Bites: Latin

Homework for the summer holidays: translate the following restaurant names

Homework for the summer holidays: translate the following restaurant names

Atrium, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh (0131-228 8882). Mon-Sat lunch and dinner, Sat dinner. One of Edinburgh's most stylish destinations is strategically placed for top theatres. The chef doesn't like to label his cooking; you might call it modern European, as evidenced by seared scallops with artichoke and crab salad for starters, breast of Gressingham duck with lentil and coriander sauce next. A la carte is around £20-£25 for lunch, £10 more for dinner, without wine. Set lunch is £14 for two courses, set dinner £25 for three.

Bibendum, Michelin House, 81 Fulham Road, London SW3 (020-7581 5817). Daily lunch and dinner. Taking its name from the pneumatic Michelin man's exhortation to drink, the magnificent dining room, located in the 1905 landmark garage, is lit with stained-glass images of the roly-poly one. Cooking's classic, more English than French, and unfailingly good. Dinner (£50-£60 with wine) is more conservative than lunch (£24 for two courses, or à la carte), with ballotine of foie gras and steak au poivre or grilled rib eye. But there's always a splendid roast on Sunday.

Leodis, Victoria Mill, Sovereign Street, Leeds (0113-242 1010). Mon-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner. From the Roman name for Leeds, this is a lively brasserie (though not of the all-day variety) by the canal in a converted warehouse. It's informal, but that doesn't stop the clientele dressing up. The food doesn't have to: it successfully marries English and French, in, typically, a croustade of mushrooms, and Leodis' steak pudding. Around £28 for three courses without drinks.

Quo Vadis, 26-29 Dean Street, London W1 (020-7437 9585). Mon-Fri lunch and dinner, Sat dinner. Smooth. One of London's older restaurants is the site of Marco Pierre White's dispute with Damien Hirst, now showing MPW's pastiches of Hirst's work in an elegant, slickly run room. It has recently shifted from White's French canon to a more Italian menu with mozzarella, tomato and avocado salad, Parma ham and melon, risotto calamari, roast duck with white peaches and fillet of lamb with clams. The chef's the same, the cooking should be assured. £30-£35 without wine; pre-theatre dinner and lunch is £14.95 for two courses.

Quod, 92-94 High Street, Oxford (01865 202505). Daily 12-11pm. Now also at 57 Haymarket, London SW1 (020-7925 1234). A Georgian hotel in the centre of the university town is the setting for this stone-floored, large windowed, mostly Italian brasserie. Pizzas (£6.50-£8.65), pastas from £5, and main courses like lamb shank with caponata for around £10. Or Caesar salad and a cheeseburger. No bookings in the evening or weekend daytime; wait at the bar with a cocktail.

Terra Firma, Munstons Lane, Shaftesbury, Dorset (01747 858883). Mon-Wed 9.30am-5pm, Thurs-Sat 9.30am-11pm. A converted chapel in the picturesque town acts as a community venue with an organic café that aims, and ought, to please all ages. Lunches for around £10 (£4 for children) are simple and delicious: salade niçoise, scrambled egg and smoked trout, chocolate brownies. Dinner costs around £20, without wine, for dishes such as artichoke hollandaise followed by duck confit, Thai curry, or rack of lamb and an artful pudding.