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Bella Italia is a restaurant that pulsates with Italian style and fashion, where the day starts with breakfast, not least the Inglese, the familiar bacon, sausage, mushroom, tomato and fried or scrambled eggs and sauté potatoes with ciabatta toast so beloved of hearty eaters seeking a good start to the day, particularly when they don't have to prepare it. A vegetarian option is available, along with the bambini of sausages, tomato and scrambled egg, or a strapazzata, scrambled eggs on ciabatta toast. A cappuccino or hot chocolate offers a more gentle awakening and croissant or pastries are welcome at almost any time.

It is always worth remembering that eating Italian is a great opportunity to work away through something rather more liberating than the conventional 3 course English meal. Little and often seems to be the motto but move on to the antipasti and it's immediately obvious this is no easy task, confronted with well over a dozen dishes, not one of which you really have the heart to turn down. The selezione classica assembles a few of the favourite starters; oven baked lemon and rosemary chicken wings, spiced meatballs, calamari, mini garlic butter-filled calzoni and lightly battered courgettes served with flamed pepper and lemon herb dips.

A speck e rucola pizza, added to a traditional margherita brings together two traditions with Italian speck ham providing the second, but it is within the pasta and risotto dishes that you can adapt almost any main ingredient, as well enjoy some of Italy's most traditional treats. Who can deny a well formed spaghetti Bolognese or penne Marco Polo? And not for nothing is a nicely prepared spaghetti carbonara the preferred dish of many.

From a selection of five choices amongst the secondi many will head unerringly for controfiletto ai ferri, a 7oz sirloin steak char-grilled to preference and served with garlic butter, roast field mushrooms, fries and rocket, or the fritto misto, lightly battered prawns, cod fillet, calamari and courgette with fries and a herb lemon and caper dip.

Could anything be more appropriate than The Godfather, for 1 or 2 naturally, with nutty chocolate fudge brownies, vanilla and toffee ice cream with chocolate sauce, fresh cream and wafer curls, and rest assured the coffee will do justice to the meal.

With a wine list that makes few concessions to other countries - and why should it - good Italian food can receive an equally national baptism by wine. For further enlightenment, news about their on-line shop and special deals, a click on their lively Website will reveal all.

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.

Nestled among shops and bars on The Square, Zizzi Bournemouth offers contemporary Italian dining in a delightful setting. With an open plan kitchen and a friendly vibe, Zizzi is the perfect spot for a quick meal after a busy shopping trip and is just a 4-minute walk from both the Avenue Shopping Centre and The Quadrant Centre.

In a delightful setting, near the beach, Zizzi is close to local attractions such as Bournemouth Oceanarium and the Bournemouth Eye while the Odeon Cinema and Pavilion Theatre are also within easy reach.
 
The bustling open kitchen at Zizzi turns out freshly prepared, tasty fare. The extensive à la carte offers distinct sections of antipasti, salads, pizza and calzone, pasta, risottos and mains of seasonally changing meat and fish dishes with a variety of tempting desserts to finish.
 
Zizzi's special antipasti platter has mixed Italian meats with buffalo milk mozzarella, marinated sun-dried tomatoes, mixed olives and red onion focaccia bread. There's also choice of arancini, crispy risotto balls stuffed with mozzarella and peas and served with a tomato chilli sauce as well as gnocchi gorgonzola, potato dumplings in a creamy gorgonzola and spinach sauce seasoned with nutmeg and black pepper, setting the tone for a hearty meal.

For a delicious pasta or risotto choose between penne vodka, king prawns, chilli, peas and Grana Padano in a creamy tomato and vodka sauce; ravioli di capra, goat's cheese and spinach ravioli served with tomato sauce and topped with pesto and pine nuts; zucca e pancetta, pumpkin, pancetta, spinach, sage and Grana Padano topped with mascarpone and rigatoni con pollo e funghi, chicken in a tomato, onion, rosemary and mushroom sauce. Gluten-free pasta is also available on request.

If you prefer a pizza, then you could try Zizzi's speciality pizza rustica, which couples extra thin and crispy bases with a range of toppings such as bufala, buffalo mozzarella with sunblush tomatoes, basil, rocket and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil or mare e monti, one half topped with tiger prawn, courgette and mozzarella and the other with spicy sausage, tomato sauce and chilli, all finished off with a rocket and crème fraîche. The carne piccante calzone has marinated chicken, meatballs, Bolognese sauce, mushrooms, chillies, tomato and mozzarella while the clarissa version, has aubergine, and red pepper caponata, olives, goats' cheese, rocket, pine nuts, tomato and mozzarella. Zizzi's calzon'pizzas, half calzone and half pizza, add an interesting twist to the meal.

Sumptuous mains include agnello con peperonata, roasted lamb shank served with basil, roasted vegetables and a little pot of potatoes with tomato, red onion and Grana Padano; duck arrosto, slow roasted whole duck leg in a balsamic, olive and pancetta reduction served with Tuscan potatoes and green beans; and sea bass al vino, sea bass pan fried with wine, garlic and baby plum tomatoes and served with herby potatoes.

The scrumptious dessert list offers torta cioccolata with its thick hazelnut chocolate base topped with rich chocolate torte and served with vanilla mascarpone; homemade tiramisu; creamy vanilla pannacotta with fruit compote and torta Zizzi, an almond-based plum and fig tart topped with pistachios and icing sugar and served with gelato.

The wine list is dominated by a range of Italian wines from regions such as Veneto, Lazio, Sicily, Tuscany and Lombardy. Also on offer is an assortment of beers, and spirits as well as a range of soft and hot drinks.

More information can be found on their Website.

Customers don't need to be encouraged to feel at home in the Bluefish, as this happens on its own, almost always! They never rush people at the tables, and pamper diners with both food and the service.

The place is full of character with simple white décor and lovely Portland stone walls; in the evenings it is transformed with atmospheric lighting and candlelight. Chef/owner Luciano has his wife Jo and her sister Karen working in the front of house whilst he beavers away in the kitchen, turning out both classic and modern dishes.

Choices from a daily changing menu of locally landed fish range from a bowl of steaming mussels, to perfectly grilled hake, and braised shoulder of venison with celeriac purée.

They run special meal deal menus on Wednesday and Thursday with a popular Moules et Frites evening, with live guitars, and offer a free glass of house wine or beer, and a two or three-course set meal alongside. At weekends a two-course lunch runs with the á la carte.

Opening times and days vary according to the season.

RoomSix is the exclusive Bournemouth home of the Black Rock Grill. The concept originated in the Far East and involves the customer cooking on a square piece of volcanic rock, which has been superheated to 440 degrees centigrade. Fillet, sirloin, rump, pork loin, lamb leg, scallops, King prawns and a host of other fresh meats are always in stock, whilst vegetarian options are also available

Cocktails are a speciality, including their exclusive sweetshop flavoured, favourites apparently include Terry's Chocolate Orange, Mint Aero and Skittles flavours. The funky, laid back and stylish RoomSix is positioned in Bournemouth Town Centre, about a ten minute walk from the beach, just off the Lansdowne Roundabout.

Things seem to move fast at Wagamama - the Asian inspired, noodle restaurant chain that was started in 1992. As soon as you decide what you want to eat, your order is taken via a PDA, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so it can be made fresh and served right after. The restaurant chain does not believe in taking reservations, and all customers are seated on a first come, first serve basis. In fact, be aware that most of the tables are long ones and you will often be asked to share them.

The restaurants are modelled on traditional Japanese ramen bars that have been popular for hundreds of years - ramen are Japanese style noodles, served in a meat-based broth, topped with pork, dried seaweed or even corn. Chilli beef ramen, made of noodles in a spicy pork and chicken soup topped with a marinated and grilled sirloin steak and fresh vegetables, is hearty and satisfying.

Apart from ramen, you could opt for the coconut soup based kare noodles or teppan, cooked on a hot, flat griddle. They also offer many rice dishes like katsu curry, chicken fillet deep-fried in panko breadcrumbs, served with a lightly spiced curry sauce and sticky white rice. Vegetarians are definitely not ignored, as they can opt for saien soba, made using whole-wheat noodles in a soup topped with stir-fried vegetables, seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil and garnished with sliced spring onion.

Meat and vegetable dumplings, skewered chicken, deep-fried prawns and raw salads double as both sides and starters. Steamed green soya-beans, called edamame, go well with drinks - hold them up to your mouth and squeeze the succulent beans from the pod. If you've noticed, Wagamama is more about eating healthy food fast and less about the order. Don't be surprised if you're served the main course before the side dish - order isn't important, the aim is, don't wait - just tuck in and share.

Wash down your meal with sake, plum wine or even a Japanese beer. Wind up your meal with coconut reika - three scoops of dairy coconut ice cream topped with a fresh, tangy mango sauce and toasted coconut flakes or the tamarind and chilli Pavlova, with a crunchy meringue base served with a raspberry and tamarind sauce.

At Wagamama, you can also shop for cookbooks, sauces, ramen bowls and t-shirts. The restaurant is all about enjoying genuine, reasonably priced, Pan-Asian cuisine in a sleek but informal setting.

Funny how you look at Moonfleet Manor (a name like that has to be straight out of Dornford Yates) and thoughts of those handsome houses in Jersey come to mind. Surrounded by 5 acres of beautiful countryside; looking over Chesil Beach and Lyme Bay, Moonfleet has an enviable location. It is good to report that the gastronomic response to that challenge has been more than adequately met. There is emphasis on flavour, simplicity and really good local produce. The Verandah Bar, with its striking views over Lyme Bay, has been described as possessing the atmosphere of a colonial safari camp. Wine list leans heavily towards the New World, with house wine at £12.

An unassuming Victorian inn, known locally as The Shoe, gently slumbering away the days, but with a friendly air, and much used by walkers, perhaps some from the Jurassic Way.

Fresh local produce is very much part of the scene, and the herbs are from their own garden. Décor is variable but undemanding, log fires are obligatory in season, and the inn makes a good place to hole up for the weekend, with three spacious double en-suite guest rooms available, or just an evening when time is no object.

An imaginative menu demonstrates a good range of flavours, with starters of rillette of wild boar with Lillian Sarah chutney, or seared scallops with an orange and fennel broth.

Main courses offer braised rabbit with a wild mushroom and green peppercorn sauce, slow-roasted apricot stuffed belly pork with a honey and five spice jus, or Powerstock organic lamb noisettes. Fish lovers will take more than a second glance at the pan fried fillet of gurnard with a garlic and rosemary butter, but my money would be on the braised rabbit with a wild mushroom and some more of that green peppercorn sauce.

Desserts are imaginative and include pear and date bread and butter pudding, a caramel rice pudding with a fudge crème anglais.

If you were a local this place might become very addictive.

There was less fuss about what a member of the Royal family got up to in his private life in 1877 than there is nowadays. So it was relatively easy for the then Prince of Wales to build a handsome villa on the sunny south coast in which he could enjoy seaside dalliances with Lillie Langtry. The lady created a warmth of welcome which the current owners, in their own particular way, also seek to do.

The Main Hall, now Lillie Restaurant, features stained glass windows, chandeliers, hand carved inglenook fireplace and is overlooked by the magnificent Minstrels Gallery. The fine dining menu could begin with crab, chilli and leek ravioli with a prawn bisque followed by pan seared fillet of beef with chanterelle timbale and truffle mash and ending with cookie crusted profiteroles with Bavarian cream. The six-course Edwardian Banquet held on Saturdays, as featured on BBC Holiday Programme, has been popular for over twenty-five years and is an occasion not to be missed.