London Holborn and Clerkenwell

Holborn offers standard fare plus a few high-class restaurants and bistros mixed in with typical take-away sandwich joints. Clerkenwell has a lot more in the vein of hip, light, and interesting restaurants.

The Clerkenwell Kitchen, 31 Clerkenwell Close (020 7101 9959; www.theclerkenwellkitchen.co.uk">www.theclerkenwellkitchen.co.uk">www.theclerkenwellkitchen.co.uk) Normally when a restaurant advertises "soft drinks," they mean cola and root beer. At the Clerkenwell Kitchen, a "soft drink" means a taste-bud-exploding concoction like their elderflower cordial (£2). The closest they come to Coke is their organic cola. Cooking with locally grown ingredients and organic, free-range meat, the Clerkenwell Kitchen welcomes guests to the lighter side of British fare. In the summer months, bask in the light that fills their terrace; in the winter, enjoy dishes like slow-roast pork belly with braised lentils, chard, and quince aioli. The menu changes daily based entirely on which fresh and local ingredients they receive, but if one thing is consistent, it's the high quality of this hidden restaurant. Farringdon. Right onto Cowcross St., right onto Farringdon, right onto Pear Tree Ct., right onto Clerkenwell Close. Walk straight as if still on Pear Tree Ct. If you see the church, backtrack. Entrees £9-10. Teas and coffees £1.50-1.85. Open M-F 8am-5pm and noon-3pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.

Dans le Noir, 30-31 Clerkenwell Green ( 020 7253 1100; www.danslenoir.com/london)) Remember that Halloween game you played when you were a kid? Someone's mom would bring out a bowl of spaghetti and you would put your hands in it and squirm at the thought that you were touching real human intestines. Dans le Noir recreates that experience, only this time, once you're done sticking your hand in your plate, you eat the intestines. Served by blind waiters, patrons of the restaurant dine in a pitch black dining room, getting served a surprise meal of meat, fish, vegetarian, or "surprise" varieties. It may be expensive, but you're paying for a full sensory experience as well as the fantastic food. Farringdon. Left onto Cowcross St., left onto Turnmill St., and a right at the Vine St. Bridge. It’s across the green. Surprise 2-course meal £39, surprise 3-course menu is £44. You can book for a 6:30-9pm meal or a 9pm-whenever your meal ends (by midnight) meal. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.

Bleeding Heart Tavern, Entrance to Bleeding Heart Yard (020 7242 2056; www.bleedingheart.co.uk/tavern) Bleeding Heart Tavern takes the challenge of reinventing pub food and succeeds. While holding onto its status as an excellent tavern that'll get you "drunk for a penny, and dead drunk for two pence," the Bleeding Heart Tavern also produces mouth-watering pub food, like its salt beef sandwich served on delectable homemade bread with a side of delicious coleslaw. From homemade pork sausages to spinach and three cheeses roulade, Bleeding Heart Tavern does it all with a French twist, and they do it well. Farringdon. Take a right onto Cowcross St., and continue onto Greville St. Open M-F noon-2:30pm and 6-10:30pm, Sa noon-3pm and 6-11pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access.

Bleeding Heart Bistro, Bleeding Heart Yard ( www.bleedingheart.co.uk/bistro) A classic and classy bistro experience, the Bleeding Heart Bistro takes excellent tavern fare (mentioned above) to the next level. With an adventurous menu featuring more than 450 wines, the Bleeding Heart Bistro offers an atmosphere that, despite the anti-smoking laws in the UK, manages to seem romantically smoke-filled at all times. Farringdon. Take a right onto Cowcross St. and continue onto Greville St. Entrees £10.95-11.95. Open M-F noon-2:30pm and 6-10:30pm, Sa noon-3pm and 6-11pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access.