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In the midst of some debate on when is a gastropub not a gastropub, The Headley is launched in a charming corner of Headley Common, a move that will bring delight to the area, and is particularly well-timed. Owned by Chef Proprietor Daniel Clifford, East Anglia's only 2 Michelin star chef, the Shaker-like interior and the kitchen's culinary ambitions are bringing the customers in droves.

The dinner menu sets out the stall rather like an election manifesto, and the pulse quickens as your eye runs over starters of broccoli and aged Stilton soup or pint of fresh prawns and garlic mayonnaise. Main courses of whole baked rainbow trout with flaked almonds and sautéed chicken with creamed leeks, mushroom and thyme sauce, leave little doubt about the sense of direction of this excellent restaurant.

The wine list goes back to 1999 with Dom Pérignon, or Amour de Deutz, but there is plenty of choice from more recent and affordable sources.

Located on Crown Street, just off Brentwood High Street, Tarantino offers casual Italian dining in a real Italian atmosphere. The décor is vibrant and traditional with delightful murals depicting famous places in Italy. The venue is spread over two floors, with the upper floor being available for private parties and functions and offers live music on Friday evenings.

The specials board changes daily allowing chefs to be creative and to use the day's freshest produce and serve traditional authentic Italian dishes. Some of the options on the extensive menu are fresh king scallops - lightly pan fried in honey and orange on a bed of chopped rocket and cucumber, or closed cup mushrooms filled with Dolcelatte cheese and oven baked for starters.

Main courses might be strips of Scottish beef, peas, garlic, and chillies in a creamed tomato herb sauce, or calzone classico - a folded pizza with tomato, mozzarella, ham and mushrooms with a rocket and shaved parmesan salad.

There is much solace to be found in the interior at Lot 67 located on Hutton Road, with burgundy, cream and brown hues blending classily and the shipshape furnishings being easy on the eye.

The kitchen's passion for preparing agreeable modern European food is evident in dishes such as pollo e pesto calzone and wild boar pappardelle. Homemade spaghetti and meatballs in pomodoro sauce make an ideal pasta course preceded by starters of figs stuffed with goats' cheese and Parma ham, or garlic marinated king prawns. Main courses bring in sea bass fillet pan-fried on a bed of lentils and rocket, and Italian beef and vegetable casserole. Rekindle fond memories of your Italian holiday with desserts like tiramisu and pannacotta with fruit coulis.

If the urge to replicate the Lot 67 experience at home is overwhelming then the takeaway menu come handy, choose from a wide range of pizza, pasta, and perhaps chicken goujons and chips for little eaters.

Slug and Lettuce has a chain of almost a hundred bars spread across the country sharing a common love of serving down to earth, undemanding food and drink.

The group prides itself on offering dishes prepared using quality ingredients, and you should be attended on by attentive staff in a safe, welcoming and cheerful environment. The Slugs have something for anyone - breakfast for a lively start to the day, lunch for busy people, family meals or even a relaxing glass of wine to bring a tiring day to an end - all in a variety of modern and stylish settings.

The menu features old time English favourites such as Gloucestershire Old Spot sausages in buttered mash or fish pie made with Dartmouth smokehouse haddock, in a Devon cream and leek sauce, although dishes look to Europe and further afield to Asia for inspiration. A good way to start the enjoyment is by sharing platters of Southern fried chicken breast pieces, crispy potato wedges, garlic ciabatta strips, half a rack of BBQ pork ribs, wasabi vegetables with onion rings or some Greek mezze

Hearty steak pies, Thai curry with sticky jasmine rice or butternut squash with goats' cheese lasagne are amongst the more popular main dishes. Sandwiches or wraps - warm tortilla with chicken and Parmesan or aromatic duck in plum sauce - provide for those who prefer something lighter. They also serve burgers as well as tempting salads like salmon, asparagus or tomato and mozzarella. For children they have good old British standby sausage and mash, or pepper pasta and ketchup among other choices, all of which never fail to delight, particularly as some of them seem to have come out of a certain celebrity chef's Book of Forbidden Dishes.

Desserts appear in the form of raspberry biscotti, hot chocolate pudding or a creamy strawberry cheesesake. The wine list is well compiled and substantial. There are not less than seven French, three from Italy and some from Spain, Chile, Australia as well as New Zealand. Slug and Lettuce can cater for events including birthday parties, fashion shows, hen nights, wedding parties or just an enjoyable night out with a few friends.

Rajmoni, situated in Warley Hill, Brentwood, is a popular spot to enjoy the enduring delights of authentic and traditional Indian food. Stylish modern furniture and ambient lighting create a relaxed atmosphere, while the kitchen treats ingredients with utmost care to ensure that flavours are pronounced.

Feast on old favourites such as chicken tikka masala, or try something new from a range of Rajmoni's specialities, such as flavoursome Hyderabadi lamb or nawabi chicken. Duck and prawns are given the masala, vindaloo, korma, dopiaza and bhuna treatment while the chef's culinary skills come to the fore with dishes such as chicken makhani, Malibu chicken, khori shashlik curry and the classic rezala lamb curry from Bangladesh.