Baravin, Aberystwyth

I realise the picture here is not very appealing, making this very pleasant restaurant look as though its situated on the edge of a grim shopping complex somewhere in the east midlands, but if the camera was facing the other way you would see it has one of the best setting in the UK - on the promenade at Aberystwyth, with waves crashing juts a few feet from the door, and gorgeous sunsets sinking into the western horizon of the sea. Baravin means Bread and Wine, and the menu is very pizza and pasta orientated. But they are obviously of the school of thought that says there is no food that can't be improved by putting it on a pizza, because many of these pizzas resemble nothing you'll find in Sicilly or Tuscany. One is topped with shoulder of lamb, minted pesto and peas. Basically a sunday roast on a pizza. Another has bacon, black pudding, sausage and egg. Yes, breakfast on a pizza (where are the baked beans?) Another has duck and olives. Another prawns, laver bread and cockles. Inventive, patriotic and utterly indifferent to the heritage of the pizza. Never mind. I had to have the roast lamb one, thinking I might never have the chance again. It wasn't bad. The stonebaked bread base was excellent. What it lacked was enough sauce to bind everything together. The shreds of lamb and the peas rolled about as soon as you cut into the pizza, and everything fell off before it got to the mouth. The cockle and laver bread pizza looked very good. They extend their love of pizzas even to the dessert menu, which has a sweet pizza, topped with bananas and caramel. It's a fun place, and the service is great. It is proof that beyond the welsh border you never know quite what to expect from a plate of food.