Restaurant review: The Happenstance, St Paul's, London

I love wandering around the city but it's very rare that I actually go out in the city. I always seem to stick to the outskirts - namely east London. But when The Happenstance got in touch to see if I fancied sampling their cocktail and lunch menu, I decided to break the habit. The restaurant is located a stone throw away from St Paul's Cathedral and once you're inside it doesn't feel like you're in the city at all. If I'm perfectly honest, the reason I stay away from the city is because of the certain types of people who tend to venture in those places. But on a Sunday afternoon, it was a pleasure to be in the centre of London. My mum and I had such a wonderful afternoon at The Happenstance and got on the tube home with big smiles on our faces. We're still talking about how insanely good the cocktails were.

To get things started we both decided to pursue the cocktail menu. I opted for a Goldfish in a Bag as I'm a sucker for a novelty cocktail. On the rocks, the cocktail consisted of Tanqueray Gin, Hanger One Vodka, tonic and rosemary - delicious. Just the right strength, it was refreshing and seriously addictive. My mum, after much deliberation, decided on the London Spritz. Served in a wine glass, this fruity drink consisted of Tanqueray Gin, cucumber, elderflower, apple, mint and soda. Once again, a good solid choice. So far so good!

When it came to ordering my food, I decided in a second that I definitely had to try the chorizo scotch egg with a smoked paprika mayonnaise. They arrived warm with a perfectly runny yolk and a subtle kick thanks to the spicy sausage. My mum opted for the crispy squid which I definitely stole! It felt light but with a good crunch - no chewy squid rings here! By the time the starters were scoffed it was time for another cocktail to sample! As a massive gingerbread fan, I decided to order the Gingerbread Man. Served in a martini glass with a sugared rim, it consisted of vodka, gingerbread syrup, lime and apricot. Pure Christmas in a glass - so sweet but with a hint of spice. The Tiki Punch was on the cards for my mum. She's a massive fan of sugary sweet coconut cocktails so it was right up her street. Coconut-washed Barcardi rum, banana liquor, pineapple, lime and stout. If mine was Christmas, this one was 30 degrees on a Caribbean beach without a care in the world. Delicious!

Then it was on to the mains! Butternut squash and cheese are pretty much my two favourite things so I just had to have this creamy risotto. Topped with chunks of pillow soft butternut squash, flavoursome bay leaves and creamy mascarpone, it hit the spot. Filling, comforting and addictive. The roast beef got very high praise indeed from my mum who claimed it was the best beef she had tasted. We certainly can't cook beef like that in the Warner household!

Taking one for the team we pushed ourselves to order dessert. Creme Brûlée and pecan pie were the finishing touches. Good solid choices that complimented the meal well. We waddled back to the tube very happy women indeed.

Thanks for making our Sunday The Happenstance!