Water Margin, Southampton

So for mummy Pedders' birthday, we decided to go for a Chinese in Southampton to celebrate with a few friends. I, unfortunately had decided to brave the somewhat questionable elements in a tiny dress and heels, and therefore was very pleased when we went to a gorgeously warm Chinese restaurant just outside of Chilworth.

It's a typical Chinese inside; round tables, spinny things on top, somewhat strange decoration. There's a bar - of course - and lots of waiters and waitresses waiting on you very attentively. It's a favourite of my parents so we had a lovely table (there were a lot of birthdays on so it was a noisy night!) and very good service.

The menu was huge - never a good thing when I need to decide what to eat! As there were 7 of us, we went for lots of picky things and most were very scrummy.


Starters:
- Half aromatic duck
- Spare ribs 'peking style'
- The Chef’s Special Lettuce Wrap
- Mixed Seafood Lettuce Wrap
- Steamed Fresh Scallops in Special Garlic Sauce

Mains:
- Sizzling Fillet of Beef in Satay Sauce
- Sizzling Fillet of Beef with Green Pepper and Black Bean Sauce
- Kung Po King Prawn (served with garlic and chilli sauce)
- Baked Fresh Crab with Black Bean and Garlic Sauce
- Sweet and Sour Pork “Hong Kong Style”
- Honey Roast Duck “Cantonese Style”
- Stir-Fried Beansprouts (with oyster sauce)
- Egg-Fried Rice

As you can understand, we were a little too stuffed after that lot to even consider dessert! We fairly waddled home but the food was delicious. My biggest problem with Chinese restaurants is that MSG gives me a headache and way too many in London and the South in general use it in their dishes. At the Chinese I'm used to back home, the food doesn't contain any and therefore I'm instantly put off if I taste it. Water Margin, however, doesn't use MSG and whilst they do tend to put Oyster Sauce on a lot of food, it's tasty and fresh!

I'd definitely go back there although possibly try different things on the menu. The pork & beef dishes were particularly good; I can't comment on the shellfish dishes as I'm allergic to them and couldn't take so much as a bite.

Damage: £300 for 7 people (inc. drinks)

The Vitals

Water Margin
72 Botley Road, North Baddesley, Southampton, Hampshire SO52 9DU
Tel: (023) 8073 2377
Website: http://water-margin.co.uk/