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hand picked restaurants

Driving along an avenue of chestnut trees you soon realise the peace and seclusion of Hogarths; set in twenty six acres of beautiful woodland, it's hard to believe that you are only a few miles away from the centre of England's second largest city, Birmingham, with its cosmopolitan atmosphere and world-class facilities.

As a result, Hogarths is sometimes described as Solihull's best kept secret, the trouble with some best kept secrets is that nobody tends to go to them very much for fairly obvious reasons, so we're happy to tell you that this is an exception to the rule. It seems that enough people have cracked it to enable Hogarths to come out roses, which may have something to do with the décor of the dining room. The ambience is warm and welcoming, and the food, prepared by Chef Simon Douglas and his team is distinctly British with a modern twist, enjoying the benefits of seasonal, fresh local produce . The enticing aroma of homemade bread lingers with the wood smoke and it all feels very homely.

There are several private dining rooms in Hogarths with access to private gardens and terrace with views over the grounds. They are also keen on making your special occasion memorable with customised or gourmet menus accompanied by wines.

The Orange Tree is not exactly your normal, average run-of-the-mill pub, instead it features an open kitchen, stone fired ovens and log burning fires with beautifully landscaped gardens for al fresco dining.

The menu is simple but up-to-the-minute, with lots of comfort appeal, with homely things like pizza, steaks and pasta as well as contemporary, global touches to keep things lively. The wine list contains well known favourites, alongside little numbers from around the world.

Over the summer months you can meander the day away enjoying fine food and chilled wines and beers, forgetting about the worries of work! The atmosphere at The Orange Tree is relaxed, friendly and informal, while the overall impression is of a pub which is comfortable, light and open with friendly service.

Things seem to move fast at Wagamama - the Asian inspired, noodle restaurant chain that was started in 1992. As soon as you decide what you want to eat, your order is taken via a PDA, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so it can be made fresh and served right after. The restaurant chain does not believe in taking reservations, and all customers are seated on a first come, first serve basis. In fact, be aware that most of the tables are long ones and you will often be asked to share them.

The restaurants are modelled on traditional Japanese ramen bars that have been popular for hundreds of years - ramen are Japanese style noodles, served in a meat-based broth, topped with pork, dried seaweed or even corn. Chilli beef ramen, made of noodles in a spicy pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled sirloin steak and fresh vegetables, is hearty and satisfying.

Apart from ramen, you could opt for the coconut soup based kare noodles or teppan, cooked on a hot, flat griddle. They also offer many rice dishes like katsu curry, chicken fillet deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a lightly spiced curry sauce and sticky white rice. Vegetarians are definitely not ignored, as they can opt for saien soba, made using whole-wheat noodles in a soup topped with stir-fried vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and garnished with sliced spring onion.

Meat and vegetable dumplings, skewered chicken, deep-fried prawns and raw salads double as both sides and starters. Steamed green soya-beans, called edamame, go well with drinks - hold them up to your mouth and squeeze the succulent beans from the pod. If you've noticed, Wagamama is more about eating healthy food fast and less about the order. Don't be surprised if you're served the main course before the side dish - order isn't important, the aim is, don't wait - just tuck in and share.

Wash down your meal with sake, plum wine or even a Japanese beer. Wind up your meal with coconut reika - three scoops of dairy coconut ice cream topped with a fresh, tangy mango sauce and toasted coconut flakes or the tamarind and chilli Pavlova, with a crunchy meringue base served with a raspberry and tamarind sauce.

At Wagamama, you can also shop for cookbooks, sauces, ramen bowls and t-shirts. The restaurant is all about enjoying genuine, reasonably priced, Pan-Asian cuisine in a sleek but informal setting.

If 2 AA Rosettes and listings in the Michelin and Good Food Guide are anything to go by, then we can be sure that the Restaurant at The Forest Hotel takes its cooking and artistic surroundings seriously. The dining area is well decorated with dark furniture, comfortable sofas and artwork adorning the walls, setting the tone for a peaceful meal.

The menu shows some flair and innovation with dishes such as blue cheese pannacotta with tomato jelly and rice tuile or the poached sea bass delivered with sun-dried tomato and chorizo risotto and tempura oyster. If you're on a meat mission the roasted Cornish lamb with celeriac and hotpot and 28 day aged Scotch rib eye steak should appeal. The menu du jour takes in a white bean and pancetta soup, baked salmon with ratatouille and rosemary oil, and steamed treacle sponge for dessert. For private dining facilities, ask about the Claret or Olive Room.

A new concept in relaxed drinking and dining with its distinctive decor of cowhide furniture, chunky corduroy sofas and welcoming stainless steel and walnut bar. A large, open design means you can sit where you like, eat where you like and drink where you like. Large, arched modern windows look out onto the tree-decked terrace. Mortons offers tempting dishes including Brunch at the weekends, salads, spit roasts, pizzas, burgers and grills, plus everything can be ordered as food to go.

The lively La Tasca chain caters for parties, children's events and family gatherings in addition to anytime dining. These restaurants capture well the warm and vibrant spirit of Spain, and are best known for their tapas and traditional paellas.

Their star player is tapas, which can be had solo or in tandem with a meal. The calamares andaluza, deep-fried squid rings, served with roasted garlic mayonnaise and lemon, is great for sharing, while the chorizo frito al vino, spicy Spanish sausage flavoured with paprika, garlic and herbs, sautéed in red wine, offers a real treat. Chicken lovers order alitas de pollo, marinated chicken wings, or have skewers of chicken breast and pepper, marinated in paprika.

Valenciana is an interesting paella that combines seafood with chicken, and if you have a taste for trivia, you may be surprised to learn that 'la paella' actually refers to the utensil in which the dish is cooked.

Other than liqueurs and beer, there are wines from Spanish vineyards and sparkling cava. All of these, especially the dry rosé wines combine well with tapas. And you would be really getting into the spirit of things if you rounded off with the crema Catalana, traditional Spanish-style vanilla custard, topped with caramelised sugar.

La Tasca Spanish Tapas Restaurants and Bars today have over sixty outlets across the UK, so it is odds on there is a branch fairly close to your home.