Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

The Mount Edgcumbe Hotel and Restaurant stands out from the crowd as something slightly different, the lively Brasserie and Bar provide a warm, friendly ambiance, featuring an authentic 8th century candle lit cave, hollowed out from the historic sandstone rock, which provides the hotel with its foundation.

The brasserie menu features a broad range of international and English specialties with traditional roasts available on Sundays; their fixed price menus at lunchtime present good value, with a three courses on Sunday at only £14.95, during the week it is even cheaper.

The quaint bar, crafted out of weather-worn coastal oak offers a selection of varied libations from their Highland malts to locally brewed ale.

The garden, which the brasserie overlooks, merges subtly with the surrounding common land, you can sit and relax out there and sample one of the traditional English meals from their bar snack menu and enjoy this peaceful corner of Royal Tunbridge Wells so close to the centre of town.

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.

Carluccio's was started by Antonio and Priscilla Carluccio as a small café and shop stocking Italian food and ingredients in 1991, and grew into a restaurant serving authentic cuisine at sensible prices in 1999. Antonio is an expert on food and has been a wine merchant, restaurant manager and owner, cookery expert on television and author of twelve cookery books. It is therefore not surprising, that today Carluccio's has over fourty-nine outlets across the UK.

Antonio believes Italian cookery involves minimum fuss and maximum flavour. This is exactly what his restaurants try to do by using fresh produce, and working largely with families who make things the traditional way - with care. Their passion also translates into special events like hands-on cookery classes and recipe sharing, Antonio and his team regularly organise for interested guests. They also offer takeaways and a catering service.

The breakfast menu offers croissants and breads served with butter and preserves or honey and free range eggs, either scrambled or fried and served with pancetta or ciabatta. They also have long cured Parma ham and healthier options like muesli and fruits. These are best had with coffee, tea or freshly squeezed juice. Carluccio's offers an impressive list of white, red, rosé and sparkling wines which complement your meal.

The restaurants offer a range of soup and salads which give your meal a nutritious start before moving on to the mains. If you like pasta, enjoy the small filled parcels served in a ham and cream sauce, or sample the Neapolitana spaghetti with whole fresh clams, garlic, herbs and chilli. The branzino con salsa e patate, fillet of pan fried sea bass served with tomato salsa and sautéed potatoes and Somerset rib-eye steak with rosemary potatoes, called bistecca di bue con patate, are good options too. If you are looking for something lighter, you could opt for the numerous sides called contorni and panini.

In the Tuscany region of Italy, meals end simply with almond biscuits dipped in a sweet local wine, Vin Santo and eaten. You can enjoy that experience at Carluccio's, or settle for a more conventional dolci of tiramisu, warm chocolate and kahlua pudding, your choice of Italian cheeses or gelatos in different flavours.

Frankie and Benny's combine classic American and Italian in both style and cuisine. They specialise in home style cooking 'just like Mamma used to make it'. This is a great place to take the entire family and represents excellent value for money. The restaurant and bar is suitable for any occasion, whether it's a leisurely lunch, a family meal or a fantastic evening with friends - they make sure you have a wonderful time.

Walking into the restaurant is like stepping back into 1950s New York, from the clatter and chatter of the open kitchen to the bottle lined bar. Walls with black and white family photographs showing life in Brooklyn's 'Little Italy' surround cosy booth seating and tables. Combined with the classic music of the fifties, a mix of American swing and beat, they definitely provide a fun and friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Frankie and Benny's offers starters, main courses and delicious desserts, and favourites include char-grilled burgers, pizzas, pastas, steaks and house specialities such as chicken parmigiana, BBQ ribs, lamb shank and much more. The bar serves a wide range of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks.

Start with sticky wings, crispy coated chicken strips, tiger prawn skewer or Frankie's fried calamari and if you are dining in a group choose the giant sampler platter. The pastas, calzone and pizzas are all made freshly on order. An interesting dish on the menu is a the Boston 7 speciality pizza fully loaded with slices of pork meatballs, spicy pepperoni, ham, crispy bacon, chicken, peppers and red onion, served on a BBQ sauce base. They also serve a variety of sandwiches and burgers throughout the day.

A good value lunch menu is available on weekdays from 11am until 5pm offering a range of popular dishes from the main carte with one course at £5.95, two courses at £7.95 and three courses at £8.95.

For children up to the age of eleven, an all-inclusive menu features a selection of main courses, desserts and drinks starting at £3.95. As an added treat, they'll also receive an activity pack to entertain them whilst you eat.

Enjoy an American Italian meal at Frankie and Benny's with freshly prepared food and warm hospitality that makes you feel right at home.

Imperial Dynasty does away with stereotypical notions of Oriental restaurants and creates a superb dining experience with aplomb, its elegant, sophisticated and relaxed surroundings attracting numerous people who love the idea of sitting down to a traditional Chinese meal in a contemporary atmosphere. Each of their three locations is alike in their consistency to provide excellent food in a friendly ambience, and bear similarities in décor, a chic combination of dark chocolate and cream in the furnishings.

The team of attentive staff helps you choose the meals which are suitable for you from the extensive à la carte where starters include deep fried oysters, Mandarin spare ribs, dim sum and a comforting sweet corn crab soup. The menu also encompasses tempting mains of duck with pickled ginger and pineapple, Indonesian style curries, and wasabi lobster, which requires prior notice.

The enviable location on the Pantiles seems like the proverbial icing on the cake, because Woods Restaurant does not rely on only the accompanying fame to make a success out of itself. What does make this restaurant stand out, is the excellent food, cosy décor and friendly service which is faultless. While you may enjoy sitting inside for a spot of after work drinking, the al fresco section outside gives an ample view of concerts and other events taking place on the nearby bandstand.

Starters like pan fried sea bass with cherry tomato salsa and anchovy aioli lead on to a hearty main course of fillet of pork with apple tart and local organic cider gravy. Dark chocolate mousse with orange shortbread for dessert fulfils all decadent fantasies and the carefully chosen wine list favours European wines although there is the occasional bottle or two from the New World also.