The Olive Tree

Set on Oxford Street in The Old Town, The Olive Tree distils the easy charm of the Mediterranean into a cosy yet polished dining room.

Warm hospitality sets the tempo, while a kitchen devoted to freshly prepared, seasonal cooking brings sunlit flavours to the fore.

The menu roams the coast with confidence: house olives and a torn French baguette to start, then seafood in many guises, from battered haddock and a pan-fried fillet of hake to salmon ravioli and a gently creamy seafood risotto. Meat lovers will find equal comfort in a well-marbled 10-oz ribeye steak or an elegant 8-oz fillet steak, cooked to preference and served without fuss.

Lighter bites are lean, vibrant and fresh. A classic Caesar salad rubs shoulders with a halloumi, carrot and orange number, while bowls of linguini arrabbiata and soft-pillowed gnocchi offer plant-friendly pleasure. Burgers span beef, chicken or Beyond, and sweet teeth are rewarded with sticky toffee pudding or a fudgy chocolate brownie. The bar keeps things bright and breezy with a French martini, a mojito and more besides.

For a taste of the Med in the heart of Southampton, The Olive Tree is ready to welcome you. Book a table, settle in, and let the good times roll. Olive the above.