Lonely Planet £7.99 and Zagat £7.99

Two new surveys of London restaurants - with vastly different ways of attempting to help those who live there and those who visit the capital to find a bite to eat.

In one corner, the UK's Lonely Planet guide, better produced with pictures and easy-to-follow maps and covering some 350 restaurants by name, neighbourhood and cuisine.

It provides a great list of symbols indicating noise levels, suitability for parking, dining outdoors, business and romantic dining. In each part of the city, it has a small list of the best in no particular order (Central London has the Criterion, the Ivy etc etc). Written by a small band, named at the start but anonymous thereafter, the descriptions of each restaurant give a clear indication of what is served and general prices for starters, main courses and puds.

In the other corner, the American Zagat, which has been covering London for five years. It lists 1,200 restaurants in the London area, including nearly 50 favourites outside the capital, all rated for food, decor and service based on Zagat's signature 30-point scale.

More than 3,000 people helped in marking, dining out on average 2.39 times a week, the gluttons, which adds up to about 380,000 meals a year.

The cross-references at the back are endless. Not only can you search by type of cuisine and location but also by historic interest, no smoking, pudding specialist and senior appeal. But it is not too hot on saying what is actually served.

The Lonely Planet is better at telling you exactly what you get, while Zagat gives marks and more overall impression. I'd say the Lonely Planet is best for those who live in London and Zagat better for those visiting. Which is probably what they both had in mind anyway.