Just round the block

I like good food just round the block. So here are my favorites places in London:

Sausage mash and onion: RK Stanley
Oxford St tube, 6 Little Portland St W1W 7JB, 020 7462 0099. The setting though pleasant, is quite incongruous - sort of modern hip diner - but the meaty sausages (made on the premises with meat from 'visitable' farms in Wales) are good and so are the prices. We especially liked the seasonal and lightly cooked accompanying vegetables. There are also a couple of kinds of vegetarian sausages including a white bean one which needed a moisture-providing sauce. It's a stone's throw from Oxford Street and is also an excellent place for sampling some traditional ales.

Pie and mash: M Manze
Angel tube, 74 Chapel Market, N1 9ER, 7837 5270. More white tiling and dark wooden benches with variation coming in the form of large or small pies and fruit pies. When it was last visited there was the pleasant option of (green) plum or rhubarb. The former was chosen and came warm with a meagre but tasty filling and a sprinkling of sugar - necessary as the pastry seemed identical to that used for the meat pies.


Organic eateries: Mildreds
Tottenham Court Rd tube, 58 Greek St W1D 3DX, 020 7494 1634.Simple and small yet still hip, this longstanding veggie cafe/restaurant has incorporated increasing amounts of organic produce into its menu. Food-wise the choice is fairly limited if you want to eat solely organic, but the drinks selection has a much stronger organic presence: organic wines, a champagne, beer, juices and soft drinks are all available. Prices are pretty affordable, especially given its Soho location, and the food is usually enjoyable, although the last visit presented a decidedly gluggy plate of nori rolls.

Ok, the Indian section will be discussed next week. Also the SOHO midnight trip, ok?