Town House Restaurant & Bar, The

The Town House is a delightful and sophisticated venue, a place where people of good taste can relax and enjoy some of the better things of life, appreciating the mix of good food and a selection of well chosen wines and champagnes to accompany it.

The owners say, 'We have a passion for hospitality, and the desire to deliver great food in a relaxing environment'. Few would dispute that they succeed admirably. This is very much due to Head Chef Rob Wear, whose taster menu is one of the features of The Town House. Seven dishes can be chosen from a seasonal selection.

The spring lunch and dinner menu yields a number of starters to include a ballontine of cured salmon with crème fraîche and caviar, a classic Caesar salad, duck liver parfait, toasted brioche and spiced cherries, or half a dozen Colchester rock oysters, raspberry and shallot vinegar.

Dishes that can be adapted for starters or main courses include tiger prawns in their shells with aioli, smoked haddock and salmon fishcake with pineapple and curry foam, or a butternut squash risotto with basil leaves and pine nuts.

Main courses number around twelve, covering a good range of dishes that will appeal widely, starting with salmon poached in red wine, pea puree and young spinach. An Aubrey Allen 8oz Scotch fillet of beef is served simply with fries, watercress and Béarnaise sauce.

Cornish lamb is said to have a very special flavour that pick up its flavours from the salt laden air and rich grazing from that sea-washed peninsula, and combined with carrots, peas and gnocchi a piece of rump can rouse the appetite. The Tandoori spiced sea bass with crushed potatoes and aioli dressing is simply divine! Honey roast pork belly served with green vegetables and caramelised apples is another firm favourite amongst the many regulars.

These are people in the kitchens who know their public, who feel that vegetables have to be good for you, but why oh why can't they be made more exciting? Try their swede puree with smoked bacon, steamed green vegetables instead of those drowned bits of greenery that too often wash up on your plate - and their fries may be wicked, but they're wickedly good.

Puddings are as tempting as ever, with home made lemon meringue and a chocolate fondant with vanilla bean ice cream simply ensures any diet is seriously banished! A variety of summer sundaes have also been introduced to tantalise and satisfy every palate.

The mange vite menu is your answer to a quick bite before the theatre, cinema or visit to the NEC, with three choices on each of three courses that could embrace a ballontine of cured salmon, Aubrey Allen 100% Scotch beef burger with some of those fries, and chocolate ganache to finish. Have lunch there and you can leave your car in safety whilst you shop in Mell Square or Touchwood.

A broad-church wine list is well supported by a range of new cocktails and some of the more exotic draught beers.

The Town House also benefits from a fabulously appointed Private Dining Room, which is suitable for every and any family celebration or occasion and is also used for corporate hospitality, meetings, cocktail parties, product launches, etc. There is also a comprehensive event guide to include Cheltenham Gold Cup Day, Royal Ascot Ladies Day, Regular Wine Tastings, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter Sunday and the usual Christmas and New Year Festive Programme for 2008.

Be sure to check on their excellent Website for menu variations and details of events.