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hand picked restaurants

Elephants and Thai food might seem somewhat of an oxymoron but in central Richmond anything is possible and The Thai Elephant has got everything right as far as their cuisine is concerned. Probably the first Thai restaurant in the area, they bring the delicious culinary specialities of exotic Thailand with authenticity and their impeccable service is indeed impressive. While favourites are maintained faithfully much to the delight of the locals, they also update their menu with exciting and new dishes on a regular basis.

Starting with the deep fried spicy fish cakes with cucumber salad dressing and peanuts or steamed mussels with sweet basil and lemon grass, you could move on to the volcano chicken, char grilled poussin with a special sauce or crispy fish fillet topped with tamarind sauce. The famed red and green curries are also present, alongside vegetarian options, while rice and noodles, ever the staple at any Oriental restaurant, makes its presence felt through a dazzling array of versions.

The popularity of the Indian food, not just in the UK but all over the world, can be attributed to flavoursome cooking and an excellent variety on offer. Top this with splendid hospitality and a relaxed comfortable atmosphere to dine in - that's what you can expect at Aangan.

The team of chefs bring to the table the best of Indian starters that include the likes of garlic chicken, lamb fry and beef chilli. Using high quality aromatic ingredients, curry dishes such as butter chicken, spinach lamb and Goan fish curry feature on the well crafted yet straightforward menu. These can be accompanied either by Indian breads or the world famous basmati rice, steamed or cooked with cumin seeds. Ring down the curtain on your meal with a coffee or an Indian dessert.

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.

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For some time I made the mistake of thinking that no group of restaurants in the region of 200 locations could hope to maintain the quality for which I was looking.

Then one day I decided to put my prejudices to the test, walked into Oxford Ask! and discovered that I could not have been more mistaken. Their claim to serve freshly prepared quality food in stylish and comfortable surroundings with friendly and efficient service proved to be absolutely spot on.

Since then I have also discovered that a degree of consistency seems to operate throughout their restaurants, and that certainly does take some achieving, implying a degree of management that is enviable. They are perfect places for an impromptu snack, a bit of culinary grazing, or the full works, and families are catered for particularly well.

Their trendy décor usually comprises tiled floors and black furniture with well set tables that sparkle with glass, silver and spotless linen. Ten starters include crostini and bruschetta, followed by a range of salads, pasta and al forno, oven baked pasta, some with chicken.

The pizzas are stone baked in the oven, creating a crisp, authentic and delicious flavour, and they all come topped with mozzarella and tomato. Calzone introduce a touch of opulence with a folded pizza baked in the oven and topped with garlic butter and melted grana padano, whilst inside expect to find chicken or a vegetarian mix.

Amongst the specials may I warmly, in every sense, recommend the polpette al forno, a popular Milanese dish of beef meatballs sautéed in garlic with fire roasted peppers, caramelised onions, chilli and pomodoro sauce, with penne pasta, topped with cheese and oven baked.

An enticing selection of desserts list banoffee pie and tiramisu amongst them, and the coffee tastes like coffee, which may sound banal, but I guess you know what I mean.

Thanks to a well selected wine list speculative drinking can offer handsome dividends, even with prices rarely crossing the £20 barrier.

Sitting prettily on the side of Richmond Hill, The Petersham Hotel overlooks the River Thames and surrounding meadows. This 1865 building is an interesting juxtaposition of traditional values and the excitement of living in a luxury hotel in Surrey.

The restaurant is a good place to enjoy some no-frills cooking and Head Chef Alex Bentley brings his passion for fine food to bear on the menu, which he describes as 'elegant British cooked in a modern and refreshing way'. So for a start you could harvest on the flavours of foie gras with hare and smoked sweet potato, Muscat jelly and toasted brioche, or red mullet and soft shell crab. The mains show promise as well with saddle of lamb en croûte, steamed sea bass fillet and hand rolled spinach lasagne, followed by desserts of apple galette and chocolate moelleux.

Petersham's cellar is home to a vast store of aging wines from renowned vineyards across the world.

Situated at the foot of Richmond Hill, Chez Lindsay is a favourite with locals, French ex-pats and restaurant critics for its authentic Breton cooking and relaxed atmosphere. Oysters, seafood and fish take pride of place on the menu but meat lovers will find a tempting selection of Breton dishes such as poulet à la Bretonne (chicken with cider, apple and cream sauce).

The restaurant is celebrated, however, for its superb galettes - savoury buckwheat pancakes stuffed with a variety of fillings, many vegetarian friendly.

Not unsurprisingly they serve excellent Breton cider (not altogether unlike what used to be generally available in this country); in fact a range of French sparkling ciders feature large on the liquid choices, together with a predominantly French wine list with house wines from £11.50.

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