Anyone here from Isle of Wight? Or know it really well?

[TwigTheWonderKid]

MIL is 80 in a couple of weeks and her birthday has coincided with a trip she is taking to the IOW. We live closer to there than her home so thought we could pop over and surprise her and take her out for a special meal.

I have spent hours online but I can't find anywhere "right". There are a few places that look great but are a little too "fancy" foodwise for her and some fab looking restaurants that specialises in seafood but there are lots of things she can't/won't eat so they won't do. Everywhere else I've looked at is just not smart/special enough.

Anyone have any gems can please suggest? She's staying in Sandown but we'll have our car so I guess it doesn't really matter where it is.

Toto does great italian food, cocktails etc. Mid range budget so not too fancy but still nice. Drunken/smoking lobster for asian fusion seafood. Tripadvisor might help you more!

Michael angelos, or the Alamo in Ryde.

Spyglass in Ventnor.
The Waterfront in Totland.
Da Vinci in Newport.
The Blacksmiths just outside Carisbrooke.

On The Rocks in Yarmouth is amazing- you cook your own steak/fish on hot basalt slabs at the table!!

I second the Spyglass in Ventnor
Or the George in Yarmouth

These would all be great, if we didn't have to take my mother-in-law! She can't eat anything vaguely spicy and nothing fried and doesn't really eat beef. She's fine with Italian food and bistro-style stuff, so coq au vin, duck confit, that kind of thing. It's always a bit of a challenge trying to find somewhere to eat when we're with her but as it's her birthday, asking for a plain omelette is not really an option!