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Set in a charming 17th-century building, The Ferry Inn offers delicious British cuisine made using fine local produce. From the pleasant riverside garden, guests can enjoy views onto the splendid Kentish countryside.

Led by Head Chef Dominic Wright, formerly of the Savoy in London, The Ferry Inn menu compiles locally sourced fish, meat and vegetables, as well as seasonal game. Whet the appetite with starters of oak-smoked Scottish salmon and Mackley Farm free range eggs on toasted brioche, and follow with main courses like roast rump of Romney Marsh lamb with bubble and squeak.

Tempting desserts of chocolate fudge cake or orange Grand Marnier cheesecake offer an indulgent close. A variety of real ales and fine wines are served from the bar at The Ferry restaurant, and a creative specials menu is offered.

A charming setting, The Ferry Inn is perched between the pretty towns of Tenterden and Appledore.

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

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.

A sleek and stylish contemporary restaurant set over two levels, the Caprice Restaurant and Terrace at the Holiday Inn Reading, on Wharfedale Road, is the perfect place to retreat to for a quick business lunch, leisurely dinner with family and friends or a romantic rendezvous. Situated in the bustling Winnersh Triangle, the Caprice offers a modern European cuisine menu in a superb location; the venue is within easy reach of the towns of Reading, Bracknell and Wokingham.

Adding to the restaurant's charm is a resident pianist who provides a musical twist to the evening whilst you relax in the lounge with your favourite cocktail before dinner, or a digestif afterwards. The Caprice Terrace with outdoor seating is just the place for al fresco dining.

The talented kitchen team led by head chef Stuart Weeks has put together a delicious range of starter dishes, which include pork rillettes with red onion chutney, salad of scallops and crayfish with watercress and curry cream, duck liver parfait with orange jelly and clam chowder with crab dumplings (please note the menu changes seasonally).

Having satisfied the hunger pangs you could move on to a more sumptuous fare of braised shoulder of lamb served with pan fried sweetbreads, fondant potato and stuffed courgettes, fillet of beef with Savoy cabbage, Parma ham and chateau potatoes or whole roasted stuffed baby chicken, purple potatoes and Romanesco. If fish is your choice for the day then consider pan fried trout paired with baby gem lettuce, broad beans, new potatoes and toasted almonds or sea bass fillet with roasted fennel and saffron potatoes served with white wine and tomato sauce. Vegetarians can look forward to twice baked cashel blue soufflé served with green beans and walnut and tomato salad or roasted vegetable lasagne with basil and sundried tomatoes.

For the finale, choose between exceptional home-made desserts such as chocolate terrine with kirsch cherries, rhubarb crumble with clotted cream, crème brûlée with candied oranges and iced parfait with honey and walnut praline all prepared by the Caprice's talented pastry chef.

The excellent Sunday lunch menu treats diners to fare of roast sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding, roasted potatoes and onion gravy and corn-fed chicken breast with potato gnocchi, ham and peas, which could be preceded by starters of curried chicken ballotine with lime and chilli dressing or seared scallops with pea and carrot purée and, perhaps, followed by dessert of blackberry and white chocolate cheesecake or gooseberry and elderflower fool. Two courses from just £16.95 per person.

Alternatively, consider a selection of Artisan cheeses including Cotswold blue brie, Lanark blue, Wigmore, rosary ash, Westcombe cheddar and Oxford Isis, served with fig compote, for an equally pleasant ending to the meal.

The table d'hôte menu offers guests two courses for £16.95 and three courses for £20.95. Other options include daily specials, a menu for children and festive menus for special days of the year. Open daily until 22.00 hours, Caprice Restaurant also offers space for private and corporate dining. To find out more, click on the restaurant's Website.

Boasting stunning views over the Marina, Chimichanga Port Solent delivers excellent Mexican cuisine in a lively, family friendly atmosphere. Close to the Odeon Cinema, the restaurant is the perfect spot for a meal before a movie and with plenty of parking, and easy access to the M27, it's just a short drive from the heart of Portsmouth city centre.

Chimichanga's extensive à la carte caters to a variety of palates. A wide range of delicious appetisers includes crab cakes, Buffalo chicken wings and empanadas, a traditional crispy pastry filled with a choice of chicken or chorizo sausage with cheese and served with sour cream. Other choices include piri piri prawns, Cajun chicken with chilli sauce and jalapeno bullets, a dish of deep fried jalapeno peppers with cream cheese and chilli sauce. Appetisers to share include chicken nachos or taquitos, crispy flour tortilla tubes with a range of fillings including cheese and black beans, chicken, cheese and salsa and chorizo and cheese.

Light bites include a range of tortilla wraps including a classic fajita wrap with a choice of char grilled fajita steak or chicken served with peppers and onions in a tortilla with Jack cheese. Vegetarians are catered for with the delicious courgette and Portobello mushroom wraps which comes with chipotle chilli sauce and jack cheese. There's also a number of tempting salad options such as blackened tuna salad with tuna steak coated in a special blend of Cajun spices, blacked on a hot skillet and served over a bed of mixed leaves with roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
 
For something more filling diners could opt for a tortilla burger, made from 100 per cent fully traceable prime Scottish beef wrapped in a flour tortilla with mayonnaise and served with changa chips.

The char grill section's succulent offerings include barbecue baby back ribs served with change chips and jalapeno coleslaw; sirloin mojo rojo, a centre cut sirloin steak marinated in chilli, garlic and coriander and served with beer battered onion rings and change chips, Santa Fe chicken with rice, black beans and guacamole or flame grilled piri piri chicken.

Sumptuous Mexican specialities naturally include chimichanga, a flour tortilla fried golden brown with Jack cheese and served with your choice of filling ? either chunky beef chilli con carne, BBQ pulled pork or bean chilli - sautéed onions and peppers and garnished with sour cream, chives, guacamole and tortilla croutons, as well as a variety of burritos, enchiladas and tostadas. There are also chipotle meatballs, Mexican paella, chilli de la casa and south-western crab cakes. The grande quesadilla is a baked flour tortilla sandwich with your choice of filling and drizzled with sour cream and served with Mexican rice and chipotle chilli sauce.

The lunch menu offers a choice of two or three courses while a children's menu caters to the tastes of the little ones.

Round off the satisfying meal with scrumptious dessert of giant Mexican profiterole, chocolate fudge brownie or honeycomb smash cheesecake. Alternatively, end with a speciality coffee or liqueur. Chimichanga offers a variety of wines, beers, cocktails, margheritas, sangria and soft drinks to quench the thirst.

More information can be found on their 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.

Avanti Bistro Bar Cafe is a smart, highly presentable eating place in Peascod Street, with a combination of Classic Italian and Traditional British cuisine that yields a wide and interesting menu calculated to please all tastes. History does not relate about the possibility of royal patronage but whoever calls will be treated with the same courtesy and efficiency for which Avanti is renowned.

It doesn't take too long for people to fall in love with the tourist town of royal Windsor. Said to be the Queen's favourite residence, the Castle looms, though not unpleasantly, from almost every angle and following the fire in 1992 and the subsequent restoration, visitor figures have increased.

Avanti's red awning gives you a hint of what to expect inside; pasta, steak, wine, beer, cappuccino, cakes, et al. The present owners took over in 2005 and have succeeded in building up a first class response to the widely varying tastes of their customers. Life starts at 8.30am with three enticing options if you include the vegetarian choice. An Avanti and the full English place emphasis on quantity and sausages, bacon black pudding and eggs are only part of a blistering opening to the day. There are plenty of more restrained dishes such as eggs Benedict, croissants, blueberry pancakes and an all day brunch which keeps the spirit of breakfast alive.

For later in the day prawn and avocado salad, gourmet burgers with Aberdeen Angus beef, wonderful pasta including a bolognaise to die for, choice of pizzas and chicken pesto alla Genovese. The British end of the menu offers traditional fish and chips, still a top favourite dish despite incursions from other parts of the globe - and very welcome too.

The food here could not be described as adventurous, but for its clientele is absolutely right, sound cuisine with reliable ingredients and as I am sure they would say in Yorkshire as well as Berkshire, "no mucking about". The British excel in their preparation of lamb, from cutlets to steaks, and a lamb steak at Avanti is served with a red wine and rosemary sauce, on a bed of mashed potato - simple, so very tasty and hunger quenching.

There is an excellent Patisserie menu with all sorts of mildly naughty but oh-so-delicious confections that raise the spirits when taken with one of their speciality or herbal teas. A small but adequate wine list can be purchased by the bottle or glass, London Pride ale carries the flag, and if the day is long and your feet are giving you a hard time a Bloody Mary outside in the sun may turn out to be just what you need.

Yes, the majestic Castle certainly beckons, but how can one forget the quiet charm of those little gift shops and places like Avanti Bistro Bar Café? But charm draws and their book-a-table option ensures that you can find your table waiting for you rather than the other way round.

Check on their Website for menu changes, special occasions and offers.

Housed in an attractive bay windowed period building, nestled among the shops bars and boutiques on Old Amersham Broadway, Caffe Uno Amersham offers an extensive selection of Mediterranean dishes in the heart of this charming market town. Its bright and airy interiors make it the perfect place to relax after a round of sightseeing or shopping. Local attractions such as the Amersham Museum, and Shardloes Mansion with its ornamental lake are within easy reach of the restaurant.
 
Easily accessible from High Wycombe and well connected to other commuter towns close by such as Rickmansworth, Beaconsfield and Chesham, Caffe Uno's modern décor with wood floor and comfortable booth seating and chairs makes it an ideal place to stop by for a hearty breakfast, quick lunch or leisurely dinner.
 
The a la carte menu offers starters of buffalo mozzarella salad with tomato, fresh rocket and extra virgin olive oil, chicken and chorizo spring rolls served with a spicy tomato dip or calamari dusted with seasoned flour and served with garlic mayonnaise.

For the main course, seafood lovers will relish such dishes as fillet of sea bass with green beans, capers and new potatoes in a white wine and butter sauce; tiger prawn risotto with baby spinach in a saffron sauce, or delicious paella with mussels and prawns alongside chicken breast and authentic chorizo sausage. Committed carnivores will be more than satisfied with a succulent rib eye steak with béarnaise or green peppercorn sauce; classic burger with 100% prime beef burger, ementhal cheese and garlic mayo in a sesame seed sour dough bun with your choice of side order or the char grilled chicken and field mushrooms with baby spinach in a Marsala wine. Vegetarians are also well-catered for with dishes such as broad bean risotto or aubergine parmigiana.

To round off select from a classic tiramisu, pannatone pannacotta with chunks of fruity pannetone, blood orange tart with cream or mini desserts of hazelnut marsala semi fredo, coffee cream latte semi fredo or Belgian milk chocolate semi fredo, served with your choice of coffee.

Caffe Uno is open every day from 9am; hungry diners can start the day with a hearty breakfast that could include eggs any style, streaky bacon, Cumberland sausage, mushrooms, tomato and toast; bacon or Cumberland sausage baguette, eggs Benedict, plain or chocolate croissant, muesli with yoghurt or honey and toast with jam along with coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Separate lunch and children's menus are also available.

If you would like to take away something after your meal, Caffe Uno offers a number of its own products, many of which are used in the dishes served in the restaurant. These include extra virgin olive oil, char grilled Italian peppers, Italian rocket and almond pesto, Sicilian nocellara olives, almond amaretti biscuits and Cuneesi chocolates.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive 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.

Part of a small but perfectly formed group of French bistros, Côte Brasserie received the accolade of 'Best value restaurant in the UK' in the 2009 Good Food Guide, which, at a time when price trimming is the name of the game, must be quite some achievement, and their branch in Guildford is no exception to their general rule. Founded on the resurgence of interest in simple bistro cooking and as prevailing taste swings away from expensive and over-complicated cooking in restaurants, Côte goes for the classic dishes within an informal and friendly atmosphere.

The Guildford Côte opened in April 2009, open all day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as any decent bistro should be, serving the neighbourhood as a first priority. In fine weather, it is worth knowing that they have a sunny outside terrace with views of the Castle.

Appetisers include pissaladière, delightful warm flatbread from Nice with caramelised onions and a choice of either anchovies, olives and parsley or Reblochon cheese and thyme. Mussels cooked in white wine can be taken as a starter or main course, and other starters could offer coarsely shredded duck and pork paté, breadcrumbed squid sautéed in garlic, or the ever popular steak tartare.

In the world of restaurant menus there is increasingly a short but attractive range of light mains, and Côte is no exception with a tuna Niçoise making a highly attractive dish with the addition of French beans, cherry tomatoes, black olives, peppers, new potatoes, egg, baby gem lettuce and red onion.

One of Côte's principal attractions is to have created a menu that prompts the customers to feel that what they'd really like to do is work their way through the entire menu which, whilst it may cause some consternation is undoubtedly the best option to have, if not to take. Consider steak haché for instance, char-grilled spiced chopped rump steak with frites and a cornichon and tomato relish, or Poulet Breton, corn fed chicken from rural Brittany, with an enticing choice of garlic butter or sauces.

Steaks at Côte start with a 7oz fillet, or 10oz rib-eyes and sirloin, char-grilled and served naturally with frites. Let's assume that you follow the French custom and insert a cheese course between the main and the desserts, be prepared for well kept Roquefort and Reblochon before tackling a chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream, or an outstanding crème caramel, a speciality of the house.

The supposition that a bistro which styles itself on the real thing should have a French wine list is by no means unreasonable, and Côtes does it with panache. Perfectly straightforward it plays much the same trick as the menu and as you flick through the list you are confronted with hard choices. Many are under the £20 mark, but there are excellent alternatives above that, and eight champagnes currently including a 2003 Henriot.

If I had to choose one word to sum up Côte I think it would have to be thoroughly genuine. Yes, I know that's two, but it underlines the difficultly of only making it in one. Do check their Website for menu changes and reservations.