259 Featured Restaurants





Featured Restaurant

61-65 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2HN [Map]

If there's one thing you can get the British hooked on, it's seafood, pun predictable. So up in Scotland, which can usually be relied upon to show us the way in quite a lot of things, they are surprisingly a bit behind the times on the fishy thing, which is extraordinary when you think they have so much of the stuff around them. Learn more

If there's one thing you can get the British hooked on, it's seafood, pun predictable. So up in Scotland, which can usually be relied upon to show us the way in quite a lot of things, they are surprisingly a bit behind the times on the fishy thing, which is extraordinary when you think they have so much of the stuff around them. Not only lots of it, but real quality as well.

But both the Edinburgh and Glasgow Mussel Inns are doing their best to make sure that Scotland catches up and tells the world that Scottish seafood is streets ahead of the rest.

In Rose Street to be precise, that well-loved Edinburgh thoroughfare that offers a parallel pedestrian alternative to much of Princes Street, is friendly and well-used, and has rather sadly tended to shake off its formerly slightly louche flavour. Unlike its sibling in Glasgow the Rose Street Mussel Inn has not won any awards, but the food is every bit as good.

Creamy seafood chowder and the soup of the day both come with fresh crusty bread, or there's crab salad, which comes with claw meat and crayfish tails in a lime mayonnaise with cherry tomatoes on a toasted foccacia and drizzled with basil oil. The grilled platters give an option between starters or light meals, and oysters are either chilled natural, or grilled with gruyere cheese and bacon. Goat's cheese makes an excellent foil for seafood flavours, none more so than when grilled and served on toasted baguette slices topped with bell pepper and caper relish, as here.

Plump, juicy King scallops are a weakness for many, and at Mussel you can have them char grilled, on a skewer, or seared. Their small cousins, mussels, come in kilo pots, again with choices, this time natural, shallot, roasted pepper, leek, Moroccan, blue cheese, or corona, of which the Moroccan, with chillies, garlic, ginger, coriander and cumin sounds highly toothsome. But you would have been diverted well before then by thoughts of the hot seafood platter with its mix of fish and assorted shellfish poached in their own seafood sauce topped with grilled sea bass fillet and chive cream fraîche.

Round off with a chocolate crème brûlée, and then shuffle off into a dark corner to rest until it's time to come back. The wine list is predictably mostly white, though with some concession to heathens who occasionally like to have some wiry red with their shellfish. Their Cuvee Bouchard lives up to its claim of being excellent taste and value.

The Scottish passion for deep-fried Mars Bars is well catalogued, but not available at the Mussels, where lime cheesecake served with mango and passion fruit sauce may challenge the odds just as much, but do it with more grace.

Both Mussels are doing a first class job for their public and the cause of seafood in general. Any differences or preferences are purely personal and slight and do not affect the excellence of either.

For far more information - including their full menu - try a visit to their fun-packed Website, from which I was delighted to have authoritative evidence for what my instincts have been telling me ever since my first mussel, that seafood is seriously good for you.

Seafood

£15.00£30.00

Featured Restaurant

Crathes, Royal Deeside, Banchory, AB31 5QH [Map]

Situated opposite to Crathes Castle at the gateway to Royal Deeside and the start of the Castle and Whisky Trails, The Milton Restaurant and Conservatory certainly occupies an envious location. Their private marquee by the riverside only adds to the appeal and with customized European and Scottish menus, live jazz and themed nights, the whole experience will be one to remember. Learn more

Situated opposite to Crathes Castle at the gateway to Royal Deeside and the start of the Castle and Whisky Trails, The Milton Restaurant and Conservatory certainly occupies an envious location. Their private marquee by the riverside only adds to the appeal and with customized European and Scottish menus, live jazz and themed nights, the whole experience will be one to remember.

Being recognized as one of the most accomplished restaurants in the North East of Scotland is no mean feat and the kitchen team certainly deserve credit. The cooking places equal emphasis on flavours, textures and presentation, and endeavour to bring the market to the table by making the best use of the seasonal bounty that Grampian's markets and ports have on offer. Winners of numerous awards including Chef of the Year in 2007 and 2008, Restaurant of the Year in 2007 and Young Scottish Seafood Chef of the Year 2009 and Seafood Chef of the Year 2010, the Milton are also the proud recipients of an AA rosette.

The all day menu might include starters of smoked haddock fishcake, tempura prawns, or breaded Devenick brie. Supreme of chicken with haggis mousse and sirloin of Aberdeen Angus beef are just some of the many delights that are offered. Desserts featured include Milton crème brûlée and iced whisky and oatmeal parfait served with fruit compote.

However, The Milton is an admirable setting for something rather more sophisticated in the evening, and the á la carte will come to your aid in the event. Venison loin is served with fondant Swede, red onion marmalade and bramble jus to make a tasty starter from a list of five, or there's twice baked red pepper and goats? cheese soufflé.

Moving to main courses the eye may well stray to the lobster dish or even the mushroom casket - puff pastry filled with woodland chanterelles and tarragon served with poached duck egg, wilted spinach and sauce béarnaise.

One sometimes feels slightly despairing about Scottish desserts - cranachan or Athol
Brose and that's about it, but The Milton comes to the rescue with their own crème brûlée, served with a lime and passion fruit cupcake or a tasty gooseberry and orange crumble.

They say, 'Selecting wines for The Milton continues to be an interesting task' an observation with which most of us would hardly disagree. Suppliers Wine Importers, Inverarity Wine Vaults and Oddbins play their part in the process, the results of which must make this one of the most interesting lists in Scotland.

More information is available on their Website or contact Neil Rae or Jan Leatham on +44 (0)1330 844474.

Brasserie, European, Scottish

£25.00£32.00

Featured Restaurant

Melville Square, Comrie, PH6 2DN [Map]

Lying in the very heart of Scotland, Perthshire has for centuries been the crossroads of the nation and thus benefits from excellent road and rail networks. Comrie is just over an hour's drive from the principal cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and their airports. Learn more

Lying in the very heart of Scotland, Perthshire has for centuries been the crossroads of the nation and thus benefits from excellent road and rail networks. Comrie is just over an hour's drive from the principal cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow and their airports. Nestling on the edge of the Highlands, in the heart of the riverside village of Comrie, The Royal Hotel, a handsome 18th century coaching house awaits you with a warm Scottish welcome and some excellent, beautifully prepared, Modern British food in their restaurant. Comrie's central position also makes it an ideal touring base for exploring the local region.

With its homely but luxurious atmosphere and open log fires, you will quickly succumb to their elegant charm, evocative period furnishings and genuine Highland hospitality. Eleven beautifully appointed bedrooms cosset you from the start, each has its own identity - individually planned and furnished with an eye for detail by local craftsman. The Hotel also has a luxurious self catering townhouse, Melville House, which is available for short term lets from two days to a week.

Stylish soft furnishings, antiques, polished wooden floors and open log fires, create a luxurious, homely charm. An atmosphere perfectly complemented by the Milsom family, who also own and run the Tufton Arms Hotel, Appleby, and their staff's cheerful, friendly hospitality.

You may dine in the walled garden during summer or choose the lounge bar for a light lunch with friends, but you are assured the very best in Scottish cuisine. After walking through the glens on a frosty morning, relax with a glass of wine by the crackling log fire.

Perthshire is often referred to as Scotland's larder and the Royal's chefs have an enviable reputation for their inspired use of natural ingredients - prime Scotch beef, lamb, venison, salmon, trout, game, sea fish, shellfish and the best soft fruit in Europe. All are harnessed to give you the very best of Scottish cuisine and a memorable culinary experience worthy of your stay at the Royal.

Award winning Chef David Milsom, who trained at his cousin's famous Le Talbooth restaurant, uses this fresh local produce, prepared with skill and flair, to create delicious classic dishes with a modern twist, matched with an extensive and well compiled wine list. The kitchen's achievements have not gone unnoticed and they have received a Taste of Scotland accolade for cooking, as well as One Rosette from the AA.

Their signature dishes include coarse venison and pork terrine served with griddled bread and beetroot chutney; and fillet of Scottish hake wrapped in Parma ham, sliced over braised cabbage and bacon, surrounded by tomato butter sauce and new potatoes.

Comrie, originally Gaelic speaking, has played host to many larger than life figures including Robert the Bruce, Rob Roy McGregor, Robert Burns and Queen Victoria - whose stay bestowed the name of The Royal Hotel on Comrie's major coaching inn. Over 150 years later, The Royal is still fit for a Queen having, in the years between the two world wars, been frequently visited by Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands whose signed portrait hangs in the principal suite.

Why not join this exalted company and enjoy modern day comforts combined with old world charm by visiting the Royal to dine or stay?

More information can be found on their Website.

Modern British, Scottish

£24.00£33.00

Featured Restaurant
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15 Castle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3AH [Map]

Strada describes itself as 'a group of stylish, contemporary Italian restaurants, serving good quality, simple and freshly prepared dishes'. The statement sums up what this group of around seventy restaurants offers to people looking for good Italian food. Learn more

Strada describes itself as 'a group of stylish, contemporary Italian restaurants, serving good quality, simple and freshly prepared dishes'. The statement sums up what this group of around seventy restaurants offers to people looking for good Italian food. The first outlet opened in Battersea in 1999 and their clientele has been increasing steadily ever since.

Though Strada has grown into a fair sized group, each outlet retains the feel of being a local neighbourhood Italian restaurant. The menu includes pastas, risottos, salads, and fish dishes, but they are best known for their quality pizzas.

They present authentic Italian dishes in contemporary surroundings and aim to use only the freshest and finest ingredients, such as Luganica sausages, Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella, imported from Italy to provide exactly the kind of rustic, traditional dishes one would expect to find travelling around its regions.

A meal could kick off with zuppa vongole e fregola, a traditional clam soup with Sardinian fregola pasta grains, wine, chilli and parsley, served with bread, or the delicious sautéed king prawns with garlic, white wine, chilli, and lemon butter served with your choice of bread.

Move on to their creamy risotto verdure, freshly grilled asparagus, broad beans, peas, spring onions, zucchini, green beans, white wine and mint, finished with baby spinach leaves. Or you could opt for the healthier, tagliolini nero granchio, black cuttlefish ink pasta with crab, courgette, red and yellow peppers, spring onion, and a hint of chilli and parsley. A real treat for the taste buds comes in the form of the bistecca manzo, a 10oz rosemary-marinated char-grilled, rib-eye steak with fries and fresh rocket.

A range of pizzas, all spun by hand, is an integral feature of each restaurant. They include the rossa, with spicy southern Italian salami, roasted red peppers, chilli, caramelised onion, garlic, fresh oregano, tomato and mozzarella. Nor are vegetarians are overlooked, and can be found tucking into dishes such as fiorentina, made of spinach cooked with garlic, nutmeg and black pepper with mozzarella, parmesan, tomato and an egg.

For those wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth, there is torroncino affogato, an iced nougat semi freddo with a shot of espresso to pour over, or a classic Italian tiramisu and, as you might expect coffee to round off the meal.

A wine list consisting of purely regional Italian wines, beers and liqueurs, all carefully chosen to complement the menu comes as no surprise and in addition, every table receives a complimentary bottle of purified water.

For further details including their latest news, menus and deals, and to find a Strada nearest to you, their Website certainly warrants a visit.

Italian, Modern

£10.00£25.00

Featured Restaurant

209 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6BD [Map]

The Papaya Tree is a contemporary style Thai restaurant with lightly coloured walls and wooden floors, serving authentic Thai cuisine using fresh herbs flown in from Thailand. Don't let the fact that it is in a basement put you off; all you can spot is a simple glass doorway on Kensington High Street but even as you step inside it appears a lot more welcoming than many. Learn more

The Papaya Tree is a contemporary style Thai restaurant with lightly coloured walls and wooden floors, serving authentic Thai cuisine using fresh herbs flown in from Thailand. Don't let the fact that it is in a basement put you off; all you can spot is a simple glass doorway on Kensington High Street but even as you step inside it appears a lot more welcoming than many.

Whilst there is a huge choice of Thai restaurants in London this place has consistently produced a higher quality than you tend to find elsewhere, all produced from an amazingly tiny, semi-domestic kitchen.

Their dishes are also much more innovative than you might expect, particularly some excellent seafood like the delicious ocean stir-fry, a combination of fruits from the sea served in chilli sauce.

Lunch presents especially good value with reasonably priced dishes encompassing such delights as pad pet, a stir-fried dish with a spicy Thai chilli paste; geang pet, a red curry with mixed vegetables and coconut milk or pad preow wan, a stir-fried dish with fresh tomatoes, pineapple, cucumber, onion and green peppers in a sweet and sour sauce.

The price is decided by whether you choose seasonal vegetables as the main ingredient, sliced chicken or pork or sliced beef, duck or mixed seafood, served with a bowl of steamed jasmine rice. Or you can select from various noodle dishes like pad bah mee noodles, stir fried egg noodles with sliced spring onions and baby corn all tossed in a light soya sauce, or tom yum dry noodles, rice noodles mixed with a hot and sour sauce with crispy garlic, chilli and ground peanuts, all priced similarly.

Their special dishes are much more innovative than you might expect, particularly some excellent seafood like the delicious and spicy Thai fisherman's treasure, a combination of fruits from the sea served in the famous hot pot with fresh hot basil leaves, chilli and garlic. Don't lightly ignore the green oceanic curry, your choice of king prawn or squid with bamboo shoots and seasonal vegetables in coconut milk, or a selection of various shellfish mixed with glass noodles.

Meat options include tamarind duck, stir fried roasted duck in tangy tamarind juices with sliced tomatoes, pineapple and Thai spices or moo prik king, stir fried pork with runner beans and the chef's special chilli sauce. The normal á la carte offers dishes such as moo pad krapow, stir fried pork with fresh basil leaves, onion and chilli, guaranteed to clear any stuffed up nose, or gai pad met mamuang, stir fried sliced chicken with crunchy cashew nuts, spring onion, mushrooms and roasted chilli.

Two excellent starters are their satay, strips of marinated chicken on bamboo skewers with Thai peanut butter sauce, and the delicious khanom jeep, delicately steamed pork and prawn dumplings, served with a slightly sweetened soya sauce.

Now possibly you can understand why we return time and again to the Papaya Tree, and if you cannot actually get there, then take advantage of the fact that they offer free delivery to the following postcodes in London: W8, W14, SW5 and SW7.

Finally, if you enjoy a fragrant Sauvignon Blanc with your Thai meal, their South African version slips down a treat, light and fruity, a perfect accompaniment.

However, their Website, with the full menu and sometimes some special offers as well, (a 20% off card at present), is the best way to find out full information about this rather special restaurant; and lastly do tell them that Richard Bradford sent you there.

Thai

£14.00£30.00

Featured Restaurant
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23 Winckley Square, Preston, PR1 3JJ [Map]

Based in Preston's town centre in Winckley Square, facing landscaped parkland, the Olive Press is in a location that is truly beautiful throughout the year. Walking through the door, you are at once aware of the warm, relaxed atmosphere that characterises the restaurant scene in Preston. Learn more

Based in Preston's town centre in Winckley Square, facing landscaped parkland, the Olive Press is in a location that is truly beautiful throughout the year. Walking through the door, you are at once aware of the warm, relaxed atmosphere that characterises the restaurant scene in Preston.

On arrival you will find the open fire is complimented by exposed brick, distressed plaster, and muted tones of wood, creating a sense of rustic surroundings.

The blend of young, vibrant staff make this a friendly and welcoming experience. It is a great place for that family gathering, when you can let the children make their own pizza whilst you enjoy an appetiser or a starter from their extensive menu.

You can go into the Olive Press and have a great sandwich for lunch or a simple pizza or pasta as a meal - or you could really let rip and enjoy a three course dinner, including their 21 day old matured rump steak with garlic butter or pepper sauce, with wine in the evening.

So talking of starters, what's on offer? San Daniele Italian cured ham and melon makes a bracing introduction, but then so do spicy lamb and bacon meatballs. Chicken liver pâté with macerated grapes, red wine and charred ciabatta, and for those who can't wait to latch on to that fishy flavour there's deep-fried squid, king prawn and whitebait with celery leaf and Romaine salad.

An Olive Press lasagne never fails to please - a simple dish but a satisfying one. Spaghetti Napoli, or carbonara with poached egg, crispy pancetta, peas and Parmesan all ring the bells too. From the oven or char grill there's a delightful whole grilled sea bream with gremolata, or hand pressed Curwen Hill rump steak burger, fries, sweetcorn and red pepper relish.

The stone baked pizzas have delicacy - none of your superannuated roofing tiles here - the base is an accompaniment rather than a conversation stopper, with the customary well-loved toppings, none more so than the buffalo mozzarella with plum tomatoes and basil.

Olive Press takes the requirements of children very seriously, and their own menu, designed with pleasure in mind, comes complete with some little puzzles to solve whilst waiting for their order to arrive. As well as making up their own pizza, Little Olives, as they tend to become for the duration, can choose from a pasta selection, sandwiches and garlic bread, burgers, or chicken, before moving in on the knickerbocker glory or banana split. Meanwhile parents and favourite uncles can contemplate a vanilla yoghurt with fresh blackberries, honey and crushed amaretti biscuits.

A well balanced wine list rarely strays far from Italy and includes Thesauram Corvina, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 from Veneto that is big and spicy with rich dark chocolate and blackberry flavours.

For further details, including latest deals, menus and images, their Website should prove invaluable. The menu changes twice a year - for Autumn/Winter in September and in March for Spring/Summer.

Italian, Pizza & Pasta

£16.00£25.00

Featured Restaurant

10 Red Lion Street, Richmond, TW9 1RW [Map]

Matsuba restaurant on Red Lion Street offers a mix of contemporary and classic Japanese cuisine alongside sushi and sashimi in an intimate and elegant setting. This Japanese restaurant has grown rapidly within the neighbourhood of Richmond, since its opening over seven years ago. Learn more

Matsuba restaurant on Red Lion Street offers a mix of contemporary and classic Japanese cuisine alongside sushi and sashimi in an intimate and elegant setting. This Japanese restaurant has grown rapidly within the neighbourhood of Richmond, since its opening over seven years ago.

A stone's throw from the Odeon Cinema and the Richmond Filmhouse, the restaurant is the perfect place to enjoy a quick meal before or after a film. Other attractions such as the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, Richmond Park and Richmond Theatre are all just a short walk away.

Meaning 'leaf of the pine tree' in Japanese, Matsuba's stylish contemporary interiors feature dark wood and subtle light panels running along the length of the room, with vintage Japanese parasols adding an authentic ethnic touch. Friendly service from smartly turned out waiters is most welcome.

The kitchen offers authentic Japanese dishes with a slight modern twist and a touch of Far East Korean cuisine. Specialities here include dobin mushi, a clear soup traditionally served in a small clay tea pot, scallops seared in butter and the classic Korean dish, bibim bap served in a stone pot bowl.

You could begin with ebi tempura, tuna sashimi, crab and avocado sushi, cod's roe nigiri, Florida maki or California roll, all freshly prepared and flavourful. Then follow with such dishes as grilled squid with asparagus, gyoza meat dumplings, deep fried courgette discs served with tsuyu sauce, spicy Korean seafood broth, teriyaki duck with rice or Kobe beef served with rice and miso soup. Guests can also expect to find a range of set dinners, lunch boxes, speciality sushi and sashimi, and assorted party platter sushi sets. The Matsuba Special Bento Box is filled with mixed tempura, sushi and sashimi, teriyaki chicken, appetiser, pickles, salad rice, miso soup and fruit.

The extensive drinks list includes a wide variety of champagnes and carefully chosen wines to pair with oriental dishes and sushi. Speciality Japanese beers, rice wine sake, Korean soju and soft drinks are also available.

The restaurant also offers takeaway, office lunch, private and corporate catering. With excellent public transport links, Richmond Tube and Rail Station is just a short walk, the venue is also exclusively available for hire for all private and corporate special events.

Japanese, Korean

£28.00£50.00

Featured Restaurant
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183-185 High Street, Eltham, London, SE9 1TS [Map]

On High Street, Prezzo Eltham offers fine Italian cuisine is a bright, spacious setting. Housed in a converted London electricity showroom building, the beautifully designed interior retains much of its original charm with a stunning first floor dining area, which features stained glass windows and wooden furniture. Learn more

On High Street, Prezzo Eltham offers fine Italian cuisine is a bright, spacious setting. Housed in a converted London electricity showroom building, the beautifully designed interior retains much of its original charm with a stunning first floor dining area, which features stained glass windows and wooden furniture.

Surrounded by shops and bars, Prezzo is just a short walk from Eltham Railway Station.

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.

Italian

£10.00£25.00

Featured Restaurant
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Unit D, Cardinal Retail Park, Grafton Way, Ipswich, IP1 1AX [Map]

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. Learn more

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.

Mexican, Tex Mex

N/A£25.00

Featured Restaurant
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10 Topsfield Parade, Middle Lane, Crouch End, London, N8 8PR [Map]

If at first sight Crouch End in North London does not strike you as one of the more compelling parts of London, just reconsider your stance. Well, Deborah Ross, witty writer and self-styled non-domestic goddess, is rumoured to live there. Learn more

If at first sight Crouch End in North London does not strike you as one of the more compelling parts of London, just reconsider your stance. Well, Deborah Ross, witty writer and self-styled non-domestic goddess, is rumoured to live there. But far more importantly it is home to one of the most renowned and lively Thai restaurants in the country - yes, that's country. So why? Probably because owner and Head Chef Somchai Kantavanich of O's Thai gives every appearance of having thrown the rule book out of the window and decided that they're going to have a good time and they'd like all their customers to join in with them.

Charles Campion writing in his London guide in 2008 said, 'O brings a youthful zip to Thai cuisine. His café is fast and noisy with current favourite music at high volume', before going on to extol the food.

With main courses at around £7 each there is room for experimentation. If you lack the confidence to do that the cheerful and well informed staff will offer helpful advice if needed. Further more you can knock a few more bahts off the bill (53.5 bahts = £1) by vacating your table before 8.30pm, their answer to the early bird supper. So one way and another it's a pretty accommodating place.

Décor is minimalist with blond wood furniture, a long narrow room with no pretentions to glamour, everything concentrated on good sound food at even better prices. Amongst the starters and snacks are Thai vegetable spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce, kow keap kung, Thai prawn crackers made with real prawns, and luk chin tord, deep fried chicken or fish balls, or their special starters for however many there are in your party, chosen from the menu with spicy peanut sauce and yet more sweet and sour. And, of course there's the ever faithful spicy soups, Tom yam and Tom ka made with lime leaves, coconut cream, lemon grass and galanga.

Some eleven main courses ring the options between meats, bean curd and king prawn as the main constituent. One of the great things about Thai cuisine is the subtlety with which the dishes are composed, where one apparent minor shift of ingredients can make so much change. Amongst the house recommendations are pad morragode, a spicy dish made with king prawn stir fried in 'morragode' green curry coconut sauce, vegetables, fresh lime and sweet basil leaves, served with a veritable mountain of rice.

Watch out as well for their blackboard specials, which could include steamed salmon with fresh ginger and spring onion and soya sauce or yellow egg noodles with shrimp curry paste and lemongrass.

Despite, to our ears, its unpromising name, khow tom mud makes the most delicious dessert with banana and sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaf and served with hot coconut cream. Failing that move your attention to kanom moor gaeng, coconut flavoured sponge made with egg, coconut cream, ground yellow beans and palm sugar, served with warm coconut cream.

A short but thoughtful wine list, starting at £11.95, draws heavily on New World and South Africa, with a Stormy Cape Shiraz from Western Cape amongst the reds, a Cape Coral Rosé from Stellenbosch and a beautiful Montana Reserve Sauvignon from Marlborough NZ, all nearly at or under the £20 mark.

Their special lunch has three choices each of starters and main courses, served between 12 and 3, at an incredible £6.95 per head. Their Website should prove a huge help in guiding you round all the exciting choices available there.

Thai

£20.00£20.00

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Special Offers

99 Station Street

Burton-Upon-Trent

2 courses £13.50 and 3 courses £16.95.

Motcombs Restaurant

SW1, Belgravia & Westminster

Valentine’s Dinner Tuesday February 14th: 2 courses – £43.00 3 courses – £47.00 Including a glass of Champagne

Caravaggio

City & Fringes

2 courses from the Chef's special daily menu for just £16.50

Boulevard Brasserie

Covent Garden & Theatreland

2 courses and kir royal £15 - Starter and main from a set menu. Includes Vat, excludes service

Selected Restaurant

Pan Haggerty Restaurant

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Number 21 Queen Street, Newcastle has been home to some pretty exciting culinary experiences over the last few years, but longevity has tended not to be amongst their qualities. However, those with ...