Restaurant-Guide.com
hand picked restaurants

Pizza Express remains a hugely popular bedrock of casual eating. Its popularity is testimony to the fact that across the country, they have restaurants where you will always be guaranteed a good nosh, with children's tastes being well catered for.

Pizza Express has gone even more Roman, and following the success of that particular example of listening to their public have introduced Romana pizzas, including the scorching Etna and the hearty Siciliana.

These pizzas are now thinner, bigger and crispier, and if that sounds like a marketing line, it is. However, unlike many such lines, this one is true, and their quality is always consistent, though cleverly they have still managed to retain a homemade feel to their pizzas.

As an alternative to pizza, try their pollo pesto - cavatappi pasta with torn chicken breast, mushrooms, red onions and mozzarella in a creamy gruyere, parmesan and pesto sauce and finished with grana padano - or the niçoise salad with mixed leaves, yellowfin tuna, free range egg, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes with olives, anchovies, capers and house dressing.

Many of the big chains have come a long way, and Pizza Express is certainly amongst them. One of the first to be quoted on the Stock Exchange - in 1993 - Pizza Express is not a franchise operation and retains tight control through its own staff.

Their wine list - though short - contains some surprisingly good offerings, especially their intense Australian Chardonnay, and a big, full-bodied Merlot from Cusumano, Sicilia.

For over 80 years Harry Ramsden's Restaurants have become synonymous with their famous fish and chips. Almost as well known are their mushy peas, a British favourite. This group offers great food whether in their restaurants or as take aways.

They also have regular, kids' and express menus to suit every palate. There are set meals in various combinations as well as a la carte fare to select from. Some popular dishes are fishy bites, parsley fishcakes, scampi portions and chicken nuggets. They also have sausages, beef and chicken burgers and sandwiches.

The dessert menu includes spotted dick, cheesecakes and pies. They also offer a list of beers white, sparkling and red wines, liqueurs and beverages. Known for their consistent quality, tasty meals and efficient services, Harry Ramsden's is considered one of the world's best known fish and chips restaurant chain.

New Orleans, ravaged in 2005 by hurricane Katrina, is now full of beans with plenty of food, jazz and Mardi Gras celebrations happening there. Taking a cue from the city's genuine sense of joie de vivre, Old Orleans celebrates the enthusiasm and authentic tastes of the Deep South. Latching on to the Crescent City style theme, the atmosphere across the 14 restaurants in the UK is cheerful and lively with a menu well fuelled by classic Louisiana and Cajun dishes.

Catfish or squid bites, chicken tenders, black and blue mushrooms, and Caesar's salad might be the first things you'll notice, closely followed by a Louisiana sampler of grilled chicken breast skewers, rustic cornbread, potato skins, hot and spicy wings, coconut shrimps, dusted squid and mini pork riblets, plus a BBQ sauce and sour cream dip.

For lovers of cocktails, ice cream and sliders there's a wide spread indeed and cocktail specialties include Hurricane, Serendipity and Screaming Banana Banshee. Little diners at Old Orleans are also well catered for with a special menu designed to suit their allegedly tiny appetites.

Pleasant comfortable interiors and friendly service make Yang's your typical neighbourhood Chinese restaurant. Located in Thompson Street, it's conveniently located for a quick lunchtime meal or relaxed dinner with family and friends. A takeaway menu is also available.

A meal here offers a wide variety of Chinese cuisine favourites including dimsums, chicken wantons, sesame prawn toasts, Peking spare ribs, chicken satay, vegetable spring rolls, deep fried prawns and crispy seaweed. Main course options include crispy aromatic duck with pancakes and spring onions, cucumber and hoisin sauce, kung po chicken, sweet and sour prawns, and beef in green pepper and black bean sauce with stir fried vegetables. An array of rice and noodle dishes including egg fried rice, chicken fried rice, Singapore noodles and beef fried noodles adds more substance to the meal. Choice of Chinese beer or and other spirits and wines completes the selection.