The Clove Club
Issac McHale, formerly one half of the Young Turks chef collective who performed magic at spots all over London before a six-month residency above the Ten Bells pub in Spitalfields, has emerged as one of London’s top talents. In 2013 he teamed up with front-of-house specialists Daniel Willis and Johnny Smith to bring an ambitious, no-choice modern British menu to East London. Situated in Shoreditch Town Hall, the high-ceilinged dining room is the definition of no-frills, but the long windows welcome in plenty of natural light and the teal tiles behind the open kitchen provide a touch of colour. The food, a changing five-course and extended menu focused on vegetables and somewhat unheeded British produce, could light up any room by itself.

Soto's Fish Shop
Soto's Fish Shop offers the best fish and chips in Adelaide. The small, take-away shop is a favorite among the locals who pack the shop to patiently wait for their wrapped paper bag of deep-fried seafood delights. We ordered the seafood pack that came with a fish fillet, two prawns, seafood sticks, calamari and a pile of fresh, hot chips. No grease or oil stains were left on the wrapped paper, the perfect sign to know they were super crisp. The fish fillet and chips were a standout. They had a nice crunch on the outside and the innards were soft, fluffy and moist. A delicious bag of golden crisp fish and chips and a few other surprises of prawns, seafood sticks and calamari. Best fish and chips in Adelaide? We think so!

Soam Restaurant
Soam at Chowpatty serves progressive vegetarian Gujarati food. Fresh and flavourful, this authentic restaurant offers a seasonal menu which changes every few months as well as a regular selection of favorites. One of these is Gujarati Kadhi. Especially popular in summer for its cooling properties, this curd and gram-flour based curry is sweet, tangy and slightly spicy. It is served with Faada ni Khichdi or Mung Daal khichdi, but we recommend to embellish this delicious dish with some udad papad and fried pakora dumplings. Just remember, Soam doesn't seat more than 50 at a time, doesn't take reservations and is always packed for dinner, so visiting at quieter times is advised.

Jimmy Boy
Situated in the South Mumbai area at Horniman Circle, Jimmy Boy restaurant opened over 100 years ago and specialises in Parsi Food. The restaurant offers a home-like ambience with old style decor, big open windows and a high ceiling. Served with caremelised brown rice, the slow cooked dhansak made with curried goat and lentils is a Sunday afternoon favourite of the meat-loving Parsi community. However, the vegetarian version is just as special: with subtle spicing, rich gravy and a perfect mix of vegetables. Don’t forget to ask for the tangy lime-juice-infused chopped onion and tomato salad and kachumbar, on the side.

Pine State Biscuits
This mix of old-style Southern goodness and modern restaurant professionalism started as a small stand at a Portland farmers' €™ market and exploded into an always-crowded hot spot for the local hipster crowd. One of the most popular items at Pine State Biscuits, the Reggie Deluxe, requires both a knife and fork (maybe even a bib). It is the ultimate breakfast sandwich with fried chicken, bacon, cheese, gravy, and a fried egg piled high on a buttermilk biscuit.

Curtis & Bell
When it comes to French-style patisserie, Rob Curtis of Curtis & Bell knows what he's doing. Every day, you'll find a different range of cakes and pastries that are beautifully created - and taste even better. Try the Nutella cheesecake with a crème brûlée topping - a generous slice with a perfectly crumbly base, a rich and smooth filling and a creamy topping flecked with fresh cream, chocolate and a shard of nut brittle.

Catch 22
At the bottom of Park Street, you'll find Catch 22: a city centre fish and chip shop that opened in early April 2015. All of the fish is from sustainable sources, and I was pleased to see the traditional chippie sides of mushy peas, pickled eggs, bread and butter and curry sauce, among others, were all available – and the prices are very reasonable, especially given Catch 22’s central location.

Mary Ann's Pig Stand
The San Antonio Pig Stand's signature sandwich, with tender sliced BBQ pork served on a bun plus relish and special sauce, has been on the menu since opening day. That's a whopping 94 years. Not only was this place the first drive-in, it pioneered several eats such as Texas toast, deep-fried onion rings, and the country-fried steak sandwich. Current owner Mary Ann had given over 40 years of service as a waitress and manager to the stand before it was closed in 2007. An approved court order meant that she could pick up the pieces and keep this culinary monument alive. Some things never go out of fashion.

White Manna Hackensack
White Manna is one of two burger joints opened by Louis Bridges in 1946 now under separate ownership. The Hackensack location was snapped up by Ronnie Cohen and his brother in 1986 and they have been churning out the definition of classic American sliders since. If you're lucky enough to grab a seat at the U-shaped bar surrounding the griddle, you can revel in the theatre that ensues: fresh balls of ground beef are covered with a handful of stringy sliced onions then flattened with a spatula. The patties are then flipped and topped with cheese and a light, airy bun that are allowed to melt, steam and form a burger that many say can't be beat.

Enriqueta's Sandwich Shop
The Cuban is a holy union of sweet ham, savory pork, melty Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard that makes a mere ham and cheese sandwich feel, well, a little embarrassed. The offering at Enriqueta’s is the real deal.