Terra Restaurant

A real taste of the Mediterranean is to be found at Terra, with dishes that have their origins in Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey and onwards. Located where it is it makes an ideal setting for business lunches, romantic rendezvous, dinner with colleagues or a great place to entertain that creaky relative who is considering making you his principal beneficiary. With theatres all round Terra is a great place for the pre or post suppers that set their seal on a successful evening out.

A menu that will instantly impress your companion with your sagacity and worldliness sets the ball rolling with a choice of some 16 or so starters, the diversity of which has been known to change the nature of meals to a tapas party. Among the delights that await look for smoked salmon rolls filled with soft cheese, spring onions and dill, bruschetta with tomato, basil garlic and mixed olives topping, or duck liver simply pan fried and served with red onion marmalade.

Salads abound as main courses, with chargrilled chicken, warm chorizo and roasted vegetables and goat?s cheese as some main ingredients. The grill and griddle starts off with a good traditional mixed grill, lamb, chicken, bacon and Italian sausage served with barbecue sauce, sautéed potatoes, onions and red peppers, possibly overshadowed by the mixed seafood grill where swordfish, salmon and tiger prawn skewers in white wine, lemon and garlic sauce are served with saffron rice. If you have a somewhat jaundiced view on the limited appeal of risotto spare some space for their tiger prawns and asparagus version, cooked in white wine, garlic and onions garnished with Parmesan shavings.

Lest you think Italy may have been overlooked run an eye down the list of pasta dishes, including a tagliatelle Rusticana with chicken, broccoli and blue cheese in a creamy sauce. See Terra and live! Desserts are as naughty as you had hoped for, with torta e fichi as one of the star performers. Shortcrust pastry base topped with slices of figs, walnuts and almonds and served with fresh cream make up its appeal and there are no reports of disappointed diners on record.

The Early Bird not only catches the worm but also has a choice of four dishes per course, which could start with grilled aubergine rolls filled with feta cheese, mint and chilli, grilled chicken fillet rubbed in spices and served with Harissa paste and rice. To finish do not overlook the tiramisu, a creamy combination of sweet soft cheese, coffee and Tia Maria.

A short but punchy wine list may be limited on choice but the ones that matter are there, with house champagne well within limits, house wines that make comfortable drinking possible by the glass or bottle.

Their special offers make for smiley faces, and Express Lunch makes best use of your time and your wallet. For details of offers, menu changes and other good news click on their Website. A taste of the Mediterranean seldom comes at such good rates as these.