(22 Drury Lane in London, United Kingdom)

Bhangra Beat specialises in modern groovy Indian food in the heart of Covent Garden. The interior i...s informal and relaxed with plain cream walls, prints of modern India, tea lights, wooden floors and white linen table cloths. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 12pm - 2:30pm & 5:30pm - 11:45pm Paul Merton is a regular here. [moreless]

(49 Chigwell Road, South Woodford in London, United Kingdom)

Bhangra Beat makes a good first impression; its glass front offers a full view of the inviting, mode...rn spot-light restaurant. Inside, pale wood flooring, crisp white linen and cream high-backed chairs create a smart, rather formal setting well-suited to the affluent 30 and 40something regulars. Bhangra Beat specialises in Balti cooking, spread across an extensive, something-for-everyone menu. The galda chingri (four king prawns) balti is highly recommended, as is bhangra chicken – a dry, medium hot dish made with fresh cinnamon, bay leaves, tomatoes and peppers. Calorie-counters can choose from a Lo & Spicy selection of dishes. Live jazz from 8pm at weekends guarantees a good atmosphere; a one-man band performs on Fridays, and a trio on Saturdays. Professional service from an all-Asian staff. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 6pm - 11:45pmSun 6pm - 11:30pm. [moreless]

(37 Great Queen Street in London, United Kingdom)

Covent Garden ain't short of good Indian restaurants, and Bhatti is amongst the best. After all, it'...s been recommended by Egon Ronay. Housed in an historic 17th century listed building, it is pleasantly bright inside where spotlights highlight the shiny blonde wooded floor and chairs. After a friendly welcome comes the best bit - the menu. There's nothing esoteric or scary on it, just a familiar palate-pleasing list of the dishes you know and love - chicken tikka masala, jalfreizi, vindaloo, madras, lamb rogan ghosh...Pretty much everything is good value; a bottle of house wine costs just under a tenner. Whether a curry lover or curry virgin, Bhatti is a great place to explore Indian cuisine. Opening hours: Lunch: Mon-Sun 12pm-2.45pmDinner: Sun-Wed 5.30pm-11.30pm, Thurs-Sat 5.30pm-11.45pm [moreless]

(179 Brockley Road, Brockley in London, United Kingdom)

Painted an inviting yellow, La Lanterna sits opposite Brockley train station. Biagio fans will be pl...eased to learn that its based on the same successful concept as its West End siblings – classic, affordable Italian food served in a cosy, traditional setting. La Lanterna has a nice family feel and is popular with people from all over the South East. On Sundays you'll usually find kids feasting on pizza. A big menu offers a variety of fresh pizzas, soups, pastas and meat, vegetarian and fish dishes, as well as weekly specials written on chalk boards. The lamb sells particularly well. Good selection of Italian wines. Friendly service. Opening hours: Tues - Sun 6pm - 11.30pm [moreless]

(66 Rue de Londres in Le Touquet, France)

Restaurant Bleu, Blanc, Mer in Le Touquet -- what a Canadian fur trapper's cabin is doing in the mid...st of the Opal Coast is anyone's guess, but unique it is. Decorated with gingham fabrics, snowshoes and skis, earthen whisky jugs, stained wood tables, rough plank panelled walls and ceilings, Bleu, Blanc, Mer is relaxed and convivial. The eclectic menu might have something to do with it. Sophisticated dishes like tuna carpaccio and salmon tartare share the page with tartiflette, mixed grill, frogs' legs and a great kids' menu. Specialties include many treatments of mussels and the dishes from the Haute Savoie. All ingredients are rigorously sourced and the friendly service can't be beat. And what a Canadian fur trapper's cabin is doing with a sleek, modern terrace is also anyone's guess, but it works, too. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. A credit card is required to reserve a table, if there is availability - this is simply to secure your booking, absolutely no money will be charged to the card except in the case of late cancellations. €20 per person will be charged for a cancellation within 48 hours or for a no show Opening hours: Mon - Sun 12pm - 3pm & 6:30pm - 11pm Occasional live music... [moreless]

(Schlosshotel Lerbach, Lerbacher Weg in Lerbach, Germany)

Appropriately located in the cellar of the Schlosshotel Lerbach in Cologne, the Brasserie Coq au Vin... is renowned for its exquisite wine list and authentic Gallic fare. Ideal for cosy candlelit meals, the restaurant is decorated with Regency striped wallpaper and plush red velvet seating and during the summer months meals are served on the castle's terrace. Favoured by discreet high-net-worth wine buffs and starry eyed couples, this romantic brasserie has a stellar menu which includes favourites such as the homemade Alsacienne tarte flambeé made with bacon, onions and sour cream; the fresh oysters served with Chester bread, lemon and shallot vinaigrette; and the signature coq au vin with glazed shallots and a galette of onion and bacon. [moreless]

(The Conservatory, 764 Great West Street, Isleworth in Greater London, United Kingdom)

Bukhara, or Bukhara at the Conservatory to give it its full title, is a luxurious, modern Indian res...taurant, and part of the three-star Osterley Park Hotel six miles from Heathrow airport. A sophisticated, airy setting creates a relaxed atmosphere in which families are as welcome as romantic couples. The self-consciously healthy, additive-free menu is inspired by the ancient city of Bukhara, birthplace of the tandoori cooking style. The city’s diversity is reflected in a diverse and generous range of dishes, from the ubiquitous saag aloo and chicken biryani to less known tawa courses. Fresh, aromatic naans and parantha are hand made. Pictures of desserts next to their names mean your eyes do the choosing. Opening hours: Mon - Sun 12.30pm - 2.30pm & 6pm - 12pm [moreless]

(Stocks Island Hotel, Dixcart Valley, Sark in Guernsey, United Kingdom)

The pace of life slows down to a peaceful stroll on the tiny Channel Island of Sark, and Café Sark e...pitomises the island’s relaxed approach. This casual restaurant is part of a small family-run country house hotel called Stocks, originally built in 1741 as a farmhouse and a hotel since 1895. The atmospheric Café Sark is in the oldest part of the building, next to the Smuggler’s Bar, and offers and popular gastro-pub style menu of good-value, simply-cooked fresh food. In addition to generously-filled sandwiches and daily blackboard specials, you’ll find starters like home-made soup of the day or grilled goat’s cheese salad with crispy Parma ham and basil oil. Follow with a dish of locally-caught crab, lobster or scallops and then to-die-for treacle and cinnamon tart with Sark cream. Luckily, on an island just 3 miles long, you’ve got every excuse to keep coming back. Opening hours: Mon - Sun Lunch 12pm - 2pmDinner 7pm - 9pm [moreless]

(100 Rua do Padrao in Porto, Portugal)

Still very much on Porto’s hot list, Cafeina sits off Avenida Brasil behind the beach at Foz. Take a... seat here and you’re very likely to be hanging out with actors, musicians, fashion designers, models and anyone else of the special sort that makes Cafeina a magnetic meeting point. Divided in two - a cafeteria and bar – it’s a smoochy-soft-lit space marked by olive green, rusty brown, gold, leather and the black of its lacquered floor. In the background, the soundtrack moves between jazz, house, easy listening and classical. The chef's brilliant cooking has a distinctively international mark, but it's the wine menu many come for – it’s won Best Wine List in Portugal at Expovinis – an industry trade show. Upon arrival, please inform the restaurant that your booking was made via toptable. Opening hours: Mon - Sun 12:30pm - 6pm & 7:30pm - 1am Owner Vasco Mourão is Portugal's answer to Terence Conran... [moreless]

(Penta Hotel Reading, Oxford Road in Reading, United Kingdom)

The Caversham Restaurant in the centre of Reading is nestled in one of the best hotels in town, the ...Penta Hotel Reading. Combining a range of both classic and innovative dishes in an entertaining, open-theatre style kitchen, Caversham’s is quickly becoming more than a locally-known destination. Try the langoustines duck spring rolls with a plum dipping sauce. Steak lovers are also well catered for with a nicely selected grill menu. Friendly staff and exceptional service is sure to make you feel right at home. Opening hours: Mon - Sun: 6pm - 10pm [moreless]