Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

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.

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.

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.

Part of the Whitbread family, Table Table restaurants aim to bring great value tasty pub food to an ever increasing eating-out public who like well prepared and genuine food served by friendly staff in relaxing surroundings. If that sounds too much like a dream come true be assured that at Table Table they also walk the talk, and are pleased to have the chance to prove it.

Their well located restaurants are spread across a wide range of decors and styles, and all of them share a determination to provide comfort, warmth and relaxation. Their buffet menus for special occasions are remarkable value.

In keeping with modern trends they provide dishes to nibble or share as guests consider the spread of options on a menu that could be described as British with welcome incursions. So as you share long Italian flatbread, and dough balls and dips, or a sharing platter with an imaginative range of finger food starting with garlic and breaded mushrooms, it's time to think about the relative merits of aromatic duck parcels, a prawn cocktail, breaded Camembert or sticky chicken goujons to name but a few.

Many an innocent dish from the past has been hi-jacked in the best possible sense into becoming what is now called a 'pub classic'. Wiltshire cure ham with eggs is served with chunky chips and beef, mushroom and ale pie, or chicken and chips are all familiar with British tables, be they in the dining room or the kitchen. Now they have been added to by chicken fajitas, a sweet red pepper, crème fraiche and fennel tart, a leg of duck slowly cooked and served with a Bramley apple and cider sauce, or chilli con carne with basmati rice, sour cream and guacamole and nachos. So is the humble burger with six enticing toppings.

The point is they, and others, are all here at Table Table, well prepared with quality ingredients, and presented in a way that makes you hungry even if you thought you weren't.

Getting down to the more serious side of the table keep an eye open for the seafood pie, a delightful assembly of things fishy including crayfish, red snapper, prawns and clams. Many of their steaks are 28 days matured, including a 7oz fillet. All steaks are served with watercress, roasted cherry tomatoes, a flat mushroom and chunky chips. A choice from 4 sauces adds the final touch of enjoyment.

Pastas and salads embrace some well known and loved names, but for sheer enjoyment the hot smoked salmon salad takes some beating - flakes of hot smoked salmon mixed with a house salad and soy and ginger sauce. A real winner.

Snacks aplenty cover hot baguettes with the like of grilled pork loin and Bramley apple sauce, sandwiches filled with Cheddar cheese, or prawns and Marie Rose sauce, and jacket potatoes with such temptations as chilli con carne. Add a bowl of chips for only a little extra.

A well travelled wine list offers helpful advice for the uninitiated and there's an impressive choice of draught and bottled beers and lagers. All in all it would appear that Table Table are more than achieving their aims, providing the opportunity for people to eat out enjoyably, with excellent value for money. Long may they continue to do so.

For completely up to date information on menu changes and special offers do make a regular check on their lively 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.

On the outskirts of Waltham Cross, a well-heeled county town close to the borders of Hertfordshire and Essex, the Goff's Oak delivers delicious modern British and Mediterranean food in stunning surroundings. Close to the M25, in the heart of the rural commuter belt just north of London, the Goff's Oak combines the warm welcome of a traditional country pub with the sophistication, expertise and service of a slick city restaurant. A carefully compiled wine list as well as a selection of cask ales, draught and bottled beers complement the food perfectly.

Alongside the excellent a la carte menu, the Goff's Oak believes in adding that unique touch to make diners feel special. A celebratory Supper Club menu offers a two-course meal for two with a bottle of exclusive Rothschild champagne for just £40. Steak lovers can look forward to Wednesdays when they can enjoy their favourites along with a bottle of red wine at half the price. On Sparkling Thursdays wine connoisseurs can relish a variety of champagnes and sparkling wines at special prices.

Lunch or dinner here can begin with starters of sticky pork ribs with watermelon, ginger, soy and chilli; Moroccan lamb koftas with fattoush salad and tzatziki and chorizo, or a sharing platter of garlic pizzette, caramelised onions and rocket. You could, alternatively, try salad of spiedini of chicken and chorizo in a  piri piri sauce with feta cheese, roast peppers and salad leaves.

Adventurous Italian dishes include a stone-baked gamberetti pizza with toppings of tiger prawns, char grilled courgettes, chilli, tomato, gremolata and basil; pasta of braised rabbit with Aspall's Cyder, pappardelle, mushroom, spinach, cream and pangratatto  or pulled pork with pea and Applewood Cheddar macaroni add an authentic Mediterranean flavour to the à la carte.

The grill offers traditional favourites including succulent spit roast maple gammon with Brussel sprout and parmesan gratin or fillet steak garni with watercress, confit tomato, grilled mushroom and hand-cut jenga chips. Seafood lovers could consider battered haddock with frites, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas or sea bass fillets served with sweet potato, spinach curry and tzatziki.

Unlike many run of the mill 'gastro pubs' vegetarians are also well catered for with tempting dishes including box-baked camembert on stirata Romana bread with homemade tomato jam; baked button mushrooms with Pinot Grigio cream and garlic or a hearty cannelloni al forno with spinach, leeks, butternut squash, ricotta and tomato sauce.
 
Scrumptious desserts include white chocolate crème brûlée, Black Forest tiramisu, gypsy tart with whipped cream or chocolate marquise with chocolate sauce and bring any meal to a fitting end. A cheese plate with Colliers Cheddar, camembert and gorgonzola could be equally satisfying.

An extensive selection of aperitifs, digestifs, bottled beers, soft drinks and hot drinks quenches the thirst. The wine list offers a delightful selection of delicate whites and robust reds from the Mediterranean as well as some examples from the rest of the world.

Liked it at the Goff's Oak? Then why not visit sister pubs The Nag's Head in Brentwood, and The George and Dragon in Epping.

More information can be found on their Website.

What can be better than to relax with fine food, drink and good company within view of flowing water? The Scotsbridge Mill is one such riverside pub and restaurant that offers fresh food and warm hospitality in that lovely part of Hertfordshire where three rivers meet.

Located in Croxley Green and only minutes away from the bustling Rickmansworth area, modern life seems miles away once inside this quaint haven. Amidst log fires and cosy corners, the vibrant dining area reverberates with the happy chatter of diners, both local and visitors. The simple menu offers a variety of homely dishes and the emphasis is strongly on fresh ingredients and quality service.

To set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, antipasti of Italian meats with dolcelatte, stuffed peppers, marinated vegetables and warm stone-baked flatbreads, or Mediterranean mezze of hummus, roasted vegetables, fregola, tzatziki, feta, spinach and ricotta pâté with warm flatbreads.

Amongst the appetisers is freshly made soup, lamb koftas, mint yoghurt, kohlrabi, cumin and carrot salad, or spiced crab with avocado, prawns, ginger and pink grapefruit. Look, too, for scallops of the day.

The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer pang pang chicken with pak choi, satay, cashew nuts and cucumber, and for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecans, mango, bacon with orange and pomegranate vinaigrette is received with enthusiasm.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic margherita of pomodoro, mozzarella, oregano and basil, the rustica with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese and cherry tomatoes, or the piccante with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños.

The calves liver with tray baked potatoes, red onion, bacon and sage panagrattato is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating, as are the roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes and the freshly battered haddock with tartare sauce, minted mushy peas and chips.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes Belgium frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas. For desserts choose between Eton mess or limoncello posset with langues de chat biscuits. There is also a selection of cheeses to set the buffs alight.

A well-travelled wine list and service that is cheerful and efficient completes the recipe for success. It offers a fine balance of Old and New World wines and for special occasions some great champagnes. They also have different beers on tap ranging from some great ales and continental lagers to European speciality beers, ensuring there is something for everyone. All of these topped with the warm hospitality of the staff and their attention to detail make an evening at The Scotsbridge Mill memorable.

For up to date information please refer to their Website. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

Backed by professional yet friendly staff, this charming pub-restaurant has a warm and inviting bar and a spacious dining room where you'll find plenty of regulars dropping in. A log fire in the handsome exposed brick inglenook, white leather chairs accompanied by sturdy wooden tables, well placed on the quarry-tiled floor, and the oak beamed ceiling with subdued lighting is the kind of interior you can expect at The Red Lion.

The atmosphere is one of joviality and when the sun is out, there are few things better than an al fresco meal; a deck area and the garden overlooking the woods, are set with comfortable chairs and benches, easily seating around forty diners at a go.

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 for all occasions and you could probably see 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, Greek mezze of taramasalata with humus, tzatziki, feta and flatbread, or a pizzette with garlic, rocket and Parmesan.

Amongst the starters, there is freshly made soup of the day, sake cured salmon with asparagus, Serrano ham, poached egg and hollandaise or red onion tarte with jersey blue cheese, watercress and roasted vine tomatoes. The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer prawns with avocado and Asian greens and poached salmon with, broad beans, asparagus, peas and lemon dressing, both perfect for the seafood fiends.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic Margherita of tomato, mozzarella and basil, another with pepperoni, chorizo and jalapeño. Pastas include the linguini with chorizo, king prawns, crab, chilli and roast butternut squash risotto.

For the big event, there is always a fish of the day on request. The fillet steak with asparagus and blistered cherry tomatoes is worth trying too. Rib-eye steak with rocket, fresh horseradish sauce and crispy onions is popular, a sign of the times and improving taste in eating.

A wide range of supporting dishes includes frites with rosemary salt and aioli. For desserts resort to the classics - banoffee pie, vanilla pod cheesecake or sticky toffee pudding. Also there are some local cheeses on hand to set the buffs alight.

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, mostly one word but very accurate, even if 'regal, intense and youthful' does sound rather like a generous heiress of infinite promise. The Red Lion also stocks a wide range of cask ales alongside a selection of bottled ones.

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 historic Victorian pub, The Radcliffe Arms is a popular haunt that successfully combines the traditional with the modern as its 18th Century red brick exterior gives way to a clean and airy contemporary interior. Located on the corner of Walsworth and Verulam Roads in Hitchin's historic Victorian triangle, it is only five minutes away from the rail station and a ten minute drive from nearby Letchworth.

Much more than your standard gastro pub, The Radcliffe Arms is open every day from 8am, serving honest-to-goodness British fare in a warm and friendly atmosphere whether it be a hearty English breakfast that sets you up for the day, a laidback lunch with old friends or an intimate dinner for two. As well as three restaurant areas, guests can also while away the evening in the newly restored bar with open fire or sitting on the terrace which offers heated parasols for nippy evenings.
 
The talented kitchen team led by head chef James Nicholas has developed menus to cater to all tastes. The seasonal à la carte menu offers freshly cooked dishes that never disappoint, expect to find tempting starters such as terrine of chicken and bacon with pistachios and shallots, blade of beef with truffled mushrooms, crispy goat's cheese parcel or butternut squash soup with toasted pumpkin seeds. The main courses offer classics such as English lamb rump with minted spring peas, char grilled rib eye steak with roast tomatoes, roast chicken breast with cabbage and bacon, and Cornish sea bream with king prawns.

Dishes such as tiger prawns with pickled ginger and cucumber salad, slow cooked pork with Asian spices and bok choi and spinach and feta spanokopitta give the menu a contemporary touch. For Sunday lunch guests can look forward to roast beef, pot roast chicken breast, swordfish steak, roast pork or honey roast gammon with all the trimmings. Desserts of apple tart with caramel sauce, sticky carrot cake with stem ginger ice cream, chocolate and orange torte with crème Chantilly and white chocolate and raspberry mille fuille indulge the sweet tooth and round off the meal fabulously.

Food aside, The Radcliffe Arms also features an excellent wine menu with classics such as a crisp La Colombe Chablis rubbing shoulders with bold modern varieties such as the La Cote Flamenc Picpoul de Pinet. The list also offers an impressive 28 wines available by the glass including flavourful Cabernet Sauvignons, a subtle Pinot Noir from New Zealand and a smooth Grand Reserva Rioja from Spain. The well-stocked bar possesses real ales and beers and is where locals and visitors gather in a typical buzzy atmosphere with friendly staff adding to the positive vibe.

As well as creating special menus for Valentine's Day, Mothering Sunday and Christmas, the Radcliffe Arms can also host your special occasions be it a family birthday or a work party, with catering available for up to 30 seated guests or a buffet for 45. Their Website will tell you more and keep you up to date with events.

In the great pub evolution there have, as always, been winners and losers. The weak have gone to the wall, the strong have survived, and the newcomers have led the renaissance. The emergence of modest groupings of revitalised pubs has brought some real stars, of which The Alford Arms is undoubtedly one, a verdict supported by a string of awards; six time winner of Herfordshire Dining Pub Award in The Good Pub Guide, most recently for 2010; Regional winner of Best Gastro Pub at the 2007 Morning Advertiser Pub Awards and included in Eat Out magazine's 'Best of the Best Top 100' pubs in their April 2008 edition.

The advantages of a dignified Victorian building have been skilfully combined with new ideas, modern management with heart, and an adherence to good taste in matters of décor. Character and atmosphere is there in abundance. For dog walkers in on-the-doorstep Ashridge forest the Alford is a beacon of hope as they stagger the last few yards in to the welcoming arms of the pub and its friendly staff, who understand. They see it all the time. At bluebell time the woods are blue with beauty; later in the year a search for mushrooms there can prove rewarding, whilst in between the summer months can be whiled away in the pretty pub garden over a few glasses.

The menu reflects the rural nature of this delightful place and plenty of fresh local produce is encountered in the dishes that Head Chef Rupert creates for an increasingly large and appreciative clientele. A choice of small plates is likely to include grilled mackerel fillet with basil and slow-dried tomato crust, rocket, crispy capers and lemon oil, or bubble and squeak with oak smoked bacon, free range poached egg and Hollandaise sauce.

Moving on to more weighty matters, guests may encounter the excellent char-grilled 21-day aged British rib-eye steak, a veritable tour de force of its kind, served with fat chips, smoked garlic butter and ?Sarratt? watercress. Hertfordshire this may be, but nothing wrong with some Stockings Farm sausages from Amersham, or a pan-fried mullet fillet with tomato, samphire and pearl barley risotto.

But be sure to leave space for the sheer joy of selecting a little something from their seductive selection of puddings. How can anyone resist a Nettleden honey baked peach and thyme galette with white chocolate cream, or even the dark chocolate and coconut torte with orange curd ice cream? For those to whom a meal is not really complete without a pass at the cheese consider the merits of some Barkham blue, Cornish yarg and Saval from Surrey, and all of it comes with Alford oatcakes, sticky malt loaf and apple and ale chutney.

From extolling the virtues of a food that derives from the cow, let's consider the wine list, a stunner of its kind, wide choice in a consistent quality filled smallish list with very little over £30, plenty by the large, or not quite so large glass, ably extended by the attention it pays to pudding wines which, given the quality of the puddings is the very least they could do. So with your sponge pudding and cherries with ice cream, you can choose perhaps a glass of Vin Santo di Capezzana Riserva 03, known better to some as 'the wine of the saints'.

An evening with the saints might be the right terminology for dinner at this outstanding pub with restaurant, which brings us back to those awards, of which we shall see even more winging their way to 'the pub on the edge of the forest'.

Their Website is full of fun and gaiety, an informative and intelligible extension of the character of this pub and those who run it.