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Hammer and Pincers in Loughborough claim to be more than just a restaurant and it takes a visit to understand what they mean. The entire gastronomic experience is delightful with friendly service and a relaxing and laidback atmosphere with a capable and professional front of house team taking charge as soon as you enter. Trained at the Savoy Hotel in London, the owners Danny and Sandra have gained vast experience having worked in Switzerland and France. 

A typical meal could begin with a twice baked smoked haddock soufflé, followed by steak. Hammer and Pincers take their steak very seriously, they serve four different joints, all cut to order, to the size specified by the diner. The kitchen team use 28-day, dry aged Hereford beef, raised locally at Blackberry farm. If you still have room for dessert, try the ice-cream selection, which includes interesting flavours like peanut butter and chocolate, lemon meringue pie, rhubarb crumble and custard to name but a few.

Should you be wishing for an alternative to the combustible delights of the Mexican cuisine, available elsewhere in this town, and wanting good food in a place which is not exactly overcrowded with haute cuisine you could do a lot worse than head for the Thai House in High Street. On offer is average Thai cuisine, well prepared and with most of the standard dishes listed in the menu, together with a few interesting additions.

Opened in 1990 Cactus has never looked back, and is now among the most sought after places in Loughborough for both townsfolk and students. There's plenty of music, spicy food and cool Mexican beer to quench the flames that follow and in summer the concertina doors open and its fiesta time for all.

Particularly impressive amongst the listed dishes is kick ass chilli, a pungent plateful indeed, or an 8 oz swordfish steak, char-grilled and topped with orange and basil butter with rice and a cactus salad on the side. If you're a roll-your-own man go for the classic fajitas, marinated and char-grilled sirloin steak, chicken or vegetables on a sizzling hot platter with peppers, cheese, onions, salsa, sour cream and guacamole, with rice and flour tortillas aplenty.

A good value fixed price menu may vie for attention and who'd not love a plate of Texas or Arizona chilli extinguishers, topped with melted cheese and sour cream.

Please note that they do not accept bookings by e-mail.

The relaxed and informal setting, friendly service and delicious food exude a welcoming warmth that makes dining here an experience to which to look forward. Restaurateur Nik Bhalla's personal touches have made all the difference at the centrally located Rushes Bistro.

The bistro's a la carte and set menus feature an eclectic combination of dishes that speaks of different cultures. There's a choice of spicy beef chilli nachos, duck pate with orange and ginger chutney, Greek lamb kebabs, Caribbean fruit and vegetable curry with steamed rice, moules marinière with French fries, tomato and mozzarella bruschetta and more. If you wish to end on a sweet note, sample some treacle tart with custard or sticky toffee pudding or maybe just a glass of dessert wine. A range of cocktails, red and white wines and other spirits complement the meal admirably.

Customers can stop by for a drink only if they so please. A party menu, for a minimum of eight people, must be ordered in advance.

The Printroom Cafe Bar in Woodgate offers an appetizing array of dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Whether it's just a snack or a full meal, look forward to dropping in anytime of the day to relax in elegant surroundings. This is where it is convenient to meet friends, conclude a business deal or just relax with family. The party menu caters to groups of eight or more.

Saturday breakfast has sausage or bacon and tomato sandwich, eggs, toast, toasted teacake, juice and coffee or tea. The daily lunch and dinner menu features battered calamari rings, spicy lamb samosas, bacon with brie and red current jelly sandwich or wrap, prawn and chorizo arrabiatta, seared tuna steak, coriander fishcakes and more. The desserts selection includes chocolate and orange truffle torte, blueberry cheesecake and lemon meringue. For that accompanying drink, there's a wide range of lagers, spirits, red and white wines from which to choose.

In this age of new generation dining destinations, it is pleasing to see places such as The Swan doing exceedingly well. Located on the banks of the River Soar in a Grade II listed building, the freehouse is a traditional 17th century inn in the village of Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. The AA four star enterprise offers visitors a large bedroom in an apartment style suite.

Sit by a roaring log fire and treat yourself to good real ales, wine and spirits. Food can be enjoyed inside or out in the riverside garden in summer. A regularly changing menu of hot and cold food is on offer at lunchtime while a traditional three-course roast lunch is served on Sundays.

British and European classics such as steak and kidney pudding, mussels in a lime and ginger broth, and seared breast of pigeon with caramelised beetroot are all homemade. A special bistro night is organised on the fourth Monday of each month, and a steak-frites evening on the second Monday of each month is popular among customers.

Not far from the Donington Park Racing Circuit and East Midlands Airport is a traditional country pub and hotel called The Falcon Inn at Long Whatton. The delightful establishment is an ideal place for an overnight stay or for a hot and tasty meal, and owner Jad Otaki ensures guests always have a great time at his inn.

Eleven beautifully appointed bedrooms have won them an AA three star rating, and if you happen to visit The Falcon in bloom, you are bound to notice why the inn was selected as the overall winner of the Spencer Memorial Garden Competition in 2008.

A wide choice of home-cooked dishes range from Lebanese mezze and main courses of, say, salmon and prawn brochette marinated in chilli, garlic, white wine, and coriander, to good old British favourites of chicken liver pâté served with hot toast, a selection of steaks, and specials of steak and ale pie, or roast pork in apricot sauce.

The food is wonderfully complemented by Lebanese wines.