Excuse the contradiction, but novelty restaurants are nothing new. Matthew has happy memories of eating at a Mongolian Barbeque twenty years ago; the drive-through has been a staple of the American eating experience for decades and cooking on hot rocks is probably as old as... well, cooking itself.

Matt and Cat have tried this self-scorching method of cooking (more of which later) at Newport's Volcanic Steakhouse. However, that wasn't the Island's first example of this exciting way of enjoying a meal out. For several years, Yarmouth's On the Rocks has been championing the volcanic rock experience, so spurred on by Dilweed and @theordinarychef amongst others, Matt and Cat booked a table and headed west.

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The Wight Mouse is a behemoth of pubs - one of a handful of mega-eateries that dominate the family Sunday lunch market on the Island.

It continues to serve up pub food by the shedload; trading on its unbeatable location on the popular tourist trail of the Military Road. Matt and Cat first reviewed this place in 2006 - and found it wanting. That first, brief, review is at the bottom of the page.

In 2009 they made another foray westwards with junior reviewers Bill and Jack. On the lookout for dinner, they once more found themselves walking through the door of the Wight Mouse. Had things improved? Read on to find out.

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Visit the website: http://www.islandbreaks.co.uk/site/eating-out/wight-mouse-inn-p141751

Playing at grockles one sunny August day, Matt and Cat and junior reviewers Bill and Jack headed west with a plan to have lunch at Warren Farm, a place repeatedly recommended by a colleague.

It was closed. Not to worry - something else to eat must be nearby. A quick drive up to nearby Headon Warren elicited nothing to eat other than ice cream. The foursome were getting hungry, and choices thin on the ground, so, having scrutinised the contents of the collective purse, they pulled up at Needles car park, coughed up the £4 charge and wandered into the 'Pleasure Park' on the hunt for lunch. Now it might with some justification be claimed that the Needles Park is "The Island's most famous attraction for all the family", but that doesn't make it good. In fact, rather like the notoriously rubbish 'theme park' at Land's End, Cornwall, the spectacular location and famous name is what brings the visitors to The Needles - the Park exists to separate them from their money whilst they are there.

A range of generic tourist amenities in industrial styles nestles uncomfortably under the sweeping downs, dispensing ersatz heritage to the credulous: "Test your skills with Junior Driver, have a whirl on the Spins & Needles teacup ride, putt your way around Jurassic Golf or climb aboard the traditional Carousel!" Surely this was the place that inspired Julian Barnes to write his famous Island-set satire of the tourist 'industry': 'England England'? But in amongst the tat there are a few gems of value - you can still go and create your own glass phial of coloured sand, just as generations of tourists have since Victorian times. A memorial to the location of Gugielmo Marconi's first wireless transmission is here, and despite the relentless kiss-me-quick tourist-trapness of the place, the awesome scenery steals the show. It really is worth enduring the park for the delight of the beach and the spectacular views of the titular Needles.

So, how will the food at the Needles Park measure up? Read on to see what the hungry travellers made of it.

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

Another sunny afternoon; another farm café. Yes, friends, it's hard enough work reviewing the Island's food at the best of times, but summer is a particularly strenuous season for diligent Matt and Cat, as they dash from one end of the Island to the other in an attempt to keep up with the latest arrival on the scene.

Now it happened one afternoon that Matt was working way out west with a colleague, whilst Cat was busy elsewhere. When lunchtime came around he was right next to Kings Manor Farm Café, Freshwater. The word has been positive about this most recent of many farm cafés and so Matt took the obvious steps to exploit the situation.

The farm café and shop is in a modest former agricultural building, with a pleasant view over some nearby fields in which a few of the farm's Hebridean sheep graze scenically, along with an aged donkey for which one can purchase carrots if so inclined. Matt and companion spent some time discussing what the building could once have been, and settled eventually upon a forge. Today, the café is a clean and sparkling new place, with seating both inside and outside, and a range of typical farm shop goods to buy. The place was quiet at the time of Matt's visit. The cheerful lady at the till confirmed that food was certainly available, and was pleased to indicate the menu.

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Visit the website: http://www.kingsmanorfarm.co.uk/farm-shop-cafe.php

Going to Totland Bay at midsummer must be like going to the moon. Matt and Cat blasted off from Newport and headed in a near-straight trajectory. Reaching jowl-bothering speeds of nearly 40mph (except through Shalfleet), they went west towards the setting sun. The light from our brightest star was dazzling and, to preserve their rheumy old retinas, the astronautical pioneers lowered the sun visors on the vintage BMW. Once they could go no further, they parked up and gawped at Dorset.

Finding themselves far from the metropolitan hustle and bustle, M and C had switched to holiday mode the moment that they crossed Yarmouth bridge. It was a particularly pleasant evening; the clouds scudded across the sun in a very picturesque way, a boy played with his dog on the sandy beach and gulls pecked at random stuff. As the Waterfront was the only venue around, Matt and Cat went in...

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Visit the website: http://www.thewaterfront-iow.co.uk