Oscar's Cafe, Restaurant & Bar

Bang in the middle of one of Britain's leading centres of culture, the recently opened Oscar's clearly has a mission to rev things up a little in the historic Shakespeare town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Arriving at Oscar's, which is located above a cafe (no connection) take the entrance up the stairs to find yourself in a world of funky décor including disco balls and an ever changing mannequin. Set in a loft building dating back from around the same time as the Bard was at the height of his powers this bar and restaurant is truly a unique feature.

The globe trotting menu is again is like no other. For starters how about juicy Indonesian chicken satay skewers, crispy Thai fishcakes with sweet chilli dipping sauce, Mexican tortillas with salsa sauce, or perhaps good 'ole Indian mini poppadoms with mango chutney, not to mention the Chinese chicken and sweet corn soup.

The international theme continues throughout a main course menu that you are encouraged to mix 'n' match at your pleasure. Chicken with Italian tomato and mascarpone sauce and fusilli pasta, beef tikka massala with pilau rice, chilli con mushrooms with Mexican rice, Chinese chicken and black bean sauce with udon noodles, mild chicken korma with basmati rice, sweet and sour chicken with egg fried rice, prawn madras, Thai green curry - the selection is very good.

As a perfect partner to the warm spices of the main dishes, for dessert is a range of luxury ice creams: Caribbean rum and raisin, Thai stem ginger, double cream vanilla bean, triple chocolate, raspberry pavalova, lemon sorbet, mango sorbet, or perhaps you might be tempted by something simple such as just a mouth watering bowl of either papaya chunks or lychee fruit.

Of course the wine and beer list like the rest of the menu spans each continent: Spanish Rioja, Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and an Australian Colombard Chardonnay to name a few.

They have a late license and each night, after serving is finished a DJ or live act moves in to provide music suitable for a little late night cavorting. No wonder Oscar's seems to be on its way to becoming a cult location for those in the know.