Smoke and Mirrors - (Near Hampshire, South East)

j scarlett This restaurant I visit several times a week has excellent service—the waitstaff are very friendly, and the owner is warm and welcoming. The ingredients are always fresh, and the chef holds himself to high standards, ensuring consistent food quality. This restaurant is unlike any other Chinese restaurant; the plating and flavors clearly reflect the chef’s dedication and attention to detail. The owner even gave us complimentary side dishes. If you enjoy spicy food, you definitely shouldn’t miss this place!

Amber Puri Visited this evening with my sister for dinner and drinks. The service from the moment we walked in, to the moment we left was exceptional. Our waitress, Anisah, was such a lovely girl and her recommendations were spot on. The food was delicious and the portion sizes were very good. I’d definitely return.

Alexander Fergusson-Cooper If I could give this place one star I would... They have ruined pizza for me, it was by far the best Ive had, no other will compare. My partner and I shared the nduja/scotch bonnet and the chicken/paneer. Both were truly superb. The dough had a terrific flavour, but the toppings on each were perfectly balanced and flavoursome. We started with the cauliflower hummus - something we await to recreate! The service was outstanding, knowledgeable and friendly, without being over the top, again, a perfect balance. Wine list fantastic and comprehensive (the reason we came here - (fathers a wine merchant!) maître d was knowledgeable and showed us the bottle of wine we were curious about. Atmosphere was warm, welcoming, relaxed, and the use of acoustic tiles on the ceiling work as both an interesting feature and more importantly to reduce the sound in the bar/restaurant. I am hugely disappointed we are only in Portsmouth for an evening - had we live in the vicinity, we would surely adopt The A Bar as a regular venue. A venue for everyone, we were made to feel like long standing customers - warm and welcoming. If ever in Portsmouth again, we will rush back!

Ilona Thompson We had an excellent meal here which was a lovely surprise as the pub wasn’t our first choice. Everything was good, hot and filling. We were catching the ferry to Bilbao and had picked another restaurant but it was shut and we found the Dolphin instead. I must say I’m glad we did! Dave the manager was very friendly and helpful, telling us about a quicker route to the ferry terminal. Thanks Dave and next time we’re in Portsmouth we’ll be sure to call in.

Kate Hare The food looks fresh but its minimal for price you pay. Could be displayed better. The staff look annoyed about everything. Drinks machine wasnt wprking and noone shared amd when asked they were almost annoyed we asked. It was not busy. The place is clean

Mohammed Nijamudeen First time having a jacket potato at a restaurant and I have to say it was better than expected. I went for the garlic chilli chicken and it was really tasty with a good depth of flavour. The tram sauce was spot on. All in all well worth the hype. The only thing was it wasn’t quite as hot as expected. I was a bit surprised to see it fairly quiet for a Saturday evening especially on the high street just a week after opening.