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Bell’s Diner is friendly little restaurant in a converted 1950s grocery shop in the heart of Bristol’s most bohemian neighbourhood, Montpelier.
Chef/Owner Chris Wicks serves innovative contemporary food which features wild, organic produce that he sources locally. The menu includes dishes such as red onion and goats cheese tart, with frisèe and walnut dressing; grilled best end of lamb with harissa, roast aubergine and cous-cous; pot roast guinea fowl with orange, sage, anna potato and green beans; char-grilled squid with black bean sauce; licorice parfait with saffron pears and almond.
Only the freshest produce is used on the daily-changing menu.
There's a fantastic wine list and a knowledgable sommelier for those who want recommendations.
1-3 York Road, Montpelier, Bristol BS6 5QB;
tel: 0117 924 0357; fax: 0117 924 4280;
www.bellsdiner.co.uk
We went on the basis of the Guardian readers' guide recommendation, already posted. It exceeded all expectations and we went several times. The fagioli al forno was a taste sensation, the ribellita was glorious... need I go on? Does lunch only.
Via Rosina 2r, near San Lorenzo and the Mercato Centrale;
tel: 055 210 916
A five room B&B situated in the historic - and picturesque - town of Burlats near Castres.
Okalani is ideal for families with small children. The large, toy-filled garden features a hugely popular trampoline and leads down to the river. The room we had was plain, to the point of being bare, but large with an ensuite bathroom.
Dinner was served outside on the terrace and was a delicious stew of Toulouse sausage and lentils. The children had potato wedges, sausages and pasta so no need to feel embarassed over their food fads.
The kids all played together and as we were outside chatting and eating together, it was easy to make friends with the other guests. All in all, a very friendly and relaxing stop.
Okalani Chambres d'hotes
15 Route de Castres
Burlats 81100
South France
Tel: +33(0)563 516 401
www.okalani.com
By far the best kebabs outside Istanbul are to be found in Green Lanes at Diyarbakir and Antepliler. Definitely the most authentic Turkish food in London. For some of the finest baklava - head to Antepliler's baklava salon just next door to the kebab shop.
Diyarbakir
69 Grand Parade, Green Lanes
Tel: 020 8809 2777
Antepliler
46 Grand Parade, Green Lanes
www.antepliler.com
This warm and luxuriously designed Indian restaurant has a soothingly romantic environment with good lighting. There is a warm glow that suffuses the ambience. The food is extremely flavoursome, authentic and almost unforgettable (though a bit on the pricey side), with a good variety of starters, main courses and desserts that are imaginatively decorated.
The waiters are all very cordial, efficient, friendly and warm. It is definitely an enriching and illuminating dining experience.
Victory House, 99-101, Regent Street, London W1B 4RS (entrance is just around the corner in Swallow Street); tel: 020 7734 1401;
Underground: Piccadilly Circus
I'd like to recommend a fantastic restaurant that serves up alligator, ostrich and all sorts of other goodies. It is a beautifully decorated place where all the items on show are for sale. You are given a password when you turn up which makes it even more interesting. The pricing isn’t too bad either, £80 for two with starter and wine. If I could, I would go there everyday - it is really something special!
110 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 5ED
Tapa is a cafe/delicatessen that only sells organic and vegetarian products. They bake their own bread, which tastes fantastic: being Italian my family is very picky about bread, but Tapa's bread never let us down. Interestingly, they mostly use local-sourced rye to bake bread.
They also do very good organic fairtrade coffee, and their own soups, ciabbattas, sandwiches and, mostly recommended, cakes.
Staff are very friendly and nice. You can dine inside, or even outside on the pavement, weather permitting. The cafe has a very "east-side" unpretentious look, but the quality on offer is not matched by more pretentious cafes in the city centre - so it is worth visiting Dennistoun on the east side to eat at Tapa.
21 Whitehill St, Glasgow;
tel: 0141 554 9981
The Vine is a pub that serves Thai food. The friendly service, eclectic music and very reasonable prices make it a relaxing and affordable place to eat Thai.
47 High St, Cheltenham;
tel: 01242 220 170
Huge white-sand, palm-fringed beach that stretches for 30km, and can be almost empty on weekdays.
There are deckchairs to rent and kiosks selling fresh seafood and drinks, as well as a few restaurants and top-end hotels.
Located about 4km from Hoi An. Easily reached by bike from Hoi An or taxis cost approx US$3.
Set on the edge of Adelaide's Botanic Gardens in a fantastic modern building, the National Wine Centre has info about wine production all over Australia. There are interactive exhibits where you can make your own 'virtual wine' as well as tastings from their huge range.
Corner of Botanic and Hackney Roads, Adelaide; tel: 08 8222 9222;
www.wineaustralia.com.au
Google map: tinyurl.com/n22kw8
On top of "Plabutsch" (the high hill behind Eggenberg Palace) on the western edge of city. From snacks to a full blown meals, all food and drink is locally sourced or homemade (including homegrown Venison!) Not easy to find but has the best views over the whole of Graz. The centre of Graz has a market town feel, so guests are always surprised to see that it is much bigger than it seems, especially after dark when the green suburbs light up and visitors look down on a sparkling sea of lights... There is a viewing platform above the restaurant.
8051 Graz, Fürstenstandweg 100; tel: 585 700;
Open: Wedneday-Sunday 11am-11pm (but closed in winter as the road is very steep!);
Access: It is a lovely but tiring walk to the top of the Plabutsch. (take a map!)
Car/Taxi: Only way up is a minor road (Fürstenstandweg) branching off from the Steinbergstrasse, if driving yourself you will need a city map.
Google map: tinyurl.com/o9f2ys
Bar/restaurant in a lovely converted 1920's French colonial house, with a balcony overlooking the street where you can watch the world go by.
Serves European dishes and a selection of cocktails as well as local beer.
One of the few late-night bars in Hoi An, with good music and pool table, darts, board games and book exchange.
Open 10am–1am.
110 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hoi An
Tel: (0510) 862212
The stretch at the bottom of the hill that runs towards the man-made lake is where it all happens in Reykjavik. A couple of doors down from Café Rosenberg you can check your email at an old fashioned cyber café, and five doors further down is a great fish bar, where you can eat as much as you want for 2,400 knr (about £20) – the best deal in town. We found it cheaper to have a large meal rather than snacking.
Apart from the pay phone opposite Cafe Rosenberg there are no street pay phones. Daytime public phones can be found in the banks and post office when you turn left out of the cafe.
The café is just down from the tourist information office, near the S1 bus service. While at the tourist information office get your self a tourist pass, which gives you loads of benefits like free bus rides and free access to musuems etc.
Café Rosenberg: Laekjargata 2, 101;
tel: +534 551 8008;
www.visitreykjavik.is/yellowpages.asp?element_id=863
This is a restaurant in the Ribeira district of Porto. There are many similar looking restaurants on this waterfront however we believe that this one stands head & shoulders over the others. The menu range, quality of the food, friendliness of staff & the superb value all contribute to make this our top restaurant recommendation for Porto.
We had some bread/cheese, two very large mains, a bottle of wine & coffee & it set us back only €34.
We loved it so much we went back twice more. The view from the top window was amazing - looking over the Douro at the port lodges. For that alone the €34 would have been paid!
Cais da Ribeira, 37, halfway down the Ribeira waterfront in Porto.
I had a superb lamb korma that bore no relation to the sludge you get in Europe. It was being kept warm underneath an old newspaper, which unleashed a few flies when he lifted it up to reveal the korma below. Be brave and you will eat Indian food the way it should be. Fantastic experience for a few ringit.
Walking distance from the Komtar.
A 'modern' styled Italian restaurant serving very good old style Italian food. Good wine list too. And something unusual ... the restaurant is situated in what was the old Jack Lilley Triumph motorcycle building.
109 High Street, Shepperton TW17 9BL
Tel: (01932) 269006
A short walk up the high street from Shepperton station.
This brasserie is built in the art nouveau style and has a great tavern atmosphere with brown paper place mats and candles in bottles. It serves staple Belgian fare like moules-mariniere. The carbonnads flamandes and the stoemp are glorious!
17-21, Rue Henri Maus;
tel: 02 511 8789
For me Seville is a more interesting place than can be realised from the top of the Giralda. Locals who are most likely to talk about this are the 'Camareros' (staff) in the local bars. I found out from one of them that many younger people congregate in a neighbourhood called La Alameda de Hercules. There are numerous eateries and bars there, but leave your valuables behind.
Another reason to visit Stokes Croft. As you come in through the door there's a lounge bar area with a good selection of Spanish & Portuguese beers. Towards the back is the restaurant area. Their tapas is imaginative and well prepared.
130 Cheltenham Road, BS6 5RW;
tel: 0117 944 2442;
www.one30.co.uk
I took a short walk from the bustling Old Town down to Mariensztat Square and found the Barylka Pub, Warsaw's oldest I was told. A good selection of local beers and nice food served by friendly English speaking staff. Very popular with locals, it's a lovely place to sit outside in the square and relax. I came back a second time to enjoy a free concert on a Thursday evening and had a very enjoyable evening - inexpensive, friendly and recommended. Nice change from the modern over-hyped cafes that proliferate
It's a pub, you don't need a reservation - just go to 5-7 Garbarska St, Mariensztat, and look for 'Pub pod Barylka';
tel: (22) 826 62 39
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