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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.

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.

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.

The Orchid Restaurant is very much the showpiece of this strategically placed hotel which certainly gives substance to the claim of Torquay to be the Riviera of England.

Three menus are offered, an a la carte, Le Menu special and a table d'hote. All three are appealing; we have concentrated on the a la carte. Mind you concentrating on anything other than the commanding view is not easy.

Starters can range from a chilled tomato soup with crème frâiche and basil oil, through a carpaccio of tuna, celeriac remoulade and toasted sesame, to a foie gras ballotine with smoked duck hazelnut salad and lime gelee.

Main courses pursue the same level of care and presentation with Devon beef fillet, braised oxtail, wild mushroom tortellini and cep foam a real favourite. Nor need the vegetarians feel anything but loved, with a button mushroom and fresh pea risotto, accompanied by a fried duck egg and truffle cream.

Desserts are, as ever, just wonderful. Iced white chocolate and cointreau mousse with a praline biscuit and port wine reduction makes for a good blend of flavours and for cheese buffs the Godminster cheddar is served with spiced pear and toasted walnuts. The wine list is a well-travelled production, helpfully annotated to make the most of relationships between the menu and the list.

A rather welcome change from the vastness of some of the larger seaside hotels, the twenty four seats of Mulberry House represent Torquay's foothold in the neighbourhood restaurant sector. Very homely with prices that are an encouragement to leave hearth and home they offer mainly traditional dishes, over which a great deal of loving care has been invested. A thoroughly creditable place.

Do not be put off by the Edwardian approach - it is well modulated and produces the right sort of results. For instance the restaurant has a good range of modern and traditional dishes which sit easily together to a high standard, and there is a well-chosen wine list with house wine at £12.50.

Elephant opened in 2003, since when a cornucopia of reviews, press comment and enthusiastic critics have left no room for doubt that we are looking at a major new addition to the culinary delights of the South West.

Chef Simon Hulstone is quoted as saying that Devon and the West Country has a wonderful larder, giving him the ability to source some of the best ingredients possible. As the holder of more than 30 international gold medals he is well placed to make the most use such natural bounty.

In a fashionably smart dining room expect to find creamed Jerusalem artichoke soup with foie gras and an orange syrup, or traditional Devon hogs pudding with morel and a wild garlic ragout and an egg boiled at low temperature.

Amongst the classics on offer consider the grilled rib eye of South Devon beef with hand cut chips and home made ketchup. A fillet of red mullet with a saffron stock, brown lentils and roast celeriac is a masterpiece of flavours that compliment, though you may feel tempted to add a side order of their renowned roast potatoes.

The desserts open up another veritable minefield of temptation, with the attention of many focused on the bitter chocolate and olive oil truffle, with raspberry and red pepper jelly and a passion fruit coulis.

Their bar food menu is equally inspiring in its own way, with the Elephant sea food platter a suitably celebratory dish. A small and perfectly adequate wine list ensures a quick decision. Elephant should be an addition to your ones-to-watch list.