Society, London EC4

There aren't many new restaurants in central London with space for al fresco dining. But Society, tucked away on Blackfriars Lane just a stone's throw from St Paul's cathedral has tables at the front where diners can catch the rays. Inside, there's a spacious eating area with tall windows and high ceilings, a cool mezzanine level and a large bar area.

Food is served from midday until 10pm so it makes a good spot for a light lunch. But I get the feeling that Society comes into its own as a post-work venue for dinner and drinks – it has a late licence until 2am, a good cocktail list and decks in the lounge area where the DJ plays later on.

The food here is hearty and good – it's not just an add-on to the bar. Diners with a dainty appetite might not know where to begin, but for those who like to tuck in there's a lot to choose from. I had seared native scallops with cauliflower puree and a bacon and sweet onion jam (£7.50) to start, and thought the salty bacon offset the juicy, sweet shellfish well. My companion's homemade tomato and basil soup with crusty bread and butter (£5) was, she said, deep in flavour with a good texture.

From the main menu, I opted for the chargrilled sirloin steak with red wine butter, fat chips and rocket and Parmesan salad (£15), which was well cooked and juicy. The salad combination offset the rich butter sauce well. My fellow diner went for crispy skin breast of duck with creamed English spinach, honey glazed parsnips and port jus (£12.50) and ordered the chive mash (£3.50) as a side. She found the meat to be tender and moist and the skin suitably crunchy. We washed it down with a velvety bottle of Côtes Du Rhône François Bour (£17.95), chosen from the well-priced wine list.

We received very attentive service all evening and, sitting on the mezzanine by the floor to ceiling windows we had an enjoyable, relaxed catch-up. The restrooms downstairs, by the way, are a revelation. Funky, industrial, great lighting, Molton Brown products… I bet the City folk love them.

We left with spirits raised and stomachs full. Luckily we only had to roll a few yards down the lane to Blackfriars Station.

Good for end-of-month dinner and drinks, team celebrations…

Not so good for discreet meetings, one-to-ones…

Amy Duff