California to be precise. 48 hours to go…

I saw some Taunton photos on Flickr today and went to the blog of the photographer, she’s an American considering moving to Taunton or thereabouts with her family and is in need of some restaurant recommendations. They’re currently staying in Holford. Here’s my list of possibilities and observations:

Food options are tricky though. I’m not sure how long you’ve been in the country but (pull)there just isn’t the same culture of dining out like in the States(/pull). It’s almost always for a special occasion / celebration with prices to match. This changes the bigger the city, so the nearest gastronomical hub would be Bristol. It’s quite common to get “take away” meals from the Chinese restaurant or Indian, or, obviously, fish and chips (my favourite: on Kingston Rd, by Gladstone st.) though. For a good, cheap(ish) meals your best bets are pubs and the prices’ll be higher and portions smaller that stateside…

I forget the name of the one in Bishop’s Lydeard, not far from holford, but it has a skittle alley and does fine food. There’s only 2 pubs there and I think only one of them does food, The Bell?
The Blue Ball (at Triscombe Quarry, your side of the Quantocks)
Porlock: Lorna Doone Pub, nearish minehead specialises in seafood i think…
Taunton: You can’t go wrong with either of the Weatherspoons pubs: The Perkin Warbeck and the Coal Orchard. They often have special deals and their food’s not half bad at all. They also have well enforced no-smoking sections.
There are a few chain restaurants at the Hankridge development (where the multiplex cinema is)
The Merry Monk in Monkton Heathfield’s also good….
Plenty of Indian / Chinese restaurants down East Reach and for takeaways, near the train station on Station Rd..
The Swan in Kingston St. Mary’s just changed management and they’re out to impress with their food apparently…
Ooh, there’s a Mexican restaurant just off St. James’ street called The Old Gringo or somesuch. Which, though the food bears little resemblence to US or even Mexican ideas of what Mexican food is, is very nice but a bit on the pricey side.

Any other food places to recommend? Brazz has been done… And I’m not sure how 4 yr old friendly Henry’s is…

Also, what’s the difference between nondenominational and CofE schools. I can’t think of many in rural somerset except there’s maybe more singing involved in religious schools and prayers can be boring.