Prive Bar Restaurant

On Commercial Road in The Polygon, Prive Bar Restaurant brings polished ease to Southampton’s dining scene. Steps from the theatre, it suits everything from a quick coffee to cocktails at the counter or the full dinner-and-drinks experience. A professional team keeps things flowing, from first sip to final course.

The menu favours freshness and familiarity with a modern tilt. Expect the silken comfort of chicken liver parfait with red onion chutney and toasted brioche, and mussels mariniere in a wine, chilli and garlic cream. Italian cravings are met by spaghetti marinara bright with seafood and cherry tomatoes, and a hearty beef brisket lasagna with garlic bread.

Classics carry the day among the mains: beef bourguignon with creamy mash, and crispy pork belly matched to sage mash and cider puree. Lighter choices include an Asian beef salad with tender stem broccoli, fried vegetables and soy dressing, and a chicken Caesar salad with anchovies, pancetta, a soft-boiled egg and parmesan. The room is contemporary and sociable, ideal for pre-show bites or unhurried evenings.

At the bar, time-honoured mixes like the classic Margarita and Negroni partner draft beer favourites Birra Moretti and Guinness, an easy run of reds and whites, plus espresso, cappuccino and fragrant teas. Best to book, especially on performance nights; take your seat, raise a glass, and let the evening take a bow.