From the moment we arrived at the quaint front door of Reggina’s, we were impressed. Set in the heart of Botley village, the 17th-Century grade-II-listed building beckoned us inside with its Tudor-style windows and pretty floral displays. The welcome we received was as warm as the setting had promised – the atmosphere achieves a perfect blend of relaxation and elegance. It’s the perfect place for a celebration with friends, a family catch-up or a romantic meal.

We found our table, laid with white linen and fresh flowers, and settled into comfortable leather chairs. It was our first trip to this restaurant and that seemed to put us in the minority – we realised many other diners seemed to be on first-name terms with the waiting staff, which was assurance enough we were in for a treat. The menu here offers an extensive choice of authentic Italian fare, with mouth-watering pizza, pasta, fish and meat dishes. I chose the king prawn and calamari fritti to start – a delectable appetiser that would also be p e rfect for lunch, accompanied by some rustic bread. For my main course I chose from the ‘carne’ menu and opted for the special of the day – a roast half duck. Fresh and local, the meat was delicious, and equally memorable was the side serving of vegetables – they were flavoursome and exceptionally well cooked. As well as the ŕ la carte, there are always numerous specials available, providing regulars with oceans of variety.

Once we had eagerly devoured our food, we headed upstairs where there is room for another 60 covers (in addition to the 60 downstairs) and a lovely bar area. We settled into leather Chesterfields and sipped on some quality Italian wine. A decked terrace adjoins the bar, and we have already made plans to return on a sunnier day for some alfresco dining – perhaps on a Sunday to enjoy the traditional lunch menu. With its superb ambience and fantastic Italian food, I could well become one of Reggina’s regulars myself.