Trendy Italian restaurant Figurati has pride of place on the waterfront at Southampton’s Village Marina, with beautiful views overlooking the River Itchen and Southampton Water. The restaurant itself combines a modern take on Italian cuisine with sleek, contemporary interiors, making it a perfect spot for all sorts of occasions from dates to celebrations and catch ups with friends.
Inside Figurate is bright and airy, with high ceilings and plenty of natural light filling the space. Smart timber herringbone floors meet an abundance of foliage, rattan lamps, marble tabletops and plush velvet banquettes in fetching green, making the restaurant feel chic and sophisticated. The view out over the yachts harboured in the marina adds to the glamorous feel of the space.
The menu focuses heavily on using fresh, locally sourced seasonal produce, which is then channelled into a menu of modern Italian cooking. The menu riffs on traditional dishes with little touches - for example, the popular lasagne uses slow-cooked beef cheek and smoked Jacob’s Ladder (another beef cut) to add more luxury to a classic dish. Figurati’s tiramisu swaps the usual ladyfinger biscuits for pistachio sponge, adding white chocolate cremeux, espresso gel and Marsala.
The large menu has something for everyone, from pizzas, salads, handmade pastas and risotto dishes to small plates, cured meat platters and main dishes like chicken Milanese, grilled ribeye steak with broccolini, and cod loin with cavolo nero and Jerusalem artichoke puree.
In addition to the food, Figurati is also known for its extensive wine list and creative house cocktails, including the Fig & T (Villa Ascenti gin, tonic water, lemon and thyme).