COSMO in Southampton’s Westquay shopping centre offers around 150 dishes spanning Asian, European and British cuisines for a set price. It’s only a 40-minute drive from Salisbury so when I was invited for a review, I couldn’t resist.
Before even getting to the food, the service at COSMO deserves a mention. Despite how busy it was, we never felt rushed; plates were cleared promptly between courses, and the staff were consistently friendly, helpful, and attentive.
But, back to the main task at hand: the buffet. I went in with a plan – I needed to make the most of my time and I couldn’t mess around. I wanted to embrace the flavours of each cuisine, no mixing and matching.
For my first course, I filled my plate with cucumber, tofu, and vegetable California rolls, with a side of seaweed and edamame beans. My partner went for a bit more variety with noodles, sushi, spare ribs, and a duck bao bun. It was the perfect starter: small and delicious. The sushi was full of flavour and the perfect structure for dipping in soy sauce. The edamame beans were a bit tough but balanced nicely with the fresh, soft seaweed.
Round two: Delicious Noodles (Image: Megan Stanley)
Round two quickly came around and I went for the noodles and stir-fried green beans and broccoli. I also added a few spring rolls for good measure. The noodles were beautifully tender and soft, with no hint of greasiness — a welcome contrast after a recent oily takeaway experience elsewhere. The vegetables were stir-fried to perfection, and the spring rolls made the ideal crunchy accompaniment.
After a plate of chicken nuggets, more ribs, onion rings, and sweet and sour chicken, my partner tapped out of the savoury menu and headed for dessert. But I knew I had another round in me. As it was Sunday, I had to honour tradition and have a Yorkshire pudding with peas and carrots, which were a heart-warming, comforting way to end the main courses.
Round Four: Sweet Treats (Image: Megan Stanley)
I couldn’t leave without something sweet. While my partner insisted the blueberry cheesecake was the star of the show, I opted for mini waffles, tiramisu, and eclairs. Light, sweet, and thoroughly enjoyable, they hit the spot perfectly.
And as a self‑confessed sweet tooth, it wasn’t easy resisting a second round. But, in the end, I’d enjoyed my mains a little too much and had to give the other desserts, like the ice cream and brownies, a miss.
We left COSMO thoroughly full and happy, we’re already trying to work out when we can go back to try the dishes we missed.
COSMO is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Prices are set at a flat rate for unlimited courses, with adults paying £21.99 Monday to Thursday, rising to £22.99 on Fridays, £23.99 on Saturdays, and £22.99 on Sundays and bank holidays. Children under 155 cm dine for £11.99 across all days, while infants under five are charged a flat fee of £2.99.