5 best Senior Lunch Spots in Eastleigh

Looking for the best lunch spots in Eastleigh? We have compiled a list of our top five suggestions, after all ‘food tastes better when you eat it with family’.

In the last two years, loneliness in the elderly has reached an all-time high. Not only is this damaging to mental health, but fewer outings also mean less exercise and social activity. In many cases, this has meant we are seeing the impact of this on physical health.

To help, we are Home Instead Central Hampshire have created a list of our top-five lunch spots perfect for a mid-day meal in Eastleigh.

East Avenue

This little gem plays host to the next generation of chefs and restaurateurs. Located on Chestnut Avenue, in Eastleigh College, not only is it highly rated (they’ve actually made it to the 2022 final of Young Restaurant Team of the Year with the final results still to be revealed) but it is also a wonderful opportunity to support the next generation and their culinary aspirations.

East Avenue reviews rave about the first-rate service and delectable food; this modern British cuisine hotspot does require advance booking via email or telephone.  Open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays with a three-course menu for only £11.95, East Avenue also has an elevator for those who are unable to use stairs, and you can enquire about their onsite parking when you book. It would be unfair of us not to mention their dinner menu, despite this being a lunch blog, as they do offer a set four-course menu (with teas and coffee) for only £22.95. Delicious food, passionate staff and a great location means this restaurant one to try!

Artisan Meze and Wine Bar

Bringing a taste of Turkey to the heart of Eastleigh, Artisan Meze and Wine Bar can be found on the high street. Family-owned, with an authentic menu and beautifully decorated garden this is an ideal spot to enjoy lunch. Their bar also offers a great range of cocktails, often with two-for-one deals, if you’re looking for a cheeky midday tipple and a bargain to enjoy with your Meze.

Described on TripAdvisor by one visitor as ‘a jewel for eating in Eastleigh’ it offers a range of lighter Meze dishes or some heavier entrees if you’d like a more substantial lunch. The menu is one for all appetites, treat your loved ones to a taste of ‘the land of four seasons.’

Good Companions

Take a stroll down Leigh Lane just on the outskirts of Eastleigh and you will find the Good Companions. This charming, quintessential British public house offers a traditional Sunday Lunch with all the trimmings, in fact one Trip Advisor reviewer wrote ‘Can’t recommend enough. Delicious’ of their Sunday lunches. For the rest of the week, a varied menu filled with comforting classics from Beer Battered Cod and Chips to Hunters Chicken means you are guaranteed to find something to satisfy your appetite on the menu.

Accessible from the street, there is a large outdoor seating area with a marquee and children’s toys, ideal if you are planning to take younger family members with you. Dogs are also welcome, ideal if you or your companion have a furry friend you don’t want to leave at home. Extra seating can be found on the first floor, and with large windows, the rooms are filled with light on a sunny day.

COFFEE#1

While more formal restaurants and pub meals are lovely if you are in the mood for something lighter why not try paying a visit to COFFEE#1. Located on Market Street this busy little café has a great selection of cakes, paninis, wraps, sandwiches and of course a variety of coffees.

Several reviews rave about the staff’s friendliness and their attentiveness, citing it as well spaced out, quick and with a great choice of pastries. They do have a loyalty programme for the more tech-savvy, in the form of an app where you can collect loyalty points and get rewards. They also offer gift cards, so you could purchase one for a birthday or Christmas gift and then offer to accompany the recipient for a lunch out.

COFFEE#1 are self-proclaimed to be big on comfort, so if you don’t fancy sitting on hard wooden chairs then you have no need to worry, they have deliberately used soft furnishings to make your visit more comfortable. Even more of a bonus, they are big on charity work, currently, they are fundraising for each location’s local Samaritans, so you know they care about local causes which is only a plus!

The Fishers Pond

This stunning little spot is an ideal location for a nice day, overlooking Fishers Pond, the area was declared a green belt in 1937 and no further development has been allowed, keeping it a tranquil delight nestled into the countryside. The menu offers a modern twist on British classics such as a cod fish-finger wrap or Bloody Mary fishcakes, all available on the lighter bites lunch menu which is served until 5pm.

The Fishers Pond has onsite parking and is located overlooking the Itchen Valley country park, a with beautiful woodlands it makes for a lovely walk if you are looking to explore the area. Casks ales are also on tap for a more traditional drink, and a wide range of wines and spirits if you do fancy a tipple. You don’t need to prebook, but it can get busy, especially when the sun is shining so it might be worth planning ahead.

Handily there is onsite parking, and if the weather is nice, you can enjoy your lunch on one of the tables outside overlooking the pond with a woodland view. The staff are friendly, and guests are welcome to bring their dogs along.