Tiny reviews of Brighton food and drink
Discovered by accident and immediately a Brighton favourite. Small plates, with genuinely inventive flavours – favourite prawn toast soldiers with a soy marinated egg yolk for dipping. Plus cocktails on tap with similar creativity!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 30 Preston Street
This is a lovely, spacious cafe with a cracking garden, the latest to take on what I think is a fairly cursed location on the edge of Seven Dials. I had a really delicious nduja hash. The issue is I can’t see myself going back, because a) it’s probably the most expensive place for lunch in Seven Dials (£17 for a steak sandwich, and another £5 if you’re wanting chips) and b) the menu’s a bit too fancy for a place which is lunch focused. As I say, I really enjoyed my meal, but really it was actually too much, I’d have loved eggs on toast, or a sandwich, and they simply don’t have much like that for me to go with any regularity.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 87-93 Dyke Road
Lovely little cash-only Chinese, lovely dumplings, noodles etc at good prices. Basic decor though!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 14 London Road
Can’t find a website
I can’t believe it took as long as it did for us to try one of these guys. I enjoyed the location, pleasant vibes, lovely service. Las Iguanas offers very good value, with lots of discounts – and drink offers, which is increasingly rare. It is a little bit you get what you pay for though, pretty average food – not bad, not great.
Verdict: Ok
7-8 Jubilee Street
There’s no shortage of mad donut places around, and they’re often some combination of a) too mad (and often as a result sickly sweet) and b) mad expensive. Donut Club I really liked, 3 for £10, some madness with choc or biscuit on top, but manageable, and really tasty core donuts.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 27 Duke Street
The missus booked here thinking we’d been before but that was the Cricketers next door – and this pub is great! Massive portions, big space, overall a fan!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 14 Black Lion Street
One of the brilliant little places you find in Brighton with a talented chef and a handful of covers. We had incredible crispy spuds with ranch, their own baked bread with Christmas butter, a “Big Mac” beef tartare, and garlic parmesan chicken wings. All exceptional. Only downside is the restaurant is only open Friday and Saturday so we won’t be able to visit much!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 2-3 Little East Street
Tried these and the chicken meals are surprisingly large for the price, sides are quite large too. I can’t decide if I’ll do it again though hence only Ok.
Verdict: Ok
Location: Two in Brighton I think
I have a lot of time for a pub like the Sussex, it’s spacious and relaxed, but a bit tired. The food is basic and fine, the prices excellent. It’s just not very snazzy.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 17 St Catherines Terrace
I came across Pearly Cow searching for steak restaurants in Brighton; it’s right near the Salt Room in the old Smokey’s BBQ building. It’s lush. Fantastic fit out with a lovely relaxed, cosy vibe, with exceptional friendly service. Great menu too; beautiful bread, one of the best steaks I’ve had (although they cook a tier up on the medium rare than you might want; adjust accordingly) with great fries. Small plates equally if not more excellent, a trio of tacos a highlight (beef fillet, smoked trout, goat’s curd, all amazing). The downside is you do have to pay quite a lot for all of that, and I’ll have to think about whether it’s quite worth it. But an easy recommendation for a celebration type meal.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 123 Kings Road