'Fast' food at lunchtime

Aug 20 2009 Buckinghamshire Advertiser

HANNAH WILLIAMS tries the summer menu at Revolution, Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield. Telephone: 01494 677 808

AS A journalist often working to tight deadlines, my lunch breaks are usually quick affairs, and I probably would not think of eating my midday meal at Revolution.

This popular nightspot does not immediately spring to mind as an option for a working lunch, but by day the bar offers meals from a menu with varied choices for different appetites.

My colleague Polly Manser and I visited one lunchtime to try a selection of the dishes on offer.

We chose portions of the chicken souvlaki kebab, grilled chicken breast on skewers with pepper on a bed of summer salad, pitta bread and tzatziki (£6.95), the Milano pizza with asparagus, mushrooms, red pepper and mozzarella (£6.95), primavera rigatoni - pasta with summer greens, creme fraiche and parmesan (£.6.95) and a Revolution vodka burger - a high-rise affair of cheese, onion rings, jalapenos and salsa in a sesame seed bun (£7.95).

All of these proved delicious, and they come in a variety of portion sizes for if you are hungry (I would recommend the pizza, pasta or burger) or you need a lighter lunch (try the chicken kebab).

Our favourite was the power salad, the venue's best-seller, available with teriyaki chicken, goat's cheese or, in our case, teriyaki salmon (£8.95). We agreed the tender fish combined with the fresh taste of the asparagus, sugar snap peas, edamame beans and summer leaves in a chilli and coriander dressing, was the perfect lunch for us.

Manager Mehdi Saidoun said: "We try to choose everything with consideration to the season. The menu has vegetables and meat to go with the summer season, for example chicken is popular with asparagus and green vegetables.

"If you are on a lunch break, you can order with our promise that the food will be with you in within 15 minutes.

"You can spend the next 15 minutes eating it before going to do the other things you need to do during your break.

A large eggtimer tracks the progress of food to your plate - and if the restaurant does not beat the deadline there is no charge for the meal.

"In the current economic climate, we try to accommodate different price ranges and have 'two for one' offers and a £4 privilege card with lots of deals," said Mr Saidoun.

Revolution also is hoping to attract business people with a £2.95 deal on coffee with a cake, free wi-fi, and even conference and meeting facilities for hire, complete with flip charts and bar.

Families are also welcome in this air-conditioned restaurant, which has baby-changing facilities and good disabled access.

There are certain restrictions on the type of meal and party size at lunchtimes, but eating at Revolution beats a hurried sandwich at your desk any day.