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As you walk the cobbled path to enter, an element of curiosity prevails. Comfortably situated off Barnet Road, The Arkley is a smart village inn and dining, whose pleasingly understated structure and design give a cosy and homely feel. The stripped out inside is a clever fusion of countryside grace and self consciously modish décor with rustic wooden furnishings, neutral tones, sensual textures and eye-catching modern art.

The atmosphere is one of joviality particularly when the sun is out, and the world seems a better place as you enjoy an al fresco meal or lounge in the warmth. The outside of the pub is set with comfortable chairs and benches, easily seating around forty-five diners at a time. For all those special occasions, The Arkley could be just the place with its retro-chic theme and bespoke menus to suit all tastes and budgets.

The kitchen's approach to cooking is mostly modern British, underpinned by a slight Mediterranean focus, with great emphasis placed on sourcing high quality seasonal ingredients. There's something for everyone and all occasions and you will find traditional favourites such as pizzas, steaks and fish and chips interestingly juxtaposed with chef's daily specials.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, box baked Camembert with rustic bread or Greek mezze of taramasalata with humus, tzatziki, feta and flatbread.

Amongst the starters expect to find freshly made soup of the day, oak smoked salmon with buttered asparagus, melon, Serrano ham, feta and chilli ice cream or red onion tart with jersey blue cheese, watercress and roasted vine tomatoes. The salads ? more generally referred to as 'leaves' - offer crispy duck, mouli, carrots, spring onions and plum sauce and for the seafood fiends some smoked trout, prawn, pancetta, creamy lemon dressing, watercress and spinach goes down extraordinarily well.

For the big event look for a fish dish that includes the likes of smoked salmon and prawn fishcakes, baby spinach and hollandaise. The fillet steak with truffled mushroom sauce and frites is well worth trying too, so too the rib-eye steak with jersey blue cheese stuffed mushroom, watercress and fresh horseradish salad. Pastas include spaghetti, asparagus, and lemon mascarpone with poached free range egg, rocket and panagrattato.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes Belgium frites and mayo and sweet potato fritters and Asian dip. For desserts resort to the classics ? chocolate fondant, vanilla pod cheesecake or sticky toffee pudding. Local cheeses enjoy a wide popularity

A sensible wine list that matches the cuisine to perfection trawls the world and comes up with some pretty interesting numbers - almost as interesting as the laconic descriptions, many just one word but very accurate, even if ?regal, intense and youthful? does sound rather like a generous heiress of infinite promise. The Arkley also stocks a wide range of traditional cask ales alongside well known bottled brews.

Check regularly on their Website for menu changes and arrangements for special events and celebrations. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

An eclectic selection of food served in a smart contemporary setting with bar attached makes the Reks in London's High Barnet an interesting choice for an enjoyable evening out. It makes its presence felt among the other establishments on High Street with its Mediterranean garden with palm trees that provides the option of alfresco dining.

The menu offers a mix of mostly Indian style appetizers followed by classic European dishes for mains. There's fish fingers, chicken tikka, tandoori minced lamb bread and Atlantic smoked salmon to start with. Main course fare includes roast chicken supreme, sirloin steak, Shanghai style omelette wrap and wild mushroom gnocchi. End the meal with classic chocolate mousse or crème brulee. A fair selection of cocktails, champagne, white, rose and red wines add the required zing to the evening. Savour the taste of classic cocktails, Singapore sling, mojito, cosmopolitan or pina colada. Or go for the contemporary cocktails, Long Island beach, grasshopper, pussy cat or silk stocking.

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.

Blubeckers has an impressive chain of more than twenty restaurants spread across the South East and although the unifying factor in each is the superb food and drink they offer, each restaurant is distinct and stands out on its own, rather than a mindless factory assembly product. Consider for example the gorgeous buildings that they choose, every single one of them attractive, full of character and charm, creating a relaxing and casual atmosphere for drinkers and diners.

Tempting options for lunch include sandwiches served on thick white or malted brown bloomer, whereas light bites such as macaroni and cheese or handmade scotch egg are equally popular. The main menu brings you starters such as pork and apricot terrine followed by grilled lamb steak in mint and redcurrant sauce, served with rosemary roasted new potatoes. End with a plum tarte tatin and enjoy the wide range of wines, champagnes, beers and ales from their excellent bar.

Savoro, a culinary oasis in High Barnet, is a restaurant serving modern British food with an occasional European twist. The food is complemented by an extensive list of over 50 wines from around the world including excellent quality house wines. Savoro is situated in a building steeped in history which has previously housed an inn, a bakery, and during the 1950s one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Hertfordshire.

Head Chef Robert Brown has trained in top kitchens for many years. At only 32, he brings over fifteen years experience and passion to the job. Robert prides himself on preparing virtually everything from scratch including all sauces, dressings, chocolate, ice creams and sorbets. Fresh produce is delivered to the kitchen every day, with no produce held overnight. Expect to find a roe deer loin with a slow cooked haunch, butter roasted potato and chocolate infused sauce. Homemade ice creams and delicious desserts make a splendid end to the meal.

Natural light has been fully harnessed in the décor of Savoro, and the restaurant features huge clear windows and earthy interior tones. The building has been extensively refurbished using local designer Elise Savin Young to achieve comfortable and relaxed dining for intimate dinners or informal lunches. Upstairs boutique accommodation, offers 9 luxury rooms decorated in contemporary taupes, browns and creams providing the perfect place to relax after Savoro's delicious foods and drinks. Each room has with plasma screen television sets and, in some cases, four poster beds and continental breakfast with home made muesli to enjoy in your room.

Set in a crescent just off High Street Barnet, and just 2 miles from junction 23 of the M25, Savoro is only around 45 minutes drive from London's West End. The restaurant is open from every day serving lunch from midday to 15.00 and dinner from 18.00 to 22.00 Monday to Saturday and 19.00 to 21.30 on Sundays.

An express lunch menu changes daily and offers two courses for a brilliant £9.95 from Monday to Saturday. An early dinner two course menu is available from 6pm to 7.30pm at £11.95 for two courses from Monday to Thursday. A Sunday roast is available for £15.95 for two courses. The restaurant and rooms are proficiently overseen by General Manager Dino Paphitis.

Whoever said traditional English pubs cannot serve authentic Thai cuisine has probably not visited The Cock and Dragon. The downstairs bar remains loyal to its British roots with a stuffed deer head, comfortable sofas and art deco inglenook fireplace, while the restaurant above is decorated in designer wallpaper and soft lighting.

There are five feast menus designed for sharing, enabling guests to benefit from the contrasting flavours on offer but those who'd like to see some recognisable English food could choose the sizzling weeping tiger of char-grilled sirloin steak flamed with rice wine. Thai staples of dim sum, steamed dumplings of minced pork and prawns, blended with garlic and water chestnuts feature amongst starters.

The Malaysian devil curry, with three chillies in the description indicating a high degree of spice, is one hot and sour chicken dish for those who'd dare to try. Later cool your taste buds with a double chocolate fudge cake.

The cuisine at Spizzico is well-known for transcending boundaries; there's Mediterranean, Cajun and Italian all served with flair there, hence a feverish atmosphere is guaranteed. The curved bar area, exposed brick walls and trendy ceiling lighting, set the tone for a quick post-shopping bite or a more formal evening meal.

Start with nachos with cheese and tomato salsa, or giant tempura prawns with sea weed and sweet chilli dip. Pizza and pasta enthusiasts could choose an American pepperoni with sausage, mozzarella and tomato with jalapeno peppers, and tagliatelle with smoked bacon, cream and Parmesan cheese. Jambalaya is better known as the New World version of paella; here it comes with chorizo, prawns, chicken and catfish with South Western rice.

Chimichanga or deep-fried burrito may be a Tex-Mex staple, but at Spizzico meat is replaced with fresh fruits and served with caramel and chocolate sauce. Who's counting calories anyway?