WHEN planning a romantic meal it often comes down to a choice between returning to the local tried-and-tested haunts or menu browsing along a busy city centre street.

Booking a table at a hotel near a motorway wouldn’t normally be my preference, but it turns out the Solent Hotel & Spa has far more to offer than just facials, full body massages and a comfortable bed.

The first pleasant surprise is the sheer convenience, because for once we could forget about fighting the inner city traffic, searching for parking spaces and the inevitable high heel trek.

Located a couple of minutes off Junction 9 of the M27, the hotel is set amongst woodland and the grand study-styled entrance offers a warm welcome from a cold winter’s night.

Apart from a reception desk, the only clue that this is a hotel is the odd foreign accent from some of the guests relaxing by the stylish bar.

The Terrace Restaurant, Bar & Grill, which is styled with simply, tasteful décor, has been awarded an AA rosette for the past 15 years, so our hopes were high as we were seated by the warm fire.

A diverse array of starters ranged from River Exe mussel, leek and saffron soup (£5.50) to twice baked blue cheese soufflé (£7) and warm salad of black pudding, crispy pancetta and quail eggs (£6.50).

My fiancée went for the tiger shrimp tempura with chilli jam and lime (five for £7.50 or nine for £13.50), along with what seemed to be at least three-quarters of our fellow diners.

Plump and juicy, the prawns were a real treat - her only regret was ordering just five instead nine.

I opted for an addition to the new spring menu; Asian potted crab.

Accompanied by coriander yoghurt and pitta, the refreshing dish was easily the tastiest crab dish I’ve enjoyed in Hampshire – having been disappointed by a several seafood-specialising restaurants in recent times.

I followed this up with a 31-day aged 10oz sirloin steak (£21). Dripping in burgundy butter and accompanied by hand cut chips and field mushrooms, it wouldn’t have been out of place at any Parisian restaurant.

My partner equally enjoyed her roasted rump of South Downs new season lamb with confit tomatoes, barlotti beans and red wine shallots (£18).

Taking a risk on the dessert, I went for the mango and chilli sorbet – yes you read correct, chilli. While it’s another ice cream flavour to tick off the list, it would be fair to say you have got to be a chilli fan to enjoy this one.

We also tasted the warm chocolate brownie, a great way to end a highly enjoyable evening.

From the end of the April until the autumn, diners are given the option to eat outdoors, on the terrace after which the restaurant is named, in what promises to offer another dining experience for us to discover.

■ Rookery Avenue, Whiteley, Fareham.

Tel: 01489 880000.