Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

Here's a gastropub that brings typical British favourites in a relaxed and laidback environment and it's located just along Putney Bridge Road not too far from Putney High Street. Whether you're looking for a leisurely lunch or dinner with friends in an unfussy atmosphere, The Normanby seems to get it right every time. Deep browns in the decor reflect the solid philosophy behind the food, and it's an equable balance between tradition and modernity which is pleasing to the eye and creates a restful ambience.

Sunday brunch menus might offer roast ham and fried eggs with hand cut chips or Welsh rarebit on toast. More substantial meals towards the end of the day could include starters of prawns with garlic and cayenne butter followed by a main course of crispy pork belly with chick peas, grilled vegetables, spinach and smoked paprika aioli. Finish with a warm chocolate and nut brownie with cinnamon ice cream. The global wine list at The Normanby offers some interesting choices including some from the New World.

Putney's Isola Del Sole is a delightful restaurant located on Lacy Road and is an ideal spot for some delicious Italian cuisine. The blend of contemporary and traditional finds its way into the decor effortlessly, creating an effect of modernity and yet, undeniable warmth. However, this Sardinian restaurant is best known for its delicious and tantalising array of food that inevitably draws a loyal and eager clientele. Fresh, handmade pasta, local and seasonal ingredients and plenty of fish and meat dishes ensures that you are able to satisfy all your cravings.

The menu could feature a starter of tiger prawns, sautéed in white wine, garlic, parsley and chilli followed by baked sea bream with olives, tomatoes and potatoes. Other favourites might include pappardelle pasta with quail meat, mushrooms and green olives ragout, topped with pecorino cheese. Isola Del Sole has a good selection of Italian wines along with spirits, beers and soft drinks which make an interesting drinks list.

If you're looking for a safe, tasty bite to eat then you could do worse than Le Piaf. Check tablecloths and basic French cuisine seem somehow re-assuring, although the staff can at times be a little off hand (maybe to add to the typically French atmosphere!) Excellent value.

Annie's Bar and Restaurant located in White Hart Lane, brings memories of grandma's house when kids merrily bounded in while heartfelt greetings were exchanged and home-cooked food emerged from the kitchen. With its genuinely warm service, superb comfort food and stylish ambience, Annie's ensures that there's something here for everyone and at any time of the day. If you want to show up early on for coffee, you could soak in the sun with your newspaper at the stylish al-fresco dining area. Family gatherings, business meals, casual lunches and romantic dinners are just enjoyable in the lively, welcoming atmosphere at Annie's.

The food is a delightful blend of British and continental flavours and the place is particularly renowned for its brunches. Sample the crisp bacon sandwich with oven-roasted tomatoes or go for the full English breakfast which comes in smaller portions for children. Lamb burger with goat's cheese is an excellent option for mains and there are a host of dishes for vegetarians that include a daily risotto special. For dessert, you'll find all the usual suspects, but crème brulée at Annie's Bar and Restaurant will surely have you pulling an Oliver Twist.

This place is truly a carnivore's delight. A simple and uncomplicated menu offers three different types of steaks in five sizes, and that's it. At the Popeseye Steak House, no one will even ask for more. Richly textured and beautifully flavoured, the grass fed Aberdeen Angus beef comes straight from Scotland and is hung for two weeks. In the friendly and unfussy atmosphere, diners can choose to sit outside in the garden area for a delicious al fresco meal.

The unconventional menu does away with typical first courses or bread. Steaks are served as popeseye - another name for rump - sirloin and fillet and sizes range from a mere 6 oz to 30 oz. Chips and salads accompany the meal and those in the mood for a sweet something after a heavy and meaty meal could choose something from the range of homemade puddings or ice creams. The extensive but reasonably priced wine list features wines from across the world.

Dining in a French restaurant doesn't necessarily have to make you swoon when you see the prices on the menu because there are places like L'Auberge which are rapidly bridging the divide and bringing delicious fare from the neighbouring country within reach. This intimate and cosy eatery on Upper Richmond Road in Putney owned and run by Chef Pascal serves tasty food in a friendly and laidback atmosphere with its focus squarely resting on fine dining.

From the à la carte, there could be starters of grilled snails brochettes, tomato, garlic and herb coulis followed by a main course of pan fried calf's liver with honey and lemon sauce. Fish lovers will certainly find the grilled fillets of sea bass with a pastis and fennel seed butter to be enticing and finally, desserts are not to be missed. Pascal trained as a pastry chef, qualifying with first class honours so naturally expect only the best, such as a coconut tart with rum and raisin mascarpone ice cream.