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hand picked restaurants

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but sometimes un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style.

Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould.

Think quintessential British style - elegant and unpretentious. Combine this with a great spirit, wit, and an unquestionable devotion to wine, and you have captured the essence of Hotel du Vin.

In Tunbridge Wells, du Vin has taken on one of the historic spa town's architectural landmarks, a Grade II-listed sandstone mansion built as a private residence in 1762. With infinite care they have sought to retain the historic detail of this fine building whilst adding the sort of comforts of which earlier generations were unable to take advantage.

Thirty four stylish bedrooms and suites all offer handsprung mattresses, and fine Egyptian linen; thirty rooms have deep baths and power showers, four have power showers only. High speed wireless internet access is available in all rooms. Guests can enjoy a game of boules, linger on over a meal at the Bistro or read a book with coffee in hand on the garden terrace that provides wonderful views of  Calverley Park.

The hallmark Bistro, so much an essential part of a Hotel du Vin, is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, offering a menu that is rooted in classic European cuisine with a contemporary edge. Under Head Chef Jens Folkel the company philosophy of using the finest and freshest local produce cooked simply and priced sensibly is closely followed.

The same menu is deployed for lunch or dinner, starting with a choice of nine dishes or more that could include smoked eel with black pudding, apple and cinnamon purée, foie gras and duck liver terrine, dressed crab with quail egg and Melba toast or seared diver scallops with slow braised oxtail. From amongst the simple classics those who dare may select the herring cooked in Russian style or perhaps the goats' cheese and thyme cannelloni, pesto. The classics choices extend into main courses; in particular keep an eye open in season for the crêpes filled with mussels and cockles, one of the finest dishes nature provides.

Other main courses might centre round the pan fried whole lemon sole, brown shrimp and caper beurre noisette or roast rump of lamb with crushed roast potatoes and savoy cabbage. A splendid range of side dishes includes roast beetroot, fat cut chips, green beans and mashed potatoes.

Whilst one might argue that the whole point of being in a du Vin is to snuggle up to the wine list, this list is designed to march with the food and can only be described as superb. With a team of three sommeliers, headed here by Maxime, there is no room for anything but the best. Indeed I would go further and say that for the wine list alone a visit to a Hotel du Vin is more than worth while. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

Click on their Website for full information and rates. Hotel du Vin, with fourteen options throughout Britain, awaits your call.

Housed in a beautiful listed building, Zizzi Tunbridge Wells serves a selection of authentic Italian dishes in the heart of this royal spa town. With contemporary decor and a bustling ambience, Zizzi is just a short walk from The Pantiles and The Tunbridge Wells Forum.

Close to Tunbridge Wells Rail Station, Zizzi is a perfect spot to grab a quick bite before a show at the nearby Trinity or Assembly Hall Theatres.

The restaurant's bustling open kitchen turns out a wide range of freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers traditional antipasti, pizza, pasta and salads, as well as seasonally changing meat and fish dishes with a variety of tempting desserts to finish.

Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.
 
Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website.

Strada describes itself as 'a group of stylish, contemporary Italian restaurants, serving good quality, simple and freshly prepared dishes'. The statement sums up what this group of around seventy restaurants offers to people looking for good Italian food. The first outlet opened in Battersea in 1999 and their clientele has been increasing steadily ever since.

Though Strada has grown into a fair sized group, each outlet retains the feel of being a local neighbourhood Italian restaurant. The menu includes pastas, risottos, salads, and fish dishes, but they are best known for their quality pizzas.

They present authentic Italian dishes in contemporary surroundings and aim to use only the freshest and finest ingredients, such as Luganica sausages, Parma ham and buffalo mozzarella, imported from Italy to provide exactly the kind of rustic, traditional dishes one would expect to find travelling around its regions.

A meal could kick off with zuppa vongole e fregola, a traditional clam soup with Sardinian fregola pasta grains, wine, chilli and parsley, served with bread, or the delicious sautéed king prawns with garlic, white wine, chilli, and lemon butter served with your choice of bread.

Move on to their creamy risotto verdure, freshly grilled asparagus, broad beans, peas, spring onions, zucchini, green beans, white wine and mint, finished with baby spinach leaves. Or you could opt for the healthier, tagliolini nero granchio, black cuttlefish ink pasta with crab, courgette, red and yellow peppers, spring onion, and a hint of chilli and parsley. A real treat for the taste buds comes in the form of the bistecca manzo, a 10oz rosemary-marinated char-grilled, rib-eye steak with fries and fresh rocket.

A range of pizzas, all spun by hand, is an integral feature of each restaurant. They include the rossa, with spicy southern Italian salami, roasted red peppers, chilli, caramelised onion, garlic, fresh oregano, tomato and mozzarella. Nor are vegetarians are overlooked, and can be found tucking into dishes such as fiorentina, made of spinach cooked with garlic, nutmeg and black pepper with mozzarella, parmesan, tomato and an egg.

For those wanting to satisfy their sweet tooth, there is torroncino affogato, an iced nougat semi freddo with a shot of espresso to pour over, or a classic Italian tiramisu and, as you might expect coffee to round off the meal.

A wine list consisting of purely regional Italian wines, beers and liqueurs, all carefully chosen to complement the menu comes as no surprise and in addition, every table receives a complimentary bottle of purified water.

For further details including their latest news, menus and deals, and to find a Strada nearest to you, their Website certainly warrants a visit.

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.

A classic English pub in the modern idiom, providing a traditional welcome in manageable surroundings, the pub dates from 1785, with the present building just past its centenary. It is an enormously friendly place with people running it who have a real feel for looking after the customer, hence its success.

From a substantial menu you might choose a Caesar salad tossed and topped with parmesan shavings and marinate anchovies, or a pleasantly smooth chicken liver pate with plum and apple chutney and toast. You will note that these are sound traditional favourites, a principle which makes itself felt in all areas of the pub's activities.

A steakburger topped with cheese and crispy bacon bits, served with salad and fries may not be the height of gourmet aspiration but the lads like them, so don't knock them. Besides there's the braised shoulder of lamb, with roasted root vegetables and a rich redcurrant sauce for those of a gentler disposition, and jolly good it is too. For something lighter, perhaps at lunchtime or in the late evening a tomato and fine herb omelette filled with artichoke hearts and served with a rocket and parmesan salad could serve to stave off the pangs.

Nor are the children forgotten. Fishfinger sandwiches on white bloomer with Heinz tomato sauce may not be for the faint-hearted but there's a steady demand. The puddings are pretty straightforward and include sticky toffee pudding, banana and toffee crepe, and an interesting selection of sorbets and ice creams.

If you prefer the dining room be prepared to book well ahead; this is a highly popular venue, with its village green setting and desire to give what the clientele like.

The Tunbridge Wells Bar and Grill in High Street offers an eclectic international spread, freshly prepared with carefully sourced ingredients, whether it is Thai green curry or more traditional salmon fishcakes. By day the restaurant provides a vibrant setting for a business lunch or a coffee break. By night it becomes a hub of activity, with guests socialising in a stylish contemporary environment after a busy day.

Having relaxed with a glass of wine and sharing plates of olives, garlic bread, chimichurri and hummus, dishes such as grilled asparagus with poached egg, tandoori king prawns, crispy duck spring rolls and chicken liver parfait tempt the palate further. More substantial fare comes in the form of slow cooked lamb shank with roast root vegetables and mint sauce, free range Cumberland pork sausages with mashed potatoes and onion gravy, lamb cutlets with spicy Bombay potatoes and tuna au poivre with fat chips and béarnaise. If in the mood for an item from the grill, there is a choice from Scotch Aberdeen Angus beef burger, flash grilled or fillet steaks.

Eating at the Conservatory Restaurant at The Royal Wells Hotel in Mount Ephraim is not only about the excellent fare on offer but also enjoying the superb setting. French doors lead out to its light and airy atmosphere with trailing foliage and hanging baskets and splendid views over the town. A wide range of European classics gives diners enough variety from which to choose.
 
Enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the intimate lounge while contemplating what to order. The meal could get going with starters of black pudding with lemon confit, smoked haddock and salmon fishcakes or trio of scallops with pea vinaigrette. Main course options include char grilled sirloin steak, magret of duck à l'orange and crab Andalouse. Finish with glazed lime, mint and orange tart or dark chocolate parfait. The venue is also open for parties of a minimum of 10 people for lunch or dinner every day of the week.

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.