Tucked away in Southampton’s old city walls, Ennio’s is one of Southampton’s most established restaurants and has a fantastic reputation for elegant Italian dining. The restaurant itself is situated in an old Victorian warehouse, taking up the first two floors, but the interior combines period features with more contemporary touches. Exposed brick walls, vintage Italian posters and cosy booths make Ennio’s a relaxed, intimate dining experience, but the restaurant is still stylish enough to cater to special occasions.
The ground floor of Ennio’s is the restaurant, and with 100 covers it has plenty of room. Upstairs, the restaurant has ten luxury rooms for overnight stays, so you can visit and enjoy dinner without worrying about the journey home.
Meanwhile, the menu at Ennio’s takes inspiration from Italy, and features classic dishes from all over the country made with top quality ingredients. The large a la carte kicks off with starters including crisp baby squid with roasted garlic mayonnaise, vitello tonnato, and seared scallops wrapped in pancetta with saffron risotto. Mains range from classic pasta dishes, like a spaghetti carbonara, linguini marinara or tagliatelle ragu, to veal ossobuco, pan-fried calves liver alla Veneziana, or steaks and whole fish cooked on the grill and served with chips.
Desserts are equally comforting, with options including Ennio’s tiramisu, a lemon panna cotta, and an affogato with your choice of liqueur, as well as a range of sorbets and gelatos. Ennio’s also serves a popular Sunday lunch, with roast beef, chicken, lamb and nut roast served alongside all the trimmings, and weekly specials.
Ennio's also has an extensive wine list that features both Italian and international wines.