YOU can now add the taste of Portuguese cuisine to the wide range of meals available in the popular Bedford Place area.

Recently opened, Linda Madeira is a smallish but welcoming restaurant with a varied menu offering a wide range of pasta, pizza and la carte delights.

Decorated in soft orange shades with a tiled floor, the furniture is simple and the atmosphere Mediterranean.

Most starters are under a fiver and equally tempting, including spicy chicken wings, fresh melon in Madeira wine, and mushrooms in a garlic dip.

I chose the most expensive one, Camarao a Diabo - king prawns with garlic butter, lemon and chilli, which was worth every penny, while my wife thoroughly enjoyed her helping of traditional grilled sardines.

I fancied something plain and filling for the main course after the rich starter so I settled on Linguini Napole while the Steak Picado from the specials board appealed to my fellow diner. The steak came in a full-flavoured sauce with more than a hint of red wine, surrounded by mountains of "proper" chips, or Battata Frita as described on the menu, which I raided regularly for the sake of my wife's waistline. The steak was declared "perfect", while my pasta soaked in a very tangy tomato sauce was spot-on.

Fresh ingredients skilfully cooked and impressively presented seems to be the policy at Linda Madeira, and the service was both friendly and efficient. Washed down with a couple of Italian lagers, the total bill for an excellent meal came to £33.70. PA

5 Bedford Place, Southampton. Reservations: 023 8036 9666.