The Flying Boat Cafe

The Roll Call

➤ Woolston Road, Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Pub • Vegan • British • Vegetarian

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"was twice in the last weeks. for the first time on Sunday to fry and again on Saturday to the birthday of my daughter. beautiful pub and delightful that there were no last people who have beaten close together. there are also outdoor seating options both front and rear. Eating was really delicious, cooked at home and massive portions. the staff was very friendly and helpful and very sensitive to the needs of our young children. it was nice that there was background music, but nothing too loud. good value for her money. beautiful atmosphere and family friendly. will definitely go back!"

Miller And Carter

➤ Providence Hill, SO31 8DW, Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Steak • Grill • British • Vegetarian

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"Have visited this place several times now and I know it can get rather busy hence the lack of availability when trying to book , a little disappointed this time , never really noticed until tonight with the heavy rain how dark the car park is! Lack of lighting! Was shown to our table across what can only be described as an ice rink , you should really display signs to let people know the floor is slippery. The drinks order was taken and then after several minutes was asked if we were ready to order food,the starter arrived before the drinks! We ordered very similar mains but were presented with wrongly cooked steaks, despite specifying, and incorrect sauce , the onion loaf which is normally cooked correctly was nothing more than a soggy lump of onion cold in the middle. I must say the waitress took all of our comments on board with professionalism and courtesy. Sorry to have a moan but merely disappointed when this type of venue isn't the cheapest but historically it has been worth the premium."

La Dolce Vita

➤ 16 The Square, Hamble-le-Rice, United Kingdom

Fish • Meat • Pasta • Coffee

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"On arrival we were warmly welcomed with a huge smile. A lovely lady who single handedly commandeered the restaurants busy front of house. Her effortless charismatic control over the entire establishment oozed experience and was impressive to say the least. Her ability to acknowledge and strengthen relationships with regulars as well as build rapport with newcomers created a relaxed atmosphere that immediately put us at ease. I knew from being surrounded by people having a good time that we were in good hands. We ordered the Calamari Fritti (to share A true test! As all Calamari lovers know, this is a dish that annoyingly varies significantly from restaurant to restaurant and can often result in a small portion of expensive greasy let down. The Calamari Fritti at La Dolce Vita did not disappoint! It was generous in portion size, had great taste and texture (not rubbery The batter was wonderfully light and not greasy, and quite frankly it was delicious! The only thing that could’ve made it better is to have eaten it by the sea on a hot summers day, but that’s not their fault, I definitely booked a table at 8pm in October! I personally would’ve preferred an aioli or tartare sauce rather than the sweet chilli sauce it came with but that’s my preferential taste and I’m sure if I would’ve asked, they would’ve accommodated my request as they serve tartare sauce with their Whitebait. Ok, so despite being advised on multiple occasions to try their steak we thought we’d do pizza’s this time and conquer pastas next time (Nothing to do with a current promotion or anything lol! I had the Diavlo, an Italian equivalent to perhaps the more commonly known ‘American Hot’ that you may find at a takeaway dedicated franchise. The pizza was a good size and more than enough for 1 person (I’d say the size of a dinner plate it had a thin, crispy base and a wonderfully raised crunchy crust. Although this particular choice of pizza only has a few toppings, they were generously spread and of a very high quality. The meat was similar to a rich spicy smoked Calabrian pork sausage or Chorizo/Nduja and the onions and chillis were crunchy and fresh. The additional chilli oil placed on the table was a nice touch and I’d welcome the option of a garlic oil or garlic dip for the crusts. I also tried my wifes vegetarian Calzone which was like a big hug on a plate, a generously filled Italian pastry pillow. Definitely a cosy winter warmer and a great veggie option. We opted for the New Zealand Marlborough, a Sauvignon blanc which was clean, crisp and fresh, with hints of passionfruit, lychee, and gooseberry. The high acidity was perfect for cutting through the richness of the pizza cheese and the Calamari batter. The wine glasses were clean and the wine was served nice and cold. We were too full for dessert however the options looked enticing (almost as enticing as the Limoncello the table opposite were having! We also appreciated the classics such as ‘Tiramisu’ being on the dessert menu. Why on earth did we wait 2 years to try La Dolce Vita?! From it’s buzzing atmosphere overshadowing it’s humble decor to it’s wonderful food and friendly staff. La Dolce Vita is a restaurant run with passion and skill, celebrating the beauty of classic Italian simplicity delivered through high quality ingredients, traditional methods and efficient service. it’s safe to say we’ll be coming back. We’ve heard the steaks are amazing and we’re also tempted by the Linguine Marinara. The fact they’re always busy would imply that they are uncompromising in their standards which has resulted in a consistency that their customers have not only come to rely on but keep coming back for. Good food, good wine, good company, you can’t get any more Italian than that! Well-done guys, or should I say ‘Bravo!’ PS: I booked a table (as advised by leaving a voicemail on their landline. Their recorded message is clear and concise and there were no issues with my reservation. I do however feel a booking confirmation text would've been reassuring."

River Rat Cellar Kitchen

➤ High Street, SO31 4HA, Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Full • Steak • Kitchen • British

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"First time here as were camping up the road. On arrival for the Jazz and Fizz at lunchtime Daniel was warm and welcoming, nothing was too much trouble. The beautiful secluded garden is a delight with thatched pods. We decided to dine here in the evening and sat in the upstairs restaurant. Again Daniel was very welcoming. Our waitress was Grace who was lovely, a very knowledgeable young lady. Both lunchtime and evening you couldn't fault the food, first class. Good wine selection, one small criticism a shame they do not have beer and lager on tap, bottles only. Can't recommend The River Rat highly enough. Will certainly be returning."

Purbani

➤ 16 Victoria Road, SO31 5DG, Eastleigh, United Kingdom

Soup • Curry • Indian • Chicken

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"6 of us visited on New Year's Day, after many recommendations in social media, where is the best place in the opposite for a curry. the lack of other (almost empty restaurant) made the atmosphere missing, but there was a constant supply with the farewell for local deliveries. the staff was very friendly and chatting. the premise were clean and modern. service was attentive, never refilled without a drink with poppadom apartments as required. after dinner drink on the house gracefully received. we didn't order starters. the mains were delicious. Garlic chilli chicken was fresh, ctm had a rich thick sauce. nice pages were from a very high standard. some dishes could have been a bit more generous with a little bit size (most were good,) prices are average to high. preferred this place to the other place the family in botley, although this is much more convenient for us. that the personal does not wear face masks."