There was a time, many years ago, when the London restaurant scene consisted of little more than three kebab shops, two Indians and a chippy. Okay, I'm exaggerating, but you get my drift. There wasn't much to speak of and the quality of food was unpredictable, or some might say 'predictably bad'.
Those days, thank goodness, are long gone. London is now, in the minds of many who appreciate good food - as well as a good feed - one of the best cities in the world for eating out. The variety of food on offer is astonishing, with just about every country's cuisine available, prepared by some of the best chefs working in the industry today.
The London Restaurant Festival, taking place at the start of October, is a celebration of the capital's restaurants and the fine food they offer.
Last year some 600 establishments took part in the festival, serving around 50,000 festival menus (special menus, at a special price, available for the duration of the festival) to Londoners and visitors to the capital.
But the festival isn't solely about enjoying some of London's best food. Just like last year, there will also be a number of fascinating and fun food-related events taking place.
To enjoy a festival menu during the 15-day event, simply visit the London Restaurant Festival's website and take a moment to explore the
participating eateries - the range of restaurants is impressive, from high-profile Michelin-starred places to homely neighbourhood bistros.
"Special menus at special prices," the website says, with the cost ranging from £10 to £25 for a tasty two-course meal. Restaurants taking part this year include
The Rainforest Cafe,
Saf Restaurant,
North Road Restaurant,
OXO Tower,
Bangalore Express and
Don't Tell Fred to name a few.
When you see a place you fancy, simply
book online through the festival's website. Reserve a place as soon as you can as demand is likely to be high.
There are also various special events that might be of interest.
The Gourmet Odyssey isn't cheap at £150, but it'll be a gastronomic experience you'll never forget.
Starting with a champagne reception in one of the capital's best hotels, you're then taken to a top restaurant for the first course of your meal, to another for the main and to a third for dessert. Transport is provided in the form of a specially spruced up Routemaster bus.
To see the full list of events being laid on for the festival, click
here.
If you like food and you like eating out, the London Restaurant Festival really is a no brainer.
