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YO! Sushi Southampton, WestQuay is a vital gastronomic experience rather than simply a place to eat sushi. This exciting and visually appealing Japanese delicacy, almost a cuisine in itself and going back to the 4th century BC, is fast rising in popularity for reasons of both taste and health, as well as its companionable setting. The restaurants offer a range of delectable nibbles that are attractively presented and revolve on a gently moving belt in front of customers, allowing them to sample a real wealth of varieties and eat just what they like best as often as they wish.

Contrary to many people's perception of sushi as raw fish, it comes in many forms drawing heavily on rice, fish, vegetables and seafood but the great variety arises chiefly from the different fillings and toppings, condiments, and the way these are combined. Often the same ingredients may be assembled in a traditional or a contemporary way, yet creating widely differing tastes.

Some of the most popular types are sashimi rolls, made from raw or seared slices of salmon and tuna and meant to be eaten within a couple of hours of being put together. Other options include cones of seaweed with rice and fillings and the little boat shaped parcels called gunkans. Miso soups, salads and nigiri sushi made of rice with toppings all add to its strong visual appeal.

Great beers like Asahi Super Dry and Sapporo support the food superbly, as well as hot and cold sake for those who want to sustain the Japanese experience. The menu also has non-alcoholic drinks and a limited list of wines and champagne. For dessert try the dorayaki, mochi or settle for fresh fruit.

The experience of having a meal at YO! Sushi is enriched by the unique array that appears as if by magic before the diner, with its unique colour coded pricing system. But the real pull is the fresh, healthy and tasty food that keeps people returning to their outlets across the UK.

Everyday is a holiday at Coco Rio, a bar and restaurant situated in Upper Banister Street, serving delightful Caribbean, Latin American, and African cuisine.

The rustic African décor has sophisticated Latino influences that give the place a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Live music and exciting theme nights add to the appeal. Consider visiting Coco Rio for a romantic meal in the gallery area, a fun night out, or simply to relax with cocktails in the bar area.

The lunchtime menu offers a selection of 'soul' bowls and other smaller meals while in the evening you could feast on chimcurri roasted loin of lamb fillet; spicy beef chilli, Creole gumbo, or kumara koshery, a sweet potato and coconut curry with roasted red pepper rice. Precede these with starters of Malawi spiced chicken brochettes, and get wild with a char-grilled crocodile fillet, mango and basil salsa.

Beer lovers could get hooked on to the Brazilian Brahma beer and wine connoisseurs will be pleased with the small but good choice of South African, Argentinean and Chilean wine.

Delicious food, wonderful atmosphere and great service come together remarkably at The Bouzy Rouge in Southampton's Ocean Village to allow guests to have a blast. Live entertainment on weekend evenings is one of the reasons why it is cheerfully crowded with locals and visitors, although it's debatable whether they've come for the music, the relaxed ambience or the appetising modern British and seafood fare. It's probably all three, of course.

An extensive refurbishment and name change has put the spirit back into the restaurant. Relax and unwind in the cosy setting while you contemplate ordering the quaintly named starters - Cheshire cat, prawns and flaked haddock coated with soured cream and toasted with red cheese, or hatter's riddle, a delicious mixture of prawns baby squid, bacon, garlic croutons and red peppers tossed in virgin olive oil dressing with parmesan.

The meal is taken to another level altogether with joint of tender lamb studded with garlic and topped with a crust of mint, garlic and breadcrumbs then roasted on the bone and coated with a light onion gravy or a large pork fillet wrapped around a banana and cut into medallions, sautéed and flamed in dark rum and white wine then finished with cream. The mad hatter's platter with a selection of vegetarian dishes is more food for thought.

To end, there's homemade cheesecake, tiramisu and chocolate brownies. The Bouzy Rouge's concise wine list brings old favourites alongside contemporary New World selections while the choice of beers and spirits is extensive.

The Cantina Mexican Restaurant sits in the bustling heart of Southampton's popular Bedford Place district, surrounded by numerous cafes, bars, boutiques and art galleries, but there are a few aspects that set it apart from the rest. For one it's the delightful setting that takes in natural wood, mosaic tiles and a palette of hot Mexican colours along with a soundtrack of sultry salsa. The layout allows you to choose how you wish to dine, from intimate booth seating, casual dining areas for drinks and nibbles, to large tables for party bookings.

Open all day, every day, Cantina has something for everyone, with lunch and early evening offers, à la carte dining, tasty cocktails and market tapas selection of chorizo taquitos, empanadas and chipotle beef tostaditas. Amongst specials, fish fillets with grilled corn salsa jostle for attention alongside char-grilled lamb rump with a honey, cumin and chilli glaze.

The excitement at Cantina spills through to the evening with Latino inspired dance nights, live percussion and mini gringo parties.

A fine restored hunting lodge set in the peace and tranquillity of the New Forest. Meals are served in the Wedgewood Restaurant, a one time Victorian music room, taking its name from the magnificent original plasterwork. Much of the inspiration for the menu comes from good English cuisine, using locally sourced ingredients, attention to balance of flavours and great care in the presentation.

The very popular three course Sunday lunch at £14.95 is a bargain. In the summer months the superb gardens are the ideal place to study the menu and to enjoy a drink after your meal. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet understated luxury without ostentation.

Slug and Lettuce has a chain of almost a hundred bars spread across the country sharing a common love of serving down to earth, undemanding food and drink.

The group prides itself on offering dishes prepared using quality ingredients, and you should be attended on by attentive staff in a safe, welcoming and cheerful environment. The Slugs have something for anyone - breakfast for a lively start to the day, lunch for busy people, family meals or even a relaxing glass of wine to bring a tiring day to an end - all in a variety of modern and stylish settings.

The menu features old time English favourites such as Gloucestershire Old Spot sausages in buttered mash or fish pie made with Dartmouth smokehouse haddock, in a Devon cream and leek sauce, although dishes look to Europe and further afield to Asia for inspiration. A good way to start the enjoyment is by sharing platters of Southern fried chicken breast pieces, crispy potato wedges, garlic ciabatta strips, half a rack of BBQ pork ribs, wasabi vegetables with onion rings or some Greek mezze

Hearty steak pies, Thai curry with sticky jasmine rice or butternut squash with goats' cheese lasagne are amongst the more popular main dishes. Sandwiches or wraps - warm tortilla with chicken and Parmesan or aromatic duck in plum sauce - provide for those who prefer something lighter. They also serve burgers as well as tempting salads like salmon, asparagus or tomato and mozzarella. For children they have good old British standby sausage and mash, or pepper pasta and ketchup among other choices, all of which never fail to delight, particularly as some of them seem to have come out of a certain celebrity chef's Book of Forbidden Dishes.

Desserts appear in the form of raspberry biscotti, hot chocolate pudding or a creamy strawberry cheesesake. The wine list is well compiled and substantial. There are not less than seven French, three from Italy and some from Spain, Chile, Australia as well as New Zealand. Slug and Lettuce can cater for events including birthday parties, fashion shows, hen nights, wedding parties or just an enjoyable night out with a few friends.