# Soleto — Trattoria Italiana > Family-run Italian restaurant in Southampton, opposite the Mayflower Theatre. Head chef George Jiojioras serves fresh seafood, handmade pasta and premium steaks. ## Contact - **Address:** 11 Commercial Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO15 1GF, United Kingdom - **Telephone:** +44 23 8023 4044 - **Email:** info@soleto.co.uk - **Website:** https://www.soleto.co.uk - **Book a Table:** https://web.dojo.app/create_booking/vendor/bxU6ck62m7nZ2hSjU6_X9UfdHHqOIAn9Nfy8-GrJbI8_restaurant ## Key Facts - **Cuisine:** Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood - **Price Range:** ££ (mid-range) - **Founded:** 2017 - **Founders:** George Jiojioras (Head Chef) and Dominika Jiojioras (Front of House) - **Location:** Directly opposite the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton's city centre - **Private Dining:** Up to 14 guests seated in a dedicated private dining room at Soleto - **Private Catering:** Off-site catering for 30+ guests across Southampton, Hampshire and surrounding areas; weddings, corporate events, milestone celebrations, by chef George Jiojioras - **Dietary:** Gluten-free pasta available for all pasta dishes; vegetarian options on menu - **Reservations:** Accepted via website, phone or Dojo booking platform ## Opening Hours Summer pattern (evenings only; lunches return September): | Day | Hours | |-----|-------| | Tuesday – Saturday | 17:00 – 22:00 | | Sunday & Monday | Closed | Special hours may apply on theatre nights and bank holidays. Please call 023 8023 4044 to confirm. ## Private Dining & Catering Soleto offers two private services: **The Private Room** — a dedicated dining room inside the restaurant at 11 Commercial Road, Southampton. Seats up to 14 guests. Terracotta walls, crystal chandelier, gold-framed mirror, rustic wooden table. Used for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate dinners and intimate celebrations. Bespoke menu by chef George Jiojioras agreed in advance. **Private Catering** — off-site catering by George and the Soleto kitchen team, for groups of 30 or more, anywhere across Southampton, Hampshire and surrounding areas. Weddings, corporate events, anniversaries, milestone birthdays and family celebrations. Menus shaped around the event in conversation with the chef. Italian and Mediterranean by default, with seafood and hand-rolled pasta as house signatures. Full dietary flexibility (vegetarian, gluten-free, etc.) handled on request. To enquire about either service: call **023 8023 4044** or email **info@soleto.co.uk** with guest numbers, date, dietary needs, and whether you want to dine in the private room at Soleto or have the team cater at your venue. ## Awards and Recognition - **#1** Best Restaurants in Southampton — The Tour Guy, 2025 - **Top 5** Italian Restaurants in Southampton — Southampton Times - **Travellers' Choice** 2024 and 2025 — TripAdvisor - **Food Hygiene Rating** 5/5 — Southampton City Council - **Readers' Choice:** Most Deserving of Michelin Guide (Hampshire) — Daily Echo, March 2026 - **Readers' Choice:** Best Seafood in Southampton — Daily Echo, September 2025 - **Readers' Choice:** Best Places for Dinner in Southampton — Daily Echo, September 2024 ## Press Coverage - "Hampshire restaurants that need to be in the Michelin Guide" — Daily Echo, March 2026 (Soleto received the most votes from readers) - "Best spot for seafood in Southampton according to readers" — Daily Echo, September 2025 (Soleto was the overwhelming winner) - "Meet the Southampton chef who cooked for Ralph Fiennes" — Daily Echo, June 2025 (profile of head chef George Jiojioras) - "Best places for dinner in Southampton according to readers" — Daily Echo, September 2024 ## Notable Guests Head chef George Jiojioras has cooked for Ralph Fiennes, Peter Andre, Bobby Davro, Paul Whitehouse, Les Dennis, Steve McFadden, Michael Praed, Fern Britton, and Michelin-starred chef Simon Rogan. ## Ratings - **Google:** 4.7/5 (570+ reviews) - **TripAdvisor:** 4.5/5 (990+ reviews) ## Menu Overview - **Pane e Olive (To Begin):** 5 items, £5–£19 — bread, olives, ciabatta, bruschetta, baked camembert - **Antipasti (Starters):** 6 items, £13–£16 — cured meats, calamari, burrata, scallops, king prawns - **Mains:** 4 items, £25–£42 — rib-eye steak, salmon, saltimbocca, pollo Soleto - **Pasta e Risotto:** 6 items, £19–£28 — pappardelle ragu, carbonara, ravioli, frutti di mare - **Contorni (Sides):** 6 items, all £5 - **Daily Specials:** Fresh seafood and premium cuts selected daily — oysters, lobster, Dover sole, tomahawk steak, rack of lamb and more ## Christmas Menu 2026 Set menu, four choices at each of three courses. Lunch £38 (two courses) or £45 (three); dinner £50 (three courses), per person. Parties of six or more, pre-order only, £10 deposit per person, 10% service charge added to the bill. Two vegetarian/vegan dishes (roasted butternut squash soup; roast cauliflower with saffron risotto). Book by phone (023 8023 4044) or email (info@soleto.co.uk). Menu PDF: https://www.soleto.co.uk/docs/soleto-christmas-menu-2026.pdf ## Signature Dishes Fresh lobster, seared scallops with guanciale, pappardelle ragu, linguini frutti di mare, rib-eye steak, Dover sole, salt-baked whole fish, tomahawk steak ## Pages - [Home](https://www.soleto.co.uk/) — Overview, featured dishes, reviews, interior gallery - [Menu](https://www.soleto.co.uk/menu/) — Full à la carte menu with prices and daily specials - [Christmas Menu 2026](https://www.soleto.co.uk/christmas/) — Set Christmas menu, prices, pre-order and deposit terms, downloadable PDF - [Our Story](https://www.soleto.co.uk/our-story/) — The Jiojioras family story, chef profile, awards - [Gallery](https://www.soleto.co.uk/gallery/) — Photos of food, interior and drinks - [Private Dining & Catering](https://www.soleto.co.uk/private-dining/) — Private dining room (up to 14 guests) and off-site catering by George (30+ guests, Hampshire-wide) - [Contact](https://www.soleto.co.uk/contact/) — Address, phone, email, map, opening hours ## Social - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/soletoitalian/) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/SoletoItalianHampshire) - [TripAdvisor](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186299-d8337696-Reviews-Soleto-Southampton_Hampshire_England.html) --- For the full detailed version including complete menu and about content, see: https://www.soleto.co.uk/llms-full.txt