Theo Randall at the InterContinental Awards

Theo Randall at the InterContinental Restaurant Review:

You may be excused for not knowing the name of Theo Randall. He was the chef who helped make The River Café famous, but he stayed behind the stove. The InterContinental took the enlightened step of putting him in charge of the restaurant, with his name above the door, in its refurbished hotel. And now they have refurbished and lightened the restaurant as well. The hearty, rural nature that characterized The River Café’s cooking shows here. Randall is a chef who makes good use of the best seasonal ingredients he can source, giving them their own stage. Try pan-fried squid with fresh cannellini beans, chilli, anchovies, parsley and chopped rockets, followed by the lightest pastas, then go on to wood-roasted veal chop with datterini tomatoes, Italian spinach and salsa verde. He offers a good vegetarian menu as well. There's a bar for dining, and in the main space, plenty of wood, leather and mirrors. The wine list is suitably, grandly Italian, with other parts of the world also represented; service is charming. Set lunch (Mon.-Fri.) and pre- and post-theater meals 2 courses £27, 3 courses £33.