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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.

In the heart of the Surrey village of Warlingham, Chez Vous delivers superb French cuisine in a relaxed, contemporary setting, surrounded by picturesque North Downs countryside. Housed in a beautifully renovated old flint stone cottage on Limpsfield Road, Chez Vous carefully combines many of the building's original features such as arched doorways and pillars with sleek, contemporary furnishings to create a chic ambience. A delicious, predominantly French menu, likewise, combines the classic with the modern to satisfy the palates of all good food aficionados.

There's a soothing aubergine and cream colour scheme with banquette seating in the restaurant, and marshmallow stools and cube seating in the lounge bar. There is a wonderfully informal atmosphere perfect for appreciating the kitchen team's gastronomic flair. Abstract works of art on the walls, Swarovski lighting and Indian rosewood tables add a stylish touch to the ensemble.

Innovation is at the heart of the culinary oeuvre of acclaimed Chefs Martin Bradley and Laurent Pacaud, reflecting their history in such renowned establishments as The Savoy, Gleneagles and La Barbe restaurant. Fresh seasonal ingredients, sourced locally wherever possible, are artfully melded with exotic spices from around the world to create delicious gourmet fare that reflects the colours and flavours of the season.

A meal here could begin with starters of a zesty gin and ginger cured river trout served with a wasabi pannacotta and Seville orange vierge; terrine of local pheasant and Armagnac prunes studded with pistachios, fresh quince and apple chutney jelly or classic market fresh mussels steamed with white wine and fresh herbs finished with a dash of cream.

The mélange of interesting flavour combinations continue with main courses of sumptuous fillet of Scotch beef crusted in cracked pepper and served with caramelised beets, red onions and an aged balsamic jus; crisp roasted supreme of chicken resting on a leek and chervil mash with wild mushroom timbale and a mild mustard cream or the more overt Eastern flavours of lime leaf steamed delice of halibut and pak choi served with oriental prawn dumplings and a soy shitaki broth.

Desserts of scrumptious hazelnut and honey scented iced nougat parfait with amaretto crème Anglaise and chocolate tuille; pistachio ice cream and poached pear basket with a rich chocolate sauce or a lighter and flavourful passionfruit and orange tart served with a mango and pomegranate salsa is indeed manna for the sweet tooth.

Alternatively diners can choose to eat in the smart lounge bar where they can enjoy set 2-course or 3-course lunch menus. A handpicked wine selection includes a range of whites and reds from France, with examples from Burgundy, Rhone, Bordeaux, Languedoc and Alsace along with a sprinkling from the rest of the world. A variety of special coffees, liqueurs, Port and other spirits is perfect for afters.

Having first established their reputation as wedding caterers par excellence throughout Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and London, Chez Vous continues to cater to weddings, private parties and corporate events with bespoke menus and end-to-end services.

Guests can also opt to stay overnight in the equally well appointed Chez Vous hotel at the same venue with rooms being refurbished and ready for use in 2012.

More information can be found on their Website.

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.

Located near Hampton Court Palace, this is the sort of hotel that Henry VIII would have thoroughly approved of, good and handy for the Portsmouth road, convenient for the River Thames and altogether what a good-bloke King needed. Nowadays modern versions of Henry and many others find it equally welcoming, ideal for weddings, meetings and events, with the largest of their 6 conference rooms capable of taking 300 people reception style.

The Riverview Restaurant, open to guests and local residents alike, specialises in continental and pan-Asian cuisine, and Chef Bhaskar Banerjee can be relied upon to produce attractive and tasty dishes that have a wide appeal. The menu is presented in such a way that it is made easy to suit whatever the circumstances dictate.

If you are tempted by appetisers then these could include steamed mussels served with spicy tomato sauce or white wine sauce or plum tomatoes with buffalo mozzarella, virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Given the evident Asian origins of this restaurant, you should not be surprised to find dishes like mourgh bemisaal, char-grilled breasts of chicken in rich tomato sauce scented with fenugreek and served with pulao rice, chutney and salad or nariyal adrak macchli, chunks of salmon stewed in ginger, coconut scented onion sauce and served with steamed rice, chutney and salad. While vegetarians should be delighted by mutter paneer, described as an exotic melange of cottage cheese with fresh green peas, and served with steamed rice, chutney and salad.

If you are looking for something more traditional then Fish Ahoy is pretty self-explanatory and very recognisable as beer battered cod fillets with chunky chips, the famous mushy peas and tartare sauce; a never failing source of comfort food. Still in that area, beef bourguignon, French style beef with streaky bacon, mushroom - shallot stewed with Burgundy wine and served with celery mash. Amongst side dishes keep an eye open for chunky chips, steamed vegetables, naan bread and roasted new potatoes.

Desserts of berry and white chocolate torte, apple crumble or tiramisu may not be too kind to the waistline, but certainly help a feeling of well-being with which to bring your meal to an end. In fact it might even introduce thoughts of a good night's rest to follow, in which case it is but a short step from the Riverview Restaurant to one of the hotel's comfortable rooms, where air conditioning, a mini fridge, 24 hours room service, LCD screen TVs all are there to make your stay as restful as you wish.

Executive rooms provide extra comforts for those perhaps staying for longer and with a riverside view of the Thames from your balcony, and extras like bathrobes, complimentary magazines and WiFi connection life can seem very relaxing. There are 5 accessible rooms, all of which are DDA compliant.

In fact life can be a breeze at the Holiday Inn, and their Website will give you updates on prices, menus and special packages to suit the mood.

For a taste of genuine Italian cooking in deepest Surrey, take yourself - and your friends - along to Olivetto ristorante and wine bar and seize the opportunity to sample some of Italy's finest traditional cuisine.

Olivetto is located on Guildford High Street, in front of the Guildhall and the building dates back to Elizabethan times when it is believed to have been the house of the Town Mayor. The front room, also known as the Dickens room, is steeped in history and was probably the location of the Mayor's first meeting room.

The interior is much enhanced by open beams, wooden floors and an attractive bar where guests can enjoy a relaxed drink. This convivial atmosphere extends to the front dining area, an ideal place to savour a meal overlooking the High Street and famous Guildford clock, and to the outside seating available throughout summer.

Their Italian chefs have brought from their warm and sunny homeland some of the favourite recipes passed down from generation to generation, and all their dishes are freshly made to order. Should you have any special requirements then just let the waiter know and they will be happy to do their best to oblige.

As you would expect, in the normal warm-hearted Italian way, bambini are always especially welcomed, a real fuss is made of them and they don't get referred to as 'kids'.

All the pasta is freshly made by their chefs in traditional Italian style with choices like linguine served with a seafood mix and tomato, or penne served with a chicken and pesto sauce or tagliatelle with buffalo mozzarella, basil and cherry tomato sauce.

However, the menu is wide ranging, from starters like bocconcini di mozzarella - buffalo mozzarella wrapped in speck and served with balsamic dressing sauce, to pancetta e avocado - salad of bacon, chicken, avocado with balsamic dressing sauce, definitely well beyond your standard Italian fare.

Italians have special ways with fish, and you should expect to find fillet of sea bream, prawns, courgette, garlic and cherry tomatoes, served with mixed crushed potatoes and leeks, or pan fried fillet of cod with pancetta, chilli, garlic, sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes and served with crushed potatoes and leeks.

Main course specials may include vitello al marsala, pan fried veal escalope and marsala wine sauce, served with oven rosated rosemary potatoes or strips of chicken wrapped in pancetta, sweet peppers, black olives, cherry tomatoes and chilli sauce with mixed crushed potatoes and leeks.

Italian wine at its best is a real delight and the list at Olivetto 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.

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

It is not an easy task to maintain impeccable standards and uniformity of taste across a chain of over eight hundred outlets, yet that is just the distinction that The Gondola Group has achieved. Their restaurants, with the brand names of Zizzi, ASK and Pizza Express, serve authentic Italian food at reasonable prices, in a warm and friendly ambience. The chain continues to grow, with the group opening around twenty-five new outlets each year.

Another talent that the group has is converting listed buildings and in which to house their restaurants. This has helped the group maintain standards, but allows each location to keep its innate charm. Done up in light colours, with wooden floors and gleaming cutlery, Zizzi boasts of a bustling open kitchen which churns out freshly prepared, tasty fare.

Like all good Italian restaurants, the extensive carte offers four distinct sections of antipasti, salads, mains, including pasta, pizza and risottos, a meat and fish menu which changes seasonally and a vast and exciting dessert menu. The restaurant's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. Garlic mozzarella pizza bread and caramelised balsamic onions too, set the tone for a hearty meal.

The calzones or folded pizzas are a treat and come with salads. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. The pasta and risotto sections arouse plenty of interest, with the farfalle alla Genovese combined with marinated roasted artichoke hearts, Santos tomatoes, and pine nuts in a delicious creamy pesto sauce or the light risotto with tiger prawns, oak-roasted salmon, calamari, courgettes and baby spinach in a rich creamy base with lemon and chilli.

The pizzas are not far behind either, with funghi topped with field mushrooms, fresh tarragon, mozzarella and tomato while the popular Sophia has marinated chicken, pepperoni, over-roasted sausage, tomato, mozzarella, finished with green chilli and fresh rosemary.

The extensive wine list offers a range of red, white, sparkling and rose wines in addition to beer and spirits while the dessert menu is attractive too, with a range of tempting fare from the homemade tiramisu to the torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base served with vanilla mascarpone. A really hot and tasty cup of coffee, tea or chocolate rounds the meal off well.

The fact that the restaurant hires their employees very selectively is evident in the friendly, cheerful and capable manner with which the staff treat diners, lending each outlet the personalised feel of a family run restaurant.

More information can be found on their Website.

The Spring Tavern, on London Road in the leafy Surrey town of Ewell, offers a superb modern British menu in stylish surroundings. A premium dining space where the discerning customer can indulge the palate as well as the senses, the Spring Tavern also boasts an eclectic drinks list with a variety of cask ales, premium draught and bottled beers and a superb wine list.

Fine dining is all about the experience as well as the food and The Spring Tavern makes a statement with its simple elegant design, warm welcome and excellent service. The talented kitchen team has put together a seasonally changing menu which uses the freshest seasonal ingredients to offer guests a wide range of dishes including delicious British classics and flavourful Mediterranean favourites.

Lunch or dinner here can begin with sharing plates of dolcelatte, Italian meats, marinated vegetables and warm stone-baked flatbreads or with starters of Moroccan lamb koftas with fattoush salad and tzatziki. You could follow with such dishes as a calzone of pork cacciatore, tomato frito, garlic and crème fraiche, a rustica pizza topped with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, goat's cheese, cherry tomatoes and rocket, a smoked haddock macaroni with spinach and Applewood Cheddar or a delicious grilled goat's cheese crostini with roast sweet potatoes and borlotti beans and blush tomato dressing.

What really sets the Spring Tavern apart from the increasingly generic and omnipresent gastropub crowd is the care and attention they take with their non a la carte offerings. Fish comes into its own on Friday nights when the chef puts out delicious fish and shellfish specials including scallops done the way you like them, battered haddock with frites, tartare sauce and minted mushy peas and sea bass fillets with sweet potato and spinach curry and tzatziki.
 
They also offer a whopping 50% discount on a bottle of red wine with every 21-day aged steak as part of the Steak and Wine Supper every Wednesday. On Sundays customers can treat themselves to a sumptuous spread with classics such as roast rib of beef with pan jus and Yorkshire pudding, garlic and rosemary studded leg of English lamb with apricot stuffing and English loin of pork with crackling, caramelised apple sauce and sage stuffing.
 
For diners looking for a quick lunch try the two-course prix fixe menu which is also available early in the evening. The bar menu also offers small plates of chicken and chorizo spiedini with chilli jam, homemade lamb koftas with Moroccan spice and tzatziki or fennel crusted calamari with sweet chilli sauce.
 
Tempting puddings of warm brownie with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce, apple and blackcurrant crumble with vanilla custard and orange and almond cake with marmalade and orange blossom mascarpone bring the meal to a pleasant end. 

A fine selection of whites and reds complements the food perfectly. Enjoy a pre-dinner drink; Frisky Bison with Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka and Appletiser or French Martini with Grey Goose vodka and Chambord. For afters, there's a chocolate martini with Baileys, vodka and chocolate liqueur.

More information can be found on their Website.

Casa Nova is every inch an Italian restaurant, serving a good blend of modern and traditional dishes. Casa Nova is positioned in the middle of a quaint parade of shops in the heart of Virginia Water; less than a mile from the beautiful Virginia Water Lake and the famous Wentworth Golf Club, with ample parking immediately in front of the restaurant.

Inside, the restaurant is modern and surprisingly spacious. The décor is warm and inviting - just like the welcome you will receive from José and his staff. Over recent years, Casa Nova has established a reputation for the best quality food, cooked to order and served piping hot to the table.

The a la carte menu is extensive and is supplemented by daily specials. Monday to Friday and on Sundays, Jose and his team offer a good value set menu for lunch. On Sundays expect to find a selection of starters that could include the soup of the day, mushrooms sautéed in olive oil and chilli, served on a bed of spinach, pasta tubes with onions, cherry tomatoes and broccoli, or Parma ham and melon.

The roast of the day would certainly include roast beef, with options of baked salmon with cucumber and white wine, chicken, mushrooms and red wine sauce, escalopes of veal with cream and mushrooms, and marinated vegetables served on toasted ciabatta bread. Follow with dolci del giorno, the puddings of the day, and your Sunday should be fulfilled.

On other days an a la carte menu operates in the evenings, with starters of the day's fresh soup, grilled sardines with the smell of the sea still about them, avocado with fresh sea prawns, deep fried squid served with tartare sauce, or a Caesar salad with crispy bacon, to name but a few of the choices.

Main courses of grilled salmon steak on a bed of spinach with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar dressing lead off the fish courses, followed by grilled Dover sole served with rocket Italians, of course, love their veal and Casa Nova does justice to that inclination, with escalopes of veal with King prawns in a tomato, garlic, parsley and white wine sauce, or another version topped with Parma ham and mushrooms in a white wine and sage sauce.

Chicken is another staple part of the Italian cuisine and petto di pollo, breast of chicken with wood mushrooms in cream and brandy sauce, is popular. Scampi thermidor, a welcome dish in any cuisine, is served here with mustard, cream, brandy and rice.

Which takes us to other vital meat courses so beloved of Italians, with fillet steak in a brandy cream and peppercorn sauce, or roast rack of lamb with a red wine and rosemary sauce.

Sometimes there seem to be few differences between national cuisines and the grilled calf's liver with crispy bacon and bubble and squeak reminds us of this. For a real treat consider the half duckling in an orange sauce and Grand Marnier.

As with all Italian cooking, a lot of the fun comes with the service, the banter and quite often the flattery for the ladies in the party. Maybe Casa Nova is not called what it is for nothing, but satisfied customers suggest that this is the place to be for a fun Italian evening.

Using only the freshest ingredients, the restaurant serves a variety of seasonal dishes such as cassoulet duck and pork; Dorset crab mayonnaise with avocado and avruga caviar; and hare ravioli with celeriac purée, grelotte onions and Chanterney carrots, which can be enjoyed by a couple or the whole family in a warm and intimate setting.

The desserts offer a choice of plum clafoutis, with crème fraîche and Kerala vanilla crème brûlée, which is definitely worth giving a try.Sampling from an extensive drinks list of vintage champagnes and a good selection of white, red and rosé wines by the bottle, caraffe or glass, makes for a delightful ending to the entire dining experience.

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

At the Fish and Grill in Croydon, it's indeed all about the freshest fish and juiciest grilled meats. Malcolm John, of the acclaimed French restaurants Le Vacherin and Le Cassoulet, serves up more heart warming fare with this stylish British brasserie. The smart contemporary decor with its clever lighting, modern art prints and wooden tables enhances the dining experience, making this the perfect venue for a business lunch or dinner date. Located on South End, the Fish and Grill is just a 9-minute walk from South Croydon Rail Station.

The restaurant sources fresh fish and shellfish from the south coast and Cornwall on a daily basis, while rare breed meats and free range poultry are sourced from the best producers. A meal could begin with starters of South coast mussels and Suffolk bacon cooked with Dorset cider, potted smoked Cornish mackerel, and seared diver-caught scallops with green beans and hazelnut butter. There are also choices of Colchester or Carlingford rock oysters and a luxurious seafood platter.
    
For the main course, try the à la carte's Cornish line caught sea bass, cooked and served whole on the bone with tartar sauce, delicious whole grilled crab with garlic, chilli and ginger butter or classic beer battered haddock with pea purée. The Fish and Grill's grilled selection includes succulent choices of Aberdeen Angus T bone steak, Chateaubriand for two served with roasted bone marrow and chips and house burger with hand diced Angus beef, blue cheese or cheddar and bacon or jerk seasoning. If you wish, they can be paired with a side dish of sprouting broccoli with almonds and thyme, buttered sea vegetables, creamed spinach or minted Jersey royals.
  
A set menu delivers value for money with dishes such as leek and potato soup with smoked salmon, broad bean, borloti and feta salad, char grilled squid with bok choy, chilli and garlic and grilled old spot pork chop with glazed apples and BBQ sauce. While vegetarians are also catered for with dishes of asparagus with soft boiled duck egg and hollandaise or beignet of courgette flower stuffed with mozzarella, tomato and basil and served with green salad. 

For Sunday brunch the Fish and Grill offers starters of tomato and mozzarella salad, scrambled egg with smoked salmon and moules marinières followed by mains of grilled kipper with poached egg, grilled pork chop with apple and marjoram or steak burger with fried egg and chips, not to mention the roast of the day.

The breakfast menu's wholesome choices are perfect for kick starting the day and options include a full English breakfast with tea or filter coffee, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon or crayfish, Aberdeen Angus steak sandwich or even pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup.

Tempting desserts bring the meal to a pleasant end at the Fish and Grill and include cherry Bakewell tart with yoghurt ice cream, English strawberry Pavlova, Knickerbocker glory and chocolate macaroons.

The wine list is an eclectic selection, featuring expertly chosen reds and whites from across the world. A range of draught and bottled beers, spirits, soft drinks and aperitifs also quench the thirst.

More information can be found on their Website.