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hand picked restaurants

Built in 1818, The White Hart Inn is a warm and homely restaurant situated in the quiet hamlet of Charter Alley just 5 miles from Basingstoke. Tucked away up a narrow lane on the outskirts of the village, overlooking open farmland and woods, the restaurant interior is charmingly rustic with simple wooden furniture, wood beamed ceiling and carpeted floors.

The seasonal menu makes use of locally sourced organic ingredients wherever possible with an emphasis on hearty country dishes. Starters include wood pigeon, pork and herb terrine served with date and William pear chutney and warm soda bread or seared hand-dived scallops with sautéed chorizo and wild rocket. Mains of slow roasted pork belly with roasted parsnips, apples with tarragon jus and sweet potato puree or chef's special fish pie with succulent prawns and scallops in creamy fish veloute topped with cream potato mash and vegetables do not disappoint.

The chef's special desserts of Dutch apple sponge with custard and vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate & cappuccino mousse with ginger shortcake biscuits complement the meal perfectly.

Thailand has an enviable and honourable lifestyle built on karma and happiness among their surroundings. An independent nation founded in twelve thirty eight, its original name 'Sukothai', means 'dawn of happiness'. Ever since that dawn Thai culture and cuisine has been based on pleasure and harmony.

Thai cooking has a character of its own, much of it based on the land's abundant spices and herbs and this modern and stylish Thai restaurant is located in the heart of Lychpit and old Basing offers guests with dishes prepared using traditional recipes handed down through generations. Kwai 2 is an ideal spot whether you are looking for an intimate dinner or a meeting with colleagues or a quick bite.

Start with Thai fish cake and prawns tempura or aromatic duck with spicy and sour coconut soup, followed by red curry with steamed rice, or stir fried vegetables in oyster sauce with soy noodles.

Things seem to move fast at Wagamama - the Asian inspired, noodle restaurant chain that was started in 1992. As soon as you decide what you want to eat, your order is taken via a PDA, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so it can be made fresh and served right after. The restaurant chain does not believe in taking reservations, and all customers are seated on a first come, first serve basis. In fact, be aware that most of the tables are long ones and you will often be asked to share them.

The restaurants are modelled on traditional Japanese ramen bars that have been popular for hundreds of years - ramen are Japanese style noodles, served in a meat-based broth, topped with pork, dried seaweed or even corn. Chilli beef ramen, made of noodles in a spicy pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled sirloin steak and fresh vegetables, is hearty and satisfying.

Apart from ramen, you could opt for the coconut soup based kare noodles or teppan, cooked on a hot, flat griddle. They also offer many rice dishes like katsu curry, chicken fillet deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a lightly spiced curry sauce and sticky white rice. Vegetarians are definitely not ignored, as they can opt for saien soba, made using whole-wheat noodles in a soup topped with stir-fried vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and garnished with sliced spring onion.

Meat and vegetable dumplings, skewered chicken, deep-fried prawns and raw salads double as both sides and starters. Steamed green soya-beans, called edamame, go well with drinks - hold them up to your mouth and squeeze the succulent beans from the pod. If you've noticed, Wagamama is more about eating healthy food fast and less about the order. Don't be surprised if you're served the main course before the side dish - order isn't important, the aim is, don't wait - just tuck in and share.

Wash down your meal with sake, plum wine or even a Japanese beer. Wind up your meal with coconut reika - three scoops of dairy coconut ice cream topped with a fresh, tangy mango sauce and toasted coconut flakes or the tamarind and chilli Pavlova, with a crunchy meringue base served with a raspberry and tamarind sauce.

At Wagamama, you can also shop for cookbooks, sauces, ramen bowls and t-shirts. The restaurant is all about enjoying genuine, reasonably priced, Pan-Asian cuisine in a sleek but informal setting.