"At Tendril in Mayfair, small details—an unexpected but welcome swirl of chilli oil, the staff bantering with you about your dessert order, the flattering lighting—are treated like big things. On paper the Asian and Middle Eastern menu sounds quite basic, but these dishes have become regular fixtures in our food dreams. This isn't just one of the best places to eat this close to the human washing machine that is Oxford Circus station, it's one of the best places to eat . Don’t let the townhouse exterior or the red Lamborghini that may or may not be parked outside fool you. Mayfair postcode or not, Tendril is a place where all are welcome. Your friend who has been vowing to cut down on meat will love it. So will any parent who refuses to download Citymapper and must be within two minutes of a station or else they’ll be lost forever. Towards the front, the dining room is calm and a little sedate, so book the back section if you like your music a little louder, colour palette more seductive, and seating on the intimate side. For groups, there’s a toffee-coloured booth back here that’s easily the best seat in the house. Overlooking the tables of two and beside the bar, it’s a see and be seen kind of seat, made for sipping cocktails and laughing harder than necessary at your friend’s disaster date story. The bookshelves, lined with genteel titles like Little Dorrit and An English Hymnal , make it seem like you’ve stumbled across the private home of a home counties art director—but this buzzy spot requires booking, especially for a prime table towards the end of the week. Really, our love of Tendril all goes back to our first scoop of white bean spread that made us question our long-term commitment to hummus. The set menu is plentiful, and if you go à la carte, you'll be having such a charming time that it just makes sense to stay for dessert. With every creamy, chocolatey (dairy-free) mouthful of tiramisu, consider the transformation of any plant-based sceptics at your table complete. " - Sinéad Cranna
