Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

For some time I made the mistake of thinking that no group of restaurants in the region of 200 locations could hope to maintain the quality for which I was looking.

Then one day I decided to put my prejudices to the test, walked into Oxford Ask! and discovered that I could not have been more mistaken. Their claim to serve freshly prepared quality food in stylish and comfortable surroundings with friendly and efficient service proved to be absolutely spot on.

Since then I have also discovered that a degree of consistency seems to operate throughout their restaurants, and that certainly does take some achieving, implying a degree of management that is enviable. They are perfect places for an impromptu snack, a bit of culinary grazing, or the full works, and families are catered for particularly well.

Their trendy décor usually comprises tiled floors and black furniture with well set tables that sparkle with glass, silver and spotless linen. Ten starters include crostini and bruschetta, followed by a range of salads, pasta and al forno, oven baked pasta, some with chicken.

The pizzas are stone baked in the oven, creating a crisp, authentic and delicious flavour, and they all come topped with mozzarella and tomato. Calzone introduce a touch of opulence with a folded pizza baked in the oven and topped with garlic butter and melted grana padano, whilst inside expect to find chicken or a vegetarian mix.

Amongst the specials may I warmly, in every sense, recommend the polpette al forno, a popular Milanese dish of beef meatballs sautéed in garlic with fire roasted peppers, caramelised onions, chilli and pomodoro sauce, with penne pasta, topped with cheese and oven baked.

An enticing selection of desserts list banoffee pie and tiramisu amongst them, and the coffee tastes like coffee, which may sound banal, but I guess you know what I mean.

Thanks to a well selected wine list speculative drinking can offer handsome dividends, even with prices rarely crossing the £20 barrier.

A quiet haven from the busy city life, Canal 125 is a stylish contemporary restaurant and bar located on the Regents Canal. Split over three floors, Canal 125 caters to different needs of its patrons, offering cosy intimate dining in the restaurant, al fresco dining on the terrace overlooking the canal as well as hosting larger family gatherings or work outings in the main bar. Just a 5 minute walk from Kings Cross St Pancras Station, the restaurant has a simple yet contemporary décor, where guests can enjoy a variety of modern European cuisine prepared from fresh ingredients that are locally sourced.

Chef Gary King serves an eclectic menu that includes appetizers of pan fried chilli marinated squid with tomato, coriander and salsa, crayfish and spinach frittata, and French red onion soup with gruyere croutons. Main courses include seafood options of grilled whole lemon sole with caper butter sauce and salmon fishcakes served with baby spinach and basil cream sauce. Other main dishes include braised lamb shank with parsnip mash and gravy, and steak and real ale pie which are accompanied by choices of risotto, pasta, salads and rice.

Desserts of chocolate cake, rhubarb crumble and vanilla ice cream or Cornish yarg cheese with pear chutney and crackers help finish the delectable meal perfectly.

French bistros can be fascinating destinations for those making the best use of a tight budget, but Le Mercury is more than just that. It looks romantic for a start, with candle lights, soft music and tables on several levels, and then there?s the real good bistro fare at prices that could bring much cheer during what are described as 'difficult' times.

French food tends to concentrate more on cheese and wine and their variations, and what better way to promote better appreciation of French cooking than over plates of pear, blue cheese and walnut salad and roast breast of Barbary duck on garlic potato mash, Savoy cabbage and red wine jus. The smooth flavour of sautéed spinach and lobster sauce work well with seared fillet of Scottish salmon, while confit celeriac and Granny Smith apple make a surprisingly good match with slow roast honeyed pork belly.

Desserts at Le Mercury do well to break free from the retro note with glazed rhubarb with basil ice cream and mascarpone cheesecake with ginger and strawberry coulis.

Sedir Restaurant is a cheerful place for those seeking delicious Turkish cooking in this part of London. The look of it can temporarily belie its location on Theberton Street, with palm trees in the sunny front terrace and soft lighting and beautiful mahogany bars on the mezzanine and upper level.

There are a variety of menus designed to suit different moods and occasions, from banquets and quick bar bites to pre-theatre and something for the little ones too. For a start it is sometimes fascinating to go a wee bit off track and try an Albanian speciality of seasoned and shallow-fried, finely diced lamb liver, then follow on with a grilled sirloin steak, almond coated salmon fillet and pan-fried chicken breast cooked with shallots and mushrooms in a white wine, lemon and cream sauce.

The wine list at Sedir is concise, so keep an eye open for the gems, or have a nose for bins from the eastern Anatolian region and the floral aromas of Xerolithia from Greece.

Things seem to move fast at Wagamama - the sixteen year old Asian inspired, noodle restaurant chain. As soon as you decide what you want to eat, your order is taken via a PDA, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so it can be made fresh and served right after. The restaurant chain does not believe in taking reservations, and all customers are seated on a first come, first serve basis. In fact, be aware that most of the tables are long ones and you will often be asked to share them.

The restaurants are modelled on traditional Japanese ramen bars that have been popular for hundreds of years - ramen are Japanese style noodles, served in a meat-based broth, topped with pork, dried seaweed or even corn. Chilli beef ramen, made of noodles in a spicy pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled sirloin steak and fresh vegetables, is hearty and satisfying.

Apart from ramen, you could opt for the coconut soup based kare noodles or teppan, cooked on a hot, flat griddle. They also offer many rice dishes like katsu curry, chicken fillet deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a lightly spiced curry sauce and sticky white rice. Vegetarians are definitely not ignored, as they can opt for saien soba, made using whole-wheat noodles in a soup topped with stir-fried vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and garnished with sliced spring onion.

Meat and vegetable dumplings, skewered chicken, deep-fried prawns and raw salads double as both sides and starters. Steamed green soya-beans, called edamame, go well with drinks - hold them up to your mouth and squeeze the succulent beans from the pod. If you've noticed, Wagamama is more about eating healthy food fast and less about the order. Don't be surprised if you're served the main course before the side dish - order isn't important, the aim is, don't wait - just tuck in and share.

Wash down your meal with sake, plum wine or even a Japanese beer. Wind up your meal with coconut reika - three scoops of dairy coconut ice cream topped with a fresh, tangy mango sauce and toasted coconut flakes or the tamarind and chilli Pavlova, with a crunchy meringue base served with a raspberry and tamarind sauce.

At Wagamama, you can also shop for cookbooks, sauces, ramen bowls and t-shirts. The restaurant is all about enjoying genuine, reasonably priced, Pan-Asian cuisine in a sleek but informal setting.

Tucked away in Camden, Caponata Ristorante's glazed glass frontage looks onto Delancey Street. Bright and airy in summer, cosy and comfortable in winter, guests can choose to relax with the newspaper or free WiFi when they drop in for breakfast or just enjoy the company of family and friends for an Italian lunch or dinner.

The Sicilian influenced seasonal menu uses produce from local suppliers, especially fresh fish from Billingsgate Market. While their cuisine is undoubtedly Italian, Sicilians are also proud of their unique culinary heritage which displays Arab, Spanish and Greek influences. Enjoy the difference at Caponata, starting with its namesake salad constituted from aubergines, green olives, celery, onion, capers and tomato. You could also try pan fried baby squid filled with pâté of pork and red pepper or tea smoked duck breast. Chickpea and potato gnocchi or fettuccine with wild boar ragôut could be equally satisfying. Get to the heart of the meal with pan fried halibut in a mussel and saffron broth or almond crusted rack of lamb, and then signing off with with hazelnut brûlée or apple tarte tatin.

The home of Satay was started in 2004 in the heart of the capital. The name 'Puji' means praise in Malay, Puji Puji offers home cooked Malaysian cuisine to its guests and has received praise for its food and service over the years. The interior is bright and colourful with contemporary seating, providing a warm and friendly atmosphere in which to enjoy a wonderful meal with family and friends.

The secret to success from their humble beginnings has been the Satay. It is a dish consisting of diced chicken, beef, lamb, seafood or vegetables marinated in spices for 24 hours and then grilled on wooden skewers, accompanied by a peanut sauce salad and rice cubes. Traditional specialties here include dishes such as curried chicken in Malaysian special curry paste, tender beef cooked in blended dried chillies, and whole sea bass grilled and wrapped in banana leaf with spicy tamarind sauce.