OISHII is a word that should be on your lips after dining at a new Japanese-style noodle bar in Basingstoke.

The Japanese word for delicious is certainly something Wagamama wants customers to say, after the London-based company invested around £1million in its 28th UK restaurant, at Festival Square, in Festival Place.

Wagamama marketing manager Vikki O'Neill was delighted with the public's reaction to the restaurant, which opened on Monday.

Miss O'Neill said: "We're counting on the Basingstoke people to welcome us and eat with us - it's a beautiful restaurant and a great location.

"We've had a positive response from the second it was announced that we were opening here."

She added that the restaurant, which will be open seven days a week, will add something new to the dining experience in Basingstoke's town centre.

"It's very different to a lot of other restaurants. The bench-style seating obviously takes people back to the canteen feel, and it's very informal and laid-back.

"The service is extremely efficient and fast, and it's a place where people come mainly for the food, but also partly for the service and atmosphere."

Wagamama (pictured right) prides itself on its focus of promoting healthy eating.

Miss O'Neill said: "We've always had this philosophy of serving healthy food that is fresh. As soon as you order, it's cooked there and then."

Many of the dishes on the menu are westernised versions of Japanese dishes, as Miss O'Neill explained: "We're not in Japan, so we tailor the dishes to suit our tastes. But some are authentic.

"Japanese people who dine with us say our Ramen noodles are really, really good. To get that acknowledgement from them is wonderful."

Festival Place marketing manager Jane Stewart said: "Wagamama is a very welcome new addition to Festival Place.

"Wagamama's stylish design, combined with its innovative menu, will appeal to a very wide audience, particularly the 'foodies' who are making Festival Square their first choice."