It was September 2023 when I last gave my recommendations for local restaurants and eateries. As you may know by now, I’m a bit of a foodie and enjoy a delicious dinner out and about. That means it’s about time I did an update and gave you some more tips for highly recommended places to have a luscious lunch or excellent evening meal. The following three eateries are in Hampshire and are a mixture of established and newer places that have caught my eye over the last couple of months.
Côte - Basingstoke
It just so happened that my birthday this year fell on a Saturday, which was lucky for me and nice to be able to able to go for lunch rather than wait for dinner in the evening. My husband James had suggested we book a table in advance, and it was as well that we did because when we got there at 12.30pm it was already quite busy.
To access the restaurant, you go through a red curtain which adds to the drama and romance of the place. We were greeted by our enthusiastic female host. She took our booking reference and then gave us a choice of tables. We chose the one by the window at the front of the restaurant. We were thankful for a bit of daylight, and we were near the bar (always a bonus).
We had decided to opt for the Prix Fix menu and have two courses. We both chose the Poulet Grillé - chargrilled chicken breast, creamy mushroom and thyme sauce served with triple cooked truffle chips (frites!). James went for the ice cream and sorbet for dessert, and I ordered the dark chocolate mousse. We fancied cocktails to accompany the meal, so James had the ‘Cinnamon Bun Espresso Martini’, and I had the ‘Passion in Paris’, a cheeky vodka number.
Our general impression of Cote was that it presented a relaxed Saturday lunchtime vibe, balanced with attentive customer service from the friendly staff. There was upbeat music playing in the background, with a continental edge which added to the atmosphere. We spent a good hour and a half enjoying our meal and never felt rushed.
I would highly recommend the well-appointed restaurant, and the Prix Fixe menu is worth opting for at £17.95 for two courses (or 3 courses for £21.95 if you’re extra hungry). It’s available Sunday - Friday and until 5pm on Saturday.
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Tattva Indian Kitchen - Farnborough
This Indian cuisine restaurant is situated on the ground floor of Kingsmead in Farnborough town centre. Incidentally as an aside, it’s handy for a cinema trip (little plug for the Vue there!) We went along to the eatery in October this year for another celebratory meal with our best mates, Katy and Doug. They met us there for lunch and we ordered drinks to start. On this occasion we could take advantage of Tattva’s “2 for 1” deal on cocktails. James and I went for the Moscow Mule – a beautiful blend of vodka and ginger beer with a lime-laced tang.
Our friends joined us in starting with a poppadom each and then we ordered our individual selections. James matched me in ordering a main called ‘Lamb Gosht Saag Wala’ – this was lamb cooked with spinach. We chose to share a vegetable rice (pulao). I must admit I always have to share rice or naan bread as I tend to find having one on my own is too much!
The chilled-out ambience of the restaurant hit just the right tone. The kind and efficient staff added to the positive experience, and we couldn’t fault them on any aspect of the delectable meal. As such I would highly rate this restaurant for a relaxed Sunday lunch. Be aware if you are visiting this establishment that they are not open Mondays, however they do provide a takeaway service as well as sit-down meals on Tuesdays-Sundays.
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The Squirrel, Farnborough
Earlier in November we went for lunch at The Squirrel pub and restaurant in Farnborough. Our party this time included my mother, Rose, and sister, Kate. An additional guest was Bob, my sister’s German pointer. We were celebrating my sister’s birthday and again we made sure we booked ahead; in case the pub was particularly busy. True to form for a Saturday it was indeed at least half full.
We were shown to a table by our female host, but she gave us the option of an alternative one which we gladly took and sat down. Bob the dog was able to sit on the bench next to my mum. A side note here is that I would congratulate the Squirrel pub’s owners for allowing dogs inside and letting them sit on some of the furniture.
Onto the meal we went to the bar and ordered drinks: we all went for either a soft drink e.g. ginger ale or fruit pressé, or a low-alcohol lager. We were determined to keep clear heads, hehe! We then made our selections for food: I went for the house fish and chips; James went for the chicken and pancetta pie with greens; and my mum and sister selected the venison and steak pie with vegetables.
We had a little wait for the food, but when it came it was well-cooked, hot, and tasted divine. No-one had any issues with their meals, and we were pleased to have been able to enjoy quality time together in an eatery we hadn’t been to for a while.
To sum up the main points I can say that the service at the pub was good, the staff were friendly and calm despite a busy afternoon. The standard of the meals was high, and the overall atmosphere was fun and family friendly. When you get the chance and you’re in the local Hampshire area, try it.
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I hope you have enjoyed my round up of restaurants in Hampshire – please let me know your thoughts and feedback in the comments section.
These are the links to all the featured restaurants:
Well written honest reviews 🙂