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A cool contemporary Italian restaurant and venue with brown, red, and cream colour scheme, lots of exposed brickwork and sleek leather sofas in the bar area for drinks, lounging or coffee. Al Duomo is next door to the Royal Pavilion and close to the main shops, hotels, theatre and Dome complex.

The restaurant-venue is open all day is spread over five floors, and with a variety of separate eating and drinking areas, is ideal for both couples and groups. The ground floor consists of a restaurant area to the back, with a fantastic open oven where diners can watch their pizzas being cooked, offset by a mezzanine level with a conservatory-style glass ceiling above the main restaurant.

Three private rooms available for meetings and conferences can accommodate from 6 to 50 delegates and private dining area up to 120 guests for an intimate family occasion, corporate dining or a party celebration. The basement has a late licence and as such is the perfect party venue, with no need for guests to move on elsewhere once they have finished their meal.

There is also a large cordoned off patio to the front of the restaurant seating up to 60 people, a lovely spot to enjoy a bite to eat on a summer afternoon. Customers can take advantage of spectacular views of the Pavilion and the area enjoys full sunlight for most of the afternoon.

The setup of the restaurant means that there can be several parties going on at the same time, completely separately from each other, as well as a regular restaurant service on the ground floor, mezzanine and outside.

The extensive menu offers tempting Italian dishes, with a Neapolitan bias, plus a large selection of vegetarian dishes, meat and fresh fish. There are also daily specials such as fresh sea bass, sea bream and mussels, when in season, as well as the usual pizzas and pastas. All meals are cooked fresh on order and diners are free to enjoy their meal at leisure, rather than being hurried through.

Parties can choose one of the set menus, or Al Duomo can tailor create one to your exact wishes, depending on budgets and other requirements, and Alberto is happy to act as party planner, offering advice on how to throw the best bash for the occasion. A buffet and canapé menu is also available for a party or cocktail party, in one of the party rooms.

Whether it's an intimate meal, a quick spot of lunch or coffee or a full-on celebration you're after, Al Duomo offers a comfortable, stylish setting, a friendly atmosphere and a comprehensive, wide-ranging menu, for the real taste of Italy. Perfetto! To find out more, just visit their comprehensive Website.

This was the first Browns and opened in 1973 with one simple guiding belief, that classic food, well delivered in a stylish environment, would be a recipe for success. The only thing that has changed since then is the number of Browns, now running at fourteen, of which six are in London, all prospering with the same theme.

Some of their buildings are particularly legendary in style, sometimes listed and always interesting. Formerly a Building Society it is located in Duke Street, adjacent to the much-loved Lanes.

The main menu, available throughout the day, starts with appetisers, designed for sharing, with antipasti of Italian meat, vegetarian or seafood. Try also the flatbreads with a range of interesting toppings.

In amongst the thirteen starters expect to come across smoked duck, crisp noodle and cashew nut salad with red peppers, tumeric cauliflower, spring onions and a sherry vinaigrette. The fish and salad choices include fish and chips tempura battered cod with minted mushy peas and tartar sauce and pan-fried butterflied tiger prawns tossed with linguine in a tomato, coriander and chorizo sauce.

The same theme of comfortable food, well-cooked and presented, continues throughout the mains course with roast chicken breast in sour dough bread with baby spinach, tomato and mayonnaise, served with seasoned chips, and steak frites 6oz prime sirloin, served with a lemon, parsley and peppercorn butter.

Desserts include some indulgent Browns cheesecake with a selection of baked vanilla, blueberry and banoffee. By the way their breakfast and brunch menu is just one of the best as is the lunch and early menu. Little ones have their own dedicated menu where they can choose between tomato penne pasta and smoked fishcake with a hollandaise sauce and green salad.

The chalkboard carries a list of the day's specials, but every day except Sunday is Browns afternoon tea day, served from 2 to 5.30 pm.

Their breakfast and brunch menu is just one of the best. They also do a very slick prix fixe menu with two courses for £12.95.

The wine list is masterful and not over long, sometimes a great relief to those who find it difficult to navigate their way through an interesting list. Many bottles are available by the glass, very few cross the £20 mark. Helpfully each group of wines is classified under headings such as Old and New World, reserve selection and house recommendations.

Browns at Brighton are well able to deal with groups, and have special menus to look after their particular interests. Click on their excellent Website for further details and menu changes.

We hear a great deal about recycling these days - du Vin recycles attractive but un-loved buildings to restore real gems in the best tradition of British understated style.

Complement that with all that is best in the French bistro ethos, bars that reach out to please, and you have a setting that provides an inspirational background for people to meet, do business, get married, provide a base for golf or fishing, somewhere you can call your own for a private celebration, a spa or - most engagingly - a wine school that breaks the mould.

In Brighton, just a stone's throw from the seafront and the famous promenade, du Vin has taken on a gothic revival and mock Tudor building, the indulgence of a wine merchant who had clearly prospered or married well, or both. It occupies the site of an old inn and either copied the original or was designed by somebody who knew what he was about. Proximity to The Lanes means that parking can be tricky, but resort to Black Lion Street will yield an NCP.

A double height baronial hall houses the wine bar, overlooked by a gallery. There are 37 bedrooms including three loft suites, all with handsprung mattresses, fine Egyptian linen, deep baths and power showers. All rooms have high speed wireless internet access available. At weekends a 2 night minimum stay operates.

In the classy bistro head chef Rob Carr presides over a kitchen that produces a choice of six starters that could include "Springs" locally smoked salmon, feuilleté of wild mushroom and wild garlic leaves or a plate of teruel Serrano ham, Manchego cheese and roquette.

A crab crusted halibut with tagliatelle and chive velouté affords a real treat, or there's rump of lamb with braised red cabbage and madeira jus. Amongst the simple classics look for slow roasted pork belly with black olive crushed new potatoes.

Whilst one might argue that the whole point of being in a du Vin is to snuggle up to the wine list, this list is designed to march with the food and can only be described as superb, leaving no room for anything but the best. Service is telepathic in the best possible sense.

Click on their Website for full information and rates. Hotel du Vin, with fourteen options throughout Britain, awaits your call.

Think of Brighton, and English's springs to mind, particularly if seafood is your weakness; owned by the Leigh-Jones family since 1945, English's has established itself as one of the most famous seafood restaurants in the South of England. Established by the Braziers during the last century, the restaurant is set within three fishermen's cottages dating back 400 years with wonderful al fresco dining. The three series of murals painted in 1996 by two local art students, Catarina Perestrello and Mark Davies feature Edwardian dinner scenes in the Spode Room. The Wedgwood Room has after dinner pleasures, and the Minton commemorates the handbag scene from 'The Importance of Being Ernest', with none other than the author himself casting a sardonic eye over proceedings. The menu includes a comprehensive array of seafood dishes with a particular emphasis on local and sustainable produce.

Head Chef Gavin Lee started his career about 19 years ago at The Savoy in London, his interest in food started from a very young age, and he was lucky to be offered an apprenticeship in this premier London hotel at the age of 16. He has not looked back since. Gavin draws his inspiration from the creative process; the way a dish starts out in his head and culminates in a delicious meal. It's really about how the journey evolves along the way. Being a chef has also given him the opportunity to travel, having worked in some of the best kitchens in America and New Zealand amongst others.

Due to the seasonality of the products, the menu changes regularly to take advantage of the best that the markets have to offer. Ingredients are, whenever possible sourced locally and an ever increasing emphasis is put on sustainable sources both locally and further afield. Oysters are particularly popular, with a selection of rock oysters available all year round and a selection of native oysters available from September till the end of April. All the oysters come from well respected suppliers who take the utmost care and attention to ensure a superior product for the customer.

Great care and attention is taken in the selection of wines making the List. Bringing you a variety of wines with interesting back stories as well as great tone, character and taste. A good deal of time and effort has been spent sourcing, tasting and compiling a carefully chosen mix of wines, champagnes, dessert wines and half bottles which means it goes beyond the examples widely available on the High Street. The list is tweaked and refreshed on an on-going basis, whilst retaining many of the firm favourites. You also cannot fail to be impressed with the selection available by the glass, which offers variety and flexibility to your choice.

Whether you choose to sit 'sur le terroir', at the famous Oyster Bar or in one of the Edwardian plush dining rooms you will experience a traditional and expertly executed service which has all but disappeared in the modern wave of the branded restaurants. Whether it's due to the notable volumes of regular guests or the confidence and surety throughout this establishment, there is a genuine and relaxed friendliness in the air. The stereotypical pretentious nature synonymous with celebrated restaurants certainly does not exist here.

It's hard to say anything more about this restaurant so just go there, sit outside on a good day and enjoy superb seafood with the salty breeze off the Channel; or nestle into the plush red velvet and gold décor for an evening of unbridled pleasure.

For vastly more information about English's, a unique Brighton institution, their private dining and full menus, do visit their Website.

An enjoyable evening in its comfortable, contemporary setting is full of pleasant surprises. While the umpteen benefits of a vegetarian diet have been loudly proclaimed for several years, Terre à Terre sets out to prove that it need not come at the expense of flavour or variety by indulging the palate with expertly blended ingredients to provide a culinary experience with a difference.

Terre à Terre's à la carte is as detailed as it is novel. Using seasonal vegetarian, vegan and organic products, including a host of locally sourced ingredients, it serves up piquant starters of  arepas chilli candy; deep fried corn cakes rolled in spice dust and served with chilli jelly, avocado and lime mayonnaise. While the wittily titled Peas Please turns out to be a delectable pea mousse served with a salad of broad beans, saffron new potatoes, white leeks and little gem hearts. For a sampling of dishes across the menu, why not try the Terre à tapas selection.

The unique combination of flavours continues with a host of sumptuous main course options. Crispy fried potato rösti comes with a buttered spinach topping and accompanied by a soft poached egg and melting cheese. Other choices include delectably soft buttermilk-soaked halloumi dipped in chip shop batter and served with chunky chips, vodka-spiked preserved plum tomatoes, bright fresh pea mint hash and pickled quails egg with a lemony Yemeni relish. There's also choice of shiitake, sake and kombu raman broth finished with courgette noodles, Chinese chives and soy; and red onion, mustard seed and cumin crumpets with ginger root chilli jam.

Delicious desserts such as the Middle Eastern inspired honey glazed pistachio and olive oil cake with velvety chocolate sorbet and a hot honeyed cardamom espresso shot, or sugar spice dusted doughnut straws served with sticky dipping chocolate and Rain Vodka sozzled cherries will satisfy even the sweetest tooth.

The same careful consideration extends to the organic and biodynamic wine list which sparkles with a variety of superb whites and reds from around the world including a Vega Lucia Blanco from Spain, Horsmonden Dry from East Sussex, Syrah from Chile and a Pinot Noir from New Zealand. Organic beers and ciders, aperitifs, cocktails and fruit juice will also quench the thirst.

More information can be found on their Website.

Bella Italia is a restaurant that pulsates with Italian style and fashion, where the day starts with breakfast, not least the Inglese, the familiar bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato and fried or scrambled eggs and sauté potatoes with ciabatta toast so beloved of hearty eaters seeking a good start to the day, particularly when they don't have to prepare it. A vegetarian option is available, along with the bambini of sausages, tomato and scrambled egg, or a strapazzata, scrambled eggs on ciabatta toast. A cappuccino or hot chocolate offers a more gentle awakening and croissant or pastries are welcome at almost any time.

It is always worth remembering that eating Italian is a great opportunity to work away through something rather more liberating than the conventional 3 course English meal. Little and often seems to be the motto but move on to the antipasti and it's immediately obvious this is no easy task, confronted with well over a dozen dishes, not one of which you really have the heart to turn down. The selezione classica assembles a few of the favourite starters; oven baked lemon and rosemary chicken wings, spiced meatballs, calamari, mini garlic butter-filled calzoni and lightly battered courgettes served with flamed pepper and lemon herb dips.

A speck e rucola pizza, added to a traditional margherita brings together two traditions with Italian speck ham providing the second, but it is within the pasta and risotto dishes that you can adapt almost any main ingredient, as well enjoy some of Italy's most traditional treats. Who can deny a well formed spaghetti Bolognese or penne Marco Polo? And not for nothing is a nicely prepared spaghetti carbonara the preferred dish of many.

From a selection of five choices amongst the secondi many will head unerringly for controfiletto ai ferri, a 7oz sirloin steak char-grilled to preference and served with garlic butter, roast field mushrooms, fries and rocket, or the fritto misto, lightly battered prawns, cod fillet, calamari and courgette with fries and a herb lemon and caper dip.

Could anything be more appropriate than The Godfather, for 1 or 2 naturally, with nutty chocolate fudge brownies, vanilla and toffee ice cream with chocolate sauce, fresh cream and wafer curls, and rest assured the coffee will do justice to the meal.

With a wine list that makes few concessions to other countries - and why should it - good Italian food can receive an equally national baptism by wine. For further enlightenment, news about their on-line shop and special deals, a click on their lively Website will reveal all.

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.

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 than 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.

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.

Offering splendid waterfront views, Zizzi Brighton Marina serves a variety of delicious Italian dishes in a warm atmosphere. The restaurant's spacious and cosy setting with art deco influences, invites diners to enjoy authentic pizza and pasta dishes, while the buzzing al fresco area is ideal for an enjoyable summer meal.

Close to East Brighton Park, amidst various entertainment options and retail outlets, Zizzi is just a short walk from attractions such as the Cineworld Cinema and the Bowlplex Bowling Alley.

The bustling open kitchen at Zizzi turns out freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers distinct sections of antipasti, salads, pizza and calzone, pasta, risottos and mains of seasonally changing meat and fish dishes with a variety of tempting desserts to finish.

Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. 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. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.

Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website.