Vertus Edit Canary Wharf

Launched by the team behind Fallow, this vast restaurant can house up to 500 diners in the heart of Canary Wharf, all while being run with impressive slickness. Guests are spread across several dining rooms, some with counter seating, plus a lovely wrap-around terrace that boasts commanding views of South Dock. The wide-ranging menu offers something for everyone, including playful takes on British classics like maitake Cornish pasty or market fish served with parsley liquor, that's reminiscent of an East End pie and mash.

In contrast to the grandeur of its location inside the Town Hall Hotel, there's a modern, understatedly stylish look to Da Terra. You start with drinks and snacks in the elegant lounge, soundtracked by the comforting rhythms of bossa nova, before heading to the dining room – where the tables by the open kitchen offer a view of the impressive Molteni stove. Chef Rafael Cagali draws on his Brazilian and Italian heritage in skilfully crafted, highly original dishes bursting with colour. His signature reinvented version of the Brazilian 'moqueca' fish stew is bound to be a highlight.

Story is a restaurant that continues to evolve rather than merely reinvent itself and its latest chapter saw the addition of a second storey which hosts a handsome private dining room. In the bright, open main restaurant, Tom Sellers’ talented kitchen team serve a surprise set menu, where luxurious ingredients – from langoustines to turbot – make up dishes that are as succulent as they are visually arresting; you can also expect updated versions of his signature constructions. The charming service team ensure the atmosphere is always warm and welcoming.

An unpretentious Italian restaurant in one of the converted Shad Thames warehouses; the unfussy service suits the style of the place. The seasonally influenced menu uses British produce, with the in-house pasta a particular highlight; dishes are relatively simple but flavours are bold and prices, appealing.

While there are now Gunpowders in multiple London locations, it's this small, sweetly run spot that started it all. Unassuming from the outside, it's a loud, buzzing place once you're in, sporting just 10 tightly packed tables – all filled with contented diners. The restaurant's name is a reference to the chef’s daily-made spice mix and his menu is influenced by old family recipes. Among the fresh and original small plates, which take inspiration from across the Indian regions, the Chettinad pulled duck is a stand-out, while the venison and vermicelli doughnut is a must to start.

There is an appealingly stripped-back quality to both the food and the décor at this well-priced St. JOHN spin-off. The highly seasonal menu offers dishes that are perfect for sharing, and the cooking is as British, uncomplicated and hugely satisfying as you would expect – accompanied by suitably spartan surroundings. The brand’s nose-to-tail ethos is on show too, with options like roasted bone marrow and crispy pig’s cheek. Don’t leave without trying the baked to order madeleines.

There’s always a certain joyfulness to family owned and run restaurants – and Miga is truly a family affair, with dad running things in the open kitchen and the younger generation looking after guests in the bright, airy room. If you want to find out more about them, check out the family history as described on the wall outside. ‘A modern take on Korean cuisine’ is their tagline and this is borne out by fresh-tasting dishes like delicious soy-braised short ribs – already a fans’ favourite – and spicy noodles with crispy beef jeon. The generous prices, especially at lunch, allow for enthusiasti