine evenings, drinkers in the ground-floor bar spill out on to the cobbled alley. The upstairs restaurant is an airy space with a huge skylight and windows that brighten the main dining area; several alcoves allow for more intimate dining. Relaxed yet lively, smart but not snobby, it would suit an after-work party as well as a weekend lunch with your mum. Pizzas are reliably good, with thin crusts and unusual toppings (spicy mediterranean sausage with pesto aubergine; black pudding and king prawns with chilli), but we are particularly taken with the fantastic, enormous salads. Intriguing combinations include coconut-coated crispy squid with mango and a peanut chilli dressing, for example, or a fish and chip salad with green mustard sauce. Alternative mains might include maple-glazed pork fillet with fried plantain and peppers. Dont miss the glorious date pudding with butterscotch sauce; the mango sorbet is also one of best weve had. The global wine list is divided into helpful categories such as as light aromatic and medium-bodied fruity. Service is commendably attentive and friendly.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008