Pieminister are according to themselves and their “manifesto” firm believers in locally sourced natural ingredients. Making “great British food that tastes lovely” is what they are passionate about.

What started out in 2003 as a small two man band making pies for friends and festivals today delivers delicious pies to some of the best cafes, food halls and delis in the country. The shop in Gabriel’s Wharf sell the pies with a choice of vegetables, mash and gravy.

Read some of these pie names and tell me you don’t want to drop everything you are doing and go down to the Wharf straight away: minty lamb, chicken of arragon, thai chook, heidi pie, matador (chorizo and beef…), moo and blue (with stilton!)… Lovely.

In the summer Gabriel’s Wharf is a lovely place to go to have a browse through the designer shops, buy a treat and sit down among the outside tables and enjoy the sun and atmosphere. Great way to spend a relaxing lunch.

Don’t let that deter you though, when it comes to acquiring your lunch this place is a real gem.

Not sure what the other half of the name alludes to, it being very German I can only assume that the origins of this place is firmly based in leberkäse, sauerkraut and wienerschnizel, but I think those days are gone. Zeitgeist has evolved, they no longer have a German slant on their food anyway (neither is this place mentioned on the Zeitgeist web site). Shame, I love sauerkraut.

What you will find though is two to three hot dishes (menu changes daily), a salad counter, pickled gherkins, nice bread and usually some sort of pudding (like a cake or similar treat). The warm dishes seem to usually be some sort of curry or stew with rice, roast potatoes and sausages… …and the piece de resistance, always on offer: a big slab of slow roast pork with amazing crackling!

Get the pork with potatoes, or if you like me follow a food philosophy low in carbs, with the tomato salad and a gherkin. Lots of food for a mere fiver, and it will keep you full well into the after work drinks session.

Food is seasonal and delicious. Menu is not very extensive, but depending on time of year you find sandwiches, home made stews and soups served with some of the best bread I have found around Waterloo. Of course they also serve really decent coffee.

Since it is located on the sedcond floor of the Royal Festival Hall it is quite a buzzy and lively area, so sitting here with a good book, enjoying the view over the outside terrace and the people walking past is a nice way to spend your lunch. They also have bar stools and a counter on the terrace overlooking the river. Well recommended on a sunny day.

One of the favorite lunch places of Jay and Mikael at Livebookings.

I really like this venue. Even when full of people (and you most likely will have to share a table with someone else if you come in the evening) the buzz never gets overbearing, despite the clean, almost spartan design and decor. This is the place to go for dishes like sausage and mash, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips or macaroni cheese bake.

They also serve breakfast (although they don’t open until 08:00), and having the most important meal in this lovely venue is not a bad start to the day.

Their beer selection is excellent, and for when summer comes around they have a big outdoor area in front of the restaurant where said beers can be enjoyed while watching all the people going by on their way to South Bank, the National Theatre or any of the other many attractions nearby.