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hand picked restaurants

Part of the Whitbread family, Table Table restaurants aim to bring great value tasty pub food to an ever increasing eating-out public who like well prepared and genuine food served by friendly staff in relaxing surroundings. If that sounds too much like a dream come true be assured that at Table Table they also walk the talk, and are pleased to have the chance to prove it.

Their well located restaurants are spread across a wide range of decors and styles, and all of them share a determination to provide comfort, warmth and relaxation. Their buffet menus for special occasions are remarkable value.

In keeping with modern trends they provide dishes to nibble or share as guests consider the spread of options on a menu that could be described as British with welcome incursions. So as you share long Italian flatbread, and dough balls and dips, or a sharing platter with an imaginative range of finger food starting with garlic and breaded mushrooms, it's time to think about the relative merits of aromatic duck parcels, a prawn cocktail, breaded Camembert or sticky chicken goujons to name but a few.

Many an innocent dish from the past has been hi-jacked in the best possible sense into becoming what is now called a 'pub classic'. Wiltshire cure ham with eggs is served with chunky chips and beef, mushroom and ale pie, or chicken and chips are all familiar with British tables, be they in the dining room or the kitchen. Now they have been added to by chicken fajitas, a sweet red pepper, crème fraiche and fennel tart, a leg of duck slowly cooked and served with a Bramley apple and cider sauce, or chilli con carne with basmati rice, sour cream and guacamole and nachos. So is the humble burger with six enticing toppings.

The point is they, and others, are all here at Table Table, well prepared with quality ingredients, and presented in a way that makes you hungry even if you thought you weren't.

Getting down to the more serious side of the table keep an eye open for the seafood pie, a delightful assembly of things fishy including crayfish, red snapper, prawns and clams. Many of their steaks are 28 days matured, including a 7oz fillet. All steaks are served with watercress, roasted cherry tomatoes, a flat mushroom and chunky chips. A choice from 4 sauces adds the final touch of enjoyment.

Pastas and salads embrace some well known and loved names, but for sheer enjoyment the hot smoked salmon salad takes some beating - flakes of hot smoked salmon mixed with a house salad and soy and ginger sauce. A real winner.

Snacks aplenty cover hot baguettes with the like of grilled pork loin and Bramley apple sauce, sandwiches filled with Cheddar cheese, or prawns and Marie Rose sauce, and jacket potatoes with such temptations as chilli con carne. Add a bowl of chips for only a little extra.

A well travelled wine list offers helpful advice for the uninitiated and there's an impressive choice of draught and bottled beers and lagers. All in all it would appear that Table Table are more than achieving their aims, providing the opportunity for people to eat out enjoyably, with excellent value for money. Long may they continue to do so.

For completely up to date information on menu changes and special offers do make a regular check on their lively Website.

A location on Eastbourne's Grand Parade and a menu boasting 50 ways to enjoy mussels, along with a selection of over 50 Belgian beers, makes The Belgian Café a popular hangout in this seaside town. Housed in a Georgian building, with panoramic seafront views out towards Beachy Head, the award-winning restaurant offers guests a lively ambience with the option of dining al fresco.
 
Freshly prepared seafood dominates the menu. You can choose to have your mussels on a platter, grilled, with a wide range of toppings; either goat's cheese and honey, bacon and cheese or tomatoes and garlic with olive oil and herbs, and served with bread, butter and frites with mayonnaise. There are also starters of deep fried whitebait with salad and tartare sauce; whole baby calamaris, pan fried with olive oil, garlic and a touch of chilli or deep fried in a light batter and served with tartare sauce. Other starters include seared scallops, cooked either with ginger and soy sauce or garlic and butter; and Scotch smoked salmon with salad, capers and lemon.

Your choice of mains could include salmon fishcakes served on a bed of pak choi with a lemon, cream and caper sauce and frites; sea bass fillets with Pont Neuf potatoes, a carrot purée and coulis of peppers; mixed fish brochette, a skewer of mixed fresh fish with peppers and onions served on a bed of rice with a champagne sauce or paupiette of plaice stuffed with a prawn mousseline and served with a cream and coriander sauce on a bed of rice. Alternatively, try the fisherman's pot, a mountain of mussels with mixed seafood in fish stock or a seafood pasta with mussels, gambas, scallops, cockles, squid and prawns cooked with olive oil, garlic and tomato sauce.
 
If you prefer meat for the main course, the menu offers wild boar and Leffe dark beer sausages; Belgian beef stew with traditional stoemp, a dish of mashed potatoes and carrots and other vegetables; chicken breast stuffed with brie and wrapped in Parma ham  served with salad and frites, or a gourmet lamb burger. A range of salads with mixed seafood, duck and chicken extends the menu's variety.
 
Vegetarians are also catered for with a choice of dishes including a Stilton, mushroom, cream and leek crêpe; chevre salad with warm goat's cheese, sesame seeds and mixed salad leaves or tagliatelle with courgette, fresh basil, garlic and sundried and fresh tomato. Children's tastes are catered to with a separate menu.
 
To conclude on a sweet note, choose from the ultimate Belgian chocolate mousse; Dame Blanche, vanilla ice cream with hot chocolate sauce and whipped Chantilly cream; Belgian waffle with a choice of toppings or rollo fondue with marshmallows and fruits.
 
The drinks list offers a variety of lagers and other beers ? white, blond, amber, dark, Trappist, Lambiek and fruit. Unusual beer cocktails offer more exciting options and include exotic combinations of chocolate beer, crème de menthe, passion fruit beer, Malibu, lemonade or coconut beer. In addition, guests can avail themselves of a choice of wines, champagne, spirits or soft drinks.

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

Prezzo has been delighting diners for over eight years, and this Italian restaurant chain has since been able to expand throughout large parts of England and Scotland with some 141 outlets.

Interestingly, the company seeks to restore either impressive buildings or ones of local interest. The conversion of the Newbury library and other listed buildings, such as those in Salisbury, Romsey and Mayfair, are all welcome examples of 'new use'. Their trendy and sophisticated décor usually consists of tiled or wooden floors with delicate lights and colourful paintings, along with wooden furniture and sparkling cutlery, creating a setting that is suitable for a relaxed lunch, a family meal or an evening out with friends.

The restaurants are of particular appeal to those who like genuine Italian cuisine, and they use only the best seasonal products, many of which are imported directly from Italy. The menu includes pizza, pasta, risotto, grilled meats, fresh salads and frequently changing specials.

The freshly baked breads, like the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, are perfect for sharing and give you adequate breathing space to order starters to follow. Crab cakes served with garlic mayonnaise or grilled goat's cheese with plum tomatoes and caramelised onions on foccacia bread with a balsamic glaze set the tone for a hearty meal. Best fun is to order an antipasto platter to share made up from seven well loved Italian nibbles.

Find pastas such as the unusual penne con salmone, with oak-roasted salmon, broccoli and fresh chillies in a red pesto and cream sauce, or firm favourites like spaghetti with meatballs, spaghetti Bolognese, and fusilli al pesto, asparagus spears with field mushrooms and roasted peppers in a basil pesto sauce.

Amongst the special pastas, the pollo mariano, seasoned chicken, pepperoni sausage, roasted peppers and fusilli in tomato sauce, is interesting and different. Italian menus would be incomplete without risotto, like tiger prawns with petits pois in a creamy saffron sauce.

Classic pizzas embrace, among a wide selection, the popular napoletana, topped with yellowfin tuna, tomato, white anchovies, capers, red onion, mozzarella and marinated olives, and the much loved quattro stagioni - pepperoni sausage, prosciutto ham, artichoke, field mushrooms, capers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato.

Specials could include the pollo Siciliana, char-grilled chicken breast, prosciutto ham and plum tomato slices, baked with their blend of cheese, only one example from the many tempting offerings that come out from the Prezzo kitchens.

You can accompany the food with a variety of tipples, though for many, Italian food requires Italian wines to be enjoyed to the full, ranging from house wine through Morellino di Scansano and Prosecco to liqueurs and beer, and there is espresso or fresh ground coffee to wind up an enjoyable meal, in company with a glass of grappa or sambuca.

This is Italian food at its attractive best, convincing and bringing together the traditional with the modern twist or two against a background of excellent value.

Prezzo is a lively group and opportunities to improve and update are never left on the table for long. Keep up to date with a quick click on their Website.

Located on Terminus Road in Eastbourne, in the South East of England, Mr. Hau's is a stylish restaurant a part of the Mr. Hau Restaurant group serving the finest Peking and Szechuan cuisine. The atmosphere is warm and friendly creating a delightful dining experience. All the food is freshly prepared on the premises by fully trained chefs who are passionate about serving great food and are innovative.

Their extensive menu offers not only special house dishes, but also sumptuous set menus that suit every pocket. Any of their dishes can be tailored to suit individual tastes and preferences, so don't hesitate to ask one of the friendly staff members. Some of the specialities there include deep fried smoked chicken, salt and pepper spare ribs, shrimps with crispy rice, barbecued pork with bean sprouts, sliced beef with spring onion and ginger, and grilled or steamed dumplings among others.

Located on Terminus Road in Eastbourne, in the South East of England, Oriental Express is a stylish restaurant a part of the Mr. Hau Restaurant group serving delicious Oriental cuisine and the service is fast! The atmosphere is warm and friendly creating a delightful dining experience. All the food is freshly prepared on the premises by fully trained chefs who are passionate about serving great food and are innovative.

Specialities there include crispy aromatic duck with pancakes, finely sliced spring onion, cucumber and yellow bean sauce, sliced beef with green pepper, and crispy prawn balls with sweet and sour sauce for light bites. Stir fried egg noodles with chicken slices, bean sprouts, spring onions, and fresh chilli, or Thai and Shan-Tung royal rice with mixed meat and prawns with pineapple, cashew nuts and fried rice feature among the crowd pullers.

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 £8.25 and three courses at £9.25.

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.