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.

This is an unassuming place on the Sudbury highway, more specifically on Harrow Road, where you can walk in for some delicious Indian food and walk out with your pockets more or less intact, and with a feeling of deep satisfaction. The food at Five Hot Chillies happily doesn't exceed the level of spiciness that goes beyond comfort levels and the friendly and efficient service adds to the enjoyment of your meal greatly. The ambiance is nothing much to write about, but when the food is of such excellent quality, all else can be forgiven.

The menu is extensive and offers a range of Punjabi and Pakistani cuisine where kebabs feature highly amongst starters. Moving on, their karahi dishes are well loved, whether it is lamb, paneer or chicken, because the taste is simply exquisite. Their naan breads are fresh and perfect for soaking up the rich gravies and rice dishes are fragrant. Desserts provide an excellent finale, be it kulfi or kheer.