ITALY is my thing. I love everything about the country.

A frequent visitor to anywhere in Italy I can get a flight to, I can often be found tucking into homemade pizza, rich pasta and as much Italian cheese as I can get my hands on in one of the beautiful country's thousands of unique little eateries.

That personal touch of a tiny family run business is something I think we find hard to recreate in the UK.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a great fan of the many chains which have brought my very favourite kind of food to virtually every corner of every town and village.

But there's something very different about a homely one-off Italian restaurant.

To me Prezzo in Romsey is the perfect combination of the two.

It's part of a highly regarded chain, just like any of its counterparts in Southampton, Winchester, Ringwood, Salisbury, Port Solent and Christchurch, but you wouldn't know it.

What is special about the Romsey version of Prezzo is that it is tucked away in an absolutely beautiful former manor house.

It's cosy, the staff are wonderfully warm and attentive and the food is truly delicious.

Being cheese freaks, my companion and I both opted for the superb Mozzarella in Carozza - deep fried, plenty of runny cheese served

with a tangy pomodoro sauce - for starter.

Our main courses were equally cheesy - a perfect tropicana pizza with plenty of pineapple, ham mushrooms and more mozzarella for myself and crespolina porcini or tasty rolled crepes filled with mushrooms, parmesan and a creamy sauce.

For dessert, we chose a cheesecake and ice cream with hazelnuts and meringue from a long list of tempting treats.

The menu also offers a variety of breads, side orders and an extensive wine and coffee list.

A three-course meal for two, plus drinks, came to just under £40.

Even with my pidgin Italian, I know Prezzo translates as price and as far as I'm concerned a great night out and brilliant food for that little is a great deal.

Prezzo, The Manor House, 21 Palmerston Street, Romsey.