Described as a stylish and relaxed Italian restaurant, this particular eatery is just one of over 200 restaurants operated by ASK Restaurant Ltd and as such, is pretty much as you would expect: eating out, Ikea style.

The Venue
Situated in a prime location just off Beckenham High Street in Kent, the large capacious diner is modern, bright and easy on the eye. It does have a tightly packed feel, though, with little elbow room, and eavesdropping on fellow diners is almost unavoidable.

The Atmosphere
Despite being closely packed together, the cacophony of noise does prohibit any of the aforementioned eavesdropping to the point where you can hardly hear the person sitting opposite you. Not the best location for an intimate one-on-one dinner.

The Food
One thing you cannot accuse ASK of is skimping on the portions. The spaghetti alle vongole, £7.45, arrives on a plate resembling Mount Vesuvius and just like Vesuvius, soon erupts, spilling out all manner of ingredients but missing a few crucial ones, including the clams. With half a kilo of pasta and just a smattering of shellfish, the dish is lost in a sea of tomato broth and peppers. Disappointing and inauthentic.

The Drink
The wine list is pretty decent with a small glass of red or white Montepulciano or Trebbiano costing £4.50 to a bottle at £12.45. A bottle of Chinati Classico will set you back £25.00 whilst Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) £19.50. Peroni beer retails at £3.15 to £5.95 a bottle.

The Last Word
Ask is a lively, boisterous affair offering food to the party crowd. It is more about having a laugh than a gastronomic experience, but even so the food at this location is disappointing.

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