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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.

Alex and Nicky Ford took over this traditional village pub in Puddletown in June 2008. Keeping the very best of the old, they set about combining its warm, friendly country ambience with a cool, airy modern interior - part of a style that is reflected in their approach to the food and hospitality for which the Blue Vinny is rapidly gaining a reputation. The menu is truly international and combines influences from the Mediterranean, modern British and mainland Europe.

Caramelized red onion and Blue Vinny tart served with baby leaf salad and a balsamic reduction and seared Lyme Bay scallops with a spicy coriander and tomato salsa set the stage for your meal. Confit of Large Black belly pork with black pudding, Bramley apple rösti and a scrumpy jack scented jus could follow, with vanilla pannacotta with raspberry coulis to round off the experience. The Dorset cheese, Blue Vinny, is a way of life round here - be sure to sample some.

The wines have been chosen to march with the menu, and there is always a range of excellent guest ales on tap.

Built over 250 years ago as the home of Charles Hall, The Fox Inn is buried deep in the beautiful Dorset countryside. Renovated and redesigned to meet modern facilities, there's state of the art kitchen, upgraded bedrooms and landscaped gardens. You could choose to dine at the Woodhouse Restaurant, traditional yet elegant, with oak panelling and low ceiling, or at the light and airy Garden Restaurant. In summertime, there is a large outside patio area to dine al fresco.

The kitchen, headed by Ian Chalmers, makes fine use of freshest seasonal, local produce to create the likes of pressed terrine of pigeon, pheasant and hock with fig chutney and toast, Portland mussels' mariniere and garlic fried field mushrooms baked with goats' cheese and red onion jam. To follow there’s the honey and mustard glazed belly pork with sage, apple and smoked bacon, mashed potato, cider reduction and a selection of vegetables. The sticky toffee pudding topped with toffee sauce is a must.

The Gaggle of Geese is a traditional village pub serving British food, sourced from its own farm and other local farms.  It is a popular meeting place for people from all walks of life.  There are five acres of grounds including an orchard, where sometimes you will find sheep grazing alongside chickens, goats and geese. During winter guests can relax on a sofa in front of the fire or play skittles while during summer they can unwind outside with a pint of local cider.

Start with roasted red pepper hummus with crudités and spinach and courgette soup with basil pesto. Move on to Pecker's pan fried pigeon breasts with crushed new potatoes, veg and red wine jus and beer battered haddock, triple cooked chips and mushy peas. To end your meal on a sweet note choose sherry trifle and scrumptious chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce and clotted cream.

Located in a quiet piece of a quiet county 'The Brace' satisfies the desires of those whose idea of a cosy pub with restaurant in deep English countryside, an old thatchedbuilding with log fires, oak beams and a minimum of formality. In fact it has it all, including an entry in the Michelin Guide.

Start with roast mushroom in vine leaves with a shaved fennel salad and grated goat's cheese, or spicy Portland crab cakes with sherry mayonnaise on a mixed leaf salad, followed by grilled spatchcock of poussin with a herb crust, served on an orange and watercress salad, or pan fried pheasant breasts with a caramelised orange and whisky sauce served with Dauphinoise potatoes.

Finish with one of their delicious homemade puddings. This is England how it used to be.

Yalbury Cottage is a delightful three hundred year old thatched cottage, in a rural setting two miles from Dorchester with ample car parking space.

It has all the necessary ingredients to make it a real home from home. That contradictory combination, which we all seem to love, of good modern food served in historic surroundings, works well here and there are bucolic, sturdy dishes which are instantly recognizable sitting alongside more modern offerings which have their genesis in Europe. Thirty seats only means booking ahead is advisable. Good wine list with house wine from £12.50.

A meal could begin with a choice of pressed ham hock and leek terrine on a sweet mustard sauce; baked shallot tart tatin beetroot relish and chive cream cheese spread; 'cauliflower cheese' - a crisp gruyère beignet on an almond and cauliflower purée or poached ballotine of salmon with a light saffron and mussel casserole.

With thoroughly tempting main courses such as butter-roasted loin of veal roasted cocotte potatoes with baby beetroot and sherry vinegar jus; coriander-glazed duck breast Cracknell farm organic duck, braised red cabbage and young fennel; slow roasted Dorset horn lamb - best end of lamb with fondant potato, chantenay carrots and minted lamb jus; pan-fried brill, buttered leeks and sweetcorn purée, crushed violet potatoes and sweet garlic foam or baked butternut tortelloni buttered spinach and truffled butternut nage.

But keep some room for their wonderful desserts like glazed orange and ginger crème brûlée with kumquat and stem ginger; plate of apple - baked tatin, sharp rice pudding and granny smith sorbet; hot and cold chocolate white chocolate and citrus panna cotta and baked chocolate pot or a selection of fine cheeses with fig loaf, quince jelly and celery.

They also have eight spacious rooms, in the modern part of the building, decorated in a simple cottage style; there are seven double or twin rooms, and one family room. Each bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with both bath and shower, a direct dial telephone, a remote control colour television, hair dryer and tea and coffee making facilities. The rooms overlook either the garden or adjacent fields, and all are non-smoking.

Beautiful hued flowers dot the sunny, white exterior of the Piddle Inn, in Dorchester, and the bubbly River Piddle that flows alongside the delightful beer patio adds to the allure of this attractive inn. Three well furnished and comfortable en-suite AA 4 star inn category rooms look out over superbly scenic countryside while the restaurant serves a number of tantalising dishes that are prepared from fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

You could start with Lyme Bay scallops with chorizo, white wine and cream sauce, and move on to local pork loin steak topped with blue vinny. Puddings are delicious and all homemade like sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce. The little ones can enjoy battered chicken bites with chips and peas or baked bean and salad among other choices. A fresh cheese board always has a fine choice. The refreshment list is topped by wines, beers, lagers and real ales served straight from the barrel, along with soft drinks and coffee or tea.