Category: Restaurant

Chez Mal (Malmaison)

Hotel restaurant at Malmaison Brighton Marina. Really tough one to call this one. Pros: If you want to sit looking at some water, this is your place, assuming you get seated in the conservatory. Food was really excellent, great steak and lamb shanks. Cons: Basically we were the only people there for lunch during the week, and as such they didn’t seem geared for it. Had to send back four dishes for being cold, and they took an age to start with.  French onion soup was absolutely not French onion soup but just onion soup. Pros again: They comped us loads for the slowness/coldness so came out on top there, which we appreciated. But would I go again or recommend it? Have to say no.

Verdict: Don’t go

Location: 11 Mermaid Walk

https://www.malmaison.com/locations/brighton/chez-mal-brasserie

Murmur

Relaxed restaurant right on the seafront, serving very nice food; I particularly enjoyed the game and hazelnut croquettes, and the desserts were very rich. You’ll have a perfectly nice time but it just didn’t jump at me as remarkable, although I can’t quite put my finger on why.

Verdict: Ok

Location: 91-96 King’s Road Arches

https://murmur-restaurant.co.uk

Hotel du Vin & Bistro Brighton

I’ve been to one of these up north but was taken here to have a chateaubriand as the search for fantastic steak continues. At £65 for two (including sides) it should really be memorable, but instead it was just ok. If I had it for £20 a head, fine, but it wasn’t! Staff were helpful but this is very much a hotel restaurant – just ok.

Verdict: Ok

Location: 2 Ship Street

https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/brighton/bistro

Coggings & Co

Burger place, a couple of notches above super casual but a nice relaxed vibe. Plenty of room, fantastic service, and impressed with the burgers. Personally had never had a burger with a strong cheddar in it and it worked really well – chips great as well, and the price point is excellent.

Verdict: Awesome

Location: 87-93 Dyke Road

http://coggingsandco.com

Otello

Fairly large Italian, one of three in a very close vicinity. Clearly a proper authentic Italian place run by Italians, which is great; service however wasn’t great, things being forgotten and apologies not forthcoming. However, outweighed by exceptional food – amazing meatballs, gnocchi and one of the best chocolate mousses I’ve ever had. Just don’t be in a hurry – will be interesting to see the other Italians in the area.

The Ginger Dog

Our final stop through the Gingerman Group was sadly disappointing. Pros are a very nice setting, and some excellent main courses – steak especially good. Let down by £8.50 desserts which were deeply average (would have been fine for £5.95 but at that price you expect more) and a £7 petit fours that looked like five things out of a box. Most of all, deeply uninterested service; there weren’t many diners to staff but they were hard to get and food all took ages. Hilariously, three normal desserts came and had to wait for petit fours, which, as noted, clearly came out of a container somewhere.

Verdict: Don’t go

Location: 12 College Place

http://thegingerdog.com

The Ginger Fox

Debated whether to include this but it’s a part of our Brighton experience so I think it counts. Semi-rural restaurant with a lovely beer garden and a short drive from Brighton – we were drinking outside in the sun at half five easy. And the restaurant is small and quite charming, that great sort of place where everyone is lovely but the food is storming. Amazing rib croquettes with chipotle mayo, potato and truffle soup, crispy lamb shoulder, chicken pie or beef fillet with duck fat chips – all amazing and actually very well priced.

Verdict: Awesome

Location: Muddleswood Road, Hassocks

http://thegingerfox.com