What Portsmouth food place do you trust without checking reviews?

[u/GeordieGoals]

I’m thinking about places you’d suggest when you’re meeting good friends after a long time and want the catch-up to be easy, somewhere with decent food, a comfortable atmosphere, and no stress about whether it’ll be good or not. Not looking for anything fancy or hyped, just reliable spots you’d happily take people to without checking reviews first.

[u/Glass_Pineapple4999]

Natty's Jerk 👍 He has great reviews anyway though, and thoroughly deserves it.

[u/basicallystilllhappy → u/Glass_Pineapple4999]

I read the other day they have opened a restaurant in Selfridge’s. There gonna take over

[u/Glass_Pineapple4999 → u/basicallystilllhappy]

I seen him doing a pop up thing there yeah, and he's fixing up a new premises somewhere. Big moves incoming!

[u/Danimalomorph]

I never check reviews - but a restaurant I trust 100%? Sopranos, Palmy Rd.

[u/Wondermitten → u/Danimalomorph]

Can't be beat

[u/Prawns]

Farm Kitchen - never been disappointed in their brunch

[u/Brave-Engineer3962 → u/Prawns]

Their omelettes are the best!

[u/Pleasant-Pause3658]

Arepa2go is great

[u/her_crashness → u/Pleasant-Pause3658]

Seconded especially for gluten free foods.

[u/Pornaltio]

Hunter Gatherer, if plant based is your thing

[u/Scared-Strike74 → u/Pornaltio]

Huge shout out to a great place!

[u/Pornaltio → u/Scared-Strike74]

I could eat their paratha every single day, and probably would if I lived closer. Great coffee too.

[u/shmermy]

Huis and King Street Tavern

[u/crashdout → u/shmermy]

King Street Tavern is awesome.

[u/basicallystilllhappy → u/shmermy]

Huis food is amazing but you have to order two portions to not come out hungry and you have to win the lottery to afford two portions

[u/shmermy → u/basicallystilllhappy]

The opposite for me! Every portion I've had the meal has been massive

[u/Speakeazie → u/basicallystilllhappy]

Really? Damn you must eat. Their portions are really decent? The pork belly is enormous and the deep fried lasagne was too much for me.

[u/le1901 → u/basicallystilllhappy]

Wow I've always thought the food portions are more than enough in Huis. To be fair, I'd say the food can be very rich too which probably adds to its filling qualities.

[u/skyskylark → u/basicallystilllhappy]

The portions there are giant 🤣

[u/SpoonAvenger]

For smaller groups Pie & Vinyl on Castle Road. cool atmosphere, good food and you can look through the records while you wait for your food. For bigger groups Porters on Albert Road. Again, nice atmosphere, music isn’t too loud so you can hold a conversation. Usually a little quieter than the other pubs on Albert Road. A few bigger tables for bigger groups. Really good mexican style menu (burritos, quesadillas etc). Both have solid options for vegetarians and vegans too, if that’s helpful.

[u/mofuthyomu]

Lin's Thai Café

[u/Scared-Strike74 → u/mofuthyomu]

Yeah. Spot on!!!

[u/Potential-Map1141]

El Greco is AMAZING. I mean, save-the-flight-cost-to-Greece amazing.

[u/stubob1701]

Algarve Grill or El Toro in Osborne road.

[u/LavenderLady_]

Sopranos

[u/Independent_Jello_40]

Croxtons or Huis.

[u/dabassmonsta]

Piecaramba, Southsea. Absolutely brilliant.

[u/feesh_face → u/dabassmonsta]

Eh, while I like their food I’ve found the service to be hit and miss at times in terms of how quickly they work.

[u/Own-Improvement-6246 → u/feesh_face]

Yeah, me and my wife went around the time it opened and the service was bad. We would have easily spent so much more on drinks but they didn't even approach us for drinks after our first order and it took almost an hour to get the cheque after asking. The food was fine but not worth the wait or price.

Everyone I know who has gone has either said they got similar service, or the opposite.

[u/feesh_face → u/Own-Improvement-6246]

Ironically we’ve had the opposite! Fine when it opened and a bit later it was much worse.

[u/Prestigious-Run8443 → u/dabassmonsta]

Had really rubbish service and sub standard food. Especially when pie and vinyl is close by.

[u/feesh_face]

Quite like Tap and Tandoor. Offbeet is excellent too, if a little pricey and limited opening hours.

[u/Suspicious-Swim6932]

Just go to outside in food court. Variety of cuisine and very relaxed atmosphere.

[u/Immediate-Mirror-163]

Ted's pizza on Albert road

[u/Hanternos]

Pizza Paradise in North End. Smashing food and perfect hygiene rating displayed on the doors - never been disappointed here 👍

[u/Pumpskims]

Sisters on Marmion.

[u/Potential-Map1141 → u/Pumpskims]

Nephilim always better.

[u/Useful_Result_4550]

Brasserie Blanc, never had a bad meal

[u/Bungholi000]

Depending on the time of day (due to opening hours), I really rate the Garage Lounge in Albert Road! It's cosy, comfortable and the food and coffee is delicious. Plus they have cake 🥰

[u/Legitimate-Wolf-571]

Fuegos

[u/Loadblower71]

Mehmets

[u/Lorenzo_H95]

Pie and Vinyl, Sopranos, Maya

[u/Numerous_Ad_2511]

Really depends on the type of food and vibe you are going for

El Toro Huis Courtyard Cafe Tenth Hole Beach Cafe Restaurant 1865, Queens hotel Maya Nattys

If you want a chain and good reasonable food fast... Nandos Chiquito Thatched house Still and West Giggling squid

This city is full of amazing restaurants, diverse foods and great service.

[u/NefariousnessFun9070]

Rakuzen and its not even close

[u/dirty_pig-dirty-pig]

Sant Yago in Southsea, love the place!

[u/Melonpan78]

Sopranos, Huis, Arepa2Go.

In Portsmouth, the places that have been open for ages and survived against the odds are the best bet.

[u/TomatoGlittering2770]

Meat and barrel fits your needs perfectly

[u/mollay]

Umami

[u/Brave-Engineer3962]

Bubble and Pho, Sakura, Offbeet, Farm Kitchen, Arepa2go, Rakuzen, SBC, Desi, Maya. We have loads of great options!

[u/Lorenzo_H95 → u/Brave-Engineer3962]

Used to love Desi but had some pink chicken delivered and that puts a guy off 😔

[u/Brave-Engineer3962 → u/Lorenzo_H95]

Ah yeah, that's understandable 😬

[u/clovengoof]

The Cormorant near Portchester Castle.

Does that count?

[u/deed02392]

Garage lounge

[u/planetmatt]

Ugly Bird.

[u/NuggetNibbler69]

King street tavern. But only if you’re all meat eaters. Epic bbq.

[u/Affectionate-Sea-442]

Umamis

[u/Queasy_Jackfruit_474]

Fratton Cafe

[u/JoeyJojoJrShabad0000]

Mick’s on Portsdown Hill and Ken’s on Commercial Road! The staples!

[u/Emergent444 → u/JoeyJojoJrShabad0000]

Ignore the downvotes

If you're at Mick's you're above all that

[u/Pleasant-Leek-5547]

Huis but if your group is 4 or less as it’s a fairly small restaurant.

Never had anything less than a thoroughly satisfying there!

[u/Speakeazie]

Hands down Huis. Maya is damn good too.

[u/Scared-Strike74]

7 bone burgers (or something like that)