Restaurants: Daytime feasts for bargain hunters

Axis

No 1, Aldwych, London W1 (0171-300 0300)

Currently offering two courses for pounds 14.95 and three for pounds 17.95, the menu includes dishes such as pumpkin and gruyere soup and warm poached lamb with pea, mint, fennel and new potato salad.

Atlantic Bar and Grill

20 Glasshouse Street, London W1 (0171-734 4888)

Previously the Atlantic did a two-course lunch for pounds 14.90 with two free glasses of wine, but they found the wine was too much for most people at lunchtime and so they opted for a third course instead. They say portions are "appropriately garnished", so you don't have to then go and spend lots on side orders.

Auberge du Lac

Brocket Hall, Welwyn, Herts (01707 368888)

No such qualms about wine out here, where the Thursday "Ladies' Luncheon" is proving popular. Every lady who chooses the pounds 18.50 set lunch menu (Tue - Sat) gets two free glasses of wine.

The Fat Duck

No 1 High Street, Bray, Berkshire (01628 580333)

Food at Heston Blumenthal's highly acclaimed restaurant can cost about pounds 60 per person but they do a set lunch (Tue - Sat) for pounds 17.50 for two courses and pounds 22.50 for three.

Belgo

Belgo Central, 80 Earlham Street, London WC2 (0171-813 8233)

Belgo Noord, 72 Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 (0171-267 0718)

Seven days a week between noon and 5.30pm, Belgo do "Fiver lunches" such as wild boar sausages with Belgian mash and a beer or soft drink. Another one for bargain hunters is their "Beat the clock promotion". Between 5pm and 6.30pm you pay the price at the time shown on your food order for one of their three specials which would usually cost up to pounds 11.95.

Gordon Ramsay

68 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 (0171-352 4441)

For pounds 25 you can tuck into a lunch of terrine of foie gras with pickled girolles, braised shin of beef and vanilla brulee - although remember the usual extras, 12.5 per cent service and drinks.