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Located on the riverside in the centre of the lively cathedral town of Ely, offering quality eating and drinking in perfect surroundings, The Boathouse is steeped in history. King Canute and Hereward the Wake would have been familiar with the Great Ouse upon whose banks it stands, and in 1944 the Boat Race crews launched from the building when the Race was staged outside London during the war years.

Nowadays The Boathouse is a leading hotspot of Ely, a town renowned for one of the most outstanding cathedrals in Britain, with a brilliant programme of events taking place in and around this ancient place of worship throughout the year.

There is a main menu, in which you can be sure the locally caught eels, a great Fenland delicacy, will feature. Sure enough, amongst the starters is smoked eel and carrot salad, a baked duck parcel with sweet and sour cucumber; mushrooms on toast with chives and poached egg, or chicken liver pâté with red onion jam.

Main courses follow much the same pattern with roasted cod fillet, potato dumplings, spinach, fried mushrooms and green herb sauce. Denham Estate lamb cutlets are served with balsamic roasted red onions, tomatoes, new potatoes and port sauce, whilst sirloin steak comes with hand cut chips and a choice of sauce from the board.

Amongst the desserts there are some very tempting indulgences, like black cherry and kirsch crème brûlée, chocolate and hazelnut parfait, or the ubiquitous hot sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream.

At lunchtime a more limited menu is on offer with four starters and mains, which could include warm honey and thyme goats' cheese; sausages and mash made on site, and rhubarb and pear crumble. There can be few pleasanter places in Ely in which to enjoy a leisurely lunch than the sunlit quayside area outside The Boathouse.

A wine list drawn mainly from The Languedoc fields eight bottles at £20 or below, and several by the glass or carafe. The Boathouse is a valuable addition to the area and on present form looks set to thrive, in order to find out more a visit to their Website is definitely recommended.

The 17th century Anchor Inn is an established award winning riverside inn full of charm and character. Concentrating on fine, locally fresh yet unpretentious food and serving quality local beer as well as a superb wine list, the Anchor is an example of what is good about the independent modern British gastropub.

Should you fancy a longer stay they have four guest bedrooms, described by Paddy Burt in her Daily Telegraph column as'...a little bit of heaven anchored in Fenland'. Those living in the Fens will know exactly what she means.

Sensibly, a word that often comes to mind when looking at the Anchor Inn, they have one à la carte menu for dinner every day except on Sunday during December, when it is replaced by a special celebratory version. At other times an excellent lunch, two courses for £12.95, three for £16.95 is on offer.

A nice touch is provided by the pre-meal arrangements, enabling the menu to be considered over a glass of champagne or a glass of Barbadillo Manzanilla extra dry sherry, with a bowl of olives and roast cashews or sea salt and Balsamic crisps.

Dishes on offer could range from starters like chicken liver pâté with red onion marmalade and melba toast; grilled dates wrapped in bacon in a mild grain mustard cream sauce, or warm cranberry and brie filo parcel.

The same inspired approach persists into the choice of main courses, with pan-fried free range chicken breast on forestière potatoes and herb pesto. Ballotine of pheasant and Parma ham with chestnut stuffing, roasted new potatoes, winter greens and red wine jus carries with it a blend of flavours that brings the taste buds smartly to attention. Pan-fried sea bass is always popular, served here on chilli, herb and horseradish linguine with steamed pak choi.

From a list of five desserts the double chocolate brownie with Mandarin ice-cream stands supreme, or there's vanilla cheesecake with black cherry compote. For many, a well kept cheeseboard is an essential and here the selection of unusual British farmhouse cheeses does not disappoint.

This is a great spot for Sunday lunch when the menu might contain starters of seared king scallops on pea puree and baby fondant potatoes with crispy bacon and lemon dressing; mozzarella and tomato salad with fresh basil pesto, roast sirloin of Ouse Wash beef with full accompaniments, or fillet of sea trout on a bed of sautéed new potatoes, creamed leeks and broad beans with sauce vierge. Denham Estate venison steak also makes an appearance.

For dessert many folk would need a lot of persuasion not to opt for the raspberry and amaretti terrine with crème fraîche. With serving hours now extended to 2.30pm there is simply no excuse for not taking the family out for a real treat.

A well varied and comfortably priced wine list, with some 60 choices, well described and helpfully categorised; is in keeping with this well-run yet relaxed and friendly place. Due attention is paid to the needs of those who wish to confine their drinking to by-the-glass.

Menu variations follow the seasons and the markets, and a quick click on their attractive Website will keep you up to scratch.

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

A prominent landmark of Caxton and South Cambridgeshire, Yim Wah House, formerly in Ermine Street, has now relocated temporarily in Soham, due to a massive fire that destroyed the dearly loved and widely acclaimed restaurant on the 21st of March 2009. Thanks to the support of patrons and well-wishers, it's now back on its feet and keeping locals and visitors happy with its skilfully cooked, delicious Chinese cuisine.

The menu is extensive and leaves you spoilt for choice. Diced chicken in golden cups, speciality squid in peppercorn salt and chilli and Japanese tempura are just some of the tantalizing names. For mains, choose from rice and noodle dishes alongside curries such as spicy chicken fillet in Thai hot and sweet sauce and Sing Chow lobster in spicy sauce. The bill of fare also deviates from Chinese and offers refreshing Japanese and Thai cuisine, along with delicacies like salt and chilli frog legs. A visit to this restaurant may put you in awe of its resilient spirit, whilst savouring its food and genuinely warm service.

Yim Wah is happy to cater for those with special dietary requirements and their vegetarian dishes are also very popular amongst diners.

A 17th century coaching inn painstakingly renovated and recently refurbished, The Red Lion in High Street offers comfortable accommodation as well as elegant dining from a modern British menu in its conservatory restaurant. It is situated in the centre of the village of Stretham, a conservation area itself. Relax and unwind in the atmospheric setting with wood burning fires and works of local artists on the walls.

The restaurant is open daily at lunchtime and evenings for a large variety of individually cooked meals. Guests can look forward to hearty fare with old favourites such as steak and Guinness pie, grilled rainbow trout, beer battered fish and chips, shepherd's pie, grilled lamb cutlets, fishcakes and roast duckling. Other options include prawn cocktail, garlic mushrooms, goat's cheese and red onion ciabatta, beef lasagne, vegetable casserole and pan seared chicken breast with braised red cabbage. A range of salads and burgers add to the variety. If staying at The Red Lion you can enjoy a full English breakfast to fortify yourself for the day. Refresh the palate with traditional beers, wines, spirits, teas and coffees.

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

In this rather wild part of the Fens it is encouraging to come across somewhere like The Fen House where good taste is well ensconced, even it is only available at dinner on Friday and Saturdays, or other times by arrangement. Booking is essential.

Starters may include delicately cooked chicken livers with Madeira sauce and red grapes nestling in a brioche, grilled goat's cheese on vegetables provencale, before rolled saddle of lamb with onion sauce and Madeira gravy.

Puddings follow the same sort of drift with spiced apple tartlet and Calvados custard a good whacky dish on which to complete. The wine list, starting at just under £14, is some sixty long, a brave effort for a restaurant of limited space and opening. I would think The Fen House comes into its own for parties of like-minded people who want to take off into the wilds and have a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxed evening to themselves.

The history of The Maltings stretches back to 1868 when it was built by the local brewer to malt local barley for brewing ale, before it took on the role of a thriving entertainment complex hosting weddings, seminars and concerts. Today it is not uncommon to see diners, business delegates and blushing brides-to-be preparing for the big day, or tourists who love to watch the many boats sail by on the River Ouse.

The huge glass windows, wooden floors and bench leather seating help in creating an informal atmosphere at the restaurant and the menu reflects on blending of the familiar with the new. Of particular interest are starters of smoked eel and trout fishcakes with celeriac coleslaw, finished with beetroot and balsamic dressing. A generous selection of main courses are both appetising and satisfying, think slow roasted belly of pork, Powters 8oz rib-eye steak and grilled mackerel fillets.

The Maltings riverside location is a part of its appeal and little wonder that many locals flock together to meet, exchange great thoughts or just watch the world go by.

Acquired in 2001 by Liz and Stuart Trangmar, The White Pheasant located in Market Street, Fordham near Ely, has a single-minded focus on providing simple and honest full-flavoured food in a friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. Only the best of seasonal, local produce is used in the kitchen and depending on the season, you may sample beef or rare breed of lamb from Fordham, pheasant and partridge from Exning and rhubarb from the garden. The ambience is pleasant, the service is prompt and the experience relaxing.

Sample terrine of locally shot game, wild Saffron Walden venison, buttered chilli spinach, roast fillet of wild Scottish cod, venison meatballs in tomato sauce and caramelized onion and butternut squash tartlet. There's also a hog roast and Sunday lunch menu available and an interesting and sensibly priced wine list has been thoughtfully put together to complement the meal. For dessert, go for hot chocolate fondant and pistachio ice-cream with a glass of Scirafi. The White Pheasant excels in authentic, lip-smacking food and no-fuss, friendly dining atmosphere.