Southampton’s independent guide to eating and drinking

Baboo Ji is the kind of place that makes you question whether vegetarian Indian food was ever “missing” anything to begin with. Friendly, comforting and confident in what it does, this Portswood spot delivers flavour without compromise. From standout paneer makhani to a genuinely memorable sizzling brownie, it’s a menu that speaks for itself rather than trying to imitate anything else.

A revisit to Padharo proved exactly what I remembered from my first visit: this is a vegetarian Indian restaurant that never feels like a compromise. From standout chaat and smoky paneer angara to warm hospitality and a menu full of confidence, Padharo continues to show why it’s one of Southampton’s most distinctive curry spots.

Dancing Man Brewery’s 11th anniversary banquet felt less like dining out and more like being invited to someone’s birthday party. Set inside the historic Old Wool House, the evening brought together long shared tables, a live folk-style band, trial beers and a room full of regulars clearly invested in the place. With dishes like crispy pork belly, beetroot with labneh, spatchcock chicken and those genuinely standout miso butter potatoes, it was a reminder that what makes Danc