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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.

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.

Take in the unspoilt splendours of the Coral Coast at Babbacombe Bay and have your fill of quality gastro pub fare at the Restaurant at The Cary Arms. Here is a menu that reflects freshness and seasonality, using locally available ingredients including 'catch of the day' from Brixham. This is where guests can expect to enjoy superb Devon beef, Lyme Bay lobster and line caught seafood in a typical country style ambience of beamed ceilings, stone walls, and planked floors.

Top a day of activity with some of head chef Ben Kingdon's creations. Begin the meal with a prawn and crayfish cocktail or mackerel and salmon terrine. Then move on to chargrilled Devon lamb chops, dressed Brixham crab, whole Brixham plaice or roasted 'creedy' duck breast. Choice of sandwiches includes Montgomery cheddar and tomato chutney, grilled pepper, mushroom, smoked cheese and olive paste and smoked salmon, all served with freshly baked white or granary bread with fries.

For dessert, there's chocolate mousse, rhubarb and raspberry trifle and chocolate and orange pannacotta. Savour the taste of Sicilian and St. Clement's lemonades, Otter Ale, Bays Gold, Plymouth Gin, English Gin and other spirits at the bar.

No 7 Fish Bistro is nice and handy for the fresh seafood as it comes off the boats, then straight into the most fishy place you ever saw - surprisingly it claims to be the only seafood restaurant in Torquay. Cheerful and relaxing, it's busy, with a wide range of exciting names from the sea - John Dory, Brixham plaice, Star Point crab, Dover sole and so on.

Main courses might consist of: fillet of sole/plaice, filled with local crab or prawns and baked under a cheese and wine sauce; monkfish baked with black pepper and sea salt; scallops simmered with mushrooms, vermouth and lemon; filleted fish of the day deep-fried in our own batter; thick cut of prime cod fillet baked and served with prawns thermidor or fillets of fish and prawns, all cooked in a light tempura batter and served with 3 dips. As with so many seafood shrines puddings are something of an afterthought, but they certainly round things off well. There is a wine list with suitably inclined content, many under £20.

It's all about capturing the essence of Italy, here in Torquay and Milan Milan does that most effectively, right from their simple and elegant décor, welcoming and friendly atmosphere to the amazing range of food they have on offer. Customers can often be seen dropping in even for breakfast which they serve gladly and some of the options include baguettes, croissants and eggs and of course a number of Italian coffees to give a proper start to the day.

The á la carte offers a selection of cured meats such as salami and prosciutto with olives and crispy bread amongst the antipasti. Further on, main courses might involve spaghetti carbonara, with smoked pancetta, free range eggs and double cream. There are also eleven thin crust pizzas and for dessert, the homemade chocolate meringue with two scoops of gelati help finish the meal admirably. Spirits, liqueurs, cocktails are popular while the predominantly Italian wine list is extensive and varied.