places to eat- portsmouth/southsea

[helenmh]

We will be catching a late ferry to normandy from portsmouth. Our boys are 9 and 11. Anyone recommend somewhere for a family lunch or evening meal in the area?
thanks
helen

Well, if you are lunching, the Historic Dockyard is really entertaining for all ages - can highly recommend the guided tour around the Victory. Have to confess that I cannot remember what the food was like there at all, which possibly means not very memorable. There are a few people on here from Portsmouth, hope they can advise.

Portsmouth has a new(ish) shopping outlet which is fab its on the waterfront (I'm sure someone else will remember the name as there is a website with directions and info etc). We go there and have a coffee at starbucks followed by a trip round the v good shops and then lunch at Pizza Express which looks out to the harbour and the view/shops keep the children happy for the whole meal. - Highly recommend it as you can park directly underneath the shops - no hassle.

Playzone in Cosham is not far, has a really nice cafe and they can get rid of lots of energy before their trip.

Its called Gunwharf, definitely recommend it, huge car park underground, lots of outlet shops, and then as Seahorse said, a great Pizza Express, (lots of other eat places too if you dont fancy pizzas!) you can look out to sea and see all the boats etc. Nice atmosphere.

There is a cinema there too. I have a feeling there might be bowling, but not sure!

Thanks for you ideas.they are really helpful
helen

Word of warning about Gunwharf its incredibly expensive. We had two glasses of wine and a glass of mineral water and that came to £10. There aren't that many places in Portsmouth/Southsea that let you take children. In Southsea there is the Chicago Rock Cafe, never been myself but a couple of people have said the food is quite good, you would have to check to see if allows children after 7pm. There is a Wacky Warehouse called The Sovereigns at North End not far from the ferry port. The food is quite good in there but they never have any ice for drinks so if thats important to you (like it is for my dp) then steer clear. Don't go to the Charlie Chalks at Clarence Pier as the food is awful and the service is non-existent. We've been three times and have had to complain all three times. There is a Pizza Hut at Southsea and one in Portsmouth itself. On the Eastern Road on the way into town there is a Harvester which is quite good and allows children. I'm afraid that's all we've found in 3 years of looking. We usually end up going out of town.

love Gunwharf Quay personally - there's a fab Monsoon outlet that I always end up in for dd and me !! Lovely eateries, but I agree - not cheap.