The best restaurants in Winchester South East

Goodbye to the worst Italian restaurant I have ever visited. Two years ago it was a great venue. Two weeks ago it was a disaster. A waitress was spraying chemicals everywhere while I was eating. Before I had finished my main course a waiter started sweeping beneath my table. He then told me that if I wanted a dessert I was too late because they were closing. When I entered the restaurant my greeting was : 'We close at nine, so you need to get a move on'. Other diners were receiving the same treatment, and in 20 years of eating out I have never witnessed such unprofessional behaviour from staff. Today it closed permanently, and good riddance to it.

Lovely family meal, perfect for children. We love this place for a family meal because the food is good quality for what you pay for and represents excellent value . The food is really well cooked and our rather fussy children really enjoy it and eat everything served to them which is rare these days. £4.99 for a children’s meal, including a main with two sides and a generous dessert is incredible value. We don’t always like to take a risk going somewhere new as often the food can be wasted. With the red lion and we know what to expect we know the kids will eat what they’re given and everyone is happy. The only downside for me is that every time some food is ready for the service to collect from the kitchen you hear a very loud bell which can become a bit irritating. This is a very minor downside otherwise this place is excellent for a family dinner.

We had a fabulous night out at Pi. Really tasty pizza, delicious desserts, great atmosphere, and friendly staff. Easy to park at the station. Only quibble would be music was a bit loud.

This was a pub that we have been going to since 1973 but will NOT be again!!We are a bunch of friends(7) that meet up to have a Sunday roast and a chat and catch up. My wife booked the table 16 days before and when we got there we had been place in a very drafty place where all the comings and goings were and it was very cold and windy! We found another table but were not allowed to change as it was where the bar Manger had placed us. The food was less than we were led to believe ! cold food for a Roast Sunday Lunch is not on anybodies list of things to do for a fun Sunday. The veg were pre- cooked and warmed up and placed on the side of the plate.Roast potatoes were tasteless Beef tough and pork very very fatty!

We come here regularly but had an exceptional three course meal on a busy Friday night. Food was delicious and great value. We booked in advance and the pub and gardens were full but service was still very efficient and friendly despite being off their feet! We will be back!

What I love about this Costa is that’s open 7 days a week!! It’s grea for when you live on the university campus and are craving a little drink and a sweet treat :)) I also enjoy their outside sitting area as it’s a great place to sit at when the sun is out

We were given a gift voucher at Christmas for afternoon tea with a glass of Prosecco. What a pleasant surprise it was when we went inside, the owner immediately welcomed us and showed us to our table. Our large glass of Prosecco was very enjoyable, it was clear all the sandwiches were made as we were sat down, very fresh and tasty. Warm scones and a choice of various cakes on show. The service and atmosphere was wonderful, I wish the owner all the best in making a go of her business.

This comment is from ‘the poor wife’ you patronisingly refer to in your response to our previous feedback. Our ‘FairObservaions’ are joint opinions as I don’t normally feel the need for a separate platform. Let me clarify some of the inaccurate statements in your response to our feedback: At no time did my husband ignore me, on entering the premises, he did ‘wander round the bars’, mainly to see if there was another soul in the eerily empty building. At no time was I ‘in tear’ [sic] as you put it. I was however, extremely annoyed that despite advising us to leave, you would not refund me the cost of my meal or our drinks which were impossible to consume in the hostile atmosphere. I might however have shown signs of ‘in fear’, having just escaped the wrath of ‘Loony’ as my husband rightly calls him (I don’t know which one of you is Yates, maybe that’s you). As for your comment that we left the car park, nearly hitting a white car, I don’t understand, as we arrived and left on foot, our car being at Exton some three miles away. I think it’s probably that you’re confusing us with another disgruntled couple. I now await your characteristic badly written, rude response to this missive about our worse ever dining (or none dining) experience.

This is a busy cafe with a lovely buzzy atmosphere. I had the veg bowl with beetroot dressing and it was utterly delicious. Friendly staff. And of course there’s so much lovely shopping to be done in the shop afterwards!

My husband and I had passed the Dispensary Kitchen a few times, the food always looking delicious. When we did stop there we loved it! The lamb burger was our favourite. The menu wasn’t vast but everything we had was really good. The staff were Delightful and Engaging, which added to our enjoyment. Refreshingly there was no service charge added but we were very happy to tip the staff. Highly recommended

We love this farm shop, lots of great produce. The bread is awesome as is the cheese, the meat, the olives, the cakes… OMG the doughnuts are to die for BUT there is one thing that is letting this place down, it’s cafe! We by passed our usual Saturday breakfast haunt as we thought we’d give the cafe a go, such a disappointment. It was quiet but it still took an age for someone to take our order and it took even longer for the food to come out. I had the posh beans on toast, I don’t think so, there was nothing posh about it especially the overcooked burst rubber egg on top, no attention to detail, is that what chefs think is ok nowadays? My husband had the full breakfast which was ok, he paid extra for black pudding which was one very very thin slice. The beans were cold, one egg was burst, the bacon was small, thin, dry and so over cooked it was tough going. All in all terrible value. We left, no one had checked our table and paid on the way out. Stupidly we should have mentioned all of the above but no one asked how our food was, even when paying the bill the waitress turned the screen round and said there’s a question for you to answer.. Which was for a tip, talk about put on the spot, we were too embarrassed not to leave a tip, so tipped and left. I know we are stupid but too polite to say No.

Phenomenal chef’s table experience. I’ve always been a big fan of The Avenue, but since its recent revamp, this place has somehow found another gear. The new dining room is stunning, the service is impeccable, and I’m so glad they’ve retained top talent like Alberto, their sommelier, over the years. As for the food, I think it would be unfair to call Tom Hamblet a future star—he’s clearly already one. Without a doubt, the best young chef in the country. It’s been incredible to see his growth, from sharing his MasterChef-winning menu during his residency to maturing into a chef who truly understands his environment. At Lainston House, he has embraced the estate’s seasonal offerings, creating dishes that feel completely in tune with their surroundings. His cooking has always been exceptional, but now it’s refined, confident, and deeply connected to the ingredients at his fingertips.

This is one of the best places we've been to for a long time. Beautiful pub, lots of history, excellent food and a great atmosphere. Huge shout out specifically, to James who is an absolute asset to the pub. Very friendly, knowledgeable and a brilliant host. Cannot recommend The Milbury enough - will definitely be a favourite

The light meals are absolutely delicious but the wonderful welcome from staff really makes a light snack visit into a memorable experience.

Went in on spec for lunch, not knowing what to expect, couldn't have been better. The lady who served us was really helpful, to the point of suggesting that I "don't salt the chips as they're already seasoned, unless you want more salt!" I had a Beef & Horseradish Suet Pudding, with roast vegetables and "seasoned " chips, with an excellent red wine gravy, my wife a bunless burger. Both very enjoyable. The pub also has, arguably, the best gents toilet wall I've seen! No good me explaining, go see it. Not paying by cash was not a problem. We'd happily return