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In 1985, Krimo and Karen opened Krimo's Restaurant at Seaton Carew, the resort side of Hartlepool. They had £250, supported by 'bucketfuls of enthusiasm', and by the following year they were listed in the Michelin Guide and have been ever since.

Krimo's is a celebration of the cuisines of the Mediterranean and everything you ever associated with that wonderful combination, including the romantic and imaginative décor. For those of you who hitherto had perhaps associated Hartlepool with North Eastern dourness and its former MP, now Lord Mandelson, pleasant surprises are in store. The sun shines, there is a lively community spirit and the new Marina has widened the town's horizons.

But let's turn to more immediately important advantages, the wonderfully fresh fish and seafood readily available year round, the years of experience of Krimo and his loyal staff, and a fine location amongst the action on Hartlepool seafront. Taking lunch as an example, from amongst seven or so starters expect to find Thai fishcakes with a stimulating red coconut curry sauce, creamy garlic mushrooms flavoured with tarragon and served on a toasted brioche, or a prawn salad with seafood sauce.

A tasty Algerian lamb tagine is only one interpretation of this great traditional dish (you should try it with goat sometime), and a fish of the day course never fails to please. One of the real classics is beef bourguignon, served here with mushrooms, onions and red wine, or to the north Med for penne carbonara with bacon and cream.

The carte menu is an ever changing range of culinary delights that chase the seasons and the markets. Try the seared pigeon breast on a bed of braised red cabbage and apple, or pan fried chicken breast with tarragon in a wild mushroom sauce. Algerian boureks are filo pastry parcels with minced beef inside, excellent as tapas or starters. Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce could, perhaps, make for the ideal close.

On Sundays Krimo makes a bold step out of the Med and acknowledges local loyalties with the traditional roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, though warmer climes are never far away and there's no obligation to depart from what Krimo's is all about - interesting, well prepared and sourced dishes that speak of easy warmth and a range of cultures.

An early bird two course meal is served between 5.30-6.30pm Tuesday to Friday, and is extraordinarily good value. A set two course dinner follows, but it has to be said that it is within the à la carte that the true measure of what is offered at this attractive restaurant can be best enjoyed. Combine this with a wine list that draws largely from the same geographical sweep as the food, and a jolly, relaxed atmosphere and you can see how well deserved is their title of Winner of the 2009 Hartlepool Business Award for Tourism and Leisure.

Krimo is an excellent communicator - click on the attractive Website to catch up with their latest news and views.

Brewer's Fayre restaurants offer a warm welcome to those who want a reliably tasty meal in pleasant surroundings, with plenty of choice, minimal fuss and friendly service. With a reputation going back 25 years they should have a fair chance of doing that, but don't take our word for it. Give them a try and see if you agree that this is how good quality pub food should be served.

Whether it's snacks, grills, pub classics, fish, Sunday roasts or side dishes they think their way through the options, talk to their guests, and then come up with the goods. Not everybody wants a full meal so they've considered the needs of those who want to keep the gap filled and the children contented, perhaps on a journey or a day out.

Hot filled baguettes are always popular be it sausage and red onion or a classic chicken club sandwich. Jacket potatoes are good on their own but filled with mature cheddar cheese and beans they take on a new dimension.

More paced occasions demand a wide menu, perhaps with starters of breaded butterfly prawns, chicken goujons or breaded camembert bites. Grills are there for the hungry and whole rack of meaty BBQ pork ribs served with extra sauce, chips and coleslaw can be very welcome. The days of the mixed grill are back - or did they ever go away - a 4oz rump steak, two pork sausages, and a gammon steak topped with a fried egg served with all the trimmings will remind you if they did.

Salmon and prawn fishcakes are served with buttered new potatoes, tartare sauce and a lightly dressed salad. A combination of sea and land comes with a rump steak, whole grilled chicken breast and breaded breaded butterfly prawns, served with chips and a side salad or garden peas.

The rise of eating out in pubs has brought into our daily lives a whole legion of what might be termed 'pub classics'. Many of them have their roots in what used to be called 'good home cooking' and include such dishes as sausage, egg and chips, beef and ale pie, chicken and mushroom pie and for the very daring a beef lasagne. Well, all of them and many more are on the menu at Brewer's Fayre, supplemented by such new regulars as vegetable Goan chicken curry, pork chop, chilli con carne and grilled chicken and bacon salad.

It has often been said that chicken tikka masala is now the most popular dish in Britain. Some may not really want to believe that, much as they love curry, but travel, population movement and other factors have widened our scope and they are probably pretty keen on fish and chips in Timbuktu.

What is certain is that the great British Sunday roast is exclusive to these islands, though copied maybe elsewhere or in ex-pat outposts. No surprise therefore that it's on the Brewer's Fayre menu. A trade of three roasts with an opportunity to trade up to a mega roast for a modest sum. With it come two Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, fresh seasonal vegetables and that important element - gravy.

A fine list of immensely tempting desserts may well bring the most ardent weight-watcher to their knees. A short but well thought out wine list offers all choices, except champagne, by the glass. Staying the night - check to see if there's a Premier Inn next door - chances are you'll be lucky.

A quick click on their Website is always worth while. The only thing that stays still permanently is the quality which is helped by a changing menu, and some very special offers.

Overlooking The Historic Quay and Marina in Hartlepool, Portofino is a bistro and pizzeria catering to a wide clientele that swears by its great views, lively atmosphere conducive for long after-work chats and excellent food. HMS Trincomalee - Britain's oldest warship, is seen afloat just outside the restaurant's windows, creating ample excitement among younger guests. The service is great, though it can get a touch noisy in the evenings, and is a great place to unwind after a hard day's work.

The lamb sausages in spicy tomato sauce, the king prawns, seafood risotto, squid rings with garlic mayonnaise, breast of duck served pink in blackcurrant and apple sauce, and Mediterranean salad are top of the charts. The emphasis is on value for money which makes it even possible to try it all at once if only room permits. Great food in a vibrant and friendly atmosphere at excellent value for money. Portofino's popularity among locals and visitors comes as no surprise.

Spices is one of the original restaurants to open in the spectacular Hartlepool Marina. The menu reflects their belief in the philosophy of preparing freshly cooked and lightly spiced dishes. Customers can relax with a pre dinner drink in the spacious, brightly decorated lounge before enjoying flavoursome Indian food. Friendly and attentive staff ensure that your visit is memorable.

Krimo, the culinary King of Hartlepool Marina with Krimo's and Portofino, opened his latest venture in January 2006, Casa del Mar, a Spanish tapas bar and restaurant, which has attracted a wide following, ranging from young families to older couples; though not all of them might wish to take advantage of one of their special offers, the Sunday night salsa sessions, costing just £14.95 for one hour's tuition with a meal.

Casa del Mar offers a wide choice of sharing plates, ranging from classic vegetarian ones, such as pan de ajo y queso, grilled bread with garlic and cheese or Spanish omelette with potatoes and onions, through to meat and fish, like squid sautéed with garlic, oil and chili flakes, and the classic, albondigas, meatballs in tomato sauce.

With a selection of main courses and cracking cocktails from their chief mixologist, Adam, who makes a mean sangria as well, it is not surprising that this atmospheric place was an instant success, and Krimo is probably already planning what he does next.

Hartlepool has come a long way in the last decade, especially the makeover of the marina. Home to the award-winning historic quay, it is always alive with tourists, and is only likely to get busier with the city's future beautification plans.

Farrar's Bistro Restaurant in Hartlepool, boasts of a magnificent view of the marina with its anchored boats and yachts. It serves modern British and Mediterranean food, and as English cuisine today is influenced tangibly by Asian cooking, don't be surprised if you see onion bhajee served with mint and cucumber yoghurt rubbing shoulders with pasta or pork and apple terrine.

Some of the other popular dishes here are haddock goujons and medallions of pork loin. Apart from these, ham, roast chicken, pork form the base for the main meal at Farrar's.

They also have a sandwiches and light bite menu, and their interesting selection of side orders has garlic dough balls, onion mash potato and slow roasted tomatoes with balsamic vinegar.

For desserts you could pick the dark chocolate fondant with griottine cherries and vanilla ice-cream, poached pear in red wine sauce or banoffi pie. Their dessert menu changes daily while the food menu varies each season.

The food is bought locally and prepared to the highest standards, ensuring there is a wide variety of seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes as well as an excellent selection of wines to complement your meal.

The service is informal and relaxed allowing you to relish your meal in an unhurried manner. Opened in June 2002 by owner and head chef Mark and Charlotte Farrar, this bistro has carved a niche for itself in the local restaurant scene.