Ego at The Grapes, Shrewsbury

You're heading out towards Bicton Heath when you spot this place, and it's worth the slight trek from the town centre. Ego at The Grapes does Mediterranean food with real conviction—think bright, unfussy dishes that taste like someone's actually thought about them. The room itself is polished without being stuffy, the kind of place where you can roll up in jeans or dress it up, and it doesn't matter. The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing, whether you're after something light or the full treatment. Service is attentive without hovering, which matters when you're trying to enjoy your meal.