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.

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.

The Chestnut Horse is hidden in the idyllic village of Easton and housed in a 16th century building, yet it continues to inspire much appreciation from locals as well as those who arrive from further afield. Inside, diners might spot beamed ceilings lined with collectable tankards and teapots in the bar area, and a roaring log fire in wintertime adds to the pleasing ambience.

The menu is heavy on gastropub and traditional British food with starters such as smoked salmon parfait and sauce vierge and moules mariniere, while the chicken and pistachio nut quenelles with choron sauce is a stand out. Honey glazed rabbit saddle and wild mushroom brioche parcel, prime Scotch rib eye steak and Bombay crusted hake fillet with lemon confit potatoes and creamed leeks restore faith in conventional styles of cooking.

On a hot summer evening there are few places better to enjoy a pint of beer than at the decked area at the rear of The Chestnut Horse with a riot of flowers of the Itchen Valley countryside to keep you company.

This contemporary Indian restaurant, ideally situated in the heart of Winchester, provides a stylish and modern dining experience. It is an ideal spot for an evening out for those heading to the Theatre Royal around the corner. The interior is minimalist, arty with a deep twinkly eating area towards the back and very pleasant rooms at the front, including a bar area with gleaming bottles of every drink under the sun on display. Asian pop music on the sound system and friendly service, add to the ambience.

From the spicy Indo - European romance of the sub-continent with its blend of different influences from around the world, to its famous spices and spicy food Rimjhim offers a range of delicious dishes famous for their nutritional value and tempting taste. You can expect to find traditional favourites such as wood fire tandoori, seafood specialities, biryani and pathia dishes all presented in an appealing fashion.

This 16th century building has had an interesting progression from private house, to Bishop's Residence, through convent to hotel. It has survived all these transitions with élan and now offers traditional dishes of quality in a dining room which has character and is not overbearing. A decent wine list with house wine at £12.60.

One of the greatest pleasures in life for celebrity chef Raymond Blanc is sharing a good meal with family and friends. He achieves this through Brasserie Blanc, where his team take great joy in serving authentic French cuisine in a modern, brasserie atmosphere. All their dishes use the finest ingredients, sustainable freedom foods, free range and natural or wild produce.

With eight outlets, the brasserie retains the individuality of each of the locations, while maintaining a uniform standard of food and service. The menu has several signature dishes like Maman Blanc's miscellany of salads, Loch Fyne mussels and Burgundy snails in garlic herb butter.

Some interesting mains are Cumberland sausages with bubble and squeak, Aberdeenshire rump steak and chips, Dutch calf's liver served with bacon, sage and smooth mash, and of course, Raymond's smoked haddock, leek and gruyère fish cake. There is a healthy selection of children's options also.

The wine list is French in concept, but includes New World wines, and offers over forty-five varieties, ensuring there is something for everyone. In addition to a range of French cheeses, selected by the Premier Cheese Company, you could settle for their favourite dessert, baked Alaska with flaming Grand Marnier, to end the meal on a sweet note.