With the recent animated movie Ratatouille dishing up a posh-chef world on the big screen and the very popular conflict-driven TV show Hell's Kitchen reeling in more viewers, films about chefs are hot this summer. Now, along comes No Reservations, an entertaining romantic comedy starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart.

Zeta-Jones plays Kate, a master chef in an upscale Manhattan Restaurant. The very single Kate has no time for romance as her life runs on planning and perfection. She's the Queen Bee in her restaurant kitchen and even Paula (Patricia Clarkson), the owner of 22 Bleecker, fears to cross Kate. However, Paula does get a little upset when a customer complains a dish is over or undercooked, which brings Kate marching to their table for a loud verbal showdown. How dare someone question her cooking!

When Kate’s sister is killed in an accident, her world becomes as gruesome as a sink-load of baked-on pasta dishes. She inherits her nine-year-old niece, Zoe (Abigail Breslin) to raise. Aunt and niece can't move past their pain or discomfort with each other to make a plan -- so they move through the day like strangers. When Kate finally unravels at work, Paula insists she take some time off and get to know her niece, who is so miserable she’s practically stopped eating.

After Kate and Zoe establish a routine and are speaking to each other again, Kate returns to work only to receive another sucker-punch in the gut. Paula has brought in another top sous-chef to take over while Kate was gone.

Paula and Nick (Aaron Eckhart) assure Kate that he's not taking her job, but their explanations fall on deaf ears as she observes the man’s command of the crew. Where she was stern, Nick sings vibrato Italian operas while he works. While she leads like a task master, he guides by making the crew laugh while they work. Kate experiences the most insulting attack of all when Nick befriends Zoe, who lavishes up his spaghetti like a starving puppy. Naturally, conflict ensues between these two chefs.

No Reservations is based on the screenplay of the 2001 British film Mostly Martha. While little seems changed about the plot, it's hard to ignore a story with this top-rated cast. No matter whether watching Zeta-Jones in The Terminal, the incredible sexy Intolerable Cruelty or the hot show-stopper Chicago (for which she won an Academy Award), you can't keep your eyes off  her. She puts on a kitchen apron like she's dressing for a ball.

Aaron Eckhart is one of those actors who, when you mention his name in a crowd, it evokes a response of "Who?" But ask any film fan, and they know Eckhart’s roles in Paycheck, The Black Dahlia and his Golden-Globe nominated role in Thank You for Smoking prove he's a prolific actor. His chemistry with Zeta-Jones works very well here, and I think he's the best thing about this movie.

Abigail Breslin, one of the youngest actresses to earn an Academy Award nomination (for last year's Little Miss Sunshine), can't be overlooked as well. Her role may be somewhat cliché in No Reservations but she pulls it off without wavering. Add in Patricia Clarkson (All the King's Men), Bob Balaban (Capote) as Kate's therapist, plus some great music by Philip Glass and you've got a winning recipe.

Director Scott Hicks (Shine) does a good job of keeping the cast reigned in and offering an authentic feel of the restaurant life both inside the restaurant and in scenes when Kate gets up before the sun to visit the fish market, personally picking out the best prospects for the day's menu.

This film probably won’t win Oscars or change the world, and it includes a tad too much gloom.  Still, if you're looking for an entertaining romantic story with top-notch actors, a bit of fun, and creative maneuvering in the kitchen, be sure to order up a serving of No Reservations.

(Released by Warner Bros. Pictures and rated “PG” for some sensuality and language.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.