Ten years ago there was not a decent meal to be had in London, unless you were a fan of Shepard's pie or Toad in the Hole. Fortunately, that is not the case anymore! The London restaurant scene has never been hotter.

AXIS

After a marvelous crossing on the QE2, we were fortunate to stay and dine in one of London's newest hotels – One Aldwych. According to Gordon Campbell Grey, the hotel's creator and owner, "I like to think of it as a modern classic. It has gravitas whilst at the same time it feels truly cutting edge and exciting."

Located on the edge of Covent Garden where the City of London meets the West End, One Aldwych is within easy walking distance of the Tate Modern, the National Gallery and 15 West End theatres. The strong, classic Edwardian exterior of the building, built in 1907, provides a striking contrast to the sleek contemporary interior. The hotel and its' guest rooms are home to a 300 piece private art collection and each day Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medallist, Stephan Woodhams and his team renew floral arrangements throughout the property. The interior design is stunning (although I would lower the lighting in the elevators) and guest rooms overflow with amenities... after years of visiting London, I finally was able to use my 110volt electric shaver without an adapter! Now that"s what I call attention to detail. The hotel's management philosophy is, "it's all about service," and that surely was my experience.

The hotel's "Jewel in the Crown" is, without any question, the AXIS Restaurant & Bar.

The restaurant's striking rotunda entrance leads to a flight of stairs down to the Bar, which overlooks the restaurant below. The use of wood, muted colors, black leather chairs and banquettes, give the grand space a very defined, smart look that works.

Service was excellent and overseen by a very charming Laurent Vilaine, the Restaurant Manager.

The focal point of the entire AXIS experience is the Executive Chef, Mark Gregory. The man is the nicest fellow you will ever meet! In chatting with him, you don't get any sense of the extraordinary culinary master he is or his phenomenal resume. As the meal began with Spanish acorn ham with roast red onions and spiced quail with papaya, followed by roast confit of spiced duck with pear and pan-fried sea bass, we came to realize the special nature of Chef Gregory's talents. Dessert consisted of an "excellent trifle from an 1882 recipe" as it was listed on the menu and an incredible Pistachio soufflé with warm praline sauce.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. They offer a pre/post theatre rate of just over 20 Pounds Sterling (approximately $30 USD) for a 3-course meal, which makes dining at one of London's finest restaurants affordable!

For more information about One Aldwych and dining at AXIS, log onto their web site at www.onealdwych.co.uk

MELA

In India, Mela means a festival where at least 100,000 people gather to enjoy traditional Indian country fare, go on carnival rides, and just have fun. Awarded "Indian Restaurant of the Year," Mela brings to the London dining scene authentic dishes typical of what Indian families would enjoy at their own dinner tables.

Mela's Director of Cuisine, Chef Kuldeep Singh, is one of only a handful of chefs whose repertoire extends to Indian Country Cuisine. Having worked in 5-star hotels in India and Europe, Chef Kuldeep Singh has managed to bring to Shaftsbury Avenue a unique approach to Indian dining. In India, country cuisine's traditional outlets are dhabas (country inns) and clusters of food stalls at Purai fairs and harvest festivals. In its more refined forms, it is also prepared by resident cooks in old country homes, dak bungalows and the gymkhamas of the old Raj. The style is quite different from the "westernized" Indian cuisine we are accustomed to finding at most Indian restaurants.

Mela's lunchtime menu, entitled the "Paratha Pavilion", is inspired by Old Delhi's historic Parathey Wali Gali, a street well known for its distinctive rural street food where workers buy their lunch from the equivalent of a sandwich shop or in New York as we say, "a good deli." With prices ranging from $3 to $9 dollars, choices are numerous and colorful. The dinner can combine a variety of breads spiced with chili, coriander and cardamom seeds with a selection of exotic fillings. The primary ingredient that makes Indian food distinctive is garam-masala, a hot spice made from a combination of 21 different spices. According to Restaurant Manager, Rajiv Sharma, meals are served at a medium level, but if you like it hot, just ask... and they will serve it to you "with little fire extinguishers." Mela is well worth a stop for lunch or dinner and is one of the best bargains in London. They'll even throw in a free Kingfisher lager beer with orders of 10 pounds or more. For more about information log onto their web site at www.melarestaurant.co.uk

JUST ST. JAMES

Just St. James is the brainchild of Peer Gladwin, a well-known London caterer. It is the continuation of a string of Gladwin restaurants that include Just Oriental, Just the Bridge, and Just Gladwin's. Not far from St. James Palace, the restaurant was opened a year ago and occupies the Edwardian shell of a former grand Lloyds banking hall. The interior space takes one's breath away. The original columns fill the two-story space that seats 120 people in a sleek contemporary design.

Just James Chef Chai

For more information about Just St. James log onto their web site www.juststjames.com