Beside the Seaside (Mozzarella Joe's)

Member Name: frangliz

Product:	Mozzarella Joe's
Date:	29/07/09 (104 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's right beside the sea.

Disadvantages: Average food

Mozzarella Joe's is not really what I would think of as my kind of restaurant, but I was won over by the fact that it is right on Southsea's promenade. It was the first rainless day for what seemed weeks and I thought eating outside, overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight, sounded like the perfect idea.

It was about 1.45pm on a Saturday, so the worst of the lunch rush would have been over. A waiter approached us almost as soon as we entered, and we asked for a table for two outside. Luckily there was one by the outer wall. The tide was high so we looked immediately onto the sea - we could almost have been on a boat. The table was a wooden slatted one, quite small but very clean. A bucket of cutlery and a serviette dispenser were provided on each table. The chairs were plastic but comfortable enough. Menus were handed to us as soon as we sat down. We each ordered a pineapple juice; this was served with ice, but the lack of a stirrer or straw meant that it was rather watery at first and very concentrated by the time you reached the bottom of the glass.

We had thought of Mozzarella Joe's as being mainly a pizza/pasta place, but the menu is actually quite varied. Lite bites, nibbles and appetizers range from chicken fillet strips at £4.45 through tiger prawns at £5.95 to nachos Mexicana at £7.95. We decided to go straight for a main course. Stonebaked pizzas are priced from £6.95 for a Margherita up to £8.95 for a Mexican or Chinese duck topping. Other varieties include pepperoni, five cheeses and barbecue chicken. Gourmet burgers are similarly priced, unless you opt for the Scooby Doo at £10.95. I liked the sound of quite a few choices amongst the favourites: fisherman's pie is £8.95, whilst barbecued ribs or steak and chips will set you back £12.95. In the end I decided on chicken pesto penne from the pasta section, at £8.45. My son ordered the vegetarian creamy country calzone with salad at £9.95.

We didn't have to wait long for our food. I wouldn't have minded waiting a little longer, actually, as it was so enjoyable to look out over the Solent towards the Isle of Wight and watch the sailing boats, the hovercraft and the Fast Cat. I don't get down to the sea front often enough considering how close by I live.

My son's calzone looked huge and was half covered in a creamy sauce that had also smothered one or two of the salad leaves. The pastry, or dough as it may be correctly called, turned out to be quite thin and therefore not too stodgy. I could see a good mixture of broccoli and mushrooms inside when he first cut into it. Although enjoying it at first, he said it seemed rather bland after a while. They didn't appear to have used any herbs in the cooking, relying more on the sauce to provide the flavour. My pesto penne was quite enjoyable. It was a little too oily for my liking; the chicken wasn't the best ever but neither was it tough. Herbs were in evidence in my dish, and there were enough slices of well-cooked tomato and red pepper to give an interesting taste. I can only blame myself for the fact that the pasta had gone cold before I finished it, as I was tempted every so often to put my fork down and take a photograph.

The dessert menu was included at the top of the serviette dispenser, but neither of us was tempted to find room for its offerings, which ranged from carrot cake to deep-fried ice cream. You can restrict yourself to a vanilla ice cream for £2.45 or indulge in a tropical fruit waffle for £4.45. Cheesecake, apple pie and various sundaes also feature on the menu.

We asked for our bill and noticed that a ten per cent service charge had been added automatically, making the total £24.53. The service was very efficient and polite, so we would in any case have left a ten per cent tip.

The ladies was clean enough and in good working order with a Dyson hand drier. I also noticed a disabled toilet with baby changing facilities.

If it weren't for the location of Mozzarella Joe's, I can't honestly say that I would see myself going back there. The quality of the food I would describe as average, and I did feel that some items on the menu looked to be a little on the pricey side. This may perhaps be because it is the only restaurant actually right beside the beach in Southsea. It could, however, be a popular place for families, and there is a meal deal for children consisting of a main course (six choices), dessert and drink for £4.95. I did see highchairs there, so it is family friendly.

For the pleasure of having lunch right by the sea, I may go back one day, although the Waterfront at Gunwharf Quays offers a row of restaurants with al fresco dining overlooking Portsmouth harbour. As for Southsea itself, if you are more interested in the quality of the food, cross Southsea common and take your pick of the variety of eateries to be found in the neighbourhood of Palmerston Road shopping centre. I might have given Mozzarella Joe's seven stars out of ten, but as it is I'm going for three out of five.

Mozzarella Joe's is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with live music every Saturday night. I am totally unaware of the 2 for 1 offer that appears in Dooyoo's illustration above.

Mozzarella Joe's
Clarence Esplanade
Southsea Beach
Southsea
PO5 3AE

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Summary: An average restaurant in a great location