The Butcher and Grill in Battersea really is something a bit different. Imagine a bang slap up to date butcher's shop, doing the business as any such shop would, combined with a pretty informal restaurant where the shop produce forms the basis of the menu, and as an added attraction a casual bar serving coffee, breakfast and patisserie for the morning crowd, and soups, salads, pies and sandwiches throughout the day - and you have The Butcher and Grill.

The site formerly held a Café Rouge, and is spacious, terraced and with river views. Customers at the Grill can choose their preferred cut either from the counter or make a selection from the menus. Nor is the menu blind to other attractions, so expect to find starters of Cornish salt and chilli squid, rocket and lemon; devilled kidneys on toast or Cornish crab cakes, pickled cucumber and crab mayonnaise, always an excellent prelude to a decent steak. There's even a charcuterie board with pâté and pickle.

To the main event, and humble beginnings, with the B & G Burger. At the other end of the scale is the 35oz rib of beef, admittedly for two, though you don?t expect someone wishing to break diet in a singularly spectacular manner would be denied. An 18oz t-bone sounds to be a particularly good compromise. A range of sausages, including the celebrated chop, together with lamb burger, pie and mash, and free range chicken breast, all add to the temptation.

Now that evidence is becoming convincing that veal can be produced with no adverse effects, it is to be seen increasingly on discerning menus. Escalope makes an excellent meal, as does the crispy crumbed pork belly with cabbage and bacon, pickled apple and lavender. There is even line caught fish from day boats in Cornwall; check the specials board.

Apart from the chips, in the view of many an essential adjunct to a good steak, there is a range of side dishes, ten in number that include roast onion squash and fennel seeds; green beans, shallots and garlic butter, or wilted spinach.

Nor have puddings been neglected, with warm treacle tart, strawberry and lavender pavlova, baked rice pudding and their selection of cheeses and chutneys.

At the Butcher Shop meat and poultry is prepared to a very high standard in various cuts. Beef, lamb, pork, sausages, veal, poultry and game are available alongside home-cooked meats, pies and pâtés as well as a small selection of oils, mustards and pickles.

The concept of shop and restaurant together is still a major step for good old traditional Britain, but all over the place the unthinkable seems to be happening, so why not our shopping and eating habits?

Check on their excellent and user-friendly Website for further information, not to say inspiration. Bon appetit!

Café Rouge has over one hundred branches throughout Britain all offering a wide range of dishes drawn from the French cuisine. Slightly less than half their branches are in or close to London. Almost inevitably the décor and design of each restaurant differs from the others, but there is a general curtsy towards La France.

Many restaurants do an excellent breakfast, or shall we say petit dejeuner, at which such delights as scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toasted brioche, croque Madame, croissants and pain au chocolat make welcome appearances, and to their credit the English traditional gets top billing.

An array of small dishes takes in pulled pork pâté with French bread, and spicy beef and lamb sausage with harissa mayonnaise. Salads and pasta feature largely, as do baguettes and croques. Quick dishes, ideal for lunch, include slices of saucisson and cured pork loin with French bread.

Moving on to more serious stuff we find steaks, an 8oz bavette and thin cut rib eye, with a choice of béarnaise or peppercorn sauce. No French menu would be complete without the poulet jaune grille, pan-roasted breast of corn-fed chicken served on a warm taboulé of bulgar wheat and a medley of roasted vegetables with minted crème fraîche, or a steak frites before moving on to the crème brûlée, or the tart tatin. Almost invariably the coffee tastes like coffee should, something that sadly can all too often still not be said of our English restaurants, who depend too much upon technology and too little on the acquisition of a certain flair for this important conclusion to a meal.

By now we all know that the French, despite their distinctive habits when it comes to matters of satisfying the inner man, maintain a miraculous longevity of life. This is generally attributed to a number of causes, of which a measured consumption of decent wine is foremost. Café Rouge, you may be pleased to hear, encourages this with a well-chosen selection of French wines. Their prix fixe lunch and meals for children, both at a very reasonable figure, also offer excellent value.

Their Website will keep you updated on menu changes, news and other competitions and offers from the Café Society.

The Red Hot World Buffet at Sixfields Leisure Park in Northampton gives diners an opportunity to embark on a fascinating culinary journey to six of the world's most popular countries. Just like its name, the décor brings together design elements from across the world, resulting in an atmosphere that blends the traditional and the modern. Ambient lighting and projected artwork complete the picture.

Talking about the food; the Red Hot lunch menu offers over sixty dishes from Japan, China, Thailand, India, Mexico, and Italy, from live cooking stations. Diners spend time visiting the open kitchens, enjoying all they can eat for a fixed price. In the evening, over a hundred and ten dishes are available at any one time.

Choices range from Japanese udon noodles, Chinese jasmine rice with sweet and sour pork, and Thai fish cakes, to Indian seekh kebab, Italian homemade pizzas and pastas, and Mexican chilli con carne and fajita wraps.

The bar is open late into the evening, and is a great place to sip on cocktails, beers, spirits, and world wines.

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

Located in the heart of Manchester's vibrant financial district, on the ground floor of the House of Fraser department store on Deansgate, San Carlo Cicchetti is perfect for a meal after a busy shopping trip. A stone's throw from bustling Exchange Square, you could also step in before a performance at the Royal Exchange Theatre or after taking in a move at AMC Cinemas. Cicchetti refers to the Venetian snacks or small dishes that are traditionally enjoyed with a beer or glass of wine, similar to Spanish tapas.

A striking space, with expanses of Italian marble and golden yellow furnishings, San Carlo Cicchetti offers guests a regularly changing, expertly crafted seasonal menu which features the freshest seasonal ingredients sourced directly from the best markets in Milan. Drop in for a hearty breakfast, business lunch or leisurely dinner with family and friends.

Diners could begin the day with the substantial Great Cicchetti Breakfast which offers two eggs, fried, poached or scrambled, served with streaky bacon, two Lancashire Farm pork and leek sausages, sautéed mushrooms and onions, hash brown, tomato, Bury black pudding, toast and tea or coffee. Other items on the breakfast menu include bacon sandwich, eggs Benedict, Scottish smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toast and pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup.

The a la carte menu includes starters of crostini, with prosciutto San Daniele and Scamorza cheese or a selection of freshly made antipasti including polpette di pesce and funghi misti. You could also try fresh seasonal soups such as summer vegetable with minestrone, pea and proscuitto or Sicilian pachino tomato and basil.

Follow with house specials of carpaccio of Angus beef with parmesan and rocket or tartare of fresh tuna mixed with olive oil, French mustard, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar and wild rocket for a satisfying main course. The restaurant's choice of pasta dishes could include a luxurious ravioli lobster, or spaghettini with prawns, while rustic Italian risotto with pea and scallops will warm you up on a winter day. Alternatively, diners looking for a lighter bite could opt for fresh salads that may include prawn, crayfish and new potato; or a classic duck salad served with rocket, Melinda apples from Trentino, pancetta and balsamic vinegar.

San Carlo Cicchetti also serves a tempting afternoon tea with assorted finger sandwiches, fruit scones and pastries with your choice of tea, a cream tea with fruit scones with jam and clotted cream and your choice of English Breakfast, Earl Grey, Darjeeling or Ceylon and a champagne tea with assorted finger sandwiches, fruit scones, pastries, tea and a glass of Veuve Cliquot Brut.

Desserts of chocolate coated zabaglione flavoured ice cream; pannacotta with fresh fruit; homemade chocolate cake or a classic baked cheesecake will satisfy even the sweetest tooth.

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

A family friendly restaurant on Earl's Court Road, Marmara Mangal Restaurant offers an authentic Turkish menu with Mediterranean touches in the heart of leafy West London. Located south west of Hyde Park, Marmara Mangal's vibrant, welcoming interiors and friendly attentive service make it the perfect place to unwind after a shopping expedition to the exclusive boutiques and department stores in nearby Kensington. The restaurant is also close to attractions such as the Finborough Theatre, the Cineworld Cinema on Fulham Road and Stamford Bridge Stadium, home to Chelsea Football Club.

The varied à la carte offers delicious hot starters of king prawns sautéed with tomatoes, onions, parsley and peppers; filo pastry stuffed with feta cheese and parsley and lightly fried; sucuk, a traditional charcoal grilled Turkish garlic sausage and arnavut cigeri, a dish of succulent diced lamb's liver sautéed with onions and parsley. If you prefer cold starters there are choices of vine leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, onions and herbs or imam bayildi a classic dish of aubergine stuffed with onions, tomatoes and green peppers in a special tomato sauce.

Kebabs are central to Turkish cuisine and Marmara Mangal's selection takes in succulent examples such as lamb doner kebab; the house special chicken doner kebab; spicy minced lamb with garlic; chicken sis and patlican kebab which combines sliced aubergine with minced lamb. The charcoal grill also offers tempting lamb ribs; premium cut sirloin steak, seasoned breast of chicken, marinated chicken wings, marinated quails and salmon steak.

Other main courses options include heart warming traditional stews, knuckle of lamb seasoned with herbs and served with roasted potatoes, lamb moussaka or a perennial favourite such as falafel.

Turkish cuisine has, inevitably, been influenced by the wealth of seafood from its four sea coasts and Marmara Mangal makes the most of this culinary heritage with dishes such as tiny herring, lightly fried and served with salad; king prawns sautéed with tomatoes, onions, parsley and peppers; charcoal grilled whole sea bass, rings of squid, deep fried and served with salad and a mixed seafood selection of prawn, kalamari, mussels and tuna sautéed with bell peppers and onions in a special cream sauce.

A pizza and pasta selection gives the menu the perfect Mediterranean touch. This includes pizzas with toppings of Turkish sausages with cheese and oregano; tuna with hot green pepper, onions, olives, cheese and seasoning and Turkish ham with egg, olives, cheese and oregano. Dishes of Bolognese pasta; minced beef, onion, garlic and carrots in a Napolitana sauce, tavuk pasta; chicken, mix peppers, mushrooms and hint of garlic in a cream sauce and salmon and zucchini pasta add to the variety.

A selection of chef's specials tempts the palate with a range of specialities and the restaurant also offers a range of set menus and a children's menu.

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

Oloroso, which translates as aromatic, the brainchild of Tony Singh and the late James Sankey, opened its doors in 2001 and from the outset its meteoric rise to the top in this city of fine restaurants was never in doubt. Now that James is no longer with us, Tony has ensured that maintaining and improving their joint legacy continues with undimmed fervour, and Oloroso is the place to be.

Whilst the majestic views from their rooftop deck are a major feature of the restaurant, never let it be thought than anything takes precedence over the quality of the food, and the essentially Scottish contemporary cuisine that Tony has established.

He has been well-equipped to do this by means of a star-studded career that includes periods with The Royal Scotsman Train, The Balmoral Hotel, Martin's Restaurant and the Royal Yacht Britannia. In 2000 he was awarded the prestigious title of ITV Chef of the Year.

A subdued approach to the elegant décor is seasoned by the background music and the voices of the Edinburgh professional classes and intelligentsia in full cry. Three menus embrace a grill, à la carte and bar. Tony Singh categorises his food as 'global comfort food' and items such as seared Marlin, Irvine of Perthshire sirloin steak sourced with all the precision of a surgeon's scalpel combine with truffled potato mash and mushroom purée, braised beef shin and wild mushrooms to keep the customers guessing. Well marbled cuts, the sources of which are well known to the restaurant, are aged according to the size of the joint.

The grill menu also features 16oz T-bone veal steaks, and the tuna loin comes from some of the cleanest waters in the world, often at temperatures which help to produce fish that are well structured and with good flavour.

The bar food is also wildly popular, served every day with a simple easy-to-choose menu featuring culinary delights of Tony Singh's favourites. It is somehow refreshing to find the same degree of care being applied to this robust fare as to the more sophisticated cuisine in the restaurant - as it should be.

By contrast the fact that the wine list tops out at £575 for a bottle of 1964 Dom Perignon should not be allowed to worry you overmuch since there are options at under £20, though the great majority of this majestic List is above that mark.

In these days of increasing awareness by those who are particularly selective in their choice of places to go, the elegant Cocktail Bar is one of the 'must-be' locations. The views from the Rooftop Terrace of Edinburgh Castle and the Kingdom of Fife as you sip a hot cocktail devised by their resident award-winning mixologist must be some of the best in this outstandingly beautiful city, as well as being ideal for a pre theatre supper, quick lunch or somewhere to hang out with friends.

Oloroso is, in the view of many, the pick of the bunch in Edinburgh and one can only endorse that by saying what a pity it is there are not a few more like it. Check out their Website for menu changes and news of any fresh developments. Please note that they describe their dress code as 'casual elagance', which sounds perfect to me.

Salaam Namaste in Bloomsbury is a relative newcomer on the block, being a mere four years of age, but it is one that is following the current surge in style and performance by Indian restaurants in general, who collectively seem to have taken on board the message that they cannot go on offering the same old formula for ever, however appealing it may be.

Visitors to Salaam Namaste speak with affection of the starter of kathi kabab, a chapatti with spiced lamb, chilli and homemade chutney, and a tandoori-baked whole pomfret, not to mention the peshwari naan which receives high praise. Seafood dishes are popular well beyond the call of duty, with no hint of skimping on quality or quantity.

The final piece of good news is that all this excellence does not cost an arm and a leg, as one might begin to suspect, and an intelligent and diligent staff take a genuine interest in your needs, as well as beaming broadly over the praise that is heaped upon them.

Choosing the mains might be a bit time consuming for the simple reason that you are tempted to try everything! However, for your first foray there, you could opt for the murgh ki shagorana, whole breast of grilled chicken filled with mince lamb and spinach, cooked with mildly spiced fresh cream and an exotic sauce, served with mushroom pulao. The seafood dishes are singularly appealing, and, to confirm that, you might like to indulge in the Bangladeshi macchhi fry, chunks of sweet fresh water fish rolled in spices, fried golden, and served with potatoes, aubergine, tomatoes, fried onion, fresh coriander, lemon wedge and aromatic rice.

While the novelty of the dishes is what seems to pull in the crowd, those who prefer the tried and tested curries that evoke nostalgia will not be disappointed either. Timeless classics such as chicken tikka masala, murgh makhani or as the irreverent choose to call it, butter chicken, are all present on the menu and are definite crowd pleasers.

For dessert, there is the quintessential gulab jamun, smooth rounds of cottage cheese and flour, deep fried and dunked in hot syrup, which meet on your tongue and just melt. Or go for the kulfi, which is traditional Indian ice cream, redolent with crushed cardamom, fragrant saffron and chopped pistachios. Finish with a masala chai, tea infused with spices that linger in your taste buds and bring the meal to a lovely conclusion.

The sensibly priced wine list offers numerous choices from across the world, with some available by the glass too, complementing the dishes superbly.

Named after the Hindi movie, Salaam Namaste, where the iconic protagonist plays a chef, this small restaurant, with its signature dishes, refreshing flavours and reasonably priced menu, could well linger in your memory as one of the best Indian restaurants you have visited, perhaps a visit to their Website will convince you.

Zizzi Paddington Street offers a bright and relaxed setting to enjoy a delicious Italian meal just off Baker Street. With ample al fresco seating and a warm, contemporary interior, Zizzi is ideal for an intimate dinner or a large gathering with friends.

Less than a minute walk from the Everyman Cinema, the restaurant is perfect for a pre or post-film meal. Zizzi is also just a short walk from popular attractions such as Madame Tussauds and the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

The bustling open kitchen at Zizzi turns out freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers distinct sections of antipasti, salads, pizza and calzone, pasta, risottos and mains of seasonally changing meat and fish dishes with a variety of tempting desserts to finish.

Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.

Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website.

Established in May 1996, Victoria's has gone from strength to strength under the careful and dedicated ownership of Fiona and Angus John MacLellan and their enthusiastic, young family of three; indeed, the restaurant was given the name of their youngest child. Victoria's operates as a coffee shop from 10 am till 5.30 pm.

From 5.30 pm, it offers a bistro style menu until late, offering a cosmopolitan blend of quality cuisine set in informal surroundings, with an emphasis on friendly, attentive high standards of service.

During the day the wide ranging choice varies from full breakfast menu, baked potatoes, burgers, salads through to main courses. Luxury sandwiches include Mexican chicken wrap - chicken breast slices, peppers and onions with salsa, guacamole, sour cream and chives, rolled in a flour tortilla or American club sandwich - a three tier toasted wholegrain bread sandwich, layered with tender chicken breast slices, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, or steak sandwich - freshly baked panini with grain mustard mayonnaise, grilled steak, caramelized onions and blue cheese.

Whilst a full à la carte menu is also available, this makes it difficult to give an exact average cost per head, as it could vary from a fiver up to twenty five or thirty pounds, if you push the boat out.

In evening the mood changes from bustling coffee shop to bistro style dining. Lights are dimmed, tablecloths spread and candles appear on the tables. The menu varies from such tempting starters as tasty calamari, authentic nachos with chilli beef or 8oz sirlon steak with tiger tail prawns.

There is a wide selection of mains courses ranging from fresh landed East Coast haddock and French fries, or authentic fajitas with beef, chicken, prawns or combo, or prime Scottish salmon grilled with lime butter, and served with Hollandaise, asparagus and creamy pesto mash. Superb Scottish beef, supplied by award winning butcher Simon Howie is also much in evidence, cooked to your wishes on the charcoal grill.

And if you have room don't forget their puddings, as they are memorable. For instance their sticky toffee pudding, made to a secret family recipe served with warm toffee sauce, pecan pie or chocolate fudge cake to die for.

Be assured that whatever time of the day you choose to visit Victoria's you will receive a warm welcome and attentive, friendly service.

For their full details, which encompasses everything on the menu and details on everything to see in the locality, visit their Website.

Swinfen Hall Hotel is a beautiful 18th-century manor House, lying two miles south of the cathedral city of Lichfield. Set in 100 acres of rolling countryside with beautiful gardens and private deer park, this independent hotel, the first with four AA red stars in Staffordshire, has been lovingly restored to offer contemporary facilities within a relaxed country house environment.

With two AA rosettes, their restaurant and private dining room enjoy an excellent reputation for fine food and wine; and they are a well known venue for wedding receptions and civil wedding ceremonies. Most importantly, they have a dedicated staff team committed to providing excellent service and a warm and friendly welcome.

Swinfen Hall has now been operating for over twenty years and the standards that apply are a reflection of the experience gained, as well as appreciation shown. There are eighteen bedrooms and suites all of which vary greatly in size, shape and aspect, but each has been individually furnished to offer style and comfort. The Bridal Suite is a tour de force with silk wall hangings and a canopied king size bed. The en suite bathroom has twin basins set in marble, a large Jacuzzi bath and separate shower cubicle.

All bedrooms and suites are individually furnished, all offer 100% goose down duvets, Egyptian cotton sheets, bathrobes, hospitality tray, satellite television, DVD player and free Wi-Fi access.

The kitchens at Swinfen Hall serve only the finest of fresh produce, and whenever possible local sources are used including Staffordshire-grown strawberries, raspberries and asparagus, cheeses and in winter, local game. They now have organic home-reared venison - from their own deer park - on the menu and a number of vegetables and soft fruits are grown in the Victorian walled garden. Their well-established kitchen brigade, led by Head Chef Adam Thomson, works hard to find specialist suppliers who are committed to quality not quantity.

Their menus are both exciting and inventive; dishes on their dinner carte could include such tempting choices as salad of roasted quail with Clonakilty black pudding, haricots vert and pancetta crisp; seared diver-caught scallops with cauliflower purée, caper and raisin jam and tempura of cauliflower, or velouté of home-grown butternut squash.

Mains follow in much the same vein with slow roast belly of organic pork; breast of Gressingham duck with wild mushroom fricassee, orange and raisin jus and celeriac purée, or fillet and blade of Aberdeen Angus beef with shallot purée, buttered green beans and fondant potato. Fillet of halibut is served with braised oxtail, buttered Savoy cabbage, pomme purée and red wine jus.

Their cheese selection contains names that gladden the hearts of those disposed to such indulgence and includes some distinguished English entrants.

The food is complemented by an extensive wine list where they aim to offer quality, diversity and value. They buy directly from vineyards, through specialist merchants and at auction, creating a degree of individuality to their list that greatly exceeds many other similar places. Their wine list is constantly changing as they discover interesting new wines.

The private dining room is the original dining room of the Hall and is available for luncheon and dinner parties for 12 to 20 guests. This beautiful room provides a lovely setting for birthday and anniversary celebrations, retirement parties or any special occasion. There is no room hire charge for tables of 12 or more and menus, wines, flowers, and cake can be arranged to suit.

Easily accessible by good roads and by air, they are centrally located for business meetings and conferences being only 20 minutes from the heart of Birmingham, the NEC and Birmingham International Airport. More information, including accommodation and private dining, is available on their Website.