Great Places to eat in Southampton

[Scrapnana]

A number of us will be spending a day or more in Southampton before our voyage. We have had a recommendation to eat in Ennios and they have a good score on Trip Advisor. Any other recommendations for other nights?

[LondonTowner]

We've eaten in Dock O' Bay a couple of times. If you sign up to their email alerts they offer some good discounts. Have also eaten in Rebato's Spanish restaurant, which was nice.

[tartanexile81]

Have never found any great places to eat in Southampton so we just go for a restaurant like Pizza Express where the staff have always been welcoming and helpful and the food is reliable if not unusual or different.

[insidecabin]

This place is the one we use, last time we were in town for a couple of days we went twice.

 

http://www.corianderlounge.com/

 

not everyone is up for a curry.

 

handy for the wetherspoon for decent cheap ale and the Mercure Dolphin hotel which has good rates if off season and/or booked well in advance

 

 

there are quite a few places that will have deals vouchers if you search online. depends where you are staying or walking although taxis are not that bad

[relaxatsea]

We were there in May, and enjoyed the Duke of Wellington pub. It gave us that "old English" pub feel, and the food was tasty too!

 

We also liked Wagamama in the West Quay mall. We had been to one in London a few years ago, so wee happy to find it in Southampton. It is sort of Japanese/health food and quite reasonably priced. Plus they gave us free tea!

[John Bull]

Ashamed to say I don't think there are any great places to eat in Southampton, we tend to eat in the towns & villages around.

 

But plenty in the city that are very acceptable.

 

For pub grub, Duke of Wellington in Bugle Street & the Red Lion (the one in High Street) are decent, atmospheric & sensibly priced. The Standing Order in High Street is a Wetherspoons pub, known for its beers & very cheap meals, though IMHO it's rather spit-and-sawdust.

For restaurants,

Ennios Italian at Town Quay is good. but IMHO not great value - we've only ever eaten there with promos.

Bangladeshi at Coriander Lounge in High Street.

Thai at Kuti's, Royal Pier, Town Quay.

Margherita on Town Quay has re-opened under new management

George's Greek restaurant on Castle Way is a Southampton institution, good food, good portions, decent value, though the surroundings are dowdy & bland.

The Olive Tree on Oxford Street, plenty of other eateries in the road too.

 

All within a reasonable walk from City or Ocean cruise terminals, though some may be a bit too far to walk back.

 

JMHO as always

 

JB :)

[Scrapnana]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

[NorbertsNiece]

Yo! Sushi in West Quay Mall..... it's a Sushi train where you help yourself from the dishes that go round on the conveyor belt.

[CruisesOnMyMind]

Hi John,

 

 

Where near the Holiday Inn is the best place to get good Fish and Chips either eat in or take out?:D

 

 

Lynn

[John Bull]

Hi John,

 

 

Where near the Holiday Inn is the best place to get good Fish and Chips either eat in or take out?:D

 

 

Lynn

 

Hi, Lynn,

 

My two favourites are at Totton & West End.

But don't bother to look them up on the map, they're both on the city outskirts & quite a long walk from Holiday Inn - about 3 miles :rolleyes:

 

Years since I've bought from chippy in the city centre, your safest bet is Harry Ramsden's in the West Quay Mall - just a 5-10 minute walk from Hol Inn.

This is a national chain, set up many years ago from humble beginnings. So a chain rather than a "local chippy", but I've eaten at many of his places & always found the food good, the portions generous & the value excellent.

Like his other branches, the surroundings are a bit modern & "cloned", rather like most of the shops in the Mall.

Because it's in the shopping mall food court, the opening hours are the same as the mall - no late-nights.

http://www.harryramsdens.co.uk/england/southampton

 

(Click on the map, its location is marked & you'll see Hol Inn at the bottom of that map. Very handy)

 

JB :)

[CruisesOnMyMind]

Hi, Lynn,

 

My two favourites are at Totton & West End.

But don't bother to look them up on the map, they're both on the city outskirts & quite a long walk from Holiday Inn - about 3 miles :rolleyes:

 

Years since I've bought from chippy in the city centre, your safest bet is Harry Ramsden's in the West Quay Mall - just a 5-10 minute walk from Hol Inn.

This is a national chain, set up many years ago from humble beginnings. So a chain rather than a "local chippy", but I've eaten at many of his places & always found the food good, the portions generous & the value excellent.

Like his other branches, the surroundings are a bit modern & "cloned", rather like most of the shops in the Mall.

Because it's in the shopping mall food court, the opening hours are the same as the mall - no late-nights.

http://www.harryramsdens.co.uk/england/southampton

 

(Click on the map, its location is marked & you'll see Hol Inn at the bottom of that map. Very handy)

 

JB :)

 

 

Thank you John. Do you know if Totten and West End have delivery service to the hotel?

 

Otherwise Harry Ramsdens will be fine.

[Elizanessie]

Thank you John. Do you know if Totten and West End have delivery service to the hotel?

 

Otherwise Harry Ramsdens will be fine.

 

Ah I thought you might be here :D

 

Sadly Harry Ramsdens closes early on Saturdays - 6pm..might be too early for you ?

[John Bull]

Thank you John. Do you know if Totten and West End have delivery service to the hotel?

 

Otherwise Harry Ramsdens will be fine.

 

No, normally no delivery service from chippys - they leave that to the pizza & Chinese outlets.

 

But Elizanessie's post has got me wondering.:confused:

Are you planning some sort of group beano?

If you're looking at feeding mebbe 20 or more, and someone has access to a car - or you're prepared to pay a taxi fare to go, then wait, then bring you back - you can place an order over the phone & collect at the agreed time.

 

Though you could mebbe find another chippy a lot closer, like Ted's in Bedford Place (used them years ago when I worked round the corner). Ted is/was Greek & according to this website he now also does kebabs & such. No experience of Ted's for literally decades, but this website says Ted delivers, so just maybe...............

http://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-tedsfishandchips-so15

 

But Harry Ramsden is still the safe bet.

 

JB :)

[Elizanessie]

No, normally no delivery service from chippys - they leave that to the pizza & Chinese outlets.

 

But Elizanessie's post has got me wondering.:confused:

Are you planning some sort of group beano?

If you're looking at feeding mebbe 20 or more, and someone has access to a car - or you're prepared to pay a taxi fare to go, then wait, then bring you back - you can place an order over the phone & collect at the agreed time.

 

Though you could mebbe find another chippy a lot closer, like Ted's in Bedford Place (used them years ago when I worked round the corner). Ted is/was Greek & according to this website he now also does kebabs & such. No experience of Ted's for literally decades, but this website says Ted delivers, so just maybe...............

http://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-tedsfishandchips-so15

 

But Harry Ramsden is still the safe bet.

 

JB :)

 

Hi JB,

 

Ah you are correct JB :D there are a few of us who are staying at the Holiday Inn the night before the Quantum Transatlantic and we are looking to have a pre cruise dinner.

 

Lynn really would like English Fish & Chips on her one night in England this trip so we are trying to find somewhere near the HI to get it.

No one will have a car but I like the idea of a taxi and picking up an order although Harry Ramsdens would be nice...ahh decisions decisions.

 

Thank you for your help and suggestions, they are as always much appreciated.:D

[insidecabin]

On the Highstreet

 

Wetherspoons fish and chips is very good for the money.

(it used to be appalling but they fixed it)

 

all week on a deal upto 5pm all day friday(know as fishy friday)

 

 

http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/static/pdfs/admin-generated/fish-friday-97.pdf

 

 

Also handy for real british beer

Edited January 13, 2014 by insidecabin

[John Bull]

Just to make your decision more difficult :D:

 

The historic Red Lion on High Street (a 10 minute walk)

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/leisure/pubs/4089380.The_Red_Lion__High_Street__Southampton/

 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186299-d2188432-Reviews-

The_Red_Lion_Pub-Southampton_Hampshire_England.html

Fish & chips £7.95, plenty of other choices.

I've watered there, but never eaten.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

or the historic Duke of Wellington in Bugle Street (5 minute walk)

 

http://www.southampton-pubs.co.uk/dukeofwellington/

 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186299-d3244804-Reviews-Duke_of_Wellington-Southampton_Hampshire_England.html

 

Hmmmm, no fish & chips on this menu, but they usually do.

And doubtless would for a group if given notice.

Room at the back holds about 20 - 24 (?), apparently they have an upstairs room too.

Ate there a few months back, pretty good, decent value, no dramas.

......................................................................................

 

Not quite the same as fish&chips from a chippy - it'll be bought-in battered fish, and even pubs like to dress it up a bit.

But a group of you are surely going to need a venue.

And a bevvy or two.

 

JB :)

[SteveH2508]

Had a couple of beers at the Red Lion yesterday. Fascinating pub and decent beer. We were gong to go back for a meal but the weather was too foul - the menu looked great.

[apathasia]

Hello,

 

Just bumping this thread back to the top to see if anyone has any new thoughts on dining in Southampton.

 

We'll be in Southampton for a couple of nights this June. We'll be staying at the Mercure Dolphin.

 

Also, any places known for a good afternoon tea? I saw Oceans mentioned on TripAdvisor, but they don't seem to be open at this time. We were also looking at the tea at the Mercure Dolphin.

 

Thanks,

 

Sheri

[insidecabin]

I have also been recomended a Thai over in Hythe, needs the ferry though but I understand that is easy.

 

http://www.thethaicorner.co.uk/

http://www.hytheferry.co.uk/

[turnip eater]

I have also been recomended a Thai over in Hythe, needs the ferry though but I understand that is easy.

 

http://www.thethaicorner.co.uk/

http://www.hytheferry.co.uk/

 

Well, the video of Hythe Ferry has it sold to me:D

[John Bull]

Hello,

 

Just bumping this thread back to the top to see if anyone has any new thoughts on dining in Southampton.

 

We'll be in Southampton for a couple of nights this June. We'll be staying at the Mercure Dolphin.

 

Also, any places known for a good afternoon tea? I saw Oceans mentioned on TripAdvisor, but they don't seem to be open at this time. We were also looking at the tea at the Mercure Dolphin.

 

Thanks,

 

Sheri

 

 

 

 

 

Over many decades "Afternoon Tea" has become very much a central London or countryside tea-room sort of thing - in a city like Southampton expect to find shoppers' cafes, coffee shops, snack bars & pubs rather than traditional tea-rooms.

 

But you can get a traditional "afternoon tea" at http://www.grand-cafe.co.uk/home

It's part of the former South-Western Hotel (I think it was the ballroom), built by the railway company primarily for passengers embarking ocean liners - many of Titanic's passengers stayed here ahead of their fateful voyage. Now converted to apartments, offices & such. Alongside it is Southampton Terminus rail station, now a casino though its roots are obvious in the architecture. And just around the corner in Oxford Street (lots of restaurants) is a pub called The Grapes". Three seamen from Titanic over-indulged here on the night before the sailing and missed the ship.

 

No personal experience of The Grand Café, but the building & its history would certainly add to your experience.

https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=High+St&daddr=Terminus+Terrace%2FA33&hl=en&ll=50.898378,-1.400886&spn=0.004655,0.022724&sll=50.899332,-1.40125&sspn=0.005136,0.011362&geocode=FTSsCAMd8ZPq_w%3BFdahCAMdF67q_w&dirflg=w&mra=dme&mrsp=0&sz=17&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=50.897007,-1.397808&panoid=zwjmJuAWy0rkE99qGiNF_A&cbp=11,57.02,,0,0

About a ten minute walk from your hotel

 

BTW your choice of hotel. The Dolphin is a coaching inn (still has the old coach entrance) & it's very much part of Southampton's history. It's where I'd stay If were a visitor to the UK, the other hotels lack history or character. The layout is a bit of a rabbit-warren, room sizes vary, & some floors are sloping - but IMHO that's a price worth paying and Mercure did a very comprehensive renovation & make-over just a few years ago. Gets generally excellent reviews.

 

JB :)

[apathasia]

Thanks for letting us know more about the Grand Cafe and the Dolphin. We're looking forward to a great time.

 

I'm going to check out the ferry too. Sounds like a fun ride before a meal.

 

Sheri

[John Bull]

Thanks for letting us know more about the Grand Cafe and the Dolphin. We're looking forward to a great time.

 

I'm going to check out the ferry too. Sounds like a fun ride before a meal.

 

Sheri

 

The ferry across to Hythe seems quite an effort just for a meal, but yes it's a fun trip. A very long pier at Hythe, an elderly little electric train takes you from pier-head to shore. Thai Corner is tucked round the back of the village, I don't know the place, pretty ordinary frontage in a nondescript location - but it gets excellent independent reviews.

Ferry leaves from Southampton's Town Quay - a five minute walk down High Street from the Dolphin & it's across the road at the bottom.

 

Just don't miss the last ferry back, cos it's a long swim ;)

 

JB :)

Edited May 20, 2014 by John Bull