4 Bedroom House, Barnes

The jewel in Chiswick’s culinary crown remains as popular as ever, thanks to its local feel, relaxed atmosphere and, most importantly, its skilled and generous cooking. Largely British ingredients are combined with influences from France and occasionally the wider Mediterranean. So you can expect carefully prepared dishes like corn-fed chicken with potato galettes, celeriac purée and wild garlic salsa verde, where the flavours are as assured as they are satisfying. Bright and delightful on a summer’s day and cosy and warm in winter, this is a restaurant for all seasons and all occasions.

The Harwood Arms is a pub at heart, so bar snacks are a must: munch on homemade crisps or a venison Scotch egg while you peruse the menu with a pint. The cooking at this pub may be highly accomplished, but it still does what pub food does best: leaves you feeling eminently satisfied. The menu is British to the core and the owners supply much of the expertly cooked deer and game. Well-balanced dishes burst with flavour and allow each main ingredient to shine by keeping things simple.

Relaxed and free from pomposity, there is a lovely neighbourhood feel to this restaurant that provides both great cooking and a warm welcome. The versatility of the place knows no bounds, as it’s as suited to a romantic dinner as it is to a quick lunch while out shopping or when celebrating with friends. The reliably enjoyable dishes are based on classical combinations and often have a Mediterranean inflection – such as carpaccio of scallops or grilled octopus with smoked paprika aioli. A good value set menu is available alongside the à la carte, but must be booked in advance.

There’s something that just feels right as soon as you enter this terrific Thames-side pub. Dating back to the 1850s, it’s got character to spare and a cosy atmosphere being heartily enjoyed by one and all – while the scent of fresh flowers on the tables combines with appetising aromas from the kitchen. Start with a snack, like the homemade Merguez sausage with labneh, before choosing one of the vibrantly flavoured main dishes, including a selection of steaks and fresh fish from the blackboard. The bright and attentive team are the icing on the cake.

This restaurant is temporarily closed following a fire.The former BBC TV Centre may be an unlikely setting for a restaurant, but it's a match made in sushi heaven for this flagship venture from Yokohama-born Endo Kazutoshi. The experienced, well-travelled chef is a real showman, explaining each finely crafted, subtly flavoured element of the omakase menu in an engaging, charming way. Ingredients are either imported from Japan, such as rice from Yamagata, or are the best that Europe has to offer, like monkfish from Brixham and tuna from Spain.

It’s not just supporters of Fulham FC that should welcome this sparkling brasserie situated within one of the stands at their Craven Cottage stadium. Part of the wider Fulham Pier development, the terrace has Thames views and there’s a subtle glitz to the design thanks to mirrored walls and Murano chandeliers. The extensive menu ranges from simple omelettes to large sharing plates such as whole butterflied sea bass, while the kitchen excels with classic dishes like pie and mash. Whatever you choose, the cooking uses quality produce that brings plenty of flavour.

Experienced restaurateur Sam Harrison is behind this modern riverside brasserie beside Hammersmith Bridge. It's an enduringly popular place and you can see why from the appealing, pleasingly varied menu that might incorporate a range of influences but doesn't lose sight of the flavour gained by using quality produce. British ingredients from land and sea are cooked with precision and there's a whole section of the menu for oysters and other shellfish. Stock up on provisions at Sam’s Larder before you leave.