Waterside Inn, Ferry Road, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AT

Waterside Inn, Ferry Road, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AT

Ferry Road, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2AT

In the dark days before Britain discovered food, you would head into the countryside for a meal with all the enthusiasm of a Roman centurion venturing into Boudicca’s local for an afterwork pint. Dining options seemed limited to a clutch of dowdy restaurants and woodbine-scented pubs, all seemingly locked in an eternal battle to see who could get the most breadcrumbs onto the menu. It was not a good time to be a scampi.

Shish, 2-6 Station Parade, London NW2 4NH

Shish, 2-6 Station Parade, London NW2 4NH

2-6 Station Parade, London NW2 4NH

It's kebabs gone posh. Shish in Willesden Green, adjacent to the Tube station, is one of 3 Shish outlets that have garnered popularity amongst locals and critics alike. At £20 per head, it's not a cheap meal, but it's definitely worth the pounds. The spinach borek was crisp and fresh, although a little oily but the mains are definitely the highlight of the menu. Skewers of meat and haloumi cheese with potatoes, roasted capsicum and onions, next to a bed of salad and fries is done to perfection. And for dessert, don't go past the halva ice-cream with baklava.

Signor Franco's, 5a, High St Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1UL

Signor Franco's,  5a, High St Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1UL

5a, High St Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1UL

Signor Franco's is rather much an institution in Tunbridge Wells,with a reputation to suit and having lived in this hallowed town for so long and not sampled their culinery delights was quite simply unacceptable.

So on a delightful Monday evening we decided to pay them a visit and to say they live up to their repution would be a safe statement to make.

Even initial contact was a pleasure, with the booking procedure being nothing but a pleasant experience with a polite friendly person on the other end. My flatmate and I were greeted well and promptly taken to our table which had wonderful views of tunbridge wells and had a wonderful ambience to the whole establishment.

Sakoni's 127-129 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BP

Sakoni's 127-129 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BP

127-129 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 4BP

Look to where the locals go and head to Sakoni's for cheap, filling and mouth-watering vegetarian Gujarati food. Populated as it is already with sari, jewellery and Indian grocery stores, Ealing Road is packed with locals who pop into Sakoni's for their spicy masala dosas, burning hot chai and crispy bhajiyas.

If you don't mind being packed into a corner in a clinical and sometimes dirty interior, its well worth it for the food. In fact, sometimes, it adds to the authentic Indian experience.

Café Pacifico,5-6 Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA

Café Pacifico,5-6 Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA

5-6 Langley Street, London, WC2H 9JA

I've been here twice and have not been impressed. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't completely unhappy about the whole thing, but I don't think this place is the best Mexican you can get in London, a claim that's made by a lot of reviewers.

The rice is soggy, and the dishes are bland and flavourless, definitely not what we have come to expect from Mexican food.

The staff aren't that friendly, and it is expensive, for what it is. You can definitely do better than this, I just haven't found it yet.

The True Heart Inn High Street Bishopstone Swindon SN6 8PH

The True Heart Inn High Street Bishopstone Swindon SN6 8PH

High Street Bishopstone Swindon SN6 8PH

It was only when we came to order that we were told that much of the menu was unavailable – pity they didn’t tell us when we ‘phoned to book. Only my 5th choice was available. We were told that they had no steaks but we then overheard the chef/owner offer rump steak to a local – a touch of rationing, I suspect. The treacle roly-poly was rock hard (probably over microwaved). The coffee machine wasn’t working and we were offered instant coffee but at the same price as the decent filter machine price. To finish the evening off an ‘extra’ bottle of wine appeared on my bill that we hadn’t had. Would I go there again? NO