Olivo - Port Solent

Port Solent in Portsmouth is one of the south coast's leading leisure attractions.  Strolling along the marina or browsing amongst the individual shops and boutiques on The Boardwalk, it is easy to feel a Mediterranean atmosphere enveloping you as you taker in this picturesque site and observe the world go by.

So, how about a stop-off at Olivo as a first move, where the delights of authentic Italian cuisine await? Situated on the marina, Olivo - one of a small chain of restaurants, all Italian owned, inspired and run - offers traditional Italian food cooked by Italians. It is not difficult to imagine being transported back to Tuscany, the Mediterranean coast or whether your thoughts may wander. In the right weather conditions they have a large area of outside seating, looking out over the marina and the gloriously expensive playthings that are moored there.

The chefs have brought with them some of their favourite recipes passed down from generation to generation, with everything freshly made to order. Should you have any special requirements then just let your waiter or waitress know, and they will try to meet your needs to the letter.

It is worth noting that their pizza - with a great choice, running from Vulcano, tomatoes, mozzarella, hot spicy salami, chilli and sweet peppers topped with another pizza base to Giardino, tomato, mozzarella, black olives, artichoke, onions, peppers and mushrooms - is made in the traditional Italian way and baked in a 'stone based' oven to maintain the authentic Neopolitan taste. However, a word of warning, Olivo is run strictly in accordance with traditional Italian restaurant practices, consequently the occasional fracas may be heard from the kitchen! Worry not, I sometimes think they rehearse it.

The selection of homemade pasta is just as wide ranging from orecchiette al salmone, orechiette pasta served with a smoked salmon, brandy and cream sauce to pansotti di preboggion al sugo di nocei, individually handmade ravioli filled with spinach, mixed herbs and ricotta cheese in a warmed walnut sauce. But they offer much more than just pizza and pasta, with a full a la carte also.

The Italian pleasure over fish dishes comes to the fore in the maritime setting, so keep a lookout for their pan-fried fresh fillet of salmon, served on a bed of potatoes with a light white wine, black olives, capers anchovies and garlic sauce, or fresh mussels cooked in a tomato, white wine, garlic and chilli sauce.

Italians do wonderful things with veal, well beyond Holstein, and here pan-fried escalope is cooked in a rich Marsala wine sauce, served with the vegetables of the day. Grilled lamb steak is served in a delicate garlic, rosemary, mushroom and white wine sauce.

Italian wine at its best is a real delight and the list at Olivo starts with decent house wine by the glass or bottle, finishing with, amongst many others a notable style of Moscadello, made from the local grape and slowly fermented in new oak to produce a straw coloured yellow dessert wine with golden reflections.

For more details about their exuberant approach to life, diner's club, getting married at Olivo, history and philosophy, draw up a chair, pour yourself a glass of something delectable and have a look at their Website.