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hand picked restaurants

There's nothing quite like the aroma of freshly brewed coffee to rejuvenate your senses and Fego Caffe, with its pleasantly quaint continental ambience and comfortable atmosphere is an excellent place to visit with friends or colleagues. With their four locations spread across the UK, they are making their mark on the café scene and considering the delicious food they have on offer, it is hardly surprising they are becoming a welcome dining destination for many.

Coffee in all its forms is available and you are quite spoilt for choice, but do take a look at their breakfast menu with the delectable filled croissants, Panini baguettes, wraps, muffins and even a whole traditional English spread. Salads, pastas and burgers are adequate choices for other meals, while their desserts are simple but enticing, with a selection of cakes served with cream. For those who enjoy their tipple, there's a good selection of wines and spirits available to help ease along the meal.

The Queen's Head is fondly referred to as Marlow's little secret because it's a delightful sixteenth century pub untouched by gaudy commercialism, where you can cosy up with friends, relax, sip on the numerous wines or enjoy an expertly prepared meal. The rustic element is reflected in the simple decor, where wooden beams and a cheery fire create a welcoming atmosphere. This idyllic setting in the heart of Marlow is perfect to sample some of the delights that emerge from the kitchen; all created using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

If starters of pan fried scallops with black pudding, blue cheese and egg salad sound tantalizing, the main event is no less special - char grilled swordfish with green olive and new potato mash, wilted greens, brown butter and caper sauce. The range of desserts offers some comforting as well as decadent options running through choices such as lime brulee, chocolate mousse and Bailey's cheesecake. The wines follow the well known route, offering splendid New and Old World selections.

Marlow is a charming town located by the River Thames in the south of Buckinghamshire and situated in the busy High Street is The Marlow Bar and Grill, considered to be one of the most popular dining destinations in the area. Inspired by the boating activity on the River Thames, the restaurant is done up in navy blue leather, teak and stainless steel, and monochrome photography adorns the walls.

Relax in the bar lounge, terrace, or head straight to the restaurant to dine while watching the chefs in action in the open kitchen. Share plates of mezze with humous, tzatziki, tabbouleh and Greek pastries or an Asian starter of Thai prawn cakes, duck spring rolls, chilli squid, tempura prawns and Vietnamese vegetables. Mains consist of wild mushroom risotto, Gloucester Old Spot sausages, mashed potatoes and onion gravy, and specials of Goan spiced fishcakes with coconut, chilli and lime.

Sign off with fresh desserts like summer berry and passion fruit Pavlova or a classic crème brûlée. Carefully chosen wines accompany the food.

Spending an enjoyable evening in the refreshing ambience of The Orangery at the Danesfield House Hotel and Spa requires little second thought. Guests can dine here from a modern British menu for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. Located in Henley Road, the hotel stands in exquisite grounds with acres of formal gardens and outstanding views over the River Thames to the Chiltern Hills beyond.

The evening meal could begin with risotto of roast Cornish scallops and winter truffle; terrine of confit chicken leg with chestnuts, quince puree and pickled trompettes, or salad of roast quail, sweet carrot puree and roasted cèpes. Then consider a pan-fried fillet of bream with crab risotto and crab jus, or slow cooked sirloin steak with pomme puree, pied de mouton and red wine jus. Sumptuous desserts of chestnut soufflé and pear sorbet, and dark chocolate pannacotta with pink grapefruit granita and cocoa nib tuile bring the meal to a fitting end. The wine list, graced with aromatic, spicy whites and mellow, fruity reds, provides further food for thought.

Modernity has its merits and at the Crowne Plaza it is evident in the fluidity of form present in the structure which keeps it very far from becoming an unwelcome distraction in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside of Marlow. Comfortable and luxurious, this hotel offers a respite from the pressures of life with rooms that are furnished with every thought given to convenience. Excellent conference facilities ensure that it's a good option for business meetings while its stunning lakeside location makes it a wonderful venue for weddings and other such events.

The contemporary décor of the restaurant is highlighted by the floor to ceiling windows that offer fabulous views of the countryside. The menu could include dishes such as smooth chicken liver pate with red onion chilli jam for starters, followed by a main course of salmon fishcakes with chickpeas, smoked paprika and garlic mayonnaise. For dessert, you could opt for the sticky toffee pudding with double cream.

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.

A family run restaurant, the Hand and Flowers is an elegant pub located in the beautiful Georgian town of Marlow that serves authentic British cuisine in warm and relaxing surroundings. Set in a beautiful white washed building, with low beamed ceilings, large open windows, evening candles and simple yet comfortable décor, the ambience is ideal for large family get-togethers as well as quiet and intimate candlelight dinners.

Prepared by owner and Chef Tom Kerridge, the food combines modern British flavours as well as rustic French dishes featuring fresh and seasonal ingredients. The à la carte menu comprises dishes of parfait of duck and foie gras with orange chutney and toasted brioche; crisp pig's head with honey roast apple and blackberries, and Cornish cod with artichoke purée, smoked roe, hazelnuts and golden raisins.

Those with a sweet tooth can finish the meal with some delectable desserts of warm pistachio sponge cake with melon sorbet and marzipan; vanilla crème brûlée and apricot soufflé with apricot sauce and yoghurt sorbet. There is also an extensive wine list to accompany the meal.