The concept of eating oustide in the UK has never really caught on until recently. Somehow the climate was never quite up to the easy al fresco lifestyle enjoyed by our continental cousins.

Now, thanks to a combination of global warming and an increasing variety of Mediterranean establishments on our doorstep, it is becoming virtually impossible to walk down a street without tripping over the trailing leg of someone supping cappuccino or eating tapas on the pavement.

The Oxford Castle development is a case in point with every establishment profiting from big outside areas this summer.

And long may it continue - if you reckon I'm being cynical and would prefer to eat my lunch in a dark, stuffy restaurant surrounded by overheated diners, then think again.

In fact I am particularly fond of South Parade off the Banbury Road in Summertown where several establishments offer customers the benefit of the open air experience.

Perhaps the best known and, strangely, the one I had not tried before, is Mamma Mia which has always seemed a bustling place during the evening when I have passed by and came strongly recommended.

Choosing a day when the sun was beating down, hopefully heralding the start of a long Indian summer, we took our places on the edge of the outside area at a simple wooden table.

We were immediately presented with laminated menus offering the expected choice of pizza and pasta, antipasta and a couple of salads.

It was a menu that could be seen in any one of a hundred Italian establishments across the Thames Valley but that did not mean I wasn't going to enjoy it.

I opted to start with prawn and avocado, (£4.55) a favourite of mine and I was not disappointed.The prawns came with a generous coating of rose marie sauce and the avocado was perfectly ripe without being too mushy.

And there was plenty of it, to the point where I wondered if I would have enough room left for my main course.

My companion opted for the scampi (£4.55) which was served with a side salad and a portion of mayonnaise.This too proved delicious, the hot scampi, melting in the mouth and the tangy mayonnaise proving the idea accompaniment.

There was just time to stretch our legs in the sunshine and enjoy a little people watching combining shoppers, schoolchildren enjoying lunch-hour freedom - and office workers doing the same thing.

Sipping a glass of house white wine - Trebbiano (£6.95 for a half litre) - which was a little rough but perfectly drinkable, it was all very pleasant.

In a short time it was on to the main event as I was presented with a fine looking lasagne (£7.95). This consisted of the classic layers of pasta covering a combination of beef, pork and lots of tomato and all smothered in bechamel sauce.

Again, it was a very generous portion but tasted so good that I bravely managed to work my way through it, breaking up the protein with a tomato and onion side salad (£2.95). Across the table rapid inroads were being made into a pasta made up of roasted vegetables which included courgette and mushroom amongst others. (£7.95) This was very tasty and was also cooked with wheat-free fusilli on request, which did nothing to detract from its quality.

Once the meal was finished there was little room for dessert which would have been just a step too far.

Instead we settled for a couple of cappuccinos and sat back to enjoy the scenery along with a several other couples.

The general opinion was that life could be a lot worse and there was a spring in our step as we headed back to work.

Mamma Mia is an establishment I have overlooked for too long and now I know what all the fuss is about, I'll be going back soon.

Contact: Mamma Mia, 01865 514141