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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.

Eating scrumptious food while lapping up the amazing views, a promise made by The Lounge, at Runnymede-on-Thames, will be a highlight of the evening, in any guest's itinerary visiting the tranquil riverside restaurant. On the banks of the river Thames, this elegant lounge bar with its wonderful views, is an ideal place to spend a lazy evening or even conduct informal business luncheons. The food is impeccable and offers a range of ever-changing dishes that are freshly prepared from ingredients sourced locally.

Guests can take their pick from the variety of salads and sandwiches available, as well as Mediterranean platters of marinated chicken wings, charcuterie, baked filos, tapenade, stuffed wine leaves, marinated mushrooms, roasted peppers and grissini sticks. The choice also includes deli options like pink roast rib of beef, and the Chef's special Runnymede club, grilled chicken breast with avocado mayonnaise, tomato and bacon in toasted multigrain.

The drinks menu is equally varied with a choice of champagnes and wines like chardonnay and madregale bianco, complementing the dishes superbly.

The Village Bar and Grill seems to be the perfect place to congregate with friends, family or even colleagues for a delicious meal and fun atmosphere. Located on Egham's busy and historic High Street, the warm and relaxing ambience and the Mediterranean feel of the décor helps in building a holiday mood out of a simple dining experience.

Start the day with a breakfast of smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, but later on, there are quite a few interesting sandwiches to choose, such as the chicken and bacon or the B.L.T baguette. Begin a more elaborate meal with pan fried tiger prawns and move on to the grills, risottos, noodles and pasta on offer in addition to a delicious variety of fish dishes like the sea bass, battered cod and salmon fillets.

Burgers and steaks are other delicious options and for dessert, the chocolate fudge cake with vanilla ice cream ought to pander to your sweet tooth. The concise drinks list offers wines by the glass or bottle, while champagnes, sparkling wines, beers and cocktails complete the picture. Happy hour for cocktails is between 5pm - 7pm every day.

Bar 163 attracts a varied cross section of customers, from local business people to families and couples, which gives the restaurant a lively and welcoming atmosphere, and, being set in a Victorian terraced building, only adds to the overall relaxed feeling that has developed over the years.

All food is freshly cooked on the premises; there is a separate lunch and dinner menu, which change every six weeks, with daily specials. They buy all their meat and vegetables locally, whilst all other ingredients are from reputable suppliers. Bar 163 has an extensive wine list with around 70 wines ranging from house wines at £14.95 to listed wines from £15.95 with over thirty below £20.

The interior of Bar 163 is an intriguing mix of antique furniture with artful colouring and a few touches of modern design; the general response is that people find it a very easy place to relax at any time of the day. Their determination to keep the food standards at a consistent level has developed a loyal following from people, who just want something good to eat without any pretension.

Leftbank, at the Runnymede Hotel and Spa, is the ideal spot for a leisurely meal with family or friends. Located on Windsor Road, the restaurant boasts a tranquil setting with the River Thames running alongside and offers guests a buffet spread for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday lunch with modern British specialities. Afternoon tea in the informal lounge is also an option.
 
The buffet menu changes on a daily basis but always features freshly prepared dishes created with high quality seasonal ingredients. For breakfast you may begin with fresh fruit juice, tea or coffee followed by a continental breakfast with honey roast ham, mortadella, pastrami and smoked Scottish salmon or a full English breakfast with free range eggs, grilled back bacon, locally made pork sausages and black pudding. The breadboard offers a selection of croissants, pastries, muffins, speciality breads and toast with honey, home-made jam and marmalade. For lunch or dinner choose from a variety of fish or shellfish and have them prepared just the way you like them. Children are welcome here and can enjoy their own 'ducklings' menu.

The wine list's variety of flavourful wines from small estates includes Madregale Bianco, Pinot Grigio della Venezia, Carmenere and Shiraz.

A stay at one of England's most distinguished and historic hotels will leave you feeling inspired and refreshed. Great Fosters in Egham is luxurious, has every modern facility that you could require, and yet that patina of distinction and grandeur has hardly worn thin. Since its opening in 1930, it has been graced by the presence of royalty, film stars, emperors and literary icons and it remains today a favourite destination of many.

The delicious gourmet food at their restaurant has won them many an accolade, particularly the coveted AA rosette; in fact two of them. Fresh seasonal produce is used imaginatively and liberally in their menus, so do try the veal sweetbread with brioche, organic shitake and truffled egg, followed by beef bavette with smoked mashed potato and roast onion squash. For dessert there's a caramelised banana split with hazelnuts and the traditional afternoon tea with scones and cakes adds another level of interest.

Whilst the 42 Loch Fyne restaurants have a shared background there is a welcome degree of individuality encouraged throughout the group, which makes for customer interest. If you like wholesome, fresh and reliable seafood caught and reared under carefully controlled conditions, well presented in unfussy surroundings, and you enjoy being well looked after by pleasant staff, Loch Fyne is for you.

There is an increasing awareness of other food staples with an extended choice of meat dishes, but it is the original fare upon which their success was created that prevails. Loch Fyne kippers, a fine bouillabaisse, braden rost, kiln-roasted salmon fillet, and the toothsome oysters on ice, with a selection of accompaniments, all are to be found throughout the various restaurants, as well as Glen Fyne 21 day aged rib-eye steak and Scottish smoked venison. There is invariably a well-travelled wine list available which is sensible, both in content and prices.

Loch Fyne's greatest achievement has been to prove to a sceptical populace that chains or conglomerates can be made to work in the eating-out public's best interests.