 THE festive season isn't always the best time for the committed vegetarian to head out for a meal. Conspicuous carnivorous consumption is very much to the fore, and many restaurants want patrons to stick to a set seasonal menu that offers a single, uninspiring veggie choice among the starters and mains. I've eaten more vegetable lasagne and mushroom stroganoff at this time of year than any other. But, thankfully, The Brasserie at Hawarden has continued with its a la carte menu alongside the party selection. Good news indeed, and as my wife and I wanted to kick off our celebrations with a night out, that's where we decided to head. Booking a table for two was no problem, and we found on our arrival that the larger dining area was set up for two groups who were already providing a lively, festive atmosphere. The restaurant had a table picked out for us, but considerately moved us to another as the first choice was close to the bar where some other diners were choosing to linger before their meal, and it would have been a little cramped. This was done with the minimum of fuss and it was a feature of the whole evening that just the right amount attention to detail - and to us - was paid. It can be uncomfortable to have staff hovering every second, but equally irritating if you have to try to attract some attention. With a couple of party groups to deal with we wouldn't have been too surprised or upset to find the staff's attention diverted elsewhere, but this wasn't the case. After ordering, our drinks, a large glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc and a pint of lager shandy, quickly appeared and we set about the menu. | 
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