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The Merry Miller is a small village pub where customers are encouraged to forget the cares of life and 'eat, drink and be merry' for as long as they want. Situated in the village of Cothill, the inn benefits from being only 4 miles from Abingdon, ideal to relax and enjoy good food and drink.

The traditional decor mixes leather oxblood chesterfields with soft contemporary furnishings, scrubbed wooden beamed ceilings, and distressed pine panelling, with a distinct Tuscan feel. There are bare wooden boards, original parquet and Oxfordshire flagstones covering the floors and chairs interestingly rescued from a nearby chapel!

The pub serves delicious homemade delights such as slow roasted half shoulder of lamb, moussaka, smoked haddock, assiette of crab and salmon, crispy stone baked pizzas, baguettes, paninis, salads, as well as a range of tempting desserts like Belgium chocolate and rum torte, and baked Oxford parkin with raspberry ripple.

Situated in the picturesque village of Fyfield, The White Hart is a unique fifteenth century former Chantry House. It retains many original features, including a tunnel which runs to Fyfield Manor, thought to be an escape route for priests at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries. The setting is beautiful, whether you choose to eat under the soaring eaves of the great hall, up high in the minstrel's gallery or outside on the patio terrace, surrounded by fragrant herb gardens.

The focus on food is fresh, seasonal produce of the highest quality and menus change daily, so dishes to start could include home-cured salmon gravadlax with marinated beetroot salad and horseradish foam, and hare terrine with sloe chutney and toast. For mains it could be a wild sea bass fillet with samphire and a lobster bisque, finishing with hot chocolate fondant with marmalade ice cream.

The wine list is interesting and varied with over fifty wines and champagnes, and they also stock a good range of cask-conditioned real ales from independent breweries.

It's hard to get noticed in a place like Abingdon where a string of restaurants vie for attention, yet Salinas, a simple family run eat-out offering authentic Lebanese cuisine, doesn't seem to need any help wooing clients. There's nothing much to say about the décor apart from the pretty pictures of Lebanon hanging on the walls - probably the family's way of staying closer to home. But the moment you step in, you realize this place is all about its outstandingly delicious food, seriously good wines and unusually warm customer service.

There are about 4 or 5 set menus apart from the regular falafel and houmos. Don't miss out on the halloumi cheese salad and sujuq - Lebanese baby sausages mildly hot and spiced, cooked with tomatoes and flambéed with white wine and lemon. Pick the lahim mashwi or the seabass bil-remman for the mains. There's a fantastic selection of Lebanese wines to choose from, so make sure you've got something good to complement the meal. The service is warm and personal and even during busy hours, waiters always take time to enquire about your meal and make helpful suggestions. The prices are reasonable and the experience? Yes, memorable will do very well.

Blubeckers has an impressive chain of more than twenty restaurants spread across the South East and although the unifying factor in each is the superb food and drink they offer, each restaurant is distinct and stands out on its own, rather than a mindless factory assembly product. Consider for example the gorgeous buildings that they choose, every single one of them attractive, full of character and charm, creating a relaxing and casual atmosphere for drinkers and diners.

Tempting options for lunch include sandwiches served on thick white or malted brown bloomer, whereas light bites such as macaroni and cheese or handmade scotch egg are equally popular. The main menu brings you starters such as pork and apricot terrine followed by grilled lamb steak in mint and redcurrant sauce, served with rosemary roasted new potatoes. End with a plum tarte tatin and enjoy the wide range of wines, champagnes, beers and ales from their excellent bar.

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.