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hand picked restaurants

The 4 star Mercure Burford Bridge Hotel is at the foot of Box Hill, and with the Mole River meandering at the bottom of the spectacular gardens, it exudes a relaxed kind of charm that serves you well whether you are visiting for a weekend of leisure or business. Moreover, the 57 en suite rooms that are furnished comfortably will surely entice you to stay over and fully explore the historic town of Dorking.

The Emlyn Restaurant is the proud possessor of 2 AA rosettes and guests as well as visitors can dine in the exquisitely furnished surroundings. The décor seems deceptively simple and uncluttered, but it only enhances the understated elegance of the restaurant. Chef Nick Sinclair's creativity and flair in presenting the international contemporary cuisine is undoubtedly the draw. The wines on their list have been specially selected by a jury of experts and are offered at very reasonable prices.

The Bells, as it is generally referred to, is a quaint, old pub abuzz with conversation. The crackling embers from its fireplace their celebrity cat complete the picture homely comfort. The timber-framed pub's history dates back to the seventeenth century and it owes its name to the six bells cast at St. Peter's church nearby. Over the years, the pub has welcomed several changes, which include a fifty-seat restaurant that can be remodelled into a skittle alley. The dining area is to the rear of the pub and the multi-level brick and wooden floor bar provides several well-knit, cosy areas to drink. They also have a playground in the backyard to keep children entertained.

The blackboard menu offers traditional homemade treats such as steak and ale pie and Sussex bacon pudding, as well as dishes that are more varied like hot and sour bream fillet with noodles and oriental mushrooms. The meat and vegetables are locally sourced wherever possible. Vegetarians have no reason to be concerned about being catered for, as the restaurant offers choices like wild mushroom tarts with chilli jam and goat's cheese and asparagus and white wine risotto. The children's menu includes smaller portions of most adult meals. They serve beer from Hall and Woodhouse, including Badger and Tanglefoot.

They also organise themed food weeks, which reflect the speciality of the region. The pub's celebrated country theme 'Around the World in 80 Days' pays tribute to cuisines from various countries. They have some good news for bowling addicts - the skittles alley is up. Six Bells pre-books for groups between twenty and forty people, and can cater to lunchtime and evening parties.

The Red Chilli offers guests authentic flavours of India in a comfortable, contemporary setting. The well experienced chefs weave their magic to create fine dishes from the sub-continent as well as fish and duck dishes from neighbouring Bangladesh. A range of vegetarian selections are also available.

A chicken tikka, marinated chicken pieces cooked in a tandoori oven with special spices and fish kebab, minced fish, fried in garlic paste, coriander and other light spices make for a good start to an exciting meal. Main course could follow with bhatak raja nagha sahi, hot flavour boneless breast of duck cooked Bengali style with naga chilli of Sylhet and navratan paneer kurma, cottage cheese in a creamy sauce finished with flaked almond. As a last indulgence before you polish your plate you can order akbari pulao, lamb with onions and nuts, cooked with aromatic basmati rice, butter and light spices and served with an omelette on top.

Little Dudley House, located in Dorking, is a cosy restaurant dating back to seventeen thirty three, and offers modern British Cuisine. Chef Kevin Sturman heads a team who prepare dishes using fresh ingredients and lots of imagination. The eye catching interior and the seating designed for comfort make for an enjoyable time whether you want to enjoy a candlelit dinner or a bespoke meal with family or friends.

Start with feta stuffed red hot chilli peppers and foie gras brulée, hazelnut salad and toasts. For main course, consider whole baked lobster, hand cut chips and garlic butter, and roast leg of lamb with thrice cooked chips, and grilled sea trout, courgettes, radishes and pesto. End your meal with mango tart tatin and vanilla ice cream, and selection of British cheeses, chutney and biscuits, and white chocolate cheesecake with Christmas pudding ice cream.

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

Originally established in 1965 - New Curry Garden rapidly became popular, especially as it was one of very few restaurants serving genuine Indian/Bangladeshi Cuisine in the Surrey region.

The restaurant has attracted a vast number of people - from the local residents of Dorking and the neighbouring towns/villages to well known politicians and film stars; among their famous customers have been the late Oliver Reed, one of Britain's all time great film actor who used to be regular diner (and drinker we assume) and the Sultan of Oman, who still has his take-out for the family.

Today, the newly refurbished restaurant projects a contemporary and stylish image, one of which is rarely found in a town such as Dorking. The Concept was simplicity with a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere; the key feature being to simulate the effects of a typical village in Bangladesh using colour, thus traditional yet still contemporary.

Their quality levels are as high as ever, a fact that has been recognised by their inclusion in the Cobra Good Curry Guide every year since 2001, including being nominated for the Best in Britain Award in 2001 and 2002.

Sometimes it is difficult to believe how much natural beauty can thrive not all that far from the urban distraction of London. One of the prime examples is a parcel of countryside of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the heart of the Surrey Hills where a large private estate and an even larger National Trust interest have combined their 5,000 acres to preserve and enhance the best.

It is in these surroundings that The Stephan Langton Inn thrives on a diet of sightseers, walkers, tourists and cyclists, as well as the regulars, who come to relax and enjoy the historic, wild and natural habitat. The present inn was tastefully built in the 1930s and still carries the name of the reforming Archbishop who brought King John to heel, resulting eventually in the signing of Magna Carta at Runnymede in June 1215.

Eating here is a fun business with not too much in the way of formality, but proper attention paid to the two main menus, one of which is the daily blackboard that cheerfully blurs the cut off point between starters and more substantial dishes. A toasted panini with a mug of fresh home made soup can look - and taste - like nectar after a strenuous day's walking in the surrounding hills.