A lively and popular bar and restaurant on the intimate and chic Lancashire Court.

The Venue
Lancashire court is a little cobbled walkway which runs directly off New Bond Street. It’s romantically lit and full of restaurant and bars and feels like it's a place just for those in the know. Rocket is by far the busiest on the strip as crowds of slickly dressed thirtysomethings spill onto the courtyard to eat alfresco or enjoy a last puff of freedom. A few wooden tables and chairs are outside the loud bar. Once you have managed to squeeze your way in and through the bar, make your way upstairs following a nautical roped staircase and find yourself in a bright and airy room full of diners. A lovely open kitchen and pizza oven greets you as you make your way to the table.

The Atmosphere
There’s a gently bustling atmosphere, with friends catching up over chilled glasses of vino and couples enjoying the candlelit window seats and view below. It's a place where anyone can feel comfortable. Velvet-lined wing chairs make it easy to waste away a few hours catching up over good food and nice wine. The busy bar below feels miles away although the restaurant is far from empty – in fact, it fills up quickly so it’s best to book ahead.

The Food
Pizzas and salads dominate the delicious and fresh menu but there is still plenty to choose from. Seared sesame tuna and crispy prawn (£6) is a good choice. The tuna is succulent and cooked rare and the prawn is huge and lightly breaded. It’s served with a cucumber and papaya salad which gives it an interesting edge and flavour but there could be a little more bite to contrast with the delicate flavours of the tuna. Tiger prawns marinated in chilli and lemongrass (£6.50) is also delicious. All the starters are generous in portion but not over the top.

For main courses there’s a huge selection of oven-baked pizzas. Roasted vegetable with zucchini, sweet potato and green beans (£9) is a great way to get some of your five a day. The pizza arrives steaming hot with a lovely thin crust. The delicately sliced vegetables on top make it look picture perfect, almost too good to eat. Spicy sausage with spinach and gorgonzola (£10.75) is rich and tasty. The sausage meat is full of herbs and tastes wonderful next to the rich contrast of the gorgonzola – definitely recommended. Smoked black pudding with king prawn and pancetta pizza (£12) is a favourite and seems to be the one to order amongst the regulars. There are calzone pizzas for those that like it slightly different and a few seasonal specials.

For those looking for a lighter waistline there is the goat’s cheese salad with toasted hazelnuts with a truffle and honey dressing (£13.75), which is wonderfully indulgent but still light. A rare beef and chip salad (£15.75), another popular choice, features beautifully sliced pieces of beef on top of a big pile of fresh rocket and onion on a bed on homemade chips. Seared rump of lamb with parsnips and leeks with a redcurrant dressing (£14.85) is also on offer and makes a great alternative for meat eaters. There is a light selection of puddings (£5) but most people go for the great homemade coffee or fresh mint tea.

The Drink
Having decent wine at decent prices makes this place even more popular – this is a restaurant that doesn't charge over the odds for a good glass of wine. Try a glass of rose, French Granfort at £19 for the bottle. Scented with rose essence and vanilla it's a great accompaniment to salads and pizzas and very drinkable. Rocket's house white, Principe de Viana 2008 from Spain (£4 a glass, £15.50 a bottle), is a fabulous wine, chosen very well to be the house choice, light and crisp. The wine menu is broken down into light, medium bodied and full bodied which is a great way to help you decide what wine to have with your main course. There is also a huge selection of long and short cocktails (£7.25 – £8.50) from Champagne Bellinis to Tom Collins.

The Last Word
Rocket’s bar is a brilliant place to start the evening and the restaurant is a great place to end it. The staff are friendly and attentive and the food is reasonably priced for a Central London location and the food is of a great standard. A thoroughly nice place that won't leave you out of pocket.

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