Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

In this post-modern information age, tranquility has become something of an obsolete luxury. Cowpers Oak, set in the quiet village of Weston Underwood, allows reacquaintance with this ancient experience of peaceful rejuvenation. Picture perfect for weddings and other functions, this lovely 17th century inn creates a warm, cosy ambience and the lip-smacking food on offer makes it a wonderful dining destination for those in the proximity of Milton Keynes and Olney.

The menu changes on a monthly basis owing to the locally sourced ingredients. However signature starters like ham hock terrine with char grilled bloomer and chili jam never run out. Follow that with a main course of sirloin steak with fries, salad, grilled tomato and field mushroom and the dining experience has been done sufficient justice. Drinking options include 5 cask ales and a selection of coffee and tea for caffeine lovers. Drop in if you're in the neighbourhood even if it is just to sip a coffee. One owes it to the setting.

Slug and Lettuce has a chain of almost a hundred bars spread across the country sharing a common love of serving down to earth, undemanding food and drink.

The group prides itself on offering dishes prepared using quality ingredients, and you should be attended on by attentive staff in a safe, welcoming and cheerful environment. The Slugs have something for anyone - breakfast for a lively start to the day, lunch for busy people, family meals or even a relaxing glass of wine to bring a tiring day to an end - all in a variety of modern and stylish settings.

The menu features old time English favourites such as Gloucestershire Old Spot sausages in buttered mash or fish pie made with Dartmouth smokehouse haddock, in a Devon cream and leek sauce, although dishes look to Europe and further afield to Asia for inspiration. A good way to start the enjoyment is by sharing platters of Southern fried chicken breast pieces, crispy potato wedges, garlic ciabatta strips, half a rack of BBQ pork ribs, wasabi vegetables with onion rings or some Greek mezze

Hearty steak pies, Thai curry with sticky jasmine rice or butternut squash with goats' cheese lasagne are amongst the more popular main dishes. Sandwiches or wraps - warm tortilla with chicken and Parmesan or aromatic duck in plum sauce - provide for those who prefer something lighter. They also serve burgers as well as tempting salads like salmon, asparagus or tomato and mozzarella. For children they have good old British standby sausage and mash, or pepper pasta and ketchup among other choices, all of which never fail to delight, particularly as some of them seem to have come out of a certain celebrity chef's Book of Forbidden Dishes.

Desserts appear in the form of raspberry biscotti, hot chocolate pudding or a creamy strawberry cheesesake. The wine list is well compiled and substantial. There are not less than seven French, three from Italy and some from Spain, Chile, Australia as well as New Zealand. Slug and Lettuce can cater for events including birthday parties, fashion shows, hen nights, wedding parties or just an enjoyable night out with a few friends.

Situated exactly opposite the Church of St. James the Great in the Buckinghamshire village of Bierton is The Red Lion, a 16th century public house. Geoff and Claire who have vast experience running pubs and kitchens make it a delightful place to enjoy a drink or dine. The interior features traditional low ceilings with oak beams, and log fires in both the public bar and the restaurant area.

The menu balances classic dishes with a modern twist, resulting in something for all. The daily specials board offers dishes such as fresh fish and seasonal produce. Options at lunch include chicken Caesar in a brown petit baguette with chunky chips, and homemade steak, ale and mushroom pie with shortcrust pastry and pan crispy potatoes. Oyster mushroom risotto with green beans, asparagus and courgettes and peas is a real treat for vegetarians.

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.

The original concept for All Bar One was developed by two enterprising ladies, who wanted a bar ideal for women to have a drink and something to eat without the intimidating confines of a traditional pub. Little wonder, that the place has huge glass frontage, open spaces and interiors that are bright and airy. The first outlet opened in Sutton in 1994, became a huge hit, and there has been no looking back since. Today there are close to forty outlets, including one in Cologne, Germany. Irrespective of location, they have identical wooden flooring, menu and service. Antique mirrors, natural colours and reclaimed wooden furniture combine classic and modern styles well.

The menu has tapas from different parts of the world, including the Mediterranean region, Italy and the East. One can also have a variety of burgers, sandwiches and salads. Baked goats' cheese parcels, flat mushroom and halloumi burgers are highlights of the menu, as is the All Bar One beef and coriander burger, a house speciality. With the emphasis being as much on drink as the food, many outlets display a wall of champagne and wines, with beers and spirits thrown in for good measure. The blackboards on the wall often flaunt the impressive selections.

The success formula of All Bar One has been faith in doing simple things well, and that is what they are best known for. A place that is hard to define, for it is not just a bar, restaurant, café or pub, but a special place where people can unwind alone or in company.

The Rajasthan offers some delicious North Indian food in an expansive and peaceful setting, where you can enjoy some well known curry house delicacies alongside some exciting innovations too. Located in the heart of Chesham, this is a quiet and friendly restaurant with good service and they also offer catering services for small and large parties.

The menu has starters such as lamb lazeez, minced and pan fried, or squid with curry leaves, mustard seed, chopped garlic and ginger and for main course you could opt for some of the house specialities that include chicken shugonda, breast meat stuffed with mint, coriander and lemon grass in a medium spicy sauce.

Other options include steamed sea bass wrapped in a banana leaf, biriyani and confirmed favourites such as dopiaza, jalfrezi, bhuna and rogan josh and dhansak. A wide variety of choices for vegetarians makes this an ideal place to spend an evening with companions who have differing  tastes and preferences.

An always busy large pub, which at first sight you might be forgiven for passing by. Big mistake! Provided you can cope with the busy-ness, which to be fair is quite a lot of fun if you are into people-watching, you will be in for a real surprise. Good vegetarian food, lots of it, efficient staff and all the delights of a well-stocked pub to go with it.

The Carriage House Restaurant is situated within the courtyard at the well known stately home, Claydon House in Buckinghamshire. They offer visitors to this historic location an opportunity to relax in the most beautiful surroundings and enjoy delicious, imaginative dishes created by their talented head chef and owner, Tim Mathews priding themselves in using the very best local produce wherever possible and, when in season, the fabulous fruits and vegetables from the Claydon Kitchen Garden.

The menus change regularly and they are open for lunches and dinners throughout the year, offering a seasonal a la carte menu, with al fresco dining in suitable weather. Typically a meal could begin with warm shredded shoulder of pork salad, star anise, fennel scented pineapple and sweet chilli sauce followed by a pollock fillet with soft herb crust, grain mustard, cream and white wine sauce with parsley mash and lemon courgettes. The cappuccino crème brûlée does ample justice to your sweet tooth although you could opt for the selection of English cheeses also.