Friday night and Oxford Street in Southampton is buzzing.

More specifically, THE place with the buzz these days is the ultra-trendy Oxfords Bar Restaurant.

It's the place to be seen-whether to relax with friends at the end of a hectic week or for a special treat.

The elegant eaterie, which boasts a huge bar area for pre-dinner cocktails, has the sort of menu in which old favourites are given a contemporary twist.

Our starters, for instance, were simple yet delicious. My Leek and Taleggio cheese-filled pastry case (£5.10) combined two very individual flavours with a mouth-watering result. My husband's haddock and chive cakes (£5.25), served with a rich beurre blanc sauce, were give top marks.

Our main courses were well presented and plentiful-pan-fried scallops were served with crispy fried pancetta and crushed new potatoes in a creamed leek sauce, (£14.95). Delicious pork fillet was meltingly tender, honey roasted and came with a spiced plum sauce, wilted pepper greens and coconut rice (£12.95).

Desserts, if you really want to splash out, include such indulgences as squidgy hot chocolate fudge brownie and ice-cream, lemon and passion fruit cheesecake and a seasonal winner, summer pudding with a spiced raspberry coulis and clotted cream.

Their wine list is selective and features some well-priced favourites. We decided on a Chablis, crisp and served ice-cold, at £23.95, and finished our meal with very good Italian coffee.

Oxfords is very popular, so do book ahead.

At the end of the week you deserve the best, so go on, treat yourself.

Donna Jones

Oxfords Bar Restaurant,

35-36 Oxford Street, Southampton.

Tel 023 8022 4444