Chilworth - Restaurant Guide

2025 Review: This “special Chinese” in an “attractive” and “spacious building on the main shopping street” (an old outpost of HSBC) was launched in 2017 by a former chef of acclaimed international brand Hakkasan, and features ‘wow factor’ interiors including chandeliers and cherry blossom accents. By all accounts, the “excellent” cooking (classic Peking duck is a signature but the menu is notably extensive) is a “real treat” – and if you are in the mood to party, they also offer high-tech karaoke.

2025 Review: “Brilliant and thoughtful tasting menu comprised of dishes from locally sourced produced, all enhanced by knowledgeable staff and a great view onto the open kitchen” quickly won praise for Daniel (son of Simon) Rogan’s ambitious venue, which arrived at Sunnyfields Farm in Totton, close to the New Forest in December 2023 (six miles from its former location on Southampton’s London Road). More change is afoot though, and via Instagram in late summer 2024 he announced a temporary closure – “Not to worry though it is only whilst we make some very important adjustments that will be instrumental in our success for the future… We are very excited to show you what is next and have no doubt you are all going to love it”. So watch this space.

On a site previously occupied by Cargo, Daniel Rogan’s new June 2025 newcomer opened after our annual diners’ poll had finished. Run by the son of star Lakeland chef, Simon Rogan, this new venue is a parallel project to Rogan Jr’s fancier, tasting menu-based ‘AO by Daniel Rogan’ (which closed in August 2024 and which is awaiting a re-launch). But while this latest venue is in a simpler small plates format to ‘AO’, it is claimed to be ‘grounded in the same principles of creativity, quality, and craft’.

“Ideally placed next to a quiet marina” (Ocean Village), the two-time winner of the ‘Southampton’s Best Restaurant’ award (in 2023 and 2024) first snaffled the prize after just a year of trade. As you might expect, “the food is very good quality”, taking in classic Italian fare such as cicchetti, pizza, risotto and more, although “with pricing to match”. Success has also led to them opening an outdoor terrace with views over the water and additional seating for fifty people.

2025 Review: Near the seafront in Southampton’s Ocean Village Marina, this modern venue inspired positive feedback across the board in this year’s annual diners’ poll. In September 2024, though, it ‘temporarily closed’, with its Facebook promising: “after 4 wonderful years… the restaurant will temporarily close, this marks the start of something even better! When the restaurant reopens, a refreshed Blue Jasmine will make your experience even more memorable”. So we will watch this space.