Mixx Restaurant at The Marriott Hotel

An evening out at the Mixx Restaurant at The Marriott Hotel in Leicester is an experience not to be missed. From the moment you arrive at this attractive and contemporary restaurant you are taken care of by restaurant manager Barry Singh and his professional and caring staff. Head chef Matthew Underwood leads an excellent brigade that includes a Lebanese sous chef and an expert on Far Eastern cooking. Together, this team creates a unique, varied and intriguing à la carte menu.

The three-course dinner menu boasts an array of dishes - with influences ranging from Spanish, Italian, French and Greek, to Thai, Chinese, Indian and Lebanese - and changes daily; at just £21.95, it's incredibly good value too.

From the à la carte menu, we followed the chef's recommendations, starting with a mixed tapas platter. We then enjoyed the smoked salmon, accompanied by marinated sea asparagus, and Chinese tea-smoked duck on a tasty salad. Starter prices varied from £4.50 to £6.50, while main course dishes start at £12.50; we decided upon the duo of beef, comprising a tender chargrilled fillet and a brasato estivo of shredded beef and fondant potatoes, and Panang tiger prawn curry served with rice and a warm asparagus, tomato and black olive salad. The wine list was ideal and we found a different wine to complement each course. For dessert, we tried a selection of the restaurant's most popular dishes served with homemade vanilla ice cream, and a warm apple and frangipane tart with toffee ice cream. Although we had enjoyed four courses, the lightness of the dishes left us fully satisfied without feeling too full.

Every dish was attractively presented, and each course left a lasting impression. After dinner, why not take coffee in the Atrium, which adjoins the ground-floor bar. Those who cannot bear to tear themselves away can linger as long as they like; the bedrooms here are beautifully furnished and comfortable as can be.