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hand picked restaurants

Guildford - Currently closed for refurbishment.

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.

It is uncertain whether this relatively little-known group of people identified as Shardana were actually sea pirates or explorers, but it really doesn't matter much to the denizens of Guildford, where this namesake restaurant offers serious Italian cooking in a smartly done up setting. The place is particularly atmospheric with plenty of steel, a large glass façade and the occasional work of art on the walls.

The menu choices run from Bresaola cured beef and grilled calamari through to pizza and pasta options such as penne pollo rosa with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cream and tomato sauce, and prosciutto e funghi topped with ham and mushrooms. Then there are main courses presented with much care, grilled sardines wrapped with fresh herbs and pancetta, and braciola grilled pork chops served with mushrooms and mash potatoes.

Shardana's wine list is concise but diners can drink happily as there are several available by the 175ml and 250 ml glass.