London SW1- where to eat

Anxiety about flights-catching the flight, not incurring an excess baggage fee, vague disappointment that the holiday is ending, invariably combine to make the day before flying home a restless one. Today we wandered out late with a sketchy plan to make an enquiry at the Queen's Gallery for a friend and then amble on to Belgravia for lunch. Our Queen's Gallery task accomplished, we started wandering and promptly found ourselves away from this:

Greenery around King William III in St James Square

and in the middle of this:

which was very hot and tedious. However, after consulting roadside maps we ended up at the Tate, which is not Belgravia but always a pleasure. After bagging the food at Simpsons in my last post, I feel I must temper my criticism by commenting on the generally excellent fare we have had on this trip, evidence of which you will see clearly when you see me in the (abundant) flesh. 

If you have not been to London and are planning a trip, I have some tips that may be useful. We are not epicureans in the modern sense, but we do try and follow the advice of Epicurus in seeking out wholesome and yummy food and a tranquil life.  The cafes and restaurants in museums and art galleries are very, very good, often with an emphasis on good, in-season produce, modern takes on old-fashioned favourites or simply old favourites done properly. Today, for example, we ate at the Millbank Cafe and Bar at the Tate Britain. We both had Scottish Salmon Salad, made with baby potatoes, watercress and dill. It was simple and delicious. 

I can also recommend the National Dining Room at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. We had a cheese platter and pot of tea. The Cafe at the Gallery is also very good with piles of English cakes, scones and other goodies. The Restaurant at the Royal Academy of Arts, in Piccadilly, is excellent. Other recommendations:

The Balconies Restaurant, Paul Hamlyn Hall, Royal Opera House

• The Balconies in Paul Hamlyn Hall at the Royal Opera House.
• The V & A cafe. The rooms were decorated by William Morris et al and are a magic environment in which to scoff scones and/or jaffa cake. 
• The Orangery, Kensington Palace. 
• The Fountain at Fortnum and Mason in Piccadilly.
• The Ritz Restaurant, Piccadilly. 

The Orangery, Kensington Palace

London now also abounds in good take-away food shops, such as Pret-A-Manger, EAT. and Le Pain Quotidien. The latter, in Covent Garden, serves good coffee. Decent coffee was a bit hard to find, unfortunately. Tips on good coffee shops are welcome!