HOW many Italian restaurants can you get in one city?

It is not a joke, there is no punchline but the answer is nine and they are all within a mile of each other.

Good news, then, if you enjoy pizza and pasta and live in Winchester.

Less so, if you don't.

It is stiff competition alright, not that The Gourmet Pizza Company need worry on this evidence. The glass-fronted restaurant, which all opens out in hotter weather, has immediate appeal and is the perfect place to watch people walking through the picturesque square.

A place on the terrace in the summer is hard to come by but well worth it.

And the restaurant is not just popular with the customers, it is with the staff too.

In an industry renowned for a high turnover of personnel, 11 of the team taken on when the restaurant opened in February 2003 are still there.

The menu is impressive, full of unusual slants on traditional Italian food.

As the name implies they have a large selection of pizzas with toppings as simple as mozzerella, tomato and basil to a spicy Thai chicken.

Extras such as shrimps can also be added at a small charge.

We decided to try something from the pasta selection of fettuccine, linguine and lasagne.

I started with the bruschetta and my wife an avocado and bacon salad with balsamic dressing, both immaculately presented and very tasty.

My spicy chicken fettuccine with shrimps and peppers was equally impressive as was the linguine with al pesto, basil, pine kernals, parmesan and pecorino cheese that my wife chose. The attention to detail was refreshing as was the attentive service.

The dessert menu was extensive but quickly dispatched again to avoid further temptation.

At just under £30 plus drinks it was good value and definitely worth a visit.

The full menu is also available as a takeaway and all pasta dishes are stored in special thermal containers to keep them fresh.

The Gourmet Pizza Company, 20 The Square, Winchester. Reservations: 01962 842553.