Look no further than bonita for savory Britannia favorites. The British Open PubÕs inviting atmosphere and varied lunch menu cater to big appetites and a professional crowd. Bernard Nabbs, a native of Liverpool, England, and his wife, Ann, opened the restaurant in March in front of Pelican Landing Shops near the intersection of U.S. 41 and Old 41 in Bonita.

The Nabbses are longtime restaurateurs (21 years in the business) who have opened and owned six similar pubs in Florida cities such as Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Venice. TheyÕve continued to migrate south and now live in Bonita, where theyÕre focusing on the new location (they've sold off the other restaurants). With more and more companies finding a home in Bonita, the pub is becoming a hot spot for a businessman's lunch as well as for golf foursomes needing refreshment off the green.

What we ate: Heart-warming British pub specialties. The menu is half English/half American, offering lunch items including sandwiches (labeled "sandwedges" in reference to the wedge used in making shots from sand traps) such as a ham and swiss, chicken breast and prime rib, and basic salads. For the generous portions you get, the prices are affordable, hovering between $6 and $8 for lunch.

We couldnÕt resist testing the British favorites, which included fish and chips, bangers and mash (English-style link pork sausages with onions and gravy), and the Cornish pastie (ground beef, peas, carrots, onions and potatoes in a pastry). The Cottage Pie ($6.95), also known as Shepherd's Pie, came in a mammoth portion, filled with ground beef, peas, carrots and onions in rich brown gravy and topped with mashed potatoes and cheese. Served piping hot in a crock, the dish was tasty and filling.

Chicken curry, a special of the day, had a medium spicy flavor and chunks of chicken. We were initially shocked to see the chicken curry served in a rye bread bowl, instead of over rice, and smothered with cheddar cheese. But once we delved into the dish, peeling off the layer of cheese, we were quite happy. Like the sandwiches and most of the entrées, the curry came with chips-large and crispy.

While traditional British fare has drawn few raves in culinary circles, the good news is that you know what to expect when you go to a pub-hearty fare and a wide selection of English beers. We would have liked to cap off lunch with a little dessert, but thereÕs no dessert menu.

Atmosphere:Warm and cozy. The dark wooden booths and bar and the hunter green and burgundy color scheme create an inviting, relaxing ambience. Golf memorabilia and English mementos fill the walls, china cabinets and ledges. There are paintings, photos and maps of golfers and courses, statues of golfers plus teapots, policemanÕs hats and pub signs. (The womenÕs bathroom feels like a shrine to Lady Di, with a large poster of the smiling princess in an evening gown as you walk in.) An attractive courtyard is enclosed with columns and potted plants and cooled with ceiling fans. The entire restaurant seats about 150.

Service: Out of sight, but not out of mind. Dining outdoors, we had time to check out the menu, but never went thirsty. The hostess and waitstaff were relaxed and friendly.

Power Quotient: Score a birdie for the no-frills lunch crowd. For the hour we were there, we saw a steady stream of businessmen and retirees come through the doors.

The British Open Pub

24630 Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs. (239) 949-0302. Lunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner: 5-11 p.m. Credit cards. Easy parking in the pubÕs parking lot, which is separate from the shopping center.