The Isle of Wight's a small place, but Islanders more than make up for this with their enthusiasm for gossip and entertainment.

Perhaps that's why Twitter has been a big success here, with even the veritable Isle of Wight County Press awarding a 'Tweet of the Week' accolade these days. Now, locals are capable of generating plenty of excitement on their own, but one of the rumours that has been keeping the Island's movers and shakers at a fever pitch recently has been the persistent but unconfirmed suggestion that a certain fast-food chain is coming across the water to share its franchised munificence amongst grateful, chicken-starved locals.

There are some big chains, like Starbucks, that Islanders feel they are missing out on. This could be a genuine loss or, more likely, a very lucky escape. For every fabulous Yo Sushi on the mainland, there’s an underwhelming Brewer’s Fayre carvery. With several national retailers withdrawing from the Island’s high streets, some holes have appeared leading inevitably to speculation as to who might plug them. Fans of budget clothes are solidly in the Primark camp but there are plenty of locals keen to try Joey Essex’s favourite restaurant - Nando's. The permatanned star of The Only Way is Essex advocates this chicken eatery at every opportunity, leading to rumours that he might be a holder of a coveted Nando's black card.

Joey, employing the best of his sparse vocabulary, prosaically tweeted of Nando's: "#chickchick #chicken #LOVECHICKEN #:)". Despite this masterclass in reviewing Matt and Cat presumptuously thought they could probably give a more enlightened assessment to potential customers and, one Saturday night, set about doing so.

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Visit the website: http://www.nandos.co.uk/

The day after mourning the closure of High Street stalwart Island Images, Cat and a pal ventured into the heart of the town to try Love Coffee.

Technically a new venue, this centrally-located coffee shop is probably more well-known as its previous incarnation of the franchise Coffee Republic. Occupying the site of historic feed-store Guy's, the café is well-placed to catch those in need of a caffeinated pick-me-up: perhaps after staggering out of nearby clothes warehouse TK Maxx, or taking a break from their desk-bound existence in one of Newport’s many offices.

Nowadays coffee is the new gardening or knitting or sex or whatever. Bean-jockeys mix their own blends; have a special job title - barista - and can even attend training sessions to learn about latte art and brew-ratios. But aside from foam swans, what customers really want from their coffee shop is somewhere comfortable to sit, with free Wifi as standard, some delicious eats and fabulous coffee. Can Love Coffee measure up?

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Matt and Cat were flattered to be invited to try the Oyster Grill and Bar, a pop-up restaurant at Cowes Yacht Haven for Cowes Week 2011.

At the same time last year they had a delightful experience at Robert Thompson’s pop-up at Northwood House - would this year’s temporary culinary installation pass muster?

Passing up the OGB’s courteous invitation to a preview, M and C just rolled up unannounced - a habit of theirs which, even after all these years, it seems that people don’t expect. There’s a reason why they do this, you see. Even though it might be true that they’d get the best service and food if they went by appointment, they don’t. They walk in, or (if they are organised enough) book a table under someone else’s name, or as a part of a party. This modest subterfuge is intended to make sure that M&C don’t get too big-headed about any of this stuff. But more importantly, to ensure that the experience they write about is comparable to that of a regular diner off the street.

Oyster Grill and Bar is a substantial set-up in the side of the main hall at Cowes Yacht Haven. It has a good few tables and a bar out on the decking, and some inside. When M&C arrived, it was still early and the place was deserted other than a few staff behind the bar. A young chap popped out and, after his guests had considered the bracing wind, showed them to an indoor table with a nice view over the nearby Mahiki Bar.

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Visit the website: http://www.theoystergrillandbar.co.uk/

You don't need Matt and Cat to tell you, but they will anyway - the Isle of Wight is a really great place.

They love living here and particularly enjoy the varied scenery and disparate local cultures. From the chalky downs and county set to the twiddly coastline with its yachties there's something for everyone - unless you like miles of "boring landscape", in which case you can go to Hull.

One of the pleasures of eating out for a hobby on the Island is that whatever mood you are in, and whatever location you fancy, there'll be an eatery that ticks those particular boxes. Whether or not it's actually a good place to eat can depend on a host of factors, some of which may have naff all to do with the restaurant itself. Such as if, like Cat, you'd unexpectedly had a plate of irresistible food and then gone out to dinner with a full stomach. Noob mistake.

In a month that had seen them eat in a variety of seaside places: indulging at one of the Island's poshest venues; enjoying a sunset dinner with pals and nibbling seafood at the Old Gaffers, Matt and Cat thought they'd round it all off with a revisit to the Baywatch on the Beach. First reviewed in 2006, this third trip was prompted by a succession of increasingly negative comments from visitors to the venue who had chosen to express their disappointment on this website. With so many seemingly disgruntled customers Matt and Cat decided to give the place another go.

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Oh, it had to happen. Just when Matt and Cat thought they had redeemed themselves in the eyes of the Cowes cognoscenti with their favourable Mojac's review, they've gone and eaten in the town again - and they're going to have to be brutally frank. But before any more money is spent on private investigators and solicitors' threatening letters, first a pre-emptive strike.

See, kind folk of Cowes: one of M&C's favourite places ever to eat is in your town, the exquisite Red Duster. And only a few weeks ago, they were raving about the great food at Mojac's, before that the comfortable New Holmwood Hotel; and, oh, the list goes on. Matt and Cat really like most places they eat at Cowes, but not without question, and they'll still keep on telling you when they don't.

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