The Best Restaurants with 3 Falstaff Fork(s) in England

The River Café, an indoor-outdoor restaurant on the Thames in Hammersmith, offers an unparalleled wine list and Italian cuisine prepared with the freshest ingredients. The menu is subject to seasonal change, but patrons can expect a wide range of fresh pasta and meats, an array of gelato, desserts and cheeses, and wines from all regions of Italy.

One Michelin star Luca is the epitome of fine Italian dining, with a warm atmosphere and spectacular presentation of food without sacrificing flavour. The menu may be Italian, but the ingredients are organically British, such as Orkney scallops and Scottish halibut, while the wine list is better described as a book.

Discovering pubs in beautiful rural settings offering fantastic food is one of my great pleasures. A 16th century Inn in Warehorne, opposite the stark beauty of St. Matthews church, with Romney Marsh sheep grazing outside, fits the Platonic ideal. A proper inglenook fireplace greets guests as they walk in, with plenty of cosy nooks and crannies to settle into with a pint of local cider or perhaps a glass of Kentish sparkling wine from Gusbourne or Simpsons – English sparklers are now de rigeur on all drinks’ menus, happily sat alongside Champagne. The food here has ratcheted up several notches since Marcin Szelka – also executive chef of owners The Rocksalt Group – recently took over the kitchen, delivering thrilling cooking that has me dashing back each time I see a new dish shared on Instagram. I’ve been wowed by plump cutlets from a rack of Kentish lamb, tricked out with some lamb fat confit car- rots, mint oil and pickled walnuts, a generous plateful with just the right amount of artistic flourish – hearty pub food. Pig cheeks with buttery turnip purée and fried turnip tops, wickedly decadent, soothingly comforting: a charmer. Another visit finds me sitting in front of the fire with a slab of monkfish on the bone, nestled amongst mussels, fennel and sea vegetables, a deeply flavoured bouillabaisse sauce speaking of long-simmered crustaceans and fish bones, worthy of being slurped or mopped up to the last drop. Five bedrooms upstairs offer the opportunity for the perfect scenario: a country walk, a few pints of local ale, a restorative pub dinner, a short stagger up creaky 16th century stairs, and a soak in a roll- top bath before bed – pub nirvana. Reviewed by Zeren Wilson

Not only plant-based, but with one of the best vegan menus in London, Pied a Terre is the city's longest-running Michelin-starred restaurant. Chef Asimakis Chaniotis delicately blends French and Greek cuisine in the a la carte and tasting menus. Choose from over 800 wines on the wine list or pair your meal with a hand-picked wine flight.

Tucked away in a former beer cellar beneath the rowdy Blue Posts pub in Soho, Evelyn's Table is pub food on a Michelin scale. Serving just two meals a day, the frequently changing menu combines British ingredients with Asian techniques. Sake and wine, including low ABV options, complete the experience.

Angela Hartnett's Michelin-starred restaurant offers the flavours of Northern Italy in its hearty a la carte and lunch menus, using British produce and local producers. The wine cellar stocks regional Italian vintages as well as popular and lesser-known wines from around the world.

Efficient service and fresh ingredients are the focus at Bocca di Lupo. The extensive menu changes twice a day, demonstrating a commitment to seasonality, and the laid-back bar is perfect for a glass or two from the exclusively Italian wine list.

Putting a vegan twist on traditionally meat-centric Caribbean food, Jam Delish in Islington is family owned and fully plant-based. Their classic dishes like saltfish, fried plantain and curried goat are mixed with traditional spices and sauces to create modern, tasty plates.

Fluffy foccacia, cacio e pepe and prawn ravioli are paired with a strong selection of Italian wines at this casual Islington eatery. The spring silk scarves of Bancone fame are the crowning glory of chef Louis Korovilas, and combined with careful presentation and friendly staff, it's the perfect neighbourhood Italian.

The perfect blend of fine dining and home cooking, Benares' modern Indian cuisine, under the direction of Chef Sameer Taneja, continues to earn its Michelin star. The seasonal menu draws inspiration from all over India, using the finest British ingredients. The thali lunch is the best way to sample it, paired with one of over 400 wines from the cellar.

Head chef Sriram Aylur oversees Quilon's Michelin-starred restaurant, which serves delicately prepared yet traditional dishes from the southern Indian states of Goa and Kerala. The focus is on fresh seafood and sharing is key.

Marylebone's best Indian restaurant, with a menu full of flavours inspired by the southwest coast of India. The brown crab is a crowd favourite and each dish has a pre-selected wine pairing from both established and emerging regions.

Russell Norman's reimagined Italian trattoria ticks all the boxes, serving pasta classics and Florentine favourites, plus a variation of steaks by weight. The house wines and negronis served on gingham tablecloths are the icing on the cake of a homely yet luxurious experience.