Packed since 1988, it’s where vegetarians with palates go. The menu (all three meals) is ever-changing but always assembled with more care than the usual beans and tofu: Sri Lankan sweet potato and lime cashew curry, wood-roasted mushroom and ale pie, and green falafel with sour cherry and pistachio rice are three samples from its international menu. If you don’t do onion or garlic, there’s a thoughtful menu just for you. Big bowls and plates, appetizing presentation, and a vibe like home have secured Mildreds a following even among carnivores—it even had a pretty cookbook published. Save room for the cheesecakes or puddings—you won’t believe they’re gluten-free. You’ll find another location near Trafalgar Square at 79 St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (020/8066-8393; Tube: Leicester Square), but this is the original, in a townhouse from the 1700s.