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hand picked restaurants

One of the most outstanding Chinese restaurants in a city that is not exactly short of them, Raymond Wong has sought to return to the old Chinese cooking, having become tired of the anglicised version. That his customers agree with him is in evidence almost every night of the week. The conversion is cool and stylish and has gained rather than lost its Chinese feel. Essentially Mr Wong has seen the truth in the old adage that the customer is always right, with the usual reservations. All of this puts East in the top flight and a place to which you can repair with complete confidence.

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

Across its varied locations in the UK, The Living Room group of restaurants have become synonymous with delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere. Soothing music, a relaxed ambience and typical gastropub fare, aptly named Home Comforts, along with European influences have made this into a popular dining destination regardless of the venue. The execution is simple and the presentation, fantastic, so naturally the overall experience becomes something that you cherish and come to savour.

From the á la carte, choose beer battered tiger prawns with a sweet chilli sauce and wasabi or something from the small plates selection which includes chorizo sausage pan fried in chilli and red wine. Amongst main courses, the steak, ale and mushroom pie vies for attention alongside a rib eye steak with peppercorn sauce and chips and the chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream and raspberry compote qualifies for an exceedingly rich dessert. The drinks list has contemporary and classic wines and champagnes which meet all requirements suitably.

YO! Sushi Manchester, Selfridges is a vital gastronomic experience rather than simply a place to eat sushi. This exciting and visually appealing Japanese delicacy, almost a cuisine in itself and going back to the 4th century BC, is fast rising in popularity for reasons of both taste and health, as well as its companionable setting. The restaurants offer a range of delectable nibbles that are attractively presented and revolve on a gently moving belt in front of customers, allowing them to sample a real wealth of varieties and eat just what they like best as often as they wish.

Contrary to many people's perception of sushi as raw fish, it comes in many forms drawing heavily on rice, fish, vegetables and seafood but the great variety arises chiefly from the different fillings and toppings, condiments, and the way these are combined. Often the same ingredients may be assembled in a traditional or a contemporary way, yet creating widely differing tastes.

Some of the most popular types are sashimi rolls, made from raw or seared slices of salmon and tuna and meant to be eaten within a couple of hours of being put together. Other options include cones of seaweed with rice and fillings and the little boat shaped parcels called gunkans. Miso soups, salads and nigiri sushi made of rice with toppings all add to its strong visual appeal.

Great beers like Asahi Super Dry and Sapporo support the food superbly, as well as hot and cold sake for those who want to sustain the Japanese experience. The menu also has non-alcoholic drinks and a limited list of wines and champagne. For dessert try the dorayaki, mochi or settle for fresh fruit.

The experience of having a meal at YO! Sushi is enriched by the unique array that appears as if by magic before the diner, with its unique colour coded pricing system. But the real pull is the fresh, healthy and tasty food that keeps people returning to their outlets across the UK.

Situated in Burton Road, West Didsbury, Rhubarb Restaurant's contemporary and eclectic international menu delights diners with its wholesome fare. Guests can expect a warm welcome from the husband and wife team of Mark and Lisa Ramsden and look forward to an enjoyable evening in the comfortable informal setting.

Lunch or dinner gets off to a start with pea and ham soup with crusty roll, barbeque pork ribs, chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche and red onion chutney and wild mushroom risotto with roasted garlic and mascarpone. More substantial fare in the form of roast salmon fillet with clam chowder and saffron potatoes, roast duck breast with braised red cabbage and parsnip mash and garlic and lemon marinated chicken breast with chorizo, white bean and tomato cassoulet satisfies the appetite's demands. Comforting desserts of sticky toffee pudding, baked lemon cheesecake and vanilla crème brûlée provide the finishing touch to the wholesome meal.