Metro Garden Restaurant

"Within stumbling distance of Clapham Common tube, Metro’s entrance is modest and unassuming, giving no hint of the paradise hidden through its doors. Do not be fooled – I urge you to wander in and let the welcoming staff escort you to the garden delight out back. Forget a picnic blanket on the Common, Metro is the clear winner for al fresco dining in SW4.

Small tables with crisp white table-clothes are dotted around the beautiful garden with ambient music and twinkling lights to help set the mood. The garden itself is gorgeous but Metro are no fools when it comes to the Great British summer and are prepared for all-weather dining. There’s a covered section giving a lovely outdoors/indoors feel and my date and I were glad to be seated under shelter when rain set in during our visit (despite extensive checking of the weather forecast of course!).

The rain could not dampen our enjoyment however and it was a delight to be looked after by Fran and her team for the afternoon.  The staff cannot do enough for you and kept our glasses full and advised us knowledgeably when we struggled to choose from the menu. A small but perfectly formed wine list made it easy to pick a bottle and the Pinot Grigio went down a little too easily (the second bottle even more so!).

Our food came promptly and piping hot and was simply delicious. My date opted for the roast beef (it felt rude not to on a Sunday afternoon) and was most impressed by the laden plate when it arrived. There were delicious cuts of meat with all the trimmings, and so plentiful was the food he even didn’t seem to mind when I stole a mouthful or two which is always a sign of generous portions..."

Click here to read the rest of this review and to see how our Bad Date Blogger (this time enjoying a Good Date!) enjoyed the rest of her date at Metro Garden Restaurant.

Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in London

London is full to bursting with fantastic restaurants and bars. To help you narrow down the options, here's a list of ten of the finest romantic restaurants  (in no particular order!) that London has to offer, courtesy of the experts at Bon Vivant...

Clos Maggiore, Covent Garden, WC2  Often described as an oasis in the heart of Covent Garden and revered for its acclaimed wine list, Clos Maggiore, with its muted lighting and open log fire, epitomises the ethos of a romantic restaurant for many.

Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, Knightsbridge, SW1  Since striking out alone from Gordon Ramsay Holdings, Marcus Wareing’s cooking has flourished even further and his eponymous restaurant presents haute cuisine at its finest. The service and food are impeccable, but it’s the dark and seductive décor that gives it the edge, making it irresistible for every true romantic.

Club Gascon, Clerkenwell, EC1  Club Gascon is the Michelin starred jewel in Pascal Aussignac’s mini Empire including Le Cercle and a number of other Gascon incarnations. Situated near Smithfield Market, Club Gascon highlights the cuisine of southwest France, with a large focus on foie gras, and is great for grown-up romance.

Lamberts, Balham, SW12  Lamberts is an intimate local restaurant in Balham, offering unassuming and traditional cuisine, with a great focus on traceable and sustainable produce. The stylish, contemporary décor and the atmospheric lighting make this an ideal restaurant for a first date.

Bleeding Heart, Clerkenwell, EC1  With a rustic look to match its location and history, the Bleeding Heart offers traditional French fare in a welcoming and intimate setting, which is great for couples, and has an award-winning wine list to match.

Odette’s, Primrose Hill, NW1  Odette’s has been a Primrose Hill institution for decades, but is now under the reign of Bryn Williams, winner of the Great British Menu television series. The mood is dark and seductive in the downstairs restaurant and if you ask for one of the booths, you’ll feel like you have your own private cavern for two. The restaurant is next to Primrose Hill, a perfect spot for a romantic stroll after dinner.

Scott’s, Mayfair, W1  From the moment the doorman wearing a bowler hat greets and escorts you into the dining room and you see the fabulously ornate oyster bar, you know you’re in for a treat, and the food, service and ambience deliver just that. Scott’s is upscale, glamorous and sexy - perfect for a night out with your loved one.

Rhodes 24, The City, EC2  Located in the heart of the City, Rhodes 24 is on the 24th floor of Tower 42 and has sublime views of London, which is ideal for gazing into the distance with your loved one. It’s also worth having a drink at Vertigo 42’s champagne bar on the 42nd floor of the building before dinner.

Roussillon, Pimlico, SW1  Roussillon is well known for its accomplished classic French cuisine using the finest British produce, which thoroughly deserves its Michelin star. The atmosphere is intimate and understated – perfect for an elegant date.

Trinity, Clapham, SW4  Trinity is situated in the heart of Clapham Old Town and is considered one of the best local restaurants in London, illustrating affordable fine dining with a sleek, modern vibe, with just the right amount of romance.

For lots more fabulous romantic date ideas just take a look at the "romance" section on the website by clicking here...

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Our thanks for this list goes to...

Bon Vivant is a bespoke concierge and lifestyle management service based in London with global coverage. To access their services for £100 per month or £1,000 per annum, visit their website at www.bonvivant.co.uk, their blog at http://blog.bonvivant.co.uk or follow them on Twitter at @BonVivantLiving

What's on in February

We'll freely admit that Valentine's Day rather overshadows the rest of February for us, but there are indeed days either side of it, and there are in fact many other things to do this month! Let us show you the best of them...

1) Die Zauberflöte at The Royal Opera House (Covent Garden: 1st - 26th Feb 2011)

This February one of the world's favourite operas comes to The Royal Opera House. Yes, for those of you not gifted in German translation, this is indeed Mozart's Magic Flute. Featuring the much loved characters of Papageno and Papagena (we hear they use The Great Date Guide regularly) and the truly spectacular Queen of the Night's aria, this is an opera that everyone should see at least once… or twice... or perhaps a few times!

2) Tower of London Twilight Tour (City: 2nd, 9th, 17th & 23rd Feb 2011)

'Murder, mystery and intrigue at The Tower of London". A fantastic opportunity to join a resident Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) on an eery after hours tour of this historic monument.

3) Chinese New Year (Central London: 3rd - 6th Feb 2011)

Be a part of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations outside of Asia. This year the New Year (2011 - Year of the Rabbit) falls on the 3rd of February, but the main celebrations in London are being held on Sunday the 6th. Trafalgar Square and Chinatown will be bursting with traditional Chinese entertainment plus stalls, food and lion dance displays… and it's free!

4) Kew Gardens Tropical Extravaganza (Kew: 5th Feb - 6th March 2011)

A festival of beautiful tropical flowers to brighten up the longest of winters. There'll be orchids a plenty, an Amazonian flooded forest display and behind-the-scenes tours - something for everyone.

5) UK Wedding Show (Excel Centre: 5th - 6th Feb 2011)

No doubt there will be many of you who, helped by excellent GDG guidance along the way, have now decided to tie the knot. Lucky for you then, that this year's UK wedding show will play host to over 150 stands with everything that you could ever need to plan the big day… and rather more besides we imagine! Just one more question remains… can we come to the wedding?

                                                                                                               copyright: shootbank.net

6) Valentine's Day (You decide: 14th Feb 2011)

Ahhhhhh, it's here at last... We're brimming with great suggestions for how you should be spending 14th February this year, so no hesitations please, just head straight to our Valentine's feature and get planning!

7) La Soiree (Southbank: Finishes 27th Feb 2011)

It's your last chance to catch this astounding cabaret / burlesque / comedy / circus show at London's Southbank. Housed in a pop-up Big Top tent, this is one performance not to be missed.

Take a look at the website for 100's more brilliant date ideas for Valentine's Day or any other day of the year!

Romantic Restaurants...

Toptable have just published a list of the most romantic restaurants in the UK, according to a selection of respected food bloggers, and luckily for us 12 out of the 15 restaurants listed are in London! 

This got the team at the Great Date Guide thinking... which are our favourite romantic restaurants in London, and what about you? Where would you go for the ultimate romantic evening? We'd love to know! Please scribble a comment at the bottom of this post or drop us a line on Facebook or on Twitter.

For me, romance isn't about splashing the cash (although I'll never say no to being wined and dined!) it is about cosy, candlelit atmosphere and good food.  This being the case I'll start the ball rolling with  Andrew Edmunds which always comes pretty high on my list of romantic restaurants. This charming, tiny, restaurant has all the right ingredients for romance: small, intimate tables dimly lit by candles are the setting for delicious, daily changing, French food and equally delicious French wine.  The friendly service and handwritten menu only serve to add to the relaxed ambience. This really is the perfect place for an intimate, unpretentious date. Perfect for cold dark winter evenings and post-work rendezvous!

Another favourite, especially for a long, languid summers lunch, is the newly Michelin starred Petersham Nurseries. The location has always been perfection: an assortment of beautifully laid rustic tables nestled amongst fragrant climbing plants within an old glass conservatory, on the banks of the Thames. But now the perfection of the food has also been recognised. The down side of this is that booking a table here will be even harder than before! But persevere because it is well worth it. As one reviewer put it, Petersham is like "the River Cafe and an English Country Garden rolled into one" and I for one couldn't think of a more romantic place to while a way a romantic afternoon...

Where do you think is the most romantic restaurant in London? Everyone has a different idea of a romantic meal so we'd love to know what you think!

Miss Mary xxx

Image copyright David Loftus

New Site Live!

So here it is... (trumpet fanfare please) your brand spangly new Great Date Guide has landed, and we're thrilled with it. We'll leave you to get accustomed to it in your own time, but here are a few bits and bobs that we thought you should know about.

1) Basic functions

We've not really changed much when it comes to the basics of how it works. You can still search for a date by keyword (location, dating stage, activity etc) or by browsing the different categories. We've put a changing selection of our favourites on the home page too, to try and tempt you into trying something new!

2) Booking 

In an attempt to make your date organising experience as painless as possible, you can now book online (where possible) through the site… for free! We've enlisted the help of trusted partners, such as Toptable and Ticketmaster, so that you can be confident that your booking is in safe hands. 

3) Concierge 

Another new addition, you can now get us to organise your date for you. Whether that's because you're too busy, a touch workshy (!) or because you could just do with a little help in deciding what to do, we'll gladly help you out, free of charge. Just give us a call or fill in the online form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Remember, we're always keen to hear your feedback, and better still we'd love to share some of your own favourite date ideas. So keep in touch, keep submitting dates and reviews, and help make The Great Date Guide even better still!

HAPPY DATING!