Automat - Mayfair

Don't be put off by the name Automat, there are no vending machines or pre-packed dispensers in this modish Mayfair American diner - Automat represents 'a new chapter in the cultural exchange between the world's two greatest cities' (so says the blurb) and it's the brainchild of Carlos Almada, the man behind several New York hotspots like MK.

The brasserie itself is open right through the day (from noon to midnight) and you can always get something to eat - whether it's chicken noodle soup, a Waldorf salad with 'ranch dressing', or a 10-ounce Automat burger.

For lunch and dinner, there are more extensive menus involving Manhattan seafood chowder, Alaskan black cod with shrimp mash, and crispy fried duck leg with wild mushrooms, plus side orders of baked beans, string beans and coleslaw. The wine list homes in on the transatlantic theme, with oodles of stuff from California alongside big names from elsewhere.