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hand picked restaurants

Paul O'Hara's name has been synonymous with many of the North East's finest restaurants and, after six years of working for acclaimed chef Terry Laybourne, he's upped sticks and settled down in the quaint little village of Whorlton, three miles outside the picturesque market town of Barnard Castle, County Durham.

So, if you enjoy the sophistication of dining in the city and happen to live in the countryside around Barnard Castle, then here's your opportunity without having to travel too far. The Bridge Restaurant and Bar gives you the chance to sample what chef Paul calls, "a fusion of the creativity and excitement of the city, with great quality, freshly available local produce". Set amid some stunning scenery, customers can choose to sit indoors or relax in their spacious outdoor dining area.

Start a meal with grilled Mowbray black pudding, crispy onions and olive oil crushed potatoes, while smoked salmon is served with rocket and horseradish salad, and hazelnut terrine and marinated beetroot could accompany Hunter House goat's cheese. The fillet of local roe deer venison with bashed neeps and tatties is a well-praised main, or you could opt for the roast breast of chicken with Lyonnaise potatoes, wild mushrooms and béarnaise sauce. Their wine list has been specifically put together to complement the depth of flavour their menus deliver.

Finish with sticky toffee pudding with butterscotch sauce, dark chocolate brownie with Jack Daniel's ice cream, or a selection of cheeses, artisan biscuits and chutney. Apart from regular dining, The Bridge holds what it calls a specialist evening every month, guests are served champagne on arrival followed by a four-course meal with accompanying wines.

The Hide chain of cafés, bars, and grills pleases customers very effectively in the north east, and west Yorkshire. Their delicious, varied cuisine, contemporary interiors, informal yet attentive service, and relaxing atmospheres appeal to most people visiting a Hide.

The Durham outlet can be found on the road to what is sometimes referred to as the most magnificent cathedral in the world. Stop by for a meal, or coffee and a light snack while you experience the city's many fabulous attractions.

The café offers such delights as char-grilled 6oz rib eye sandwiches, pizza, pasta, burgers, and mezze platters, while the grill menu caters for those wanting something more substantial.

Precede a main course of seared leg of lamb, puy lentil, slow roast tomatoes and jús, with aromatic duck pancakes with hoi sin, or Thai beef salad. Other choices comprise a 10oz sirloin hand-cut local steak, Anglesey sea bass fillets, free-range chicken breast, gnocchi pasta, pancetta and sage sauce, and tarragon and chive crêpes stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese.

The chocolate brownie with pouring cream delights those with a sweet tooth.

Eggleston Hall's Old Coach House has been transformed into two large and light spaces for eating and relaxing. The large arched doorways have been glazed to give a spectacular view across Teesdale. With its attractive flagstone floor, painted peach walls and al fresco seating in the summer it acts as a licensed Café, but each Thursday, Friday and Saturday night the Café is transformed into a bistro, providing local people with a new and different dining experience. David Jackson is the creative director, ensuring that whether served 'al fresco' on the terrace or in the comfort of the coach house, the bistro menu delivers.

A typical meal could consist of: chicken liver paté with Cumberland sauce and toasted sun dried tomato bread; field mushrooms baked with blue cheese and a red onion marmalade; Loch Fyne smoked salmon with dill and lemon mayonnaise or pancake stuffed with spinach and Cotherstone cheese with a beetroot and caraway seed salad to commence the meal with.

Followed by: fresh salmon and prawn topped with gruyère cheese tagliatelle; grilled sea bass with a crab mash and roasted red pepper coulis; pan fried fillet steak with béarnaise sauce and fat chips; suprême of corn fed chicken with fresh asparagus, smoked bacon and red wine sauce or mozzarella cheese tart with a spicy chickpea and tomato salad. There is a selection of desserts to finish your evening off.

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.

Since El Greco literally translates as 'The Greek', this is a piece of information that will easily help you to decide what the menu is going to be about but wait here's some more trivia for the arty types. It's also the name of the renowned painter from the Renaissance era whose paintings are believed to contain some of the best known depictions of the sky in Western art.

At a more immediate level, equally exemplary work is displayed by the kitchen as evident in starters of sautéed mushrooms in cream sauce on toasted bread and prawn saganaki. Pay heed to delicious pasta and risotto courses like tagliatelle alle langoustine and alla cacciatore, while those with meaty fixations could try the pork escalope in white wine and fillet steak with cream and pepper sauce. Overall El Greco emphasises on comfort food and even the desserts follow suit with choices like tiramisu and freshly made cheesecake of the day with a variety of sauces.

Joe Rigatonis at each of its locations has a unique design that reflects modernity, elegance, comfort and convenience. The décor speaks for itself with wooden flooring, teak furnishings and colourful lamps alongside paintings or photographs titivating the wall. If you stepped in without an ounce of knowledge of its existence, you are sure to recognise the brand of restaurant.

The cuisine at Joe Rigatonis is Italian with slight touches from Spain. An array of traditional pizzas topped with cheese, tomatoes, ham, roasted peppers, onions and mushrooms feature on the menu. An extensive á la carte is an excellent alternative to pizzas; start with a prawn cocktail or calamari, followed by a char-grilled sirloin or a fish pancake.

Joe Rigatonis is a pleasant dining place, equally suited to catch a quick bite with friends, have a relaxed dinner with family or discuss business if you really have to.

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.

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.