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George is a very grown-up sort of place, with a distinct feeling that it sorts the men from the boys, the sort of place you would not wish to mess with. Those familiar with Esher High Street will heave a sigh of relief to know that George is well insulated from it, and once inside there is a 40 foot bar at which a seriously adult range of drinks are there to iron away the more grisly aspects of a thoroughly lousy day.

Having prepared the ground, so to speak, it's time to find your way into the restaurant, well able to comfortably set some 70 covers, with formal service, to savour equally formal food such as tourchon of Suffolk ham, tomato tartare, petite salad, with sweet sherry dressing, wild mushroom ravioli, or pan fried monkfish intriguingly partnered with braised oxtail.

Desserts are no less challenging with white liquorice ice cream, caramelised florelle pear and vanilla chocolate for example. A cleverly compiled wine list certainly lends lustre to a place which is undoubtedly doing the social life of Esher a considerable favour.

Thirty years of experience does speak for itself, and at Superfish you know that you are in good hands, particularly if you're looking for some really tasty fish and chips. Spread across the UK, with several branches in Surrey, they are more than just your regular chippie and come quite close to American diners and French bistros. Glorious seafood and numerous other fishy dishes you would love to eat are represented on the menu, although a few concessions are made for those with other inclinations.

The list of options is seemingly endless, with prime fillet of cod, whole plaice on the bone, grilled rainbow trout and Dover sole making their presence felt. The fish and chips served there are fried in the traditional Yorkshire method and there's a children's menu too offering chicken nuggets, scampi and sausage in batter. For dessert, try the Dutch morello cherry flan served with vanilla ice cream.

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.

Côte is a chain of medium priced brasserie style restaurants that mirrors the trend in Paris, with a drift away from sophisticated food to less complicated cooking. So it should come as no surprise that they won the 2009 Good Food Guide's award for 'Best Value Restaurant in the UK'.

Inside there is none of the usual rather dated trappings, which have been replaced by a more chic, clean-cut approach to both décor and furnishings. Olives, bread and pissaladière set the tone for what is to come, with starters of rillettes or a warm Roquefort salad to name but two from a good range. Then choose between light mains such as wild mushroom cassoulet or tuna niçoise, or a meat and fish menu that includes duck confit and roast sea bass fillets with Savoy cabbage and peas in a white wine and cream sauce.

Desserts are a little more traditional, witness a convincing coupe noire or classic crème brûlée. Côte provides a genuine Gallic eating renaissance in elegant surroundings where you can dine with other people who are clearly enjoying the whole experience.

This is one of those places where relaxing atmosphere and good food blend to create a comfort zone that draws you back within its doors, time and again. Red Peppers, with outlets in Birmingham, Esher and Teddington, has unpretentious décor and friendly staff, and has become a lunch time favourite for many. In summer, you can sit outside and enjoy your meal on the terrace overlooking the canal.

The menu has a few international undertones with Thai and Mexican influences creeping in and starters such as small rack of baby back ribs or smoked mackerel pâté. But it is the pizzas there which hold the most appeal, with a range of at least eleven to choose from carrying toppings that include chicken fajita, goat's cheese and eggs Florentine. Desserts include sinful delights such as tiramisu and chocolate parfait while the Italian wines on their list are totally on the same wavelength.