Top places for Xmas lunch

The joys of the Christmas lunch. If having to put up with your colleagues isn't enough of a trial, you have to plough your way through polystyrene turkey, grout-like stuffing and a few little damp farts of sprouts to boot. Here are a few suggestions for making it less of an endurance test.

Morgan M: The talented and creative Morgan Meunier has devised four special tasting menus: From The Land has earthy tastes like black truffle and root vegetable soup or ballotine of Les Landes foie gras with Sauternes jelly; From The Garden, a sensual blow-out for vegetarians; From The Sea, with scallops, sea bass and lobster; and the decadent seven-course Christmas Feast. The five-course menus cost £39 per head; the Feast is £48.
489 Liverpool Road N7. Tel: 020 7609 3560. Tube: Highbury & Islington

The Gun: Well worth tracking down at the best of times, this handsome old boozer is a fabulously atmospheric spot for some festive work avoidance. It has come up with a £35-a-head menu featuring some great trad tastes: kipper pâštè with Drambuie and sourdough toast; hare braised in mulled wine with celeriac and truffle mash; and chocolate and orange truffle pie with Armagnac crËme Anglaise. 27 Coldharbour E14. Tel: 020 7515 5222. www.thegundocklands.com Tube: Canary Wharf

Camerino: This was one of the most welcome openings of last year - enough almost to restore our dented faith in London's Italian restaurants. Their Christmas menus start at an extremely reasonable £23.50 for three courses of butch, homemade food: you could find ravioli filled with beetroot and buffalo ricotta with butter and poppy seeds; and grilled squid with broccoli, sweet chilli and garlic.
16 Percy Street W1. Tel: 020 7637 9900. www.camerinorestaurant.com Tube: Goodge Street

Tamarind: Forget the trad turkey altogether and give it some posh spice at Tamarind. This deeply luxurious Mayfair stalwart is the kind of place to make you feel truly cosseted but festive menus start at a surprisingly reasonable £26.50 a head. Expect dishes like tandoori chicken in creamed tomatoes with fenugreek leaves or exotica such as beetroot fudge with melon seeds and raisins with vanilla ice cream. And yes, there is turkey: a 'kabab' of ground turkey breast with basil, peppers and cheese. 20 Queen Street W1. Tel: 020 7629 3561. www.tamarindrestaurant.com Tube: Green Park