Inspired by the jewels of imperial Russia, Faborje is a recent gem in Watford's culinary crown. It has a gleaming and well-stocked bar, plush seating on two levels including private booths and sparkly gold walls.

Visiting early on a Friday night the atmosphere was lively but the room was mainly occupied by small groups and was perfectly suitable for families. The waiting staff were attentive and our first course came reasonably swiftly. My son had the Chipotle halloumi on a bed of rocket, which he ate with relish but my husband and I were less enthused about our shared crab salad £7.95, which consisted of only brown crab meat and was very heavily seasoned.

Now I'm fully prepared to accept that the long gap between the starters and main course was largely due to us opting for the shared 16oz Chateaubriand £44.95 but it did feel like quite a pause. Still they were nice enough to offer us a free drink to compensate and the quality of the food was well worth the wait. The beef was high quality, beautifully cooked - seared outside and pink within with a lovely smoky flavour and an exceedingly lean texture.

The goat's cheese and spinach burger £8.95 was declared one of the best veggie burgers my son has ever tasted.

Sides include mac and cheese, seasonal greens and sweet potato fries and a tomato and red onion salad, which are all thoughtful accompaniments if you are having steak. There are also lots of vegetarian options and salads so all tastes are catered for.

If you're looking for somewhere for a night out to impress friends and don't mind flashing a little cash, Faborje is a great choice. There are late night bites available from £5-£9.50, guest DJs and free entry to the nightclub before 10.30pm Fridays and Saturdays. The £20 New Year's Eve buffet looks a good offer as well.

Faborje, 46 The Parade, Watford, 01923 517780.