It’s certainly not the cheapest but it’s definitely one of Southampton’s best restaurants, writes Phil Sampson
ENNIO’S
S ome restaurants have great food, some have great service and some have both. And if you’re really lucky, your custom will be rewarded with great ambience too. On rare occasions all three blend seamlessly together and the bar is raised to the point where the simple act of eating out becomes an occasion. And that, in my experience, is what happens at Ennio’s.
Located on Town Quay opposite the ferry terminal of the Southampton Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Limited, (Red Funnel to you and me), Ennio’s Italian restaurant is based in a Victorian warehouse which in the pre-roadway and ferry days used to border the waterfront. Externally the six-storey building, which houses Ennio’s boutique hotel on its upper floors, has been beautifully preserved and proudly displays its commercial heritage. The interior retains its links with the past too, with diners seated among a colonnade of roof-supporting cast iron columns.
They do things properly at Ennio’s: the tables are covered with thick white tablecloths; the glassware sparkles; and the cutlery is reassuringly heavy. The servers dress the part and know their stuff. There’s no rush and on each of our visits the entire experience has been excellent.
In addition to a comprehensive menu spanning stuzzichini (nibbles), antipasti, pasta, and a selection of meat or seafood secondi piatti, the restaurant has fresh daily specials. On our last visit, these included fresh oysters and a choice of whole lemon sole with lemongrass chilli prawn sauce or sea bass on red wine risotto to follow.
