As if to blow a raspberry in the face of the financial crisis, no less than forty restaurants have opened in the capital since October, and it feels like at least half of them are in the posh bit of the West End.

It seems like only yesterday that the Wolseley, Scott's and Cecconi's were flavour of the month, but such is the recent flurry of activity that you could almost write a soap opera around it.

This week, on 'WestEnders: The Next Generation'...

Will Bocca di Lupo, Soho's new Italian that does mighty fine risotto al barolo, get its new glass balustrade and be looking even chicer in time for Christmas?

Will anyone actually be able to finish the phonebook-thick, 110 day in-house dry-aged steaks at Goodman and be able to squeeze down a peanut parfait?

Is the eccentrically named English bar and diner Bob Bob Ricard too glam for its own good - and is there anything better on a cold winter evening than their crumpets with rose petal jelly?

Is Molton House, Nick Valentine's swanky club-bar-restaurant with the high-octane membership committee, the new Cuckoo Club? Will the Pudding Bar at Ilse Crawford-refurbed Kettners become our favourite new breakfast spot? And will Corrigan's become the new Hix?

TODAY'S EVENT PICKS

Simon Bookish goes traditional with his new LP. 10:30pm - 3am, The End, 16-18 West Central Street, WC1, £6

50 ways to leave your lover - at Christmas. Nice. 8pm, The Bush Theatre, Shepherds Bush Green, W12, £13.

Seven films, seven solo shows, seven days. 8pm, 79A Brick Lane, First Floor, E1. Free.

Scott Capuro headlines at Test Tube Comedy, 7:30pm, Canal Café Theatre,Delamere Terrace, W2. £6.