Le Gavroche The haute-cuisine establishment of Albert Roux. Exceptionally high standards recognized by numerous awards. Monday-Friday noon to 2 pm and 7 to 11 pm. Reservations. Average £60. Credit cards. 43 Upper Brook St., Mayfair W1 (near the U.S. Embassy), phone 408-0881.

The Dorchester Grill Room Holds its place at the forefront of the hotels for dining excellence. Quality British cuisine in surroundings of pure elegance. Breakfast Monday-Saturday 7 am to 11 am, lunch daily 12:30 to 2:30 pm, dinner Monday-Saturday 6 to 11 pm, Sunday 7 to 10:30 pm. £36. 55 Park Lane (facing Hyde Park), W1, phone 629-8888.

ITALIAN AND FRENCH

Bibendum British design guru Terrence Conran's flagship restaurant serves British interpretations of French cuisine in a high-style setting. Lunch Monday-Friday 12:30 to 2:30 pm, Saturday-Sunday 12:30 to 3 pm; dinner Monday-Saturday 7 to 11:30 pm, Sunday 7 to 10:30 pm. Around £50. Michelin House, 81 Fulham Rd., Fulham SW3, phone 581-5817.

L'Escargot This well-liked establishment has a reasonably priced brasserie at entry level with a pricier French restaurant above. The impressive menu is changed regularly. Lunch Monday-Friday 12:15 to 2:15 pm, dinner Monday-Saturday 6 to 11:15 pm. Around £25. Credit cards. 48 Greek St., Soho W1, phone 437-6828.

Al San Vincenzo Tiny and plainly decorated restaurant run by a Neopolitan family -- acclaimed by Londoners as one of the best Italian restaurants around. Monday-Friday 12:30 to 2:15 pm and 7 to 10 pm, Saturday 7 to 10 pm. £30. Credit cards. 30 Connaught St., W2, phone 262-9623.

ASIAN

The Bombay Brasserie carries diners to the Age of the British Raj. Yards of space between tables, potted palms, overhead fans and fine cuisine deliver an authentic (if expensive) taste of India. Daily noon to 3 pm and 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Around £28. Credit cards. Courtfield Close, Courtfield Road (South Kensington), SW7, phone 370-4040.

The Oriental Located at the Dorchester Hotel, this is the premier Cantonese restaurant in London. Sumptuous, carved decorations, low lighting and private rooms provide the setting for a sublime dining experience. Monday-Saturday 12:30 to 3:30 pm and 7 to 12 pm. Closed August. £50. The Dorchester, 55 Park Lane (facing Hyde Park), W1, phone 629-8888.

The Red Fort Upscale Indian restaurant, tastefully decorated, with a regularly changing menu of North Indian foods. Daily noon to 2:30 pm, 6 to 11:30 pm Monday-Saturday, 6 to 11 pm Sunday. Around £25. Credit cards. 77 Dean St., W1, phone 437-2525.

ADDITIONAL DINING EXPERIENCES

Atlantic Bar & Grill A much-talked about restaurant popular with trendy media types. Serves modern British cuisine from a long, imaginative menu. Loud rock music and a bouncer at the door. Monday-Friday noon to 2:45 pm and 7 pm to 12:30 am, Saturday 7 pm to 12:30 am, Sunday 7 to 11:30 pm. Around £25. Credit cards. 20 Glasshouse St., W1, phone 734-4888.

Cranks A chain of vegetarian restaurants that have become firm favorites in the capital. This year sees the opening of a large flagship restaurant in Covent Garden, with simple wooden floors and a relaxed, elegant atmosphere. Choose from a wholesome food bar of salads, stuffed vegetables and tasty baked goods. There's a ground-floor take-out. Open Monday-Thursday 9 am to 10:45 pm, Friday-Saturday 9 am to 11:15 pm, Sunday 10 am to 7:45 pm. Lunch £9, dinner £15. Credit cards. 1 The Market, WC2, phone 379-6508.

Wagamama One of the most fashionable and popular places to eat cheaply. This designer diner offers Japanese noodle soups and main courses alongside Japanese beers. Open Monday-Friday noon to 11 pm, Saturday 12:30 to 11 pm, Sunday 12:30 to 10 pm. Around £7. 4 Streatham St., WC1, phone 323-9223.

Down Mexico Way Central, lively and fun. Music bar on entry level, azulejo-tiled restaurant above. Standard Mexican fare. Restaurant open Monday-Saturday noon to midnight, bar open until 3 am; Sunday 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Around £15. Credit cards. 25 Swallow St. (off Piccadilly Circus), W1, phone 437-9895.

The Cafe Royal Founded by a Parisian wine merchant -- and it shows, especially in the heavily gilded baroque of the mirrored Grill Room. Royals and celebrities sometimes appear at this intimate complex of wine bar, cocktail bar, brasserie and restaurant. Reservations. Around £27. Credit cards. Monday-Saturday 6 to 11 pm, Sunday noon to 3 pm. Brasserie open Saturday noon to 4 pm and for afternoon tea, 3 to 5 pm. 68 Regent St. (near Piccadilly Circus), W1, phone 437-9090.

Simpson's- in-the-Strand Atmosphere of an exclusive gentleman's club. Excellent traditional English meat and fish dishes; wide choice of fine wines and ports. Breakfast Monday-Friday 7 am to noon, lunch daily noon to 2:30 pm, dinner Monday 5:30 to 11 pm, Tuesday-Saturday 5:30 to 1 am, Sunday 6 to 9 pm. Reservations. Around £27. Credit cards. 100 Strand, WC2, phone 836-9112.

Rock Garden At Covent Garden, this is a young, noisy, small venue in a very lively area. Bands every night of the week, plus club nights with disc jockeys. Admission £5 for those not dining. Monday-Thursday and Sunday noon to midnight, Friday-Saturday noon to 1 am. Around £18. Credit cards. The Piazza, Covent Garden WC2, phone 836-4052.

The Ark Intimate, atmospheric spot serving English and French dishes. Monday-Friday noon to 3 pm and Monday-Saturday 6:30 to 11 pm. Around £17. Credit cards. On a back street between Kensington and Nottinghill Gate. 122 Palace Gardens Terrace, Nottinghill (North Kensington) W8, phone 229-4024.

World Food Cafe Vegetarian and vegan delights from around the world. Located in Neal's Yard, the New Age hippie quarter of Covent Garden. Colorful window boxes and a horseshoe-shaped bar surrounding the visible cooking area ensure an interesting eating experience. It's often packed, so be prepared to share tables. Hours vary according to the season, but generally noon to 5 pm in winter, noon to 7:30 pm in summer. Light meals only. Around £11. No credit cards. Upper floor, 14 Neal's Yard, Covent Garden WC2, phone 379-0298.

Fatboy's Diner Burgers served from a trailer; sidewalk tables along the street of ever-fascinating Covent Garden. Monday-Saturday 10:30 am to midnight, Sunday 10:30 am to 10:30 pm. Around £7. No credit cards. 21-22 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden WC2, phone 240-1902.

Rock & Sole Place Traditional British fish and chips in simple surroundings with outside tables. Daily 11:30 am to 10:30 pm. Around £12. 47 Endell St., Covent Garden WC2, phone 836-3785.

LATE NIGHT/BREAKFAST

Bar Italia One of the liveliest late-night coffee bars in bustling Soho -- an authentic blast of Italy, complete with sports TV, frothing cappuccinos, snacks and formica-top tables. There's a small selection of meals available (around £6) and, starting in late 1996, cooked breakfasts. Always packed. Monday-Thursday 7 am through to 5 am, Friday-Sunday open 24 hours. No credit cards. 22 Frith St., W1, phone 437-4520.

Ed's Easy Diner A mock 1950's American diner, with mini juke boxes. Centrally located on a prominent corner of Soho. Burgers, fries and milkshakes cost around £8. There are also veggie burgers on the menu. Sunday-Thursday 11:30 am to midnight, Friday-Saturday 11:30 am to 1 am. Credit cards. 12 Moor St., W1, phone 439-1955.

Fox & Anchor This pub traditionally served the meat porters in the Smithfield Market; now it's a regular haunt for tourists, local lawyers and stag parties. Two hundred years old, this place turns out huge, traditional English breakfasts, and it's perhaps the only place in London where you can buy a pint of beer at 7 am. Monday-Friday 7 am to 8:30 pm. Average breakfast price: £6.50. Credit cards. Charterhouse St., EC1, phone 253-4808