La Margherita

If your definition of fine dining includes relaxation, good food and drink and an impressive view of Southampton's waterfront, look no further than La Margherita. Known as Cabin Crew when it was established in 1973, this delightful place has come a long way from being a small café. The friendly atmosphere and appetising food are two things that have remained unchanged.

This Town Quay restaurant encourages you to relax and enjoy anything from simple gourmet pizzas and pastas to a range of fine aged steaks and fish, all with that special Italian touch. The chefs at La Margherita pay a lot of attention to the freshness of ingredients and presentation. The restaurant's strength lies in its balance of traditional and contemporary tastes, giving diners an impressive mix of new and old.

You could sample one of the truly Italian pizzas - while watching the yachts coming in to dock - like Napoli, Sofia Loren or Al Capone, all topped generously with tomato, mozzarella, ham or fresh vegetables, depending on your choice, they are sure to leave you wanting to order them again the next time you visit. If you're the partying kind, don't forget to take a look at the lively dance bar.

With dishes like creamy cannelloni di fungi made from tubes of pasta filled with porcini mushrooms, spinach, caramelised onions and ricotta cheese, served in a pool of basil, tomato and cream sauce, there is enough to satisfy anyone. The lunch and dinner a la carte menu lists pate di pesce, made of home made smoked halibut and salmon with lime dressing served with melba toast, among other starters. The main course selection lets you enjoy della valtellina, scallop of veal sautéed in butter, baked in the oven with fresh basil and mozzarella and served with spaghetti Napoli.

Top off your meal with homemade apple crumble or the exotic banana flambé, prepared by the waiter at your table. The extensive wine list has a wonderful description of each wine and the country of origin and is a treat. As you might expect, there is quite a range of Italian wines, but they are not too parochial as there are also ones from other parts of the world.

With its authentic food and warm hospitality, La Margherita offers a little slice of Italy, right in the heart of Southampton.