Alastair Little

Much-imitated but seldom equalled, Alastair Little was at the forefront of the British restaurant revolution of the late 1980s and early 1990s, replacing the plush grill-rooms and overcooked stodge with bright minimalist design, and Eastern-influenced dishes. Little no longer works here - and his take on fusion food has been performed so incompetently in so many hotel restaurants that it is rapidly slipping out of fashion - but this remains a very impressive restaurant. The simplicity of the decor is restful rather than bleak, while the menu mixes East and West with genuine respect for both cultures, along with a welcome new focus on seasonal British ingredients. The prices are high, but this reflects a rare consistency and this restaurant's key role in the history of London dining.