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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.

In the heart of this popular seaside town, Zizzi Whitstable offers delicious Italian food to diners in a stunning setting. Housed within a beautiful white-washed building, with an outside dining space that offers great views of the sea, Zizzi is perfect for an enjoyable Italian meal during summer.

Zizzi is just a short walk from Playhouse Theatre, while Whitstable Museum is just a little further.

The bustling open kitchen at Zizzi turns out freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers distinct sections of antipasti, salads, pizza and calzone, pasta, risottos and mains of 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.

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.

In many ways Whitstable, home to the blessed oyster, is a natural for offering a haven to the spread of the tapas movement, with its love of all things from the sea. However the quality and range of what is on offer, combined with the elegance of the surroundings is more than sufficient justification in itself for this welcome addition to the scene.

Good tapas bars seem to be gaining a reputation for the use of authentic ingredients, and this one is no exception. On offer are such delicacies as black pudding with chickpeas, raisins and pinenuts, Manchego cheese with quince, pata negra ham, with £4 for tapas and £8 for larger plates. And there's not a bullfight poster in sight.

Visitors to this website will have noted that we go to some pains to define the nature of each entry - thus Modern English, Middle Eastern etc. Just occasionally this gives rise to problems. For JoJo's a classification of 'Eccentric' springs to mind, but it would fail to do anything like justice to this whacky and informal extension of Whitstable's mission to present seafood at its best and freshest. Open daily except Tuesday and Wednesday, on which days it reverts to being the owners' family home, it offers the ultimate al fresco experience. They describe themselves as "cosy, atmospheric, fun and honest". What they are too modest to say is that the food is freshly cooked, Mediterranean in style, and as presented is the work of a culinary saint. Her name is Nikki Billington, her other half is front-of-house Paul. The cooking is carried out en clientele and it's all very matey, but highly effective.

Whilst there is an emphasis on seafood, it is by no means exclusive, and the menu is as unpredictable as everything else, so go with an open mind as well as your own bottles. There is a notional corkage of £1 a bottle to cover glasses and corkscrew, with an off-licence just round the corner in case you forget. What JoJo's does is to take the pomp and circumstance out of great quality eating and replace it with relaxed jollity in homely surroundings. Nor, at around £15 a head could it be described as anything but extraordinary value.

However, such has been the success of JoJo's that 'manic' has turned into 'impossible' and in January 2005 they are closing for alterations to their home, the better to cope with an insistent public. They plan to reopen in April. I just find myself hoping they retain the essential spirit of the place - somehow I feel they will. We could do with more places like this - lots more - including one close to our home.

An à la carte menu provides the basis of the business. From a list of around six starters expect to find fish and shellfish antipasto, with anchovies, cured salmon, oyster, roll mop served with olives, capers, artichokes and Balsamic dressing, a trio of smoked, cured and pickled fish or half a dozen rock oysters.

Mains include whole mackerel baked with orange, a whole steamed lemon sole, or roast breast of free range Mckeever chicken. Conventional cod is replaced with beer battered huss for fish and chips, and the pan fried fillet of organic salmon is served with a fricassee of leeks and bacon, foraged mushroom mash and walnut coulis. Desserts weigh in with double chocolate, raisin and walnut brownie, and a Kentish cherry and almond tart.

For over 150 years, Wheelers Oyster Bar has nestled in between the old Bear and Key Pub, and The Duke of Cumberland Hotel, serving the freshest of seafood to locals and visitors. Winning numerous awards and even publishing its own award winning recipe book, the restaurant, now run by Delia Fitt and Mark Stubbs, has become world famous for its food and simple, traditional atmosphere. It has survived the many harsh winters, and two world wars, and this bright pink little venue has won the Les Routiers, and Gourmand awards among many others.

Apart from the native oysters you can expect to find dishes such as pan fried scallops with maple syrup glazed pork belly, apple sauce and balsamic dressing, king crab tortellini and tempura of curried tiger prawns and courgettes. For main courses consider steamed cod and steak and oyster pudding. Adding to the sea food fest are light snacks including herring in mustard sauce, whole baby octopus and squid in olive oil and peppers.