indigo (yard)

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

Indigo (yard) has been a fixture of the West End's eating and drinking scene for over a decade now, and shows no signs of losing favour with its regular crowd of workers and shoppers, who can be found here at all times of the day. Because of the location – as well as the fact that it offers everything from breakfast, lunch and dinner to cocktails and coffee, with a comfortable outdoor area for smokers to boot – it is no surprise that it is so popular. Large parties are welcomed but that needn't put off couples or smaller groups looking for some respite from the office or the shops. The all-day menu offers soups, sandwiches and creative salads such as crayfish and avocado, while, if it's something more substantial you seek, the mixed seafood tempura with home-made chips is hard to beat. Mixed sharing platters are perfect for groups or for soaking up those after-work drinks when you just can't bear to leave. Puddings are delightfully naughty too – a warm chocolate brownie served with ice-cream and chocolate sauce may well force you to come up with an excuse for arriving back to work late.

• High point: Convivial atmosphere
• Low point: Uncomfortably busy at times