La Tavernetta.
1-3 Civic Centre Road, Southampton.

This is not really a restaurant review as such, more of a recommendation for
a place that we use regularly because the standard of food and cooking is
always excellent and the service efficient and reliable. Bang opposite the main entrance to the Civic Centre, one of the plusses of La Tavernetta is that you can order lunch-time portions from the evening menu at a very reasonable price.
One of my favourites is Spaghetti Frutti Di Mare which is £8.25 on the a
la carte menu, but a lunchtime portion costs about £6. With a generous helping of spaghetti in a subtle tomato sauce with a hint of garlic come mussels, prawns, calimari and salmon. If you prefer pizza there is a similar seafood meal at the same price and loads more pizza variations. I usually plump for pasta and have tried Spaghetti Pomodaro, a straight tomato pasta which is only around a fiver at lunchtime, £6.25 as a full meal, and ravioli at the same price. Penne, torteloni, fettucine and lasagne are other varieties of pasta available.
Fish and meat choices are available too with swordfish steak at £6.50, sea bass at £7.25 and salmon and king prawn dishes at similar prices. Fillet steak is available at £13.95 and sirloin at £11.95, and there are plenty of specials on the blackboard at lunchtime and in the evenings. A good choice of starters too from various salads, soup, baked mushrooms stuffed with parmesan, deep fried whitebait and many other items priced between £3.95 and £6.95.
George the proprietor makes eating at La Tavernetta and friendly and
enjoyable experience any time of day. He also stocks a good range of wine. Service is swift and dependable, an important factor at lunchtime, while the evening atmosphere is more leisurely.
I can heartily recommend this restaurant and the Piccolo Mondo round the corner which is linked to it. And no, I don’t get a discount for producing this review!
Opening hours are 11.30 am - 2.30pm for lunch, 5.30pm till late in the
evenings, and there are also special themed evening meals - ring 02380 635185 for details.

Sara’s Thai Cuisine.
273 Portswood Road, Southampton. Tel: 02380 676063.

Only just opened but already a huge success, Sara from Thailand has brought a gourmet’s paradise to Portswood. I had already sampled her culinary skills over at The Fountain at Rowlands Castle where she managed the Thai restaurant so I knew what to expect: authentic Thai food using the freshest of ingredients with no additives, cooked superbly and served with charm and friendliness.
People of Portswood and surrounding areas, you are so lucky to have this intimate restaurant on your doorstep!
My guest and I renewed acquaintanceship with Sara and her partner Paul then dipped into an assortment of starters. Chicken satay, spring roll, Thai fish cake, spare ribs, paper prawn, golden triangle and deep fried chicken wings.
I could eulogise indefinitely on the feast of flavours and textures, but
will limit myself to explaining that “Golden Triangle” is prawns mixed with
herbs spread on a bed of triangular bread served with sweet chilli sauce and that all the starters were superb.
Our main dishes were Drunken Duck and Beef in Oyster Sauce with sticky rice. Drunken Duck is tender slices of roast duck stir fried with chilli and exotic herbs - an appetising, spicy and rewarding concoction. The beef was equally tender and came in a delicious oyster sauce with mushrooms. A similar meal with drinks would probably come to around £43 for two - for starters and one main meal with rice think in terms of £30. The food was of exceptional quality and you won’t get a better Thai meal for less in Southampton. The menu extends to over 80 dishes with 22 starters to choose from including three soup dishes and four salads, main meals offer a variety of meat dishes: chicken, pork, duck, beef, lamb and seafood. There are nine variations of rice and noodles to accompany main meals plus a range of vegetarian alternatives.
The restaurant is open every day both lunchtime and evening. Lunch is
served from 12.00 to 3pm and dinner from 6pm to 10.30pm. Booking is essential at weekends and advisable in midweek. Just ring 02380 676073; tell Sara that you heard about the restaurant through Playing Out Loud and I might get invited back!
 

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