FOR me, food during shopping usually entails a pre-packaged wrap and some additive-enriched drink.

So you can imagine my surprise when I found myself sat in the civilised surrounds of Lanes in Weymouth, with a glass of wine, looking out across the harbour.

With time on our hands, my partner and I sought quality food in a quiet corner, away from the hordes of bargain-hungry, pocket money-wielding teens in the town centre.

Recently under new management and with a trial period under way, we were among the first diners to see whether Lanes still maintained its good reputation. We were not disappointed.

We were met with a warm welcome and chose to sit in a window overlooking the Town Bridge.

Presented with a lunch menu deal of two courses for £9.95 we wasted no time in ordering. I opted for a starter of smoked mackerel pate followed by a steak with king prawns. This came with an added charge of £3. My partner chose a king prawn with chorizo, tomato and chilli starter followed also by steak, this time, with mushrooms.

Service was prompt and the starters tasted excellent. The pate was rich and well presented. The king prawns had the perfect blend of spice and heat – a very good start for a restaurant having recently changed hands.

The steaks continued in the same vein. Good presentation and cooked exactly to our request, the sirloins were quickly devoured. The £3 extra charge seemed a bit steep, however, considering the quality of the dishes overall, I didn’t begrudge paying it.

While settling the bill, a quick chat with the new owners revealed plans for a re-brand and re-launch of Lanes as the Harbour Bridge restaurant. I can only hope the food maintains its quality and perhaps on our return visit, we’ll leave enough space to tackle the dessert menu.

The Bill

Our Lanes bill:

Pepsi (x2): £3.00

Prosecco cocktail: £3.60

Large red wine: £4.85

Set menu (x2): £19.90

Steak supplement for king prawns: £3.00

TOTAL: £34.35