ONLY 10 minutes drive out of Worcester and tucked in a layby next to the old Pershore road can be found fusion @ the bird.

It's not the most attractive building from the outside, although carefully planted gardens ensure an attractive, smart approach, but inside it is modern, stylish and very welcoming.

The open-plan design works well with deep red sofas, polished wooden floors and an eclectic mix of dining furniture that only a well-trained eye can successfully put together.

We'd booked our table for 7.30pm on a Saturday and I was pleased to see there were already several diners when we arrived.

Having ordered our drinks we began to scrutinise the extensive menu.

The restaurant, which used to be the Bird in Hand, offers a wide range of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, including a large pasta section.

For starters I chose smoked haddock and Welsh rarebit, tomato and basil salad, priced £6.25.

It was delicious. The haddock was tasty and perfectly cooked, covered with a rich cheesy topping and perfectly balanced by the sharpness of the juicy, ripe tomatoes.

Feeling adventurous, my husband chose from a section of the menu called Bizarre @ the Bird. He could have gone for seaweed or even a main course of kangaroo, but he selected a starter of ostrich salad (£6.95).

Marinated in ginger and oriental spices, the strips of meat were "nestled on a bed of mixed leaves and crispy leeks". He said it was delicious, so I couldn't resist trying a mouthful.

Sure enough, I was pleasantly surprised to find it had a texture of lean steak but with more flavour.

For the main course, I had chosen tagliatelle alle capesante (£16.50). The dish comprised a very generous portion of pasta covered with scallops, garlic, chilli, white wine and cream. I opted for the salad instead of vegetables and it was fresh and colourful.

I love scallops, but they're a risky choice - cooked for more than a few minutes they are rubbery and thoroughly unpleasant.

Thankfully this wasn't the case here. The scallops were succulent. They melted in the mouth and the sauce was rich but not overpowering.

My husband opted for fillet of beef, glazed with wholegrain mustard served with tarragon jus (£18.25).

He said it was delicious, one of the best he'd had. The beef was cooked on the rare side as he'd requested; it was succulent and the sauce was rich and full of flavour. The dish came with a selection of fresh vegetables and potatoes.

For dessert I chose lemon posset (£4.95). Again this was a generous portion. It was smooth, creamy and zinging with lemon and accompanied with home-baked shortbread biscuits.

My husband chose raspberry and chocolate mousse (£5.50). Its layers of light, fluffy mousse were sweet and tasted like real raspberries.

We didn't have wine but there was a wide selection available.

FUSION @ THE BIRD, HAWBRIDGE, STOULTON Tel: 01905 840647SERVICE: **** FOOD: **** VALUE: *** AMBIENCE: ****