Residents of Southampton are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a place to eat.
As well as the national brands at Westquay you're already familiar with, here we thought we'd encourage you to unleash your inner 'foodie' and take a look at some of Southampton’s most loved independent eateries as well.
7 Bone
7 Bone is a family run restaurant in the centre of Portswood, an area popular with students from both of the local universities. Specialising in what they refer to as ‘American comfort food classics’, diners can expect homemade burger patties, delicious macaroni cheese and thick milkshakes - all at a reasonable price.
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The Art House
This not-for-profit gallery, café and music venue is the best place in town for fresh vegetarian and vegan food. All your vegan and vegetarian favourites are on the menu including jacket potatoes, nachos, soups and Greek mezze.
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Banana Wharf
This restaurant overlooks the marina at Ocean Village and is the perfect place to enjoy a meal while soaking up the sun. Taking its name from the banana trade at Southampton's docks, Banana Wharf's menu is influenced by oriental and tropical tastes, along with with a good selection of seafood, pizzas and other classic favourites.
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La Baronia
If you're looking for an authentic taste of Mexico, head for La Baronia. This family-run restaurant serves up tasty Mexican dishes in a lively atmosphere. It's located in Portswood, so only a short distance from the city centre
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Lakaz Maman
Lakaz Maman means 'mum's house' and the restaurant evokes this feeling by serving traditional Mauritian street food in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant is owned by Shelina Permalloo, who won the BBC's Masterchef programme in 2012.
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Mango Thai Tapas
And Mango offers exactly that - Thai food, tapas style! Perfect for sharing and for trying something new. There are three branches in Southampton - City Centre, Portswood and Ocean Village. And as well as enjoying tasty Thai treats, you can hear some great live music at the Ocean Village branch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
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Mettricks
Mettricks is an independent tea and coffee house that prides itself on serving great tea and coffee and freshly made food. With branches at Guildhall Square, Portswood, and in Woolston (just a 15 minute bus ride away from the city centre), Mettricks is the perfect place to catch up with friends over a coffee and a sandwich at lunchtime, or a cocktail in the evening.
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Piccolo Mondo
With space for just 34 seats, Piccolo Mondo is one of the most intimate restaurants in Southampton. It also happens to be one of the oldest, having served authentic Italian cuisine from its town centre location for the last 45 years. Prices are reasonable, with most mains costing no more than £10.
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Argento Steakhouse
As the home of what is, arguably, the best steak in town, Argento Steakhouse is one of the busiest restaurants on the High Street. Inspired by traditional South American steakhouses, the untreated wood and cowhide themed interior suits the menu perfectly.
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Sakura
For authentic Japanese cuisine, look no further than Sakura. As well as mouth-watering freshly-prepared sushi and sashimi, Sakura offers delicious noodles and rice dishes, and everything else you'd expect. If you want to try a bit of everything, order one of their teishoku sets - they're very filling, but very tasty!
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Turtle Bay
Perfect for those who can’t stand bland, visitors to the Turtle Bay can expect dishes that are full of jerk Caribbean heat and fresh fruity flavours. Turtle Bay is also popular with those who aren’t looking for a sit-down meal, thanks to the ever-popular 2-4-1 cocktails deal and affordable bar snacks.
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Westquay
The new dining and cinema development adjacent to the Westquay shopping centre has a whole host of eateries, from American-style diners, to Mexican, Italian or Thai, to all-you-can-eat. With so many different cuisines and price ranges to choose from, there's bound to be something for everyone!
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