Wagamama

Joycelyn Neve runs the Seafood Pub Company, a small group of upmarket, individual dining pubs in Lancashire. Its newest site is Aughton’s Town Green Brasserie. Joycelyn Neve has been a semi-regular at Wagamama since she was in her late teens, when she and her friends would go to the Printworks location in Manchester. It remains the best, fast, urban refueling alternative for her. 'You wouldn't go for a romantic lunch or a particular event, but I adore Japanese and pan-Asian food, and the quality is constant and the price is reasonable.' You'll be comfortable as a solitary diner or with a group of pals in there; the ambiance is constantly lively and it's quite user-friendly. For example, if there is a line, they can tell you how long it will be as soon as you walk through the door.'

Unlike many chains, Joycelyn observes, Wagamama's menu is diverse and changed on a regular basis. It's not like we're reinventing the wheel, but there is always an option. 'Use Wagamama for what it's intended for, and there's nothing to hate,' Joycelyn adds, 'unless you've got a particularly noisy eater sitting next to you, but you can't really prevent that!'

Price: Sides/starters from £3.50, mains from £7.75
Website: https://www.wagamama.com