The Waterloo Station Bistro is often referred to as ‘Smart’ & ‘sexy’, this sibling to Chelsea’s Cheyne Walk Brasserie has become a stylish spot for supper or a cocktail pre- or post-performance at the Old Vic (look out for dinner & ticket deals on some shows). Readers agree that you’ll find ‘great food & great value’ here, with a satisfying one-page menu that encompasses the likes of chicken liver parfait, moules marinière, poulet Les Landes (for two) with hand-cut chips, & hot chocolate fondant. Various salads, pasta & risottos are also available in starter & main-course portions. The extensive international wine list has been shortened in the past six months, but is still one of the best in the area, boasting around 100 bins.

The Waterloo Bar and Kitchen, with its ‘good hearty grub’ & comfortable wooden furniture, can feel more like a gastropub than a restaurant, though the white tablecloths put it firmly in the latter camp. The menu covers a lot of territory, offering enough choice to satisfy the crowds of regulars & Old Vic culture vultures – although the kitchen sometimes ‘tries too hard to impress’. You might open with devilled whitebait & smoked paprika mayonnaise, before getting to grips with a mighty helping of rosemary-marinated lamb rump with roast garlic mash, redcurrant jus & parsnip crisps; to finish, perhaps apple & blackberry crumble or a perfectly cooked lemon tart. Weekend brunch boasts ‘the best eggs Benedict ever’, according to one aficionado, although the ‘relaxed & fun’ vibe is thoroughly enjoyable any day of the week.