What's new in the world of restaurants

They take the Fourth of July holiday seriously at Christopher's and special Independence Day dishes are available all the way from Thur 1 to Thur 15 July.

So if you are hankering after 'BBQ quail, kumquat, sugar cane and basil glaze'; or 'apple and blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream', you know where to go.

On Sun 4 July, the special dishes will be added to the Weekend Brunch menu - £12.75 or £16.75 for two or three courses.

At Villandry they have both an American proprietor and a laid back attitude, so as well as a special lunch menu for Sun 4 July, they're putting together special American-style themed hampers.

Nostalgic Yanks pre-ordering from the Villandry Foodstore can carry off hampers filled with a choice of colonial delicacies such as fried chicken, ribs, coleslaw, garlic bread and potato salad.

Should the Highgate Bar And Restaurant be re-named the Highgate Restaurant And Bar? Following a makeover, the eating area has been moved from the cellar up into the ground floor and the downstairs has become a 'venue' with its own bar.

Chef proprietor Jamie Polito has re-launched the menu with dishes such as tuna with French beans, sesame, garlic and almonds; and sirloin steak with Roquefort butter, mixed leaf salad and Jersey Royals.