Restaurant 27

Restaurant 27 brings a bit of 21st-century culinary swagger to Southsea. It looks very neat on the outside after a spiffy paint job, the corner site being just a short hop to the sea. An artist's impression of scenes in a kitchen hangs above the bar. Meanwhile, in the real one, the chefs are cooking up some pretty modish stuff using the latest techniques. The sensibly short menu (four choices at each course) serves up the likes of seared rare tuna with cucumber and lime texture and pickled root vegetables - clever, well balanced flavours and textures they are too. Next up, wild sea bass comes to the plate keeping company with crispy chicken wings, crab cakes, tomato and tarragon. It all looks beautiful on the plate, not least a dessert of popcorn pannacotta with peanut parfait and banana toffee. The service is on the ball and clued up about the menu.