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hand picked restaurants

Kaminaki is a totally authentic Greek taverna, bringing a little piece of Greek magic to the North East of England, with excellent food, drink and ambience to cheer you all year round. This bijou restaurant offers a warm welcome and is the perfect place to dine with friends, family or even colleagues. Over the years they have picked up a number of accolades that prove their popularity with the local population of Stockton-on-Tees.

The extensive menu includes old favourites such as tzatziki, kleftiko, stifado and souvlakia as well as a huge number of lesser-known traditional dishes. The full mezze (meat, fish and vegetarian options) is an experience to be savoured. There's a wide variety of pork, beef, chicken and fish dishes, as well as several interesting vegetarian choices.

For dessert there's galaktoboureko, a delicious vanilla milk and cream pie in filo pastry, as well as other interesting sweets - all homemade, of course.  The wine list includes well-known Greek and Cypriot wines as well as fine wines for special occasions.

Situated on the outskirts of the picturesque boutique town of Yarm, The Parkmore Hotel was originally built as a private house for the family of a wealthy shipbuilder. They have recently opened their refurbished restaurant J's @ 636 with a completely new look, incorporating high back chairs, contemporary furniture, exciting crockery and ornate glassware, all married to the service and food, which is delivered by attentive staff.

You could try their warm poached pear salad, served with Yorkshire blue cheese, rocket and drizzled with an aromatic walnut oil to start, followed by the slow roasted belly of County Durham pork, with seared scallop, bok choi, glazed apple, celeriac sauce and a honey and black pepper jus, and finally indulge your sweet tooth with a salad of rhubarb confit with candied fennel and mascarpone ice cream.

For a bistro serving remarkable international and Mediterranean fare, Café Lilli on Norton's High Street has notched up a lot of brownie points with locals and visitors alike. It is simple, unpretentious and yes, it is the food that will draw you back there, time and again. The décor is very bistro-ish implying that the focus is on creating a place where people can relax, be informal and have a lively time eating out.

Specials on the blackboard indicate what could be the best possible choices although there are firm favourites too such as Thai mussels steamed with coconut milk or grilled sardines over sweet olives, tomatoes and garlic. For main course you could try the medallion of fillet of beef and potato and celeriac gratin, whereas the passion fruit pannacotta with coconut biscuits makes an enticing dessert. The reasonable wine list has a wide enough number of choices to offer.

Riverside Stockton-on-Tees is just the setting for a classy Italian restaurant and Luna Rossa Italian Ristorante and Pizzeria doesn't disappoint. Situated in Castlegate Quay in an old mill building with river views, this is where good food, wine, friendly service and elegant surroundings come together to create a mellow mood.

The precise menu doesn't overwhelm with too many dishes and orders can be placed quickly leaving enough time for an enjoyable meal. Start with antipasti, pate della casa, home made pate, cozze all'aglio, mussels in garlic sauce, or calamari fritti, fried squid rings with a garlic dip. Then move on to a pasta and sauce of your choice, either penne, spaghetti or tagliatelle with pesto sauce, basil and cream, alfredo sauce, chicken, mushroom, cream and white wine, al tonno sauce, garlic, tomato, tuna and black olives, or al salmone sauce, salmon, cream and vodka. A range of pizzas, chicken dishes and steaks complete the menu. Fish of the day is also served. A children's menu reassures that the Luna Rossa cares about its little patrons too.

Cafe Sapore is a new age bistro, a smart and stylish eatery in Hartburn, Stockton on Tees, where you can drop in for a coffee and a slice of cake, a glass of wine or a traditional panini. Of course they also have a seasonal menu where only the freshest locally sourced ingredients and classic Italian elements come together to create a variety of tantalising dishes. There's also a delightful little deli where you can purchase authentic Italian products and go on to try something at home too if you're adventurous enough.

For those longing to take time off from the kitchen, a look at their menu could bring starters of fresh mussels, tomato and chilli sauce and toasted bread and the main course of pork filet in herb crust, extra virgin oil potato puree and sweet onions veloute is excellent. The wine list offers some interesting choices from Italy, and if you love sweets, don't miss the almond parfait with chocolate sauce and pistachio nuts.

A popular hangout for families as well as the occasional business traveller, the Old Poste House Bar and Grill at the Sporting Lodge Inns is an elegant hotel designed to entertain people from all walks of life. Whether it is a banquet for 200 or an intimate buffet for 20, the beautifully designed function rooms provide the ideal setting, at a price that is very affordable. The menus are all individually tailored and fresh, giving diners a choice of the best in traditional English cuisine.

Starting a meal with traditional prawn cocktail and smooth chicken liver pâté, guests can move onto the main courses of roast pork loin, oven baked salmon fillet, succulent roast turkey and chicken supreme.

The desserts are scrumptious and varied with Irish cream mousse, citrus delice, homemade Yorkshire pudding and warm apple pie. Enjoying the whole meal with a pint of beer or a glass of wine from the extensive list available, makes this a nice end to a memorable evening.

Frankie and Benny's combine classic American and Italian in both style and cuisine. They specialise in home style cooking 'just like Mamma used to make it'. This is a great place to take the entire family and represents excellent value for money. The restaurant and bar is suitable for any occasion, whether it's a leisurely lunch, a family meal or a fantastic evening with friends - they make sure you have a wonderful time.

Walking into the restaurant is like stepping back into 1950s New York, from the clatter and chatter of the open kitchen to the bottle lined bar. Walls with black and white family photographs showing life in Brooklyn's 'Little Italy' surround cosy booth seating and tables. Combined with the classic music of the fifties, a mix of American swing and beat, they definitely provide a fun and friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Frankie and Benny's offers starters, main courses and delicious desserts, and favourites include char-grilled burgers, pizzas, pastas, steaks and house specialities such as chicken parmigiana, BBQ ribs, lamb shank and much more. The bar serves a wide range of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks.

Start with sticky wings, crispy coated chicken strips, tiger prawn skewer or Frankie's fried calamari and if you are dining in a group choose the giant sampler platter. The pastas, calzone and pizzas are all made freshly on order. An interesting dish on the menu is a the Boston 7 speciality pizza fully loaded with slices of pork meatballs, spicy pepperoni, ham, crispy bacon, chicken, peppers and red onion, served on a BBQ sauce base. They also serve a variety of sandwiches and burgers throughout the day.

A good value lunch menu is available on weekdays from 11am until 5pm offering a range of popular dishes from the main carte with one course at £5.95, two courses at £7.95 and three courses at £8.95.

For children up to the age of eleven, an all-inclusive menu features a selection of main courses, desserts and drinks starting at £3.95. As an added treat, they'll also receive an activity pack to entertain them whilst you eat.

Enjoy an American Italian meal at Frankie and Benny's with freshly prepared food and warm hospitality that makes you feel right at home.