Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

For some time I made the mistake of thinking that no group of restaurants in the region of 200 locations could hope to maintain the quality for which I was looking.

Then one day I decided to put my prejudices to the test, walked into Oxford Ask! and discovered that I could not have been more mistaken. Their claim to serve freshly prepared quality food in stylish and comfortable surroundings with friendly and efficient service proved to be absolutely spot on.

Since then I have also discovered that a degree of consistency seems to operate throughout their restaurants, and that certainly does take some achieving, implying a degree of management that is enviable. They are perfect places for an impromptu snack, a bit of culinary grazing, or the full works, and families are catered for particularly well.

Their trendy décor usually comprises tiled floors and black furniture with well set tables that sparkle with glass, silver and spotless linen. Ten starters include crostini and bruschetta, followed by a range of salads, pasta and al forno, oven baked pasta, some with chicken.

The pizzas are stone baked in the oven, creating a crisp, authentic and delicious flavour, and they all come topped with mozzarella and tomato. Calzone introduce a touch of opulence with a folded pizza baked in the oven and topped with garlic butter and melted grana padano, whilst inside expect to find chicken or a vegetarian mix.

Amongst the specials may I warmly, in every sense, recommend the polpette al forno, a popular Milanese dish of beef meatballs sautéed in garlic with fire roasted peppers, caramelised onions, chilli and pomodoro sauce, with penne pasta, topped with cheese and oven baked.

An enticing selection of desserts list banoffee pie and tiramisu amongst them, and the coffee tastes like coffee, which may sound banal, but I guess you know what I mean.

Thanks to a well selected wine list speculative drinking can offer handsome dividends, even with prices rarely crossing the £20 barrier.

The Royal Oak is the oldest pub in the historic market town of Potton, situated in a Grade 2 listed building, close to Sandy and Biggleswade. There you'll find real ales, fine wines and fresh and delicious food, all in a traditional, family-run, English pub like atmosphere. The bar, complete with oak beams and a real fire, a beer garden, and a relaxing dining area welcome customers all day.

Visit them to celebrate a special occasion or simply for a quiet drink. The lunchtime menu is available in the bar and the restaurant, and includes a choice of baguettes, homemade lasagna as well as traditional favourites. The solid oak dining tables are lit with candle lights, creating a warm and intimate ambience.

A quintessentially English pub with a rich history, The White Horse is located in the beautiful village of Southill and offers a quality home cooked matching cuisine in a comfortable and relaxed ambience. Surrounded by lush gardens and plenty of space, the place is a welcome stop for large gatherings and families, with the large converted stables used frequently for special occasions like weddings and birthday parties.
 
The menu is very English consisting of regular pub grub such as deep fried king prawns in filo pastry and garlic dip; stir fried shredded duck in plum sauce and sautéed mushrooms with white wine and chive sauce. Mains consist of dishes like homemade steak and kidney pie; grilled lamb's liver and bacon in a red wine and onion gravy and the delectable Cumberland sausages served on a bed of mashed potato with red wine and onion gravy.

Scrumptious desserts, sandwiches and other small eats are the other fare on the menu, with the restaurant serving a separate menu especially for the eager young.

Hare and Hounds can be found in the charming village of Old Warden, deep in the heart of Bedfordshire. Even though the place has its own special style and appeal, the owners greatly respect elements that make the traditional country pub experience whole. This understanding has resulted in Hare and Hounds achieving a fine balance between the two.

Garden-picked vegetables, fresh fish and meats arrive each morning. The pub combines traditional flavours with a timeless and relaxed taste of its own to create dishes such as monkfish and tiger prawn Thai green curry, homemade pies, haddock in beer batter, Scottish black pudding, bacon rösti, and free range duck egg and truffle oil.

Since Hare and Hounds is a public house there's always an inspiring list of wines and beer to complement your food. It is not surprising that the pub has been chosen as Bedfordshire Dining Pub of the Year for three consecutive years, is 'Pick of the Pubs' in the AA Pub Guide and mentioned in the Michelin pub guide.

Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.