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Slug and Lettuce has a chain of almost a hundred bars spread across the country sharing a common love of serving down to earth, undemanding food and drink.

The group prides itself on offering dishes prepared using quality ingredients, and you should be attended on by attentive staff in a safe, welcoming and cheerful environment. The Slugs have something for anyone - breakfast for a lively start to the day, lunch for busy people, family meals or even a relaxing glass of wine to bring a tiring day to an end - all in a variety of modern and stylish settings.

The menu features old time English favourites such as Gloucestershire Old Spot sausages in buttered mash or fish pie made with Dartmouth smokehouse haddock, in a Devon cream and leek sauce, although dishes look to Europe and further afield to Asia for inspiration. A good way to start the enjoyment is by sharing platters of Southern fried chicken breast pieces, crispy potato wedges, garlic ciabatta strips, half a rack of BBQ pork ribs, wasabi vegetables with onion rings or some Greek mezze

Hearty steak pies, Thai curry with sticky jasmine rice or butternut squash with goats' cheese lasagne are amongst the more popular main dishes. Sandwiches or wraps - warm tortilla with chicken and Parmesan or aromatic duck in plum sauce - provide for those who prefer something lighter. They also serve burgers as well as tempting salads like salmon, asparagus or tomato and mozzarella. For children they have good old British standby sausage and mash, or pepper pasta and ketchup among other choices, all of which never fail to delight, particularly as some of them seem to have come out of a certain celebrity chef's Book of Forbidden Dishes.

Desserts appear in the form of raspberry biscotti, hot chocolate pudding or a creamy strawberry cheesesake. The wine list is well compiled and substantial. There are not less than seven French, three from Italy and some from Spain, Chile, Australia as well as New Zealand. Slug and Lettuce can cater for events including birthday parties, fashion shows, hen nights, wedding parties or just an enjoyable night out with a few friends.

Frankie and Benny's combine classic American and Italian in both style and cuisine. They specialise in home style cooking 'just like Mamma used to make it'. This is a great place to take the entire family and represents excellent value for money. The restaurant and bar is suitable for any occasion, whether it's a leisurely lunch, a family meal or a fantastic evening with friends - they make sure you have a wonderful time.

Walking into the restaurant is like stepping back into 1950s New York, from the clatter and chatter of the open kitchen to the bottle lined bar. Walls with black and white family photographs showing life in Brooklyn's 'Little Italy' surround cosy booth seating and tables. Combined with the classic music of the fifties, a mix of American swing and beat, they definitely provide a fun and friendly atmosphere for all to enjoy.

Frankie and Benny's offers starters, main courses and delicious desserts, and favourites include char-grilled burgers, pizzas, pastas, steaks and house specialities such as chicken parmigiana, BBQ ribs, lamb shank and much more. The bar serves a wide range of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks.

Start with sticky wings, crispy coated chicken strips, tiger prawn skewer or Frankie's fried calamari and if you are dining in a group choose the giant sampler platter. The pastas, calzone and pizzas are all made freshly on order. An interesting dish on the menu is a the Boston 7 speciality pizza fully loaded with slices of pork meatballs, spicy pepperoni, ham, crispy bacon, chicken, peppers and red onion, served on a BBQ sauce base. They also serve a variety of sandwiches and burgers throughout the day.

A good value lunch menu is available on weekdays from 11am until 5pm offering a range of popular dishes from the main carte with one course at £5.95, two courses at £7.95 and three courses at £8.95.

For children up to the age of eleven, an all-inclusive menu features a selection of main courses, desserts and drinks starting at £3.95. As an added treat, they'll also receive an activity pack to entertain them whilst you eat.

Enjoy an American Italian meal at Frankie and Benny's with freshly prepared food and warm hospitality that makes you feel right at home.

Little Italy is situated at one end of the high street and is a reliably good Italian restaurant serving up all the classic pasta, pizza and risotto dishes you would expect. In addition there's also a selection of interesting fish dishes, such as char-grilled swordfish steak with a spring onion and garlic sauce (£8.95), or a selection of grilled mixed fish including sardine, squid, king prawns and mussels (£11.95). From the meat based dishes there's also chicken breast with a lemon and caper sauce (£9.25), or veal escalope strips served in a mustard and red onion and white wine sauce (£11.25).

Reviewed by Linda Buttle

The Atrium Brasserie at the Kingston Lodge is a conservatory style restaurant which brings some delicious English brasserie food to its patrons. Proximity to the Hampton Court Palace and various other attractions makes it the perfect place to stopover for some much needed rest and a spot of lunch or dinner. The wooden furniture brings the right kind of atmosphere, light and airy, while the sunlight flooded room with its potted plants and view of landscaped courtyard gardens is delightful.

The seasonal menu uses fresh ingredients and brings a special touch to the dishes, and whether you're there for a special occasion, celebrating with loved ones, or even just a night out with friends, The Atrium Brasserie has just the right kind of setting. However, if you're looking for a quiet drink and maybe a light snack, the lounge bar would be perfect with its varied menu that is served throughout the day.

Located on a prominent corner spot of the Richmond Road, Out of the Blue is a relaxed restaurant and music venue. The brasserie style menu includes starters such as artichoke and pancetta salad and crab cakes with beer battered coconut shrimps. Main courses range from £6.50 to around £12 and include lamb shank with rosemary and garlic, or stuffed chicken thighs with leek and Roquefort sweet pepper sauce. There's also the exotic option of medallions of grilled crocodile, kangaroo and ostrich with a lemongrass infusion. For the best value opt for the three course set meal at £14.90, or pop by for lunch when a main course and a glass of wine or beer will set you back just £5. For music to accompany your dining experience come along on either a Monday or Wednesday evening, or Sundays for brunch.

Reviewed by Linda Buttle

An impressive English pub on Clifton Road, the Norbiton and Dragon also houses an excellent Thai restaurant that is a shining beacon of excellence for South East Asian cooking in the Kingston-Upon-Thames area. The interior of the restaurant has been tastefully redecorated in a minimalist style with dark wooden floors, neatly set tables, and large windows that brighten up the dining area with natural light.

The a la carte menu includes familiar appetisers of aromatic duck spring rolls, grilled tiger prawns skewered and marinted in lemongrass and cracked black pepper, and crispy fried squid. Robust flavours are evident in a pad ped gaprow neau, a classic Thai beef dish stir-fried with red chilli, green beans, garlic and crispy holy basil leaves. There are plenty of banquet set menus designed for a minimum of two people and this makes the task of ordering slightly easier. The Little Dragon menu caters for tiny eaters who seek a mini feast of two or three courses.

The team at Norbiton and Dragon work alongside wine merchant Bibendum to design an attractive wine list and includes choices from around the world.