We are staying in the Marylebone area. Not that it has to be right there....! We are looking for great food and atmosphere and a fun hot spot.

The Ivy - if you can get a reservation.

Nobu

Now it looks like we may have 2 nights so maybe I can try both. Has anyone tried Jamie Oliver's restaurant--The Restaurant at Monte's? I am a fan of his cookbook and thought it might be fun to try out his restaurant, but I don't know much about it or it's location.
Also, how about suggestions for tea time--Claridge's, Ritz, Dorchester? Any advice on which is best?

I find tea at the Ritz too "take a number" for me, and much too busy with big tour groups and large parties. The Claridge's is, of course, a lovely hotel, but don't know about tea there.
Brown's remains my favorite -- relax for as long as you want to in spacious surroundings on comfortable sofas and lounge chairs in old world chintz fabrics.

The Restaurant at Monte's is only open at lunch to Non-members..for dinner you have to be a member

Sorry..hit enter too soon. why don;t you try JO's new restaurant Fifteen in Islington/hoxton! It will be featured in his new TV series

If you can get a reservation Amaryllis - Gordon Ramsey at Claridges is excellent. Menu at the Connaught and Petrûs at The Berkley is also good.

If you want a "fun hot spot" it sounds like you want a themed restaurant, of which I can reccomend none.

Afternoon tea is a pointless meal, not typically English as so many Americans presume - Few Londoners ever take a full tea. I for one never have, after all, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner to follow where is there room for tea?

The Ivy is naff, and its menu, whilst ever classical is not nearly as exciting as some of Gordon's places.

Jaimie Oliver's Fifteen serve good food, but not for the high prices it charges - the River Cafe has much more finesse and a fantastic setting - 15 isn't worth the hype.

You might wish to consider these four restaurants if expensive/Asian captures your fancy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/13/travel/14tab.html

(free registration may be required to view article)

If your budget is high I've enjoyed wonderful meals at Matsuri in St James area. Once was a treat from a friend and the other time I won a voucher to the value of a 10 course banquet.

I enjoy good food and the quality of ingredients here is what blew me away.

For fast food style Japanese at lower prices I much prefer O Satsuma in Soho to Wagamama - similar decor and shared benches dining area and similar approach to bring dishes when they are ready in no particular order - a party won't necessarily get their meals at the same time - but better choices and better ingredients. Great tempura.

Thank you for the continued great advice. Decisions, decisions!
Patrick, thanks for the tea recommendation. mKingdom, I'm definitely NOT looking for a theme restaurant--just one with some flair--great food, great atmosphere, and popular/busy. Even when the food is fabulous, I don't like to eat in formal and stuffy looking dining rooms.
Also, I don't mind spending money if the food, etc is worth it.

Just doing a little more research...m kingdom, the river cafe looks great.
Are there any great restaurants in the London Bridge area? It would be nice to have dinner and be able to see the bridge at night without running all over the place.
On another scale, are there any highly recommended pubs with good food that we might try (probably for lunch).

There is Le Pont de la Tour with views of Tower Bridge; it's owned by Terence Conran; very nice, expensive, but it's a few years since I was there last. There are a few other restaurants on this stretch along the Thames, also owned by Conran. There is a lot of talk about Sketch, in Mayfair, opened earlier this year. Expensive, very smart restaurant. The reviews that I have read were good; I'm planning to try that next time I'm in London. And according to a friend of mine who went recently, Zuma (Knightsbridge) is the number one place for Japanese now.

Oh and I forgot to mention The Square, in Bruton Street; Exquisite modern french cooking is how Harden's describes it. I have been there several times, and the food is amazing. The dining room is modern and smart, not stuffy at all, but very expensive (Michelin star).

JES, for lunch in a pub atmosphere with better than pub food, I suggest the Enterprise on Walton St.-a great street for shopping & browsing too.

For dinner, I recommend Langan's Brasserie (part owned by Michael Caine). They serve "traditional" English fare (like bubble and squeek, smoked haddock, bangers & mash) but with an upscale twist. Like Harry's Bar, the downstairs is the buzzier see & be seen place (with celebs) but the Venetian room upstairs has a beautiful mural of Venice-perhaps quite appropriate for your trip?

Here's a website with a review & description.

ww.english-restaurants.com%2Fenglish%2Frestaurant.asp%3Fclass ID%3D86http://ads.vip-internet.com/banman.asp?ZoneID=4&Task=Get&X=10636485681 20

Sorry, that URL for Langan's won't work. Here's another try

http://www.english-restaurants.com/e...asp?classID=86

Interesting website to peruse for other places too.

Tulips: I just read about Sketch at Harden's and at LondonEating. It sounds as if Barnum was right: a sucker is born every minute. Sketch should be the right place for those suckers. If I wanted to spend 150 GBP per person, there are a lot of other places I would go to!

Its all very subjective isn't it; for example The Square gets some bad reviews on a London restaurant website I saw, but I have always loved the food and atmosphere there. JES: for tea I agree with Patrick's suggestion; Browns. And I also like the Enterprise in Walton Street a lot; either for a drink or a casual meal. Whatever you decide to do; don't go to San Lorenzo in Beauchamp Place, no matter how many celebrities are supposed to go there. It's the worst place I have ever been to.