Frankie's - Bread Street, Edinburgh, 18th August 2005

We were put off by the vulgarly decorated Rolls-Royce proclaiming "Frankie's" on the paintwork and parked in front of the restaurant but we persevered and were rewarded for our trouble. Good, wholesome, home cooking prevailed. Of course, it was a home in Italy that set the standard rather than the tins my mother used to open in Lancashire . Bread and olive oil with subtle, almond flavours. A rich meatloaf that combined pork with beef in the tradition of Italy with a fresh, herby tomatoe sauce; served with peas sautéed with shallots and fresh vegetables. Accompanied by a Sicilian red with a kick. Fresh chocolate ice cream with good quality double esspresso coffee. Expensive but nicer than nice. No Ceasar Salad!

Star Inn, Chalton

Food good. Decided against Caesar as the only option was as a main with chicken and it was a family do so I didn't want to rock the boat by asking chef for a special. Minted lamb koftas and a rib eye steak both perfectly OK (asked for rare got medium). Only problem was the interminable wait to order and the equally long wait to pay. If I hadn't asked for the bill we might still be sitting there. Nice low ceilings.

Tex Mex, La Palmyre

Been here before and hadn't noticed that there was a Caesar salad on the menu. Mid July this year spotted it so tried it. Began with Tapas and very very good. Followed up with 2 pizzas which on paper seemed overflowing with toppings but unfortunately their idea of a smoke sausage wasn't mine. San Diego pizza promised all sorts of spicy toppings but they were all very similar and bland. The bad news was the salad. Quantity rather than quantity. A heap of bacon, lettuce, croutons and powdered parmesan but no dressing. It was almost uneatable. The restaurant itself is good value if you stick to their 15€ tourist menus but Caesar - he don't live here anymore...

Captain's Table, Argostoli, Kephalonia

For the first time Caesar salad on the menu in a greek restaurant. But let's not put the nearly dead donkey before the homemade thing with an axle that seems to roll along somehow. Ouzo for starters, Tatziki, taramasalata, garlic mushrooms and fried aubergines for appetizers, Fisherman's risotto, Souvlaki for mains with local red wine. The salad was remarkably good. (7/10) I suspect the dressing was made from first principles. Ordinary lettuce but a few bits of bacon, croutons and a hint of parmesan. The total meal for 4 people was an amazing £50. Live music, street front alfresco dining. Shops open until midnight. Temperature 28C at midnight.

Old Reliable GNER

King's Cross to Wakefield (again!) 2nd August 2005. Old reliable GNER's restaurant - despite its hideous name, "Go Eat" - lives up to its track record of good food and wine. Tonight it's the imaginatively named "Menu B" (who thinks of names in this organisation? Joe Bloggs?) Tomato and porcini mushroom soup for starters. Tastes as good as it sounds; the porcini mushroom and the garlic adding a smokey, charcoal flaovour to the rich tomato background. Warm bread with thick butter to go with it. Shin of beef next. Good portion of beef, strangly (but thankfully) off the bone and served with "Provençal hash and a tomato and red pepper sauce" which tastes better than it sounds. The hash turns out to be butter beans (do they have those in Provence) with courgette and onion. The whole thing cooked in a red wine sauce. Tender, juicy and tasty. Accompanied by small earthy carrots (just as I like 'em) slender green beans and boiled potatoes that have been re-heated (I think - maybe sauted whole?) in their skins. This together with a half bottle of Chilean Merlot that goes down smoothly and partners both the beef and the soup. Dessert is just like the packets mother used to open but can't complain. It claims to be a Black Cherry Pavlova served with mascarpone, vanilla and cherry jus but it turns out to be a maringue nest with stewed (tinned?) cherry filling and lovely mascarpone with vanilla crème. Coffe - acceptable - served with a white chocolatesque confection indivually wrapped. At £32.15 one might expect a little more of something in an ordinary restaurant but travelling at 125 mph one wonders how they do it for such a reasonable price.