Tas Restaurant, Bloomsbury, London

Turkish food (the Tas is the traditional cooking pot used to prepare casseroles in Turkey). Pirasali Kofte: Skewers of minced lamb kebab served on pan fried leek. There are also chickpeas and green lentil involved and it is served with couscous and yogurt. Light and subtle - probably owes its favourable characteristics to Lebonese cooking (so a Greek told me) - but well worth the effort for the taste involved. Glass of house red (had to rush off to the Haymarket to see the Ray Charles experience so no time to get blotto). Very reasonable experience. Recommend it - though I'd linger longer and have three courses and a bottle next time. No salads invovled in this meal - though you could always order the Mantar and bring your own anchovies to get near a Ceasar.

Au Quai Fleurie, Chartres

Arrived after restaurant had closed but they rustled up a 4 cheese salad, a bottle of red and a piece of chocolate cake for just 12 euros each and let us sit on the terrasse to eat it. Wouldn;t have happened in England

Parliament House Hotel, Edinburgh

Day after the London bombing; Princes Street was closed and it was difficult to navigate through the city. I opted to eat in the hotel. I was the only one at 9pm. Waiter was very chirpy and after discussion we settled on, you've guessed it, a steak with salad. Asked if the House salad could be turned into a Caesar but the answer was no. Asked for the steak nearly rare. Aberdeen angus and was pretty good. House salad proved to be kitchen sink variety with unusually apples. Dressing was OK and chips were well cooked. Ate everything apart from the apples, House red wine OK but no cigar. 8/10.

Hare & Hounds, Hopton

Classy joint. Looks good, well organised, good menu; good wine list.

Settled on the old favourites - Steak and Caesar salad. Steak was ordered medium rare and arrived so. Great 8/10. Salad was initially a good looking beast but there was a serious lack of caesar dressing and the croutons were basically isotopes of raw garlic. Nice parmesan. Only 5/10.