This lively bistro, conveniently located near Regent’s Park, is great for enjoying a quick bite in an informal, unfussy setting.

The Venue
Located immediately around Baker Street station, Base is buzzing with tourists and professionals - especially at lunchtime - with evenings seeing it offer a more relaxed dining setting. This is in fact a pretty versatile venue, serving full English breakfasts, coffees, smoothies, sandwiches, patisseries, an a la carte menu and set menus with special offers all year round.

The Atmosphere
Base gets quite busy at lunchtime, and the outdoor seating doesn't exactly offer much tranquillity, being right on the edge of one of London's noisiest roads. Inside it's neatly decorated with vintage posters and basic tables and chairs, just like you would expect in an everyday brasserie. Simple as this decor might be, it does have a certain charm, especially in the evening.

The Food
The a la carte menu features an inviting selection of starters (£6-£10), pastas (£10-£12), and meat and fish main courses, and even fussy diners will find something appealing. Chefs at Base try to mix classic Mediterranean recipes with original additions to give the dishes more character and flavour, though they are not always successful in their execution: the bruschetta with prawns (starter, £9.95) is an unusual combination of a typical Italian bruschetta (diced tomatoes, onions and garlic on toasted bread) and sautéed king prawns. Despite the presentation being pleasant to the eye, the flavours do not blend, and it feels a little like in an unfinished dish.

Either as a starter or as a main course, salads can be a great choice: the ingredients look fresh and are far from the usual boring mix of leaves and sliced tomatoes. Main course salads (£10-12) are made up of a vibrant mix of crispy and fragrant leaves, cherry tomatoes, avocado and asparagus and a choice of salmon, goat’s cheese or chicken breast. The homemade burger (£10) on the other hand, doesn't represent the best value for money, as it's nothing out of the ordinary and it doesn't come with fries or salad, and cheese and bacon are charged at £1 extra each.

The Drink
Wines are a bit on the expensive side, starting at £18 for a bottle of house wine (though they do offer a free bottle when two diners order a 3-course meal each). Those who fancy a non-alcoholic drink will be spoilt for choice thanks to the wide range of juices and smoothies on offer, all at around £4.

The Last Word
There is no astonishing feature at Base – food is decent, service is at the standard you would normally expect and the atmosphere is comfortable. But if you are looking for an alternative to a pizza in one of the restaurant chains nearby, you might want to give this brasserie a try, especially if you can take advantage of one of their special offers.

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