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.

A stylishly designed gourmet kitchen restaurant with room for over 100 diners, Café 190 in Station Road offers an eclectic menu with something to satisfy all tastes. This is where guests can drop by for an enjoyable meal at lunchtime or spend an enjoyable evening with salsa dancing on Sundays to rev up the pace.

Diners can expect to enjoy fresh stone baked pizzas, gourmet burgers, flame grilled chicken and more at Café 190. Choice of pizzas includes such classics as the margherita, parmigiana and formaggi as well as others with toppings of mushrooms, peppers, artichokes, tuna, anchovies, prawns, smoked salmon, grilled chicken, pineapple and mozzarella. The pasta selection offers fusilli arrabiatta with chicken breast, tagliatelle with ricotta and mushroom sauce and risotto with seafood and smoked salmon. There's also open steak baguette, minced beef burger, bbq chicken melt and sandwiches of bacon and brie and ham and mustard. Puddings for a sweet ending include Eton mess, crème brûlée and strawberry cheesecake.

In the pristine surroundings of Harrow on the Hill, just ten minutes from central Harrow is The Old Etonian, a charming hotel where you can stop over for a weekend getaway or even longer, and enjoy the many delights they offer. Rooms are furnished excellently while their restaurant serves as a focal point for many to come together for a freshly prepared delicious meal. Guests can also bask on the terrace and take in the spectacular views as they dine al fresco on days when the weather is friendly.

The restaurant menu changes frequently to reflect what is in season, but typically you might expect a fresh Mediterranean twist to the meal, which could begin with fresh crab meat, avocado and mango mayonnaise followed by veal escalope with marsala wine and cream. Fish dishes are also excellent with the pan fried fillets of Dover sole with smoked salmon, parsley and lemon sauce. Crepes suzette for dessert is a perfect way to finish the meal on a sweet note.

The Golden Palace may not be located in the best part of Harrow but it's certainly the best Chinese restaurant in Harrow. The service and the food are excellent and sheer variety of the menu makes it a hit with almost everyone that visits. Although there are two separate dining areas the place is always busy. On weekend lunchtimes it is the dim sum menu that makes the Golden Palace the place to be, but at all other times you can dine on the likes of steamed chicken buns and deep-fried crab claws, followed by quick-fried scallops, king prawns with spicy salt and chilli, or roast duck in a honey and orange sauce. There are also a number of good value set menu options that are well worth considering.

Reviewed by Linda Buttle