FIFTEEN years earlier, we had been enjoying an Indian takeaway, but the meal on the occasion of my husband's 26th birthday ended abruptly with the birth of our first son early the following morning.

This time, for the first time, we decided to celebrate their double birthday with a meal a trois.

Our three other children remained at home while my husband Paul, son Sam and myself celebrated the two birthdays in style.

Ironically, we chose the newlyopened Zenzero, which is located on the site of the former Jewel in the Crown Indian restaurant (the restaurant which supplied the takeaway food on that balmy carefree night in 1991).

Since then, two other less successful eateries have been and gone on the site so we were hoping for third time lucky.

The restaurant has now been reinvented as a classic Italian restaurant. Gone are the red carpets and private booths, to be replaced with a light and bright decor of classic creams and understated elegance.

Surprisingly for a Wednesday evening the restaurant was full and we were shown to the last vacant table, which luckily we had booked.

While I am a great fan of Italian cuisine, my husband is rather more discerning. If it's Italian, it has to be good (after all, he is a Virgo!).

The menu bode well, extensive and interesting offering some familiar, some not so familiar but intriguing dishes. My husband and strapping six-foot son are unashamed carnivores while I am now apparently defined as a pescotarian (a vegetarian who eats fish).

Whatever you call us, there was plenty for all of us.