Ramsons Restaurant

It is not until you catch on to the link between the Pennines and the Italian Appenines, that the presence of a real Italian hotbed in the unlikely setting of Ramsbottom becomes more justifiable. Then the credits begin to roll and you note that the Independent decided that Ramsons is 'one of the best ten places in Britain to eat Italian food' in 2004, and that in the same year they were awarded the Booker Prize for Excellence as Britain's Best Independent Restaurant.

But at the 2008 Which Awards held at the British Museum - where else? - Heston Blumenthal announced that Ramsons was to be Good Food Guide 2009 Restaurant of the Year, so the progress has been maintained.

The menu changes twice daily and could start with seared Shetland scallops with celeriac puree and truffle sauce, before progressing to first courses of brown shrimp tortellini with lobster bisque and Parmesan froth or perhaps a vialone nano rice risotto. Salad or vegetables are then served as a separate middle course before the main courses, from a choice of six that may include roast loin of saddleback pork with potato dauphinoise, apple gratin and pork 'jus'sauce; poached fillet of lemon sole with lobster gratin, sautéed spinach, lemon mash and gratin mustard sauce, or grilled breast of Goosnargh duck.

A cheese course of seasonal English and artisan Italian varieties cement the Entente Italia and desserts can offer rhubarb crumble parfait, or possibly a hot Amedei chocolate fondant.

A light weekday lunch at £18 could include a salad and main course. But wait! In their Hideaway not only do you eat surrounded by large quantities of Italian wine, but supper at 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday costs only £17.50. The Hideaway deal means that you could choose from a selection of over 300 hand-picked Italian wines in the cellar and two house wines in 50cl jugs for £7.50. Regular guests with a loyalty bonus means that a midweek lunch will cost you £22.50 for three courses.

Ask about wine at Ramsons and their eyes light up. Head Chef Naseem has spent many years pursuing the delicate relationship that exists between good food and equally good wine. This has resulted in a conclusion that the best wines of Italy which will provide a good match for every challenge that his restaurant's chefs may offer tend to come from the passionate, small scale Italian producers, who are producing wine that is hardly known beyond their homeland.

Ramsons is a place most definitely not to be missed, full of character and genuine enthusiasm; but why not find out more from their Website? Oh, you might also like to know that it takes its name from the wild garlic that grows in great profusion along the banks of the nearby River Irwell.