Brainchild of John Woroniecki, Baltic still is the best Polish restaurant outside Poland. It was a bold gamble on his part to open on the south side of Blackfriars bridge, with the Old Vic theater as the only respectable neighbour. The area is now turned trendy thanks to the success of the Tate Modern and accessible courtesy of a futuristic Tube station. Hearty Polish ingredients like pork knuckles, herring, or buckwheat are refined to please demanding palates. The bar carries the best of what Poland can offer, starting with Potocki Wódka, and includes over 30 varieties of infused vodkas. www.balticrestaurant.co.uk