Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over seven years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England with well over a hundred 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 examples of this. 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 satisfy the needs of those who like genuine Italian cuisine, as 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 pizza bread with a traditional tomato pizza base, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crocchetta di granchio, crab cakes served with a lime and dill dressing and salad garnish or formaggio di capra, grilled goats' cheese with beef, tomatoes and caramelised balsamic onions on freshly baked ciabatta bread set the tone for a hearty meal.

Find pastas such as the unusual ravioli di pollo, made with chopped chargrilled chicken ravioli with plenty of smoked diced bacon and petits pois in a parmesan cream sauce; amongst the special pastas, the crespolina porcini, rolled crepes filled with mushrooms and ricotta, cooked with parmesan and mushrooms in a cream sauce is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like traditional al funghi, made of mushrooms, baby spinach and parmesan cheese, while the mediterraneo, with crayfish tails in a creamy saffron sauce, is enticingly different.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with tuna, tomato, anchovies, capers and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, seasoned chicken, artichoke, mushroom and mozzarella.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, chargrilled butterflied chicken breast, smoked bacon rashers and beef tomato slices, baked in the oven with melted cheese and served with gratinated potatoes, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can wash down the food with a variety of tipples - ranging from house wine like the Morellino di Scansano and Chardonnay to liqueurs and beer and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal.

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.

Set in an acre of idyllic Cambridgeshire countryside, with the River Great Ouse flowing close by, The Crown Inn in the village of Broughton offers guests a fine modern British menu in a charming Grade II listed cottage. Just outside the historic market town of Huntingdon, and close to St. Ives, The Crown Inn is easily accessible from Cambridge via the A14 and Peterborough via the A1.

Comfortable and informal, charming rustic interiors of exposed brick walls, flagstone floors, bay windows and an open fireplace invite diners to relax and unwind at leisure. The extensive grounds are perfect for al fresco dining when the weather allows it. Friendly efficient service makes the experience even more memorable.

The seasonally changing menu, using the finest local produce, showcases the kitchen team's robust British cooking with French and Italian influences. Whet the appetite with starters of flat mushroom stuffed with cranberry compote and melted brie, duck liver paté with orange compote and mixed herb crostini or smoked chicken with sesame potato salad and hazelnut dressing.

You could indulge the palate further with delicious mains of roast guinea fowl breast in a port and juniper sauce with prune stuffing, baby rosemary roasties and roasted beetroot; medallions of pork fillet wrapped in bacon with dauphinoise potatoes and sherry, sweet pepper and seafood sauce or char grilled venison steak with parsnip purée and parmentier potatoes with a red wine and blackberry gravy. A daily specials board offers more seasonal dishes.

For a quick lunch try the Broughton burger with lettuce, sliced tomato, melted cheese and onion rings with hand cut chips; sausage, mash and gravy of the day or chef's omelette with homemade chips and salad. A selection of sandwiches includes hot Cajun chicken with mango dressing, roast beef and horseradish sauce and smoked salmon with lemon mayonnaise, served on brown or white bloomer with salad and kettle chips. The family-friendly pub also offers a children's menu.

A delectable dessert selection tempts the sweet tooth with such offerings butterscotch pudding with whiskey sauce and cinder toffee crème fraiche, frosted meringue and pistachio slice with bitter chocolate sauce and white chocolate and pear bread and butter pudding with rum cream brings up the finale in style.

The pub serves a good selection of beer and changes its guest ale every week. The wine list is replete with a variety of carefully selected premium wines from around the world.

With its spacious grounds and location opposite All Saints Church, The Crown Inn is the perfect venue for a wedding reception and can cater for up to 200 guests, with a bespoke menu and excellent service making sure everything is in place on your big day.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Situated in the rolling Essex countryside the Barn Brasserie restaurant offers an idyllic rural setting while combined with astonishing accessibility situated as it is just five minutes from the A12 and nearby Colchester in the picturesque village of Great Tey.

This 500-year-old barn that has been lovingly restored is now truly a magnificent dining venue with high gabled ceilings and a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere that ensures diners return again and again. In fact the 7,500 sq ft thatched roof makes this grade II listed barn one of the largest in England.

The restaurant itself is now in its eleventh year and continues to prove itself a popular choice on the region's gastronomic scene. The main restaurant prides itself on a menu that has something for everyone. From its choice menu, two courses for £17.50 and three courses for £22.50, right up to its sumptuous á la carte menu and impressive wine list, the Barn Brasserie caters to all tastes and all pockets.

You could start with tomato and basil soup with freshly baked bread, or even chicken liver parfait with grape chutney, toasted brioche and dressed leaves, followed by pea and mint risotto with rocket and grated Italian cheese. Finish off with a home made lavender ice cream, pistachio ice cream and raspberry sorbet.

If you are eating on a budget then the variety is equally tempting. The choice menu of two and three courses includes delicious starters like chicken liver parfait with grape chutney, toasted brioche and dressed leaves or goats' cheese crostini with honey and walnuts, followed by braised shank of British lamb, with fondant potato, fine beans and a redcurrant jus or beer battered cod with twice cooked, hand cut chunky chips, minted mushy peas and tartare sauce.

There is also an extensive range of vegetarian and gluten free options from butternut squash, sweet potato and goats' cheese with coconut reduction to plum tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad with pesto dressed leaves. All that can be accompanied by any of the dishes from our side order menu.

The Barn ethos of quality demands that its chefs use only the very best produce the majority of which is sourced from the very best local producers. Whether it's free-range produce, like chickens from Suffolk or eggs from Tiptree, the Barn gets to know its suppliers and works closely with them to provide the Barn's clients with a dining experience to remember. Every meal is cooked to order and all individual tastes and requirements are catered for.

As well as glorious lunches and dinners, the Barn can also cater for business meetings, seminars and presentations with its private Dealing Room seating up to 40 delegates. Situated in the restaurant's courtyard, the Dealing Room offers a unique opportunity to hold meetings in a secluded and stylish setting away from the usual distractions and demands of the office.

Opened in 2002 this facility has proved immensely popular with business people from all over the region and is also available to individuals for private dining, wine tastings and parties along with their Colony Room, which will seat up to 26 guests, offering modern and contemporary dining.

All in all the Barn Brasserie is somewhere both interesting and special, an experience not to be missed. For further information visit the Barn's Website to sort out your reservation or requirements.

There is about the East Anglian countryside an air of antiquity quite unlike anywhere else you have encountered in Britain. It is at its strongest in places like Lavenham where a combination of ancient buildings, warm dry summers and the red brick and half timbering peculiar to counties like Suffolk are at their best.

It is no surprise therefore that the Great House at Lavenham should fit in so well to this idyllic background. Lavenham has to be high on the list of most attractive villages in England, the sort of place where people who may be weary of their everyday locations come for some well-earned rejuvenation.

Described by The Mail on Sunday as 'a gem of a small country hotel-restaurant with an authentic taste of France', The Great House has five luxurious accommodations, with no expense spared to ensure the sort of setting where, as you walk into your room you know instinctively that this is your personal paradise, yours for as long as you can stay.

Eating well is every bit as important to the process as resting well, and when The Sunday Telegraph said, 'The Great House is a cracking restaurant' it was not referring to the foundations, which incidentally are in fine shape. There are several menus, of which the à la carte is but one example, and whilst the overall influence is French, ingredients tend to follow regional sourcing with an emphasis on freshness. Great House Hotel & Restaurant is rated as one of 'Britain's top 100 Restaurants' by the Sunday Times.

Starters could include duck foie gras, French 'les landes' foie gras ballotine marinated with Armagnac and Port and grilled brioche, or tuna and mackerel sushi, marinated red tuna with olive oil, lemon juice, sesame seeds and rice vinegar mackerel fillet.

First courses of this kind of integrity create the sort of confidence that enables a meal to be enjoyed to the full and main courses of roasted duck breast with wild morel mushroom sauce, or farmed halibut, grilled with spinach and coriander salsa, white wine and passion fruit sauce, do nothing to diminish this sense of well-being. Dinner brings perhaps a shrimp cocktail with cucumber, coriander, fresh chilli horseradish cream and tomato sorbet followed by cheek of beef slowly cooked in red wine Le Puy lentils and bacon.

It is within the dessert menu at The Great House that opportunities exist for the most outrageous indulgence. Who, in their right gastronomic mind, would be able to keep calm as they dallied between the relative merits of a dark and milk chocolate ganache with runny salted caramel heart and crispy 'Tuile' biscuit just so, or a crème brûlée, pistachio and raspberry with crispy top? Well, there are those who would head unerringly for the wonderful selection of perfectly kept French cheeses.

It would be strange if the wine list was anything but equal to the task of matching the cuisine, and not only is the selection everything you would expect and by no means confined to France alone, it is also amazingly good value for money. There is a magnificent range of half bottles, excellent house wine and champagne by the glass, with ports, cognacs, armagnacs and liqueurs enough to ensure a very happy landing.

If I display inclinations towards what some might see as a rave review, it is simply because a lot of people get parts of it right part of the time - few achieve the full monty. Be assured that The Great House at Lavenham is most definitely one of them. Perhaps it should not come as a surprise therefore that the Good Food Guide made them East of England Restaurant of the Year 2009, whilst the Good Hotel Guide for 2009 made them Restaurant with Rooms of the Year. They have also been awarded two Rosettes by the AA Guide.

Their Website informs well about the hotel and restaurant and has a number of useful links to enhance your enjoyment on a wider scale.

Every so often you will read of the delights of small market town living, in such places say, as Bury St Edmunds where the pace drops a significant number of notches from, for example, the delights of Notting Hill. Some towns in Britain already enjoy the ready availability of good restaurants and one's mind thinks immediately of Ludlow in Shropshire, with more fine establishments per head of the population than probably anywhere else in Britain.

In Bury St Edmunds a French-style restaurant where the chef, Pascal Canevet, majors on fish, is perhaps part of a movement to encourage that ancient town in the same direction.
 
The menu is straightforward and the dishes offered, together with the roll call of wonderful piscine names. Let's start with the salmon, a plate of which is designed to tickle the tastebuds and will include salmon 'rillettes' with handpicked Cornish crab meat, cod and dill roulade and shellfish mayonnaise.

At the other end of the scale, and there are stopping-off places in between, is the Royal plate, a breathtaking presentation of lobster, crab, langoustines, oysters, whelks, tiger prawns and mussels.

Seared scallops is presented with diced vegetables brunoise, tomato and balsamic vinegar dressing, whilst fish soup served with rouille, garlic croutons and grated gruyère would need some serious avoiding action. Any quality fish menu is, almost of a necessity, going to mirror a changing market subject indeed to wind and tide, and Maison Bleue is no exception. It is this element of uncertainty that catches the interest and makes every visit a voyage of discovery.

On the other side, there are dishes that follow like wild turbot from the Scottish coast with pan-fried fillet, egg tagliatelle and garlic leaves sauce, or lemon sole, whole fish pan-fried with capers, croutons, lemon and parsley. It is surely one of the hallmarks of a successful approach to cooking fish that a minimalist approach in general pays off almost every time.

They offer different variations on lamb, fowl and beef and it is much to their credit that the wine list, which is full of fish-worthy whites, also does justice to the carnivores, though the tendency to drink red with anything, does seem to be on the increase.

The décor and front of house arrangements are faultless as one has come to expect with this modest but convincingly effective East Anglian group. If you are looking for further information, then you will find that a'plenty on their comprehensive Website, including menus. It should not come as a surprise to learn that it has been named as East of England's restaurant of the year 2009/2010 by the Good Food Guide and two Rosettes by the AA Guide.

Until comparatively recent times the word gunboat had colonial connotations that are fast fading into the dark shadows of Victorian imperialism. So with re-usage all the rage it may not come as a total surprise to find a superb relic of the maritime past, an imaginative and extremely well-presented floating survival, on the ancient waterfront of the historic port of Ipswich.

Many of the original features of this fine and much travelled vessel, launched in 1899 in Belgium, are retained and so skilfully has the work been done that it is not always easy to disregard the feeling that you might emerge from the absorption of your meal, only to find yourself rocking gently off Dogger Bank or the German Bight.

Everything is immaculate and shipshape, the brasswork gleams, the woodwork reflects the subtle lights from the boat-studded harbour scene outside and the cries of the seabirds remove any possible lingering doubts of authenticity.

This seamanlike precision translates very easily it seems into the all-important area of the galley where French brasserie food, which by no means ignores fish, is prepared with consistent care, taking full advantage of the readily available local excellence evident in all three venues of this lively and well-respected East Anglian group.

The menu is as traditional as the ship's ropework and could include starters of spicy Thai haddock fish cake with sweet chili, coriander sauce and poached egg, a salad of crayfish baby tomato with pepper, boiled egg and olive oil vinaigrette or fresh crab meat layered with avocado mousse and tomato jelly.

A breath from the past is invoked by the grilled venison steak with rich cranberry and red wine sauce. To follow, perhaps the roasted fillet of sea bass with mashed potato and Hollandaise will do very well.

The sea air may well have induced an even keener appetite than usual, in which case consider yielding to the firepower of a grilled Aberdeen sirloin steak with Roquefort sauce and French fries. And talking of planks a gang-plank-walking selection of puddings offers good brasserie style such as cappuccino cheesecake with coffee coulis or the almond and honey pannacotta with red fruit jelly and white chocolate mousse. However, cheese-eaters of any nationality may find even armed resistance fails in the presence of an overwhelming force of well-kept cheeses.

An attractive selection of house wines come by the glass, carafe or bottle and the mainly French list can hardly fail to satisfy the needs of the most demanding raider. Tableware and service are in keeping with the best traditions of the wardroom mess, bringing the final touches to a voyage of nostalgic excellence. They do lunches of breathtaking value and quality and on the upper deck the wine bar offers opportunities for relaxation and light snacks.

Extremely full details on Mariners, including a pictorial tour and menus, are available on their Website.

Surrounded by shops and bars on Queen's Road, Prezzo Buckhurst Hill serves authentic Italian cuisine in a stunning setting. The modern interior features wood panelling, feature lighting and cosy booth seating whilst the rear garden area is perfect for a relaxed alfresco meal.

A short walk from Buckhurst Hill Tube Station, Prezzo is also a short drive from Buckhurst Hill Football Club and Buckhurst Hill Cricket and Lacrosse Club.

The restaurants satisfy the needs of those who like genuine Italian cuisine, as 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 pizza bread with caramelised balsamic onions and melted 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 goats' cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on focaccia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal.

Find pastas such as the unusual chicken ravioli, made pancetta bacon, petits pois and grana padano cheese in a cream sauce; amongst the special pastas, the polpette al forno with meatballs, field mushrooms, caramelised onions, red chillies and penne in a tomato and garlic sauce is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like chicken and red pesto with roasted peppers and grana padano cheese, while tiger prawns with oak roast salmon and petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce, is enticingly different.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular fiorentina, topped with spinach, free-range egg, grana padano cheese, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato, and the much loved quattro formaggi - gorgonzola, goat's cheese, grana padano, mozzarella, tomato.

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

You can wash down the food with a variety of tipples - ranging from house wine and Chardonnay to liqueurs and beer and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

The Crown has a reputation for outstanding cuisine, with 2 AA red rosettes, excellent wines - winner of the wine pub of the year 2005, real ales and friendly, efficient staff. The inn dates back to the early 1500s and has been extended over the years, endeavouring to provide modern amenities without losing the inn's old world charm. The Crown is unusual in that it attracts young and old alike, probably because of its varying degrees of decor suiting different tastes, but all done in a relaxed, modern and country feel.

Richard Sunderland and his chefs insist that the cuisine is simple and that they use the best and freshest ingredients. Choices for lunch could include pork belly and sage terrine, red onion marmalade with sourdough toast, a main course of roast rump of lamb with char grilled flatbread, hoummus, harissa, spinach raita and tabbouleh and puddings such as warm peacan pie and miniature coffee chocolate trifle.

Fish is chalked up on the blackboard daily, emphasising that everything is fresh, predominantly from the East Coast. Sunday lunch is treated with the same respect as in most East Anglian pubs and restaurants and wood pigeon with fine beans, broad beans and garlic cream might set Granny back a bit but she'll recover when she gets into the battered haddock with homemade tartare and thick cut chips, or the traditional roast beef.

Supper dishes could include a smoked salmon and ricotta fritters with honey and dill dressing followed by 28 day matured rib eye steak with peppercorn, finally ending with the warm pecan pie and miniature coffee chocolate trifle.

The Crown has over 30 wines by the glass, so you can have a different wine with each course. For those wanting a bottle of something rather special, the Crown certainly does not hurt the pocket, as an absolute it's a treasure trove of classics from a truly eclectic collection.

Another unusual feature of the Crown is the wine shop, where one is able to browse through over 200 wines, for either drinking in or taking out. Knowledgeable staff are on hand to guide you through if you feel too mesmerised! If you feel this is purely for wine lovers you would be wrong, for many of the local real ale aficionados come far and wide to sample the immaculately kept beers. Wines can be ordered by the case and are normally delivered within a week, unless particularly rare, in which case allow longer.

There is outside seating for lovers of al fresco dining, as well as just lovers, offering splendid country views so that your eyes can also feast on probably one of the finest views in Suffolk. Menus change about every three weeks, and seasonal specialities can be anybody's guess, but take a tip and click on their Website for fuller details, particularly for accommodation. The Crown has 11 rooms quietly located to the rear of the property, overlooking open countryside. All rooms are individually decorated and very comfortably furnished. A full English breakfast is included in the price and served daily.

Housed within the busy Cardinal Retail Park, right opposite Cineworld Cinemas, Chimichanga Ipswich is the perfect retreat for an enjoyable Mexican meal after a tiring shopping expedition. With plenty of parking available, the restaurant is only a 4-minute drive from the Regent Theatre while Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town Football Club, is even closer.

Chimichanga's extensive à la carte caters to a variety of palates. A wide range of delicious appetisers includes crab cakes, Buffalo chicken wings and empanadas, a traditional crispy pastry filled with a choice of chicken or chorizo sausage with cheese and served with sour cream. Other choices include piri piri prawns, Cajun chicken with chilli sauce and jalapeno bullets, a dish of deep fried jalapeno peppers with cream cheese and chilli sauce. Appetisers to share include chicken nachos or taquitos, crispy flour tortilla tubes with a range of fillings including cheese and black beans, chicken, cheese and salsa and chorizo and cheese.

Light bites include a range of tortilla wraps including a classic fajita wrap with a choice of char grilled fajita steak or chicken served with peppers and onions in a tortilla with Jack cheese. Vegetarians are catered for with the delicious courgette and Portobello mushroom wraps which comes with chipotle chilli sauce and jack cheese. There's also a number of tempting salad options such as blackened tuna salad with tuna steak coated in a special blend of Cajun spices, blacked on a hot skillet and served over a bed of mixed leaves with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.

For something more filling diners could opt for a tortilla burger, made from 100 per cent fully traceable prime Scottish beef wrapped in a flour tortilla with mayonnaise and served with changa chips.

The char grill section's succulent offerings include barbecue baby back ribs served with change chips and jalapeno coleslaw; sirloin mojo rojo, a centre cut sirloin steak marinated in chilli, garlic and coriander and served with beer battered onion rings and change chips, Santa Fe chicken with rice, black beans and guacamole or flame grilled piri piri chicken.

Sumptuous Mexican specialities naturally include chimichanga, a flour tortilla fried golden brown with Jack cheese and served with your choice of filling - either chunky beef chilli con carne, BBQ pulled pork or bean chilli - sautéed onions and peppers and garnished with sour cream, chives, guacamole and tortilla croutons, as well as a variety of burritos, enchiladas and tostadas. There are also chipotle meatballs, Mexican paella, chilli de la casa and south-western crab cakes. The grande quesadilla is a baked flour tortilla sandwich with your choice of filling and drizzled with sour cream and served with Mexican rice and chipotle chilli sauce.

The lunch menu offers a choice of two or three courses while a children's menu caters to the tastes of the little ones.
Round off the satisfying meal with scrumptious dessert of giant Mexican profiterole, chocolate fudge brownie or honeycomb smash cheesecake. Alternatively, end with a speciality coffee or liqueur. Chimichanga offers a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, margheritas, sangria and soft drinks to quench the thirst.

More information can be found on their Website.

Housed in an historic inn that dates back to 1420, The Angel Hotel on the Marketplace in Lavenham boasts beautifully maintained interiors with beamed ceilings and wood paneling. The exterior is equally striking with many original Tudor features still clearly visible, while sympathetic restoration in the 1950s secured the medieval gable ends and brick chimneys. Converted into a hotel in the 1990s, the Angel is the perfect spot for a leisurely dinner after a day of sight-seeing or could make the ideal base for a longer stay in this beautiful Suffolk town.

Taken over by the renowned Michelin star-winning chef, Marco Pierre White in 2011, the AA Rossette awarded inn's à la carte showcases freshly prepared food created with local ingredients wherever possible and includes a range of mouth watering steaks, braised roasts, fish and seafood dishes and vegetarian options. Guests can relish starters of potted duck with prunes d'Agen served with toasted sourdough, finest quality smoked eel with Wheeler's potato and egg salad or cream of cauliflower soup with smoked salmon.

Follow with delicious mains of roast rump of lamb à la Dijonnaise with gratin dauphinoise and roasting juices; honey roast belly pork Marco Polo with butter beans or fine quality Scottish rib eye steak à la Boston with oysters and jus à la Parisienne. If you prefer fish, there's Wheeler's classic fish pie with buttered garden peas, smoked haddock with Welsh rarebit and tomato salad and grilled Dover sole à la salamander with sauce tartare and creamed potatoes. Set menus are also available for lunch and dinner.

Traditional Sunday specials include roast rib of Aberdeen Angus with Yorkshire pudding, creamed horseradish and traditional gravy; roast chicken with all the trimmings, stuffing, bread sauce, chipolatas and roasting juices; and roast suckling pig with stuffing, apple sauce and gravy.

To finish, consider Cambridge burnt cream with English raspberries, King's fruit cake with Colston Bassett Stilton or Mr White's rice pudding with prunes d'Agen á l'Armagnac.

The bar offers locally brewed ales such as Adnams, Greenking and Nethergate, over 40 carefully selected wines, 25 malt whiskies and a variety of liqueurs.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.