IT'S ALL very confusing. Latimers on the Quay popped up in Southampton walls opposite the De Vere Grand Harbour Hotel at just about the same time that Latimers, one of my favourite restaurants in Oxford Street, disappeared.

But this wasn't a straight move. Owner of Oxford Street Latimers, Dion Spiteri, opened the newer restaurant with Ben Hicks last year creating a mini-franchise. But he then decided to close the first restaurant to concentrate on Latimers on the Quay bringing his kitchen staff with him.

So there you have it, it's not the same restaurant just in a different place except it sort of is.

And it's all good news.

Latimers on the Quay is in a great location with good views and, thanks to a great renovation, a lovely airy interior. It also has space for plenty of tables outside so you can enjoy al fresco dining as soon as the weather brightens up.

The restaurant is modern but not painfully so. It's light and airy and the tables are not squashed in on top of each other so you can still enjoy an intimate meal even when it's busy.

When we visited the restaurant on a wet weekday evening it was pretty quiet - presumably it misses out on the passing trade which eateries in areas more heavily populated with restaurants enjoy. But it probably won't be long before enough people find out about it to make it bustling whatever the night and weather so we made the most of it.

We were given a warm welcome by the very friendly co-owner Ben who served us and chatted with us on and off throughout the evening.

As a vegan I had let them know when I booked that I have special dietary requirements but it probably wouldn't have mattered if I hadn't as all food is made to order and Ben said that his chef would be happy to adapt anything from the menu although he had also come up with a couple of special dishes for me.

I went for soup of the day for starters while my partner had baked mushrooms stuffed with spinach and fetta cheese. Although his dish was very tasty it was a rather small portion.

He had the same problem with his main course of puff pastry stuffed with roasted pine nuts and peppery greens with goats cheese. Although it was very tasty there could have been more of it. Luckily I had no such problem with my delicious wild mushroom risotto, which was big enough to share. My partner had room for pudding so rounded his meal off with very tasty American apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

Our meal, with drinks, came to £36.

With good food, a lovely location and charming staff, the new Latimers in its new location gets a definite thumbs up from me.

Latimers on the Quay is in Western Esplanade, Southampton. Tel: 023 8063 3180.