ISABEL'S Restaurant in Ashley Cross, Poole, is a pretty special place. It is a small, intimate, friendly restaurant that serves delicious food.

This family-run establishment has become an institution and booking ahead seems to be almost essential - particularly if you want a much-coveted booth.

If you're lucky enough to get a booth then I don't think there's a restaurant in the area with a more romantic atmosphere.

We went on a Tuesday evening (it's not open at lunchtimes) and virtually all the tables were full.

The service is attentive but not intrusive and we were made to feel at ease and offered both the a la carte and a bistro menu - which is available from Tuesdays to Thursdays and offers three courses for about £20.

They are prepared to let you mix and match between menus if you want.

I deliberated for a long time over the starter menu which seemed to be full of delicious dishes but in the end I plumped for the salade a la grecque (£6.50) which was grilled halloumi cheese with grapes, figs and capers on salad leaves with a honey mint dressing. It was absolutely delicious - the saltiness of the cheese perfectly complemented the sweetness of the fruit.

My friend went for the oeuf poche a la sigurd (£6.50) a poached egg on a bed of shallots and mushrooms topped with Mornay sauce.

It sounded very odd to me but was surprisingly nice and my friend loved it.

He followed this with medallions of pork tenderloin in a tarragon cream sauce (£14.90).

For the main course I picked a steak off the bistro menu (£9). It came with a peppercorn sauce, vegetables and very tasty chips.

We drank a good house red.

There were lots of tempting-looking puddings on offer but by that point I was too full even to consider one and much to the chagrin of my companion we went home without dessert.

Isabel's is not cheap (starters range from £4.50 to £9.50 and main courses are between £13.90 and £16.90) but for the food and the service it is good value and well worth it for special occasions.