Richard Vines

Thirteen years living in Beijing and Hong Kong only increased my appetite for Chinese food, though I wasn't familiar with dim sum when I left London in the early 1980s. These days, I normally go to Dim Sum and Duck for my fix, and I was very happy to enjoy a little luxury @imperialtreasureuk for Sunday lunch. It's an elegant restaurant with attractive dishes that are inspired by tradition while introducing a more contemporary element in terms of preparation and presentation. Apart from fine dim sum, highlights included Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup (£14); Cantonese Roasted Duck (£42); and Crispy Berkshire Pork Belly (£32). #chinesefood #rvinesdines Less

I had a very enjoyable lunch yesterday with @claire.koffmann and @pierre.koffmann at @samyuktanair's new @nipotinaristorante, a neighbourhood Italian restaurant. (Well, we're talking Mayfair, but Nipotina is casual and inexpensive for that particular neighborhood.) Turin-born Chef @somaiahammad_ serves simple, classic cuisine. (Nipotina means granddaughter.) There's a weekday lunch menu at £21 for two courses, £25 for three. We went a la carte, trying multiple dishes such as Zucchini Fritti (£6.5); Fritto Misto (£14); Fegatini di Pollo chicken livers (£11); Pici Cacio e Pepe (£13); Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa (£13); Milanese di Vitello (£42); and Marinara pizza (£12). There wasn't a dud among them. Thank you to Samyutka for inviting us and congratulations to the whole team. #rvinesdines #italianfood #londonrestaurants Less

Very good lunch @sachi.london, one of three new establishments in the former Pantechnicon building on Motcomb Street. (The others are the Provencal @amelie.restaurants; and @bar_luum, a Mexican-inspired lounge.) The Japanese restaurant is on the second floor and is flooded with natural light (well, in the daytime at least) which highlights the beautiful sushi and sashimi. There's also an outdoor terrace. That wasn't too alluring on a rainy and windy Saturday, but I can see it becoming a hotspot. You don't need to order the Toro No Tartare (bluefin tuna belly, caviar, miso, kabocha) at £36 to have a good time. Most nigiri is in the £12-£14 range for two pieces, and sashimi £14-£18 for three. Thank you Sachi for the invitation. #japanesefood #sushi #rvinesdines Less

Beautiful chefs' lunch yesterday @jang.london, hosted by @dan.a.choi. The guests included @apriljjackson @asmakhanlondon @haughser @nieves_barragan1 @nokxmajozi and @shukooda. The menu started with the Jang Trio of amuse bouche: Yuk hew steak tartare with gochujang, Korean fried chicken with sweet ganjang, and hamachi with truffle doenjang; then starter of baby squid & prawn sundae with yuzu-soy sauce, lovage chilli oil, yuzu mayo; main course of Korean barbecue: Dry-aged ribeye, bone marrow, galbi sauce, with ssam lettuce, bibimpap and wagyu gochujang on the side; plus condiments of Maldon salt in perilla oil, chilli butter, Jang chimichurri, beetroot jangajji,shimeji jangjorim; dessert of yuzu & pear hwachae, with yuzu, pear, yuzu jelly, pear lime sorbet, finger lime. It was excellent! Big thanks to Chef Choi, to all the chefs, and to Des Gunewardenta, @kim_sintae28 and the team @jang.london. #koreanfood #rvinesdines Less

Lunch was a lot of fun @dearjackielondon, the cool restaurant at the equally cool @broadwicksoho. Red silk walls and subdued lighting make for quite a glamorous feel, though my Samsung phone struggled with the light. Chef @harryfaddy serves imaginative modern Italian dishes (in no particular order) such as Devon Crab, Datterini tomatoes, basil, pangrattato (£21); Roast Veal Tonnato with capers and crispy fried shallots (£19); Veal and Pork Genovese Agnolotti with black winter truffle, Parmesan (£34); and Cornish Monkfish, Jerusalem artichoke, marjoram, Cantabrian anchovy (£36). Thank you to @markhastings75 and my lunch pals @pierre.koffmann and @claire.koffmann. #rvinesdines Less

Very enjoyable lunch @tacos_el_pastor London Bridge. It was my first visit since Covid! Highlights included Tuna Tostadas (raw soya-marinated yellowfin tuna, chile de arbol, sesame and guacamole); and Al Pastor Tacos (24-hour marinated pork shoulder, grilled pineapple, trio of salsas). But it was the Spiced Mango Margaritas that clinched the deal. Thank you @marvin_jones_chef and @genevievekristl #mexicanfood #rvinesdines. Less

I had a very fine lunch on Sunday at Kolamba East, the new outpost of the Sri Lankan restaurant @kolamba.ldn. I liked the original when it opened in Soho five years ago, but this was actually better. Congratulations and thank you to chef @imranmansuri78. Dishes to try include Hot Butter Soft-Shell Crab (£10.90); Jaffna-spiced lamb chops (£17); Grilled King Prawn (£11); Whole Rib Jaggery Rib (£30); Roasted Pineapple (£13); Heritage Sambol (£6.50); and Egg Hopper (£6.50). It's an attractive restaurant with very good service, thanks to Tanya and the front of house team. Kolamba East is on Blossom Street, close to Liverpool Street, and also close to my home! #rvinesdines Less

Very good lunch with @martinwilliams32 yesterday @bottargalondon, a new Mediterranean restaurant from the Pachamama Group. The menu is inspired by childhood memories of the Greek islands. Dishes to try include Courgette Tempura with black garlic aioli (£9); Bluefin Otoro Toast with gyros spices (£14); 000 Anchovies with whipped staka butter, crispy lasagna (£13); Bluefin Tuna, with roasted red pepper, lemon (£18); Crispy Calamari,chilli jam mayo (£16); and Grilled Prawns, citrus zest, chilli oil, Almond Flakes. Bottarga is a sequel to the group's Zēphyr restaurant, and you can dine outside in a covered terrace looking out to King's Road. Less

I had a very enjoyable lunch yesterday @fondarestaurant , the new contemporary Mexican restaurant from chef @santiagolas on Heddon Street in Mayfair. Highlights included Costra: Aged ribeye, grilled cheese, wheat tortilla (£12); Baja Taco: Beer-battered Cornish cod, chipotle, wheat tortilla (£8); Queso de Aro: Fresh cheese, martajada sauce, tortillas (£11). Among the mains: Carnitas: Confit pork shoulder, chicharrón (£25); and Gringa: Lobster al pastor, Spenwood cheese, wheat tortillas (£34). Rarely for me, a standout dish was the dessert Nieve: Chocolate sorbet, smoked pasilla chili oil (£6). The room is attractive and the service was first class. @chef_francescomazzei made lunch even more fun!) #rvinesdines Less