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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.

The Seahorse is a 300 year old former coaching inn, now transformed into an attractive pub and dining room. It is located in Shalford, just a mile and a half south of Guildford and offers good food and drink in a great English atmosphere. In winter, customers can relax in front of roaring log fires while in the summer the landscaped garden is an ideal spot to enjoy a glass of chilled Pimms.

The design of the pub is more modern than previous incarnations, but still with plenty of nooks and crannies to nestle in and catch up on the day's events. The menu is an eclectic mix of pub classics combined with more adventurous dishes and to set the right note of fashionable sociability there are sharing plates, rustic breads with roast garlic, olives and virgin olive oil, a box baked camembert with stiratta romagna and home made tomato jam, or garlic pizzette with caramelised onion and rocket.

Amongst the starters, there is freshly made soup, sardines on bruschetta with red onion, plum tomato and gremolata or water melon with prosciutto ham and feta with chilli ice cream. Look, too, for scallops of the day.

The salads - sorry, that should read 'leaves' - offer crispy duck with mouli, hoisin, carrots, spring onions and plum sauce, for the seafood fiends some prawn, avocado, pecan, mango, watercress, bacon with orange and pomegranate vinaigrette.

These days no self-respecting gastropub can afford to be without its pizza range; expect to find a classic margherita of tomato, mozzarella, oregano and basil, piccante with pepperoni, chorizo, tomato and jalapeños or the rustica of roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goats' cheese, cherry tomatoes and rocket. Pastas include linguini with tiger prawns, crab, chorizo, chilli, tomato and white wine, or strozzapreti of fresh tomato, goats' cheese, spinach, pine nuts and raisins. For the big event there is always Indian spiced salmon fillet with wilted spinach and sweet potato with aubergine and mango chutney.

Finally, the classic burger joins the ranks of respectable restaurant food and puts in an appearance on the menu with gherkin, mustard mayo, cheese, bacon, relish and frites. The calves liver with tray baked potatoes, red onion, bacon and sage panagrattato is worth trying too. For hearty eaters there is a good rib-eye steak with smoked paprika and tomato butter, watercress and frites, or roast rump of lamb with sauce soubise, asparagus, pancetta, button onions and baby potatoes. A wide range of supporting dishes includes green salad, Belgian frites and mayo, and cabbage, leeks and peas.
 
Their prix fixe menu is designed for those who need a speedy bite anytime between lunch and early evening from Monday to Friday. For desserts choose between Eton mess or apple, blackcurrant crumble and vanilla custard. There is also a selection of cheeses to set the buffs alight.

The Seahorse wine list covers plenty of territory from traditional clarets to Pinot Grigio and champagne by the glass or bottle is always available. Service is cheerful, brisk and totally in keeping with the friendly nature of a good English gastropub.

A well-constructed Website enables you to keep in touch with menu changes or forthcoming events. Please note that the E-Mail Contact is for enquiries only, not for bookings.

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.

Part of a small but perfectly formed group of French bistros, Côte Brasserie received the accolade of 'Best value restaurant in the UK' in the 2009 Good Food Guide, which, at a time when price trimming is the name of the game, must be quite some achievement, and their branch in Guildford is no exception to their general rule. Founded on the resurgence of interest in simple bistro cooking and as prevailing taste swings away from expensive and over-complicated cooking in restaurants, Côte goes for the classic dishes within an informal and friendly atmosphere.

The Guildford Côte opened in April 2009, open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as any decent bistro should be, serving the neighbourhood as a first priority. In fine weather, it is worth knowing that they have a sunny outside terrace with views of the Castle.

Appetisers include pissaladière, delightful warm flatbread from Nice with caramelised onions and a choice of either anchovies, olives and parsley or Reblochon cheese and thyme. Mussels cooked in white wine can be taken as a starter or main course, and other starters could offer coarsely shredded duck and pork paté, breadcrumbed squid sautéed in garlic, or the ever popular steak tartare.

In the world of restaurant menus there is increasingly a short but attractive range of light mains, and Côte is no exception with a tuna Niçoise making a highly attractive dish with the addition of French beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives, peppers, new potatoes, egg, baby gem lettuce and red onion.

One of Côte's principal attractions is to have created a menu that prompts the customers to feel that what they'd really like to do is work their way through the entire menu which, whilst it may cause some consternation is undoubtedly the best option to have, if not to take. Consider steak haché for instance, char-grilled spiced chopped rump steak with frites and a cornichon and tomato relish, or Poulet Breton, corn fed chicken from rural Brittany, with an enticing choice of garlic butter or sauces.

Steaks at Côte start with a 7oz fillet, or 10oz rib-eyes and sirloin, char-grilled and served naturally with frites. Let's assume that you follow the French custom and insert a cheese course between the main and the desserts, be prepared for well kept Roquefort and Reblochon before tackling a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream, or an outstanding crème caramel, a speciality of the house.

The supposition that a bistro which styles itself on the real thing should have a French wine list is by no means unreasonable, and Côtes does it with panache. Perfectly straightforward it plays much the same trick as the menu and as you flick through the list you are confronted with hard choices. Many are under the £20 mark, but there are excellent alternatives above that, and eight champagnes currently including a 2003 Henriot.

If I had to choose one word to sum up Côte I think it would have to be thoroughly genuine. Yes, I know that's two, but it underlines the difficultly of only making it in one. Do check their Website for menu changes and reservations.

The Olivo group of Italian restaurants was founded in November 1997 by the management team of Nicky and Fulvio Bertani, in an historic building that goes back to the early 1660s and is an Elizabethan timber-framed house. The history of its usage over almost 400 years make fascinating reading but we are here to take a closer look at some of the best Italian food to be had in Surrey. The interior boasts many internal features including timber beams, intricate woodwork and the original fire-place, now the bar.

Rather a nice touch is that they like to look at the restaurant as the setting for a play, which being Italian just has to be one of passion. This embraces the setting, the music and naturally the dishes and wine that are served with a true sense of bravura. Restaurant Manager, Paolo Ditale, seems to have a passion for food, service and detail and has creasted a superb style of service, accompanied by an amazing menu.

Their chefs share a common desire to present top rate Italian food in the Italian way, not as a concession to the British palate. Traditional recipes are revisited, interpreted and adjusted according to the creative instincts of the kitchen team, against a background of complete dedication to the availability of high quality basic ingredients. It is a common truism that we are what we eat, and this is more true than ever today as modern processing becomes more destructive.

A cautionary note is sounded by the quotation of the old Roman adage, 'Rome was not built in a day', and whilst the preparation of your meal will take considerably time less than that, it will be fresh right from the outset.

For instance all the pasta is freshly made in the traditional Italian style with choices like smoked salmon, lobster, mascarpone tortelloni, prawns, mushrooms, langoustine, chicken, tomato, garlic and white wine sauce, or penne served with chicken and their own pesto sauce. The individually handmade seafood ravioli with crabmeat is served in a garlic and tomato sauce.

An Italian salad can be assured to have more ingredients than average, and their char-grilled scotch sirloin steak with rocket, parmesan and balsamic served on a bed of oven roasted rosemary potatoes, certainly does the trick.

Italians have special ways with fish, and you should expect to find deep fried calamari rings cooked with langoustine, tiger prawns, scampi and served on a bed of salad, or char grilled loin of swordfish brushed with olive oil and lemon sauce, served with crushed potatoes and leeks.

Main courses specials could include pan fried fillet of cod with pancetta, chilli, garlic, sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, served with mixed crushed potatoes and leeks, or a char grilled lamb steak in aromatic olive oil herbs sauce, along with oven roasted rosemary potatoes. Another good choice could be cold salad of fresh poached salmon with sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and mixed leaf salad, served with tarragon, honey and yogurt dressing.

Italian wine at its best is a real delight and the list at Olivo starts with decent house wine by the glass or bottle, finishing with, amongst many others, a notable style of Moscadello made from the local grape and slowly fermented in new oak to produce a straw coloured yellow wine with golden reflections. Ask for the Col d'Orcia Toscana.

For further information on their events, and their ability to deal with yours, getting married at Olivo, gift vouchers and many other things including their history and philosophy, click on their Website and become absorbed.

Located in the idyllic Surrey village of Merrow, on the outskirts of Guildford, The Horse and Groom offers a superb modern British menu, with contemporary Mediterranean influences, in a beautiful setting. Housed in a former coaching inn that dates back to the 17th century, the pub's interiors artfully combine contemporary and rustic touches with original features such as timber beams, leaded windows and stone flag floors alongside plush leather sofas, fake fur throws and hessian flooring. This exemplary country pub boasts plenty of on-site parking and is just a short drive from the commuter towns of Woking, Dorking and Godalming. 
 
The a la carte menu changes with the seasons and uses market fresh ingredients, offering diners a wide range of dishes from delicious British classics to pizzas and pastas. Mediterranean fare, bursting with flavour and colour, could include box baked camembert with stirata Romana bread and homemade tomato jam; a garlic pizette with caramelised onions and rocket or salad of spiced pear, roast squash, beetroot, hazelnut and gorgonzola with tomato pesto.

The main course selection is equally bold and updates traditional favourites with clever combinations of ingredients such as crab and chorizo fishcakes with roasted sweet corn and tomato salsa; calves liver with champ potatoes, crispy shallots and red wine jus or duck confit with honey, chilli, pineapple, shallots, sweet potato and butter beans. 

While the à la carte is sufficient treat in itself, customers may want to take note of Steak and Wine Supper Wednesdays, with a range of succulent steaks and a bottle of red wine at half the price or Fabulous Fish Fridays when the talented kitchen team serves a variety of fish and seafood dishes with a bottle of white wine offered at a tempting 50% discount. Wine connoisseurs can look forward to wine tastings all year round as well as Sparkling Thursdays with crisp, fresh Proseccos available at £15 and the house champagne at £20.

For diners who are looking for a quick bite why not choose from the bar menu which offers such dishes as trio of mini burgers of spiced lamb burger with tzatziki, beef burger with tomato salsa and pork and chorizo burger. The Mediterranean influence continues with chicken and chorizo spiedini with chilli jam or calzone of cacciatore pork with tomato frito, garlic and cremé fraiche while classic pub fare could include freshly battered haddock, chips, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas.

The desserts list includes puddings such as warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce; apple and blackcurrant crumble with vanilla custard and choux bun with fresh cream with espresso and chocolate sauce and will end any meal on a sweet note.

The drinks list is replete with a range of aperitifs, digestifs, bottled beers and non-alcoholic drinks in addition to a fine selection of Mediterranean whites and reds along with a sprinkling of examples from the rest of the world.

Enjoyed the Horse and Groom? Why not try its sister pubs The Inn at Maybury in Woking or The Seahorse in Shalford.

More information can be found on their Website.

Should you feel an American moment coming on, get straight into the mood at a TGI Friday's. First thought of in New York in 1965, introduced to Birmingham, UK in 1986, they now, like so many other American concepts, are to be found on a global basis and have 48 outlets in the UK alone. According to Newsweek and The Saturday Evening Post, the opening of the first Friday's restaurant heralded the dawn of the singles age.

In many ways, TGIs are more representative of the American approach to eating out than some of their imitators. Their food is fresh, the portions generous and the cocktail list exhaustive. They also tend to represent the all-American classlessness that can produce a meal at any time, for any social group, for any reason, under the same roof, without a problem.

So what's on offer? The quick answer is, it depends rather on where you are, as menus do vary from one restaurant to another, but the essential message stays the same - American grub, fella! Appetizers - no starters please - could include Jack Daniel's wings, chicken wings coated in Jack Daniel's sweet 'n' smoky glaze, or spinach and artichoke hearts coated in a rich and creamy cheese sauce, served with crisp corn tortillas.

For a group assault try the Times Square big share, more of Jack Daniel's wings, cheese and bacon skins to the very brim, with crispy breaded mozzarella dippers and served with a battery of accoutrements.

The steaks are awesome, topping out with a 12oz rib eye. A range of burgers, ribs, chicken, fish, sandwiches, fajitas, salads and pasta embraces virtually every known twist in the repertoire of American cuisine. Chocolate fudge fixation perhaps sums up best, but by no means exclusively, the TGI approach to desserts.

From a list of over 500 cocktails, all mixed with exuberant charm, let's take just one. You thought Long Island Iced Tea was something polite Americans sipped after some gentle sailing? Think again. Vodka, gin, rum and orange liqueur, topped up with Coke, spin and pour. The popular drink was in fact, invented by TGIF. As with all cocktails you can choose between regular or ultimate, no questions asked. Beer, wine and soft drinks cover enormous range and they also offer good coffee.

It is not important which outlet of TGIF you visit, for if you enjoy the American style of eating, just look out for red and white stripes and you are likely to be happy.

To locate a Friday's nearest to you and get the world famous Friday feeling on any day of the week click on their Website.

When you enter a chain restaurant there is always a sense of déjà vu, yet with the twelve outlets of Giraffe, this may not really be true. Russel and Juliette Joffe and Andrew Jacobs' philosophy behind this group of restaurants is sustaining the driving force of healthy, happy eating, while retaining the difference each location brings. This includes minor variations in the menu too, and explains why the restaurant does not like to be called a chain, but prefers being referred to as a herd. The origin of its quaint name too, is interesting. The giraffe has the largest heart in the animal kingdom, and with its magnificent height is able to perceive things differently. These two features of being different and large hearted sum up the restaurant's proclamation of 'love, eat, live'.

Giraffe offers world food and adds an unusual twist to some familiar dishes. Their breakfast menu has stacked pancakes with bananas and blueberries, warm waffles, ranch styles tostadas and healthy veggie options. Some great starters are a mezze plate with warm naans that offer the best of many cuisines - grilled halloumi, hummus, tzatiki, ratatouille and falafel.  Japanese king fried prawns are a hit, while another bright spot on the menu, is the colourful sunshine antipasti bruschetta, a clever combination of artichokes, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, olives, roasted peppers, red onion and rocket on pesto foccacia. If this long list of ingredients is intriguing, just wait until your palate takes over.

The house's special salad, cheekily called 'more thn love', is colourful and has crunchy appeal. The Thai chicken and vermicelli noodle version is an equally enticing starter. For mains, there are plenty of options like roasted corn and chilli bran burritos, tangy turkey enchiladas and the much loved sweet potatoes, asparagus, green beans and broccoli served with organic brown basmati rice. One can also settle for a good old burger and wash it down with interesting smoothies. They also offer world wines and unusual cocktails with catchy names like Bombay flower and pomegranate caipirinha.

The dessert section comprises of not just fruit based healthy desserts, but brilliant stars like Swiss mountain chocolate cheesecake, banana waffle split and rocky road ice cream sundaes, which transport the diner to a state of bliss. The friendly staff, who are carefully hired for their sunny disposition, and children's activities help make these restaurants a very special, happy and healthy treat indeed.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

With quality food, friendly staff, quick service and excellent value for money, Nando's is a great place to eat. Don't expect identikit, pre-fab restaurant interiors which are usually a staple of the larger chains; each restaurant is tailored to its local surroundings and customers, offering up a unique restaurant experience to go with the equally unique taste of legendary, Portuguese, Peri-Peri chicken.

Your peri-peri chicken, when the chips are down so to speak, is a fresh A grade chicken that has never seen the inside of a freezer, but having made the supreme sacrifice is butterfly-cut, marinated for 24 hours in a secret brew called - you've guessed - peri-peri, and is then cooked to your choice over an open flame.

There are, of course, many variations on this broad theme, numerous plays on words such as Nando's experi-perience, peri-peri good reasons why you should eat at a Nando's, and all one hopes is that for their sake chicken never goes out of fashion. New Nando's are opening all the time, peri-peri quickly in fact, the spicy bastes become hotter and more daring, and the full platter offers a whole chicken, large chips or spicy rice and Nando's salad or coleslaw.

Since chickens are vegetarian it seems logical you can order veggie or bean burgers and patties, and still feel the heat from the peppers. All in all, Nando's is hotly recommended for those occasions when you have a large following of permanently hungry children, or adults even, to keep happy - the only thing taken really seriously is the quality of those peri-peri good chickens.

Nando's is a place for bright people who love to laugh and love to eat, and is guaranteed to spice up your taste buds. Their fun approach to life means that when you visit Nando's you can fully relax without the airs and graces associated with more starchy dining out.

For the location of your nearest Nando's restaurant and a host of details about menus, parties and drinks, a click on their Website will reveal a Pandora's box of information.

Café Rouge has over one hundred branches throughout Britain all offering a wide range of dishes drawn from the French cuisine. Slightly less than half their branches are in or close to London. Almost inevitably the décor and design of each restaurant differs from the others, but there is a general curtsy towards La France.

Many restaurants do an excellent breakfast, or shall we say petit dejeuner, at which such delights as scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toasted brioche, croque Madame, croissants and pain au chocolat make welcome appearances, and to their credit the English traditional gets top billing.

An array of small dishes takes in pulled pork pâté with French bread, and spicy beef and lamb sausage with harissa mayonnaise. Salads and pasta feature largely, as do baguettes and croques. Quick dishes, ideal for lunch, include slices of saucisson and cured pork loin with French bread.

Moving on to more serious stuff we find steaks, an 8oz bavette and thin cut rib eye, with a choice of béarnaise or peppercorn sauce. No French menu would be complete without the poulet jaune grille, pan-roasted breast of corn-fed chicken served on a warm taboulé of bulgar wheat and a medley of roasted vegetables with minted crème fraîche, or a steak frites before moving on to the crème brûlée, or the tart tatin. Almost invariably the coffee tastes like coffee should, something that sadly can all too often still not be said of our English restaurants, who depend too much upon technology and too little on the acquisition of a certain flair for this important conclusion to a meal.

By now we all know that the French, despite their distinctive habits when it comes to matters of satisfying the inner man, maintain a miraculous longevity of life. This is generally attributed to a number of causes, of which a measured consumption of decent wine is foremost. Café Rouge, you may be pleased to hear, encourages this with a well-chosen selection of French wines. Their prix fixe lunch and meals for children, both at a very reasonable figure, also offer excellent value.

Their Website will keep you updated on menu changes, news and other competitions and offers from the Café Society.