TAKING the glass elevator to the Edge restaurant is a mysterious way to start an evening meal.

The restaurant is situated, intriguingly, at the top of an apartment block in Alum Chine.

When you’ve reached the fourth floor, the doors open to reveal a lavish dining area that James Bond would likely frequent. Surrounded by glass, the Edge boasts a panoramic view of the sea, Purbecks and Old Harry Rocks to the west, and the Isle of Wight and Hengistbury Head to the east.

Unfortunately this dramatic view was limited to inky darkness and a few twinkling lights for our visit.

The friendly waiting staff seated us promptly and proved helpful and passionate about the cuisine on the menu.

For starters, I plumped for braised mussel and cockle linguine that came bathed in a rich tomato, chilli and thyme sauce. My wife joined me in opting for seafood and tried the pan-fried Dorset scallops with mashed potatoes à la Provencale and mornay sauce. Both starters proved thoroughly delicious.

For our main course, I pounced on the 8oz rib eye steak with hand-cut chips and béarnaise, while my wife picked the 8oz beef fillet steak with confit garnish of fondant potato and vine ripe tomatoes.

The mains were taken at a leisurely pace and the waiting staff happily took the fillet steak back to the kitchen to be cooked a little longer. Both steaks tasted magnificent and the hand-cut chips have to be tasted to be believed.

The restaurant is plush and comfy, perfect for unwinding after a hard day. It really is somewhere to sit back from the stresses and strains of life.

Next time we’ll make sure we go either for breakfast or lunch and enjoy that fabulous view.

This is an independent review by a reporter without the cooperation of the establishment.