THE people of Hampshire are most certainly Prezzo fans – and I count myself among them.

The Italian chain has just opened its ninth restaurant in the county, so they’re certainly doing something right on the south coast.

Priding themselves on their contemporary restaurants, the new Prezzo in Eastleigh’s redeveloped Swan Centre is all sleek lines, giant funky glass vases, stylish curves and fulllength glass windows. Most importantly, the kitchen is part of the restaurant and you can watch the chefs hard at work preparing your dishes and smell the tempting garlic scents wafting across the restaurant.

A friend and I visited less than a week after the restaurant had opened and already the people of Eastleigh were busily tucking into a host of delights, many using the two-for-one vouchers that have so become a part of a night out at one of the chain’s restaurants.

Friendly and attentive staff were on hand immediately with offers of drinks, nibbles, brand new menus for 2010 and a list of the specials.

Within 15 minutes of our arrival, we were devouring a plate of seafood delights.We shared tasty light crab cakes and delicious dusted calamari to start, both dipped into oodles of creamy garlic mayonnaise.

I then opted for a superb gorgonzola pizza, cooked to perfection in the stonebake oven and topped with Gorgonzola cheese, leeks, roasted peppers, marinated olives, mozzarella and tomato. This is a firm favourite of mine and a pizza I have never tried anywhere else.

My companion enjoyed Penne Al Pollo Zafferano – a penne pasta dish with seasoned chicken, red chilli, spinach and garlic in a creamy saffron sauce – which had just the right hint of spiciness.

With no room for the scrumptious looking desserts, we were in and out of the restaurant in less than an hour – in plenty of time to catch a movie at Vue or bowl a few balls at AMF next door.

A meal for two with soft drinks came to just under £35 – less if you think to print out a voucher in advance.

Prezzo have added a fantastic new addition to their stable of great Hampshire restaurants.

LORELEI REDDIN Prezzo, Unit 1A, The Swan Centre, Eastleigh, Hampshire S050 5FX Tel: 023 8061 0772 loveprezzo.co.uk