THE restaurant scene in Southampton's Bedford Place has always been fluid to say the least.

It seems that as soon as the doors open on one exotic eatery, they close for good on another.

Panda Chinese Restaurant is the latest new kid on the block - but this one has all the ingredients to stay on the scene for a long time ahead.

An imaginative makeover has produced a bright and funky interior that combines elements of a traditional Chinese restaurant with a more modern caf feel and offers a reassuring view through to an impeccably clean kitchen.

The menu boasts an interesting selection of specials and set meals alongside the usual oriental favourites.

The king prawn satay for starters was excellent, with extremely good-quality, succulent seafood, but was perhaps a little lacklustre in presentation.

For the main course, I opted for the roast duck su chow style, which I had never come across before. To be honest I'm still not sure what "su chow style" actually involves but there was a pleasing kick of chilli throughout the dish and the duck was cooked to perfection.

There was, however, some disappointment for my partner when the crispy seaweed was served with fish powder, despite a specific request for it not to be.

And the grey, bland-tasting chunks of bean curd in her sweet and sour dish turned out to be a far cry from the succulent, milk-white fare normally served elsewhere.

That was surprising as the other vegetarian dish we shared - stir fried vegetables with cashew nuts - was delicious, with a really fresh-tasting array of colourful vegetables.

With friendly service and a bill that was just a tad over £30, Panda Chinese restaurant serves up an overall pleasing experience that should stand it in good stead in a highly-competitive market.

20 Bedford Place, Southampton

Reservations: 023 8022 3153.