Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Housed in a classical 1901 William Huckvale house, The Akeman's comfortable modern interiors blend well with its Victoria façade. Located on Akeman Street, which sits on the ancient Roman road to London, this modern public house offers a Mediterranean-inspired menu in a warm and friendly ambience featuring exposed brick walls and a wood floor. Intimate spaces for couples and a long bar heighten its appeal.

The kitchen's activity is there for all to see with an open-plan design displaying dishes like fresh tuna steak and smoked salmon. The widespread menu of starters, light bites, plates to share, pasta and the charcoal oven delights has something for everyone. Those who'd like an uplifting start to their day could try The Akeman champagne breakfast with a glass of Henriot Brut Souverin.

Dinner could begin with starters of deep fried whitebait with sea salt, lemon and tartar sauce; goat’s cheese with roasted peppers in puff pastry with a salsa dip or homemade soup of the day.

The delicious pasta selection includes tagliatelle with king prawns, porcini mushrooms, chilli, white wine and parsley; chicken breast with creamy mushroom sauce or rigatoni with tomato sauce, basil and cherry tomatoes.

Grilled fare from the Jopser Oven offers a hearty alternative with dishes such as a 27oz Boston rib steak, on the bone with fries, rocket leaves and béarnaise sauce and The Akeman burger with 8oz prime ground beef, Emmental cheese, beef tomato, fries and mustard mayonnaise.

For a light lunch you could choose salmon Niçoise salad with new potatoes, green beans, soft boiled egg, anchovies, olives, tomatoes and mixed leaves or a ciabatta sandwich with filling of Parma ham with gorgonzola cheese and red onion marmalade.

Tempting dessert of white chocolate cheesecake with berry compote or chocolate cake with warm chocolate sauce and whipped cream will satisfy even the sweetest tooth.

The extensive drinks menu features cocktails, draught and bottled beers, local ales and an in-depth wine list.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

The Beefeater Grill range of restaurants, owned by the well established firm of Whitbread has transformed over time into what is now predominantly a cooking platform for chargrill. The restaurants are warm, modern and stylish, with low lighting and contemporary artwork. A comfortable, cosy, mainly booth layout offers guests their own space with no feeling of being hurried at any point. Staff are friendly and helpful if need be - what a difference that can make to a good evening out.

Be it the wide open spaces of Argentina, the intimate setting of a French restaurant, or a busy grill in London's West End, there's no denying the popularity of chargrill. As the production of quality beef, chicken, fish and lamb has grown, prices have come down by comparison, and the simple and traditional art of minimally cooking dishes by chargrill, sealing in the flavours and tastes by intense heat has caught the public imagination.

All the steaks at Beefeater Grill are matured for a minimum of 28 days before being seasoned. Whether it be juicy rib eye, the classic sirloin, that emblem of the Sunday lunch, a tender fillet, or a delicious 7oz rump, all grilled to your own specification, you're never far away from perfection. Even beefburgers have shaken off their dubious image and the highly popular Beefeater burgers are made from 100% beef.

The popular sirloin with giant prawns offers a treat to those for whom an alliance between sea and pasture is a natural attraction, whilst a 16oz steak platter links rump, fillet, sirloin and rib eye into one mouth-watering dish served with chips, battered onion rings, grilled tomato, a flat mushroom and peppercorn and brandy sauce.

Many of us love rib meat, and the rack of ribs at a Beefeater Grill has a meaty rack smoky flavour; maple ribs of pork with a choice of three sauces, mojito, smoked caramel and apple glaze, or Bourbon and black BBQ. And if all else fails and you are totally baffled by the wealth of choices, ask to have a word with the Steakmaster who will help find what is right for you, together with the best cooking method. These guys leave nothing to chance.

On a menu that is a delight to read, let alone choose a meal from, expect to find smaller dishes such as traditional prawn cocktail, whitebait, chicken liver pâté and baked Camembert, or juicy lamb koftas served with yoghurt and mint dip. There's something about a good steak meal that always leaves a gap for a little temptation to sweeten up the scene and from amongst twelve options look for Belgian chocolate cheesecake, treacle sponge pudding or a caramel apple crumble pie.

Throughout the day a wide range of more general dishes are yours for the ordering, sandwiches, jackets, classic favourites like fish and chips, pasta, salads, and sharing dishes of nachos, potato shells and a Beefeater Grill combo. Next door to many of the restaurants are Premier Inns, so staying the night whatever the circumstances need not be a problem.

And what about wine? Endorsed by Matthew Jukes, wine writer in the Daily Mail and bon viveur in his own right, a wine list that marches with the menu completes an impressive and compelling invitation to enjoy whatever takes your fancy at the nearest Beefeater Grill.

Click on their Website for menu updates and special offers.

Tucked away in the quaint village of Marsworth, The White Lion is a delightful 18th century canal side pub providing customers plenty of dining options; the bar, a cosy restaurant and a large beer garden to catch a glimpse of the sun on a balmy day.

Keeping in mind the owner and Chef Michael Brooke's prior stints at Claridge's and The Berkeley, diners look forward to savour some delicious gastropub staples with subtle French touches. Think mixed salad of roast duck; deep fried whitebait with homemade tartar; steak and ale pie served with mash, seasonal vegetables and gravy, and braised leg of Welsh lamb cooked with a vegetable and pulse broth. Pub classics of battered cod with chips and ploughman's lunch of ham or mature cheddar are not forgotten either.

Nature lovers could step out for a leisurely Sunday afternoon stroll around the canals near Marsworth or just watch the narrow boats from the beer garden.

Pendley Manor, a Grade II listed country house hotel, sits prettily amidst 35 acres of immaculately manicured gardens and wooded parkland and is an idyllic setting for a corporate meeting or a romantic weekend. The Oak Restaurant's interior, refurbished in 2009, is designed to match the period facade with ornate drapery, mirrors and chandeliers glinting from above and original wooden floors underfoot.

French and British classics rule the menu so expect to find seasonal changing dishes, sourced locally wherever possible. Main courses cover all bases from grilled sirloin of Ashridge venison and herb crusted roast rack of lamb to baked fillet of salmon crushed new potatoes and saffron sauce, and baked vegetable gateaux. A dessert of fudge and raisin cheesecake on a pool of rum sauce is a delightful way to finish.

Outdoor gaming enthusiasts could indulge in a myriad of activities such as hot air ballooning, go-cart racing and archery.