The Best Restaurants in Netley, Hampshire, United Kingdom (2025)

Third time we have been here over the past 3 years. The standard is always really high and hasn’t slid. For starters I had soft shelled crab - crispiest I’ve ever had, and then Persic Chicken and my wife had the beef in Merlot. It was all fantastic. We had green beans as a side dish and it was so delicious I could have just had a plate of that as a main. Just as important to the quality of the food is the high standard of service. I asked our waiter about quite a lot of the ingredients I hadn’t heard of and he described all of them and had clearly tried them. Love this restaurant- we keep it for special occasions but I’m starting to think we should change our definition of special so we go there more often…

The reception and ambiance of the restaurant was great. The lighting and decor definitely elevated the experience as well as the view from the restaurant. The cocktails we had were perfect as I didn't want something too sweet and the waitress recommended the perfect cocktail to me. Their signatures were unique and I would want to go back for them alone! The food was but no means bad, I'd only give it 4 stars though as it was not mind-blowing with amazing flavours. But I will say that it is Asian fusion really well done. My highlights were the duck pancakes, chicken and egg-fried rice. Tried a little of the Hazelnut dessert and wish I ordered myself one! Definitely one to go back to.

Visited for the Halloween quiz night. I had an absolute blast, well worth coming. The place was full of friendly patrons, atmosphere was great. I enjoyed the quiz great mix of rounds and questions all at a good pace. I enjoyed a couple of things from the a la carte menu. Ribs were tender and tasty, chips were fat crispy and hot. I had a baked apple for desert which was delicious, autumnal and reminded me of a modern version of the baked apples my mum would make us for pudding on a Sunday growing up in the 80s/90s just wonderful! Staff were friendly and attentive did a fantastic job serving all the tables as everyone was there at the same time for the quiz. Yes it wasn't a cheap place, but harvester this it is not! Given the picturesque setting, quaint cosy building good food & drink and welcoming service I feel this place deserves a top spot. I would look to visit again just a shame they are not open more lunch times as I normally have little ones in tow.

We stopped by for a Sunday roast. We tried beef, lamb and the vegetarian option, which arrives without potatoes but was quickly rectified. We didn't try the cocktails as we thought they were a bit on the expensive side, and the selection of desserts of the day didn't push us enough, but the meat was juicy and tender, and we are sure that in summer the atmosphere will be much more enjoyable than winter, especially in their outside area/garden that was very nice. It would be lovely to go back in summer.

Family celebration meal on a Sunday. We all had the same meal, and all rated it tasty. I felt the vegetables were overcooked and there was no vegan option for the Yorkshire pudding. Service was good, and atmosphere great, as I was in good company. Décor of restaurant was tastefully done, and relaxing.

First time here as were camping up the road. On arrival for the Jazz and Fizz at lunchtime Daniel was warm and welcoming, nothing was too much trouble. The beautiful secluded garden is a delight with thatched pods. We decided to dine here in the evening and sat in the upstairs restaurant. Again Daniel was very welcoming. Our waitress was Grace who was lovely, a very knowledgeable young lady. Both lunchtime and evening you couldn't fault the food, first class. Good wine selection, one small criticism a shame they do not have beer and lager on tap, bottles only. Can't recommend The River Rat highly enough. Will certainly be returning.

We came here for a family celebration. Our waitress Beannie was just amazing, friendly and gave lots of advice on the food for our mixed age group. Food came in good time and was hot and tasty.

Superb Meal full of flavours. One of the best Caribbean roast I have had. Decent portions and was filling. Can't fault anything. Really wanted try the cheesecake as that looked good but didn't have time others didn't want one. Didn't think I would have any room for it. Would Certainly come again and Cocktails was really nice one of my favourite drink Pina Colada. Staff was Welcoming and Helpful. Thanks for having us.

Such a lovely waitress, very friendly had time to hear about my day and wished me a happy birthday. Very pretty girl as well! Also lended me a lighter for my cigarette as was struggling to find one. Food was superb, I had curried Goat and my dad had oxtail 👌 😋 had the best experience today. I think Nevaeh is manager in the making!

A Caribbean delight! The food and the drinks - especially the cocktails! Are about as good as you'll get in a national chain restaurant! And at a very reasonable price too! The staff are always very welcoming.... that, along with music, makes for a great atmosphere! We had the Bottomless Brunch this time. As well as giving you a great chance to sampla a variety of cocktails (pictured below), it represents incredible value for money!

Really wonderful food, a treat, a destination with comfort, class, lounge, huge selection of drinks with a lovely long bar. All tastefully decorated for Xmas. Was so busy having fun that didn’t take too many pictures of the food. Thoroughly recommend oysters, Lobster Thermidor & Hake. Service spot on.

Great food, friendly staff, and a lovely atmosphere. A great choice for any occasion!

The staff appeared understandably under pressure due to the busy evening, yet they maintained a high level of professionalism throughout. A particular mention goes to the young, dark haired lady who assisted us was exceptionally knowledgeable and patient as my wife and I inquired about various dishes. Her attentiveness made a great impression. The view of the marina is absolutely stunning, adding to the overall charm of the experience. The dishes we ordered were hot, fresh, and delicious, although they took some time to arrive. However, given the bustling atmosphere, we found this understandable. While the prices are on the higher side, the quality of the food and service made it well worth it.

Gorgeous spot for a date night, with attentive staff and a homely atmosphere, guaranteed to make you feel at home. You have to visit here, the menu and drinks are unbelievable!

We arrived and found that our table was in the centre of the bar area which was great fun. There was a fun vibe and we were close to the live music. There were lots of staff on shift and we were served very fast. Throughout the evening the team were on hand and the food service was great. There were lots of wine options and we were pleased with our selections. We ordered lots from the taps menu, and it was delicious. The steak strips and the squid were my favourite. The live music was really good, the pianist and the singer were great. Great to have live music while you eat. Good selection of puddings. Great place for a party.

Such a great place for yummy food, amazing ambiance, and incredible service. We didn’t take many food shots but HIGHLY recommend the arancini and spinach side. So affordable! Yummmmm

Good pub food. Very good choice of beers. Very friendly staff.

great pub really lovely staff and nice atmosphere decent range of food too

Bar staff are really great, helpful and friendly, excellent Guinness and pizza!...

Lovely traditional pub complete with dartboard and garden area. Quite spacious within, beer not overly priced compared to other establishments nearby.

Such great service - staff were fantastic at accommodating guests with additional needs, super friendly and everything came quickly. Food was good - would have loved crispier skin on my fish - but overall I would definitely come back.

Great food and great service. We had the set menu (good value for money), plus bone marrow 🤤, and we were not disappointed. The food was delicious and filling. Our servers were attentive and friendly.

Nothing but good things. As soon as we walked through the door, we were greeted with a smile. We took our seats and were served by the lovely Lauren, who was very helpful. Drinks arrived quickly, and the food arrived at the table in a timely manner, looking delicious. The starters were flavourful while the mains were looking great and tasted amazing. Dessert was held back long enough for the previous courses to settle so we could enjoy the amazing tastes for what was to come. Definitely will be going back in the future 5⭐️

Food as always top notch! All three steaks cooked differently but each cooked perfectly! So well done Nick! Lisa was brilliant very attentive as a server the right level of friendly and professional. Would very much recommend this location as a place to go for a treat.

Booked here this evening and had a superb meal, the atmosphere was really nice and made to feel at home. The service was second to none and Gabrielle was attentive in all aspects of what was needed to make the visit a memorable one. Price of the meal was spot on costing just over £25 PP including a drink (I had two pints) for a 2 course meal. They had a guest ale on which I was assured is a regular thing. All in all a really nice place to have a meal with a good menu selection and a specials board as well.

Group meal out and Ellen (our server) was fab & friendly. Overall the food was lovely, couple of meals weren’t quite as hot as expected but it was busy in there. Would recommend for good hearty pub food. One member of the group had dietary restrictions and although there was an IPad it was confusing on what was impacted or not.

The food was lovely, although could've been warmer. The service was slow but I'm not sure if that's cos we were sat out of the way in the corner. I would definitely come back, but not on a time crunch

I am so happy I got what I ordered! No oil, no olive oil, just butter, salt and water. The sea bass is divine, fresh from the sea and the vegetables were perfect. Sophie suggested I try Chapel Down as it was my first time and she is such a connoisseur of these English sparkling wines that I can't wait to try again. The staff are so friendly and amazing. Also they are Pet friendly too!

First time visit and have to say the food was the best Indian cuisine I’ve ever tasted. Staff very friendly and helpful. 100% recommend

What a lovely place! Really attractive location overlooking marina, with equally appealing, cosy interior. The food was delicious (except the stake, so it’s not the right place for stake lovers!) and the service was excellent. I will definitely come again when back in Southampton.

We went as a family of 3 for my partner's birthday. Firstly, an absolutely stunning location over looking the river and boats. Our daughter loved the view! The food was fantastic. Superb service. The only reason I voted 4 star on atmosphere was it was a midweek lunch and quiet (which we didn't mind with an active 2 year old. Plus service was extra fast!)

Visited this place before the New Year. Had the black and blue burger and was left a little underwhelmed. Burger was great but seemed to lack in flavour the evening we went. Shame as everything else was perfect. The service was excellent and the site is in an excellent location. Food was good, not bad but was lacking in taste for me. Probably would visit again.

This place was highly recommended by our friends, whom we hadn't seen in years. They live locally, so we made a reservation on the same day and had a lovely catch-up over delicious food and a few bottles of wine. This is a great pub but a bit difficult to find if you did know the area. Parking is limited to on-street spots towards the end of narrow lanes. Alternatively, you can park at Bursledon Station car park (free) or arrive by boat. From the street, head down a long outdoor staircase, turn left, go down more stairs, and enter the pub. All this effort is definitely worth it. There are several large rooms with views of the River Hamble, as well as outdoor seating unfortunately a bit cold and wet for that today. The menu is slightly upscale but not overly expensive. There was a variety of beer on offer, as well as a long list of fancy cocktails. The servers were friendly, efficient, and attentive. Can't wait for a return visit especially for Sunday lunch