On the record
The River Café, Hammersmith, London
After Granita, the place most associated with New Labour. It sent over supper in a taxi the day Tony and Cherie moved into Number 10.
Khan's Tandoori, Kensal Green, London
Small, authentic and gritty. Cited as the Tory leader's favourite local at the same time the Conservatives were trying to entice members and candidates from ethnic minorities.
Maxins, Kirkaldy, Scotland
No restaurant of this name seems to exist. That doesn't stop Gordon Brown from claiming it as his favourite. He probably means New Maxins, which wins brownie points because it's cheap and in his constituency.
Wilton's, St James's, London
One Lobby correspondent racked up a bill of £250 here on a short lunch with a Tory MP. Owned by Nicholas Soames, rotund Churchill descendant who still sits on the Conservative benches, so the money goes to a good cause.
Shepherd's, Westminster
Around the corner from the Commons. Boris can sometimes be seen there (when in Parliament), but it's really angled at the Labour market.
Off the record
Rules, Covent Garden
London's oldest restaurant, which sources game from its own Scottish estate, may not be trendy, but it has private rooms. Gordon Brown had dinner with Kylie Minogue here.
Pizza Express, Kentish Town
Scene of Alastair Campbell's policy chats with fellow north Londoners David Miliband and Lord Gould.
Cipriani, Mayfair
When David Davis lost the Tory leadership he hosted his consolation dinner here. Scene of networking dinners hosted by PR Matthew Freud, for MPs from across the spectrum.
Fat Badger, Notting Hill, London
Notting Hill trustafarian eaterie with a bar selling organic nibbles and pints of well-sourced prawns and a dining room lined in wallpaper depicting scenes of urban crime. When he's not at Khan's in grungy Kensal Green, Dave has been spotted here (with Samantha).
Cinnamon Club, Westminster
An indiscreet favourite of journalists and politicians, serving nouvelle Indian cuisine at expenses-budget prices. Lunching: Nick Robinson, Peter Oborne, spin doctors.
