Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

The Handmade Burger Co specialises in gourmet, handmade burgers, it offers a bewildering array of beef, chicken, lamb and vegetarian options. The menu consists of a total of 40 adult burgers and 4 junior burgers, each handmade on the premises daily, using the freshest produce and tastiest ingredients, and topped off with one of their speciality relishes. The company especially takes pride in its beef burgers, which are made with traditionally reared, grass fed, 100% fully traceable prime beef.

And what gourmet beef burger is complete without a portion of fresh cut chips, one of the tastiest guilty pleasures on offer in the Midlands. Not for you? Well why don't you try one of their many other sides dishes, including the handmade coleslaw and the rather delicious flame grilled vegetables. No wonder that it suits a wide market, young or old, vegetarian or full blown meat eater, as they cover all the bases.

What was at one time a rectory is today the warm and welcoming Hillcrest Hotel. The family-run establishment is located in a particularly serene part of Lincoln, and overlooks the city arboretum. A fantastic blend of a quiet location, comfortable rooms, and fine modern European food makes visits to this place a refreshing experience.

After a tiring day in the city, you could relax over a cold beer or two in the recently refurbished bar. And whether you're there for business or pleasure, a meal at the Conservatory restaurant should not be missed. The bright and airy dining place is surrounded by a garden, and offers lovely views of surrounding parkland and the city.

The daily changing à la carte menu offers a selection of well-created dishes and what could be better than a romantic candlelit meal in such a surrounding? A wide range of drinks are served in the lounge and these include bitter and lager on draught.

The comfortable and well equipped ensuite bedrooms ensure guests enjoy a good night's sleep at Hillcrest.

Voujon at Stamford is representative of the rather overdue trend for Indian restaurants to shake off their slightly down at heel image, or trying to recreate Bombay in every other community of more than 1,000 souls in Britain. Not that I have a problem with those propositions, but I do share the feeling that restaurants like Voujon are giving a new face to Indian cuisine which can only be for the better.

Taking the fairly customary view that Indian starters are a waste of time we went for the jugular, in the form of a duck tikka massala, backed up by murgh tikka jalfrezi with a prawn dhansak to fill in any gaps in the conversation.

The coconut rice was supplemented by some tarka dall, aloo chat, poppadums and a nan or two, one of which was certainly a Peshwari, and some plain boiled long rice.

Seated in the restaurant converted from two dwelling houses in Stamford Broad Street, with a distinctly modern décor, involving the plentiful use of directed lighting, with dark surfaces supplemented by discreetly toned wooden counterparts, we began to feel that Indian cuisine in Stamford was certainly on the move.

A good little wine list did its best to struggle with the eternal debate over wine or not to wine when eating Indian and had we decided to go down the former route we'd have been alright. As it was we didn't and some well kept Kingfisher helped to keep at bay a day that had been both windy, cold out of the sun, and dehydrating when you found it.

It would have been difficult to fault the food. Everything was exactly what one would have expected it to be, there were no moments of doubt, it was well served at the right degree of warmth, with spices deployed by an expert hand.

Stamford has a bit of a reputation for not being too kind to restaurants in the above average category, and yes, I am speaking of prices. Voujon is above average, but has every right to be so. Our little splurge cost £70 with service and drinks, and frankly it was well worth every penny. I recommend it without reservation.

With a name like Seabreeze, a cheerful, good-time vibe and a double dose of seaside fun is ensured, but this High Street venue has been a hospitality hotspot since the 1930s when it served as a café, eating house and even accommodated the local police force during the floods in 1953. Now it wears a spanking new look and wows the holiday crowd with quality food and friendliness.

Seafood is undoubtedly a high point here, but there's a glimmer of hope for those who'd like to try meat dishes, and the line up encompasses Lincolnshire black pudding and bacon stack, served with a tomato dressing; pan fried breast of Gressingham duck with a rich orange sauce and chef's special prime 10oz rump steak in a Bateman's ale and onion gravy.

Lunchtime at Seabreeze could bring a refreshing Lincolnshire fresh dressed crab salad, and the popular homemade steak pie served with creamy mash or chips, and peas.

Located on the edge of the Lincolnshire wolds, the family-run Stallingborough Grange was built as a thatched country house in the 18th century. And though it has been extensively modernised, it still retains numerous original features and a very appealing old world charm.

Whilst the hotel offers a choice of forty one standard and superior bedrooms, the excellent restaurant serves a great selection of English dishes that range from bar meals to the Head Chef's signature creations, complemented by world wines and traditional ales.

Amongst the starters, you could try the lemon and black pepper salmon goujons with homemade tartare sauce and mixed salad, or lamb and rosemary brochettes with Greek salad and cucumber yogurt dressing. This delicious fare can be followed by baked loin of pork with Cote Hill Lincolnshire Blue cheese, or a delightful traditional homemade lasagne. Don't miss out on the locally made Lincolnshire ice cream for dessert.

A traditional carvery is available on select days of the week and booking is highly recommended on Sundays.