REVIEW: TUTTONS

Tuttons is one of Covent Garden's oldest restaurant having opened in the early 70's, which is why it was recently closed for a facelift by man of the moment Russell Sage. Mr Sage is also responsible for The Zetter Townhouse, The Goring's Royal Suite and various other stylish London joints of late.

To compliment its new look the restuarant also has a brand new food and wine menu with a strong focus on English produce, from Yorkshire Black Pudding and Lancashire roasted beets to Sussex wines. We went along to sample the new menu and check out the deco - location wise this place couldn't be better which huge windows of the pretty piazza whilst inside the decor is traditional brasserie style with red booths, wooden chairs and gold lightshades.

We sampled a selection of starters, our favourite was without doubt the Yorkshire black pudding with savoy cabbage and parchment bacon and the pressed Sussex ham hock, mustard piccalilli and Rye bread. For mains the Wicks Manor braised belly of pork, Puy lentils and caramelised Razor Russet apple was a tasty dish and fairly light for summer. Chargrilled chilli and garlic baby chicken was a generous helping of tender meat sat on a mound of warm roast peppers, aubergine and red onion salad, mint and yoghurt dressing.

Desserts were a little less successful but the wine list makes up for this, not only do they have English wines but they also stock Tuttons wines from New Zealand who was actually the orginal owner of the establishment back in 1974. Tell your granny that one! It's a definite imporvment all round for the restaurant and even the prices seem to have gone down.

11/12 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B

www.tuttons.com