Tiny reviews of Brighton food and drink
French cafe, went here for breakfast. Eggs benedict had piles of bacon on big chunks of sourdough and was extremely delicious; salmon omelette also good. They do dinner too. Internally points off for not selling Coke, though.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 81 Trafalgar Street
Just near Hove Lagoon is this pub with attached B&B, which I obviously can’t speak to. We went in for a couple of pints and dinner – one of us had a fish cake starter and the other burger and chips. Fish cakes pretty small even for a starter, burger ok but not going to win awards. True of the whole place really, nothing wrong with it, but nothing dramatically right with it either. Just a very basic pub.
Verdict: Ok
Location 330 Kingsway
A solid example of a Brighton pub. A bit quirky in the decor, chilled out staff. I’m docking them though for only having fancy schmancy lagers.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 16 Madeira Place
Couldn’t find a website
This was recommended by Time Out as a cool place with a mix of weird antiques and good cocktails. We headed in on a Sunday afternoon and the music was too loud to talk, so stuff that.
Verdict: Don’t go
Location 74 St James’s Street
American-style food in a chilled out cafe type space by the sea; went here for an excellent full English, and a smashed avocado toast. Great food, really nice staff, although they are very busy! Dinner uses small plate concept and really keen to try it.
Verdict: Awesome
Location 133-134 King’s Road
Went here to see about Brighton’s largest selection of whiskeys (whiskies?), which they do have – immense. On a Friday night though no-one’s going to tell you anything about it (I’m not going to fault them on this, since we went to the Great Eastern after to do the same with bourbon and had the same problem, unlike my first time). The draw I think is all the picnic tables outside (since the inside’s a bit…spartan) to drink your whiskey or beer. For those, it wins.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 109 Church Street
Couldn’t find a website
Above El Mexicano, which I have yet to try, is a cocktail lounge rated highly by Time Out. Hit and miss for me. Bartenders are good, nice, and flair around the place, cocktail menu is imaginative and we enjoyed ours (correction, I enjoyed my spiced mint julep and everyone else thought it was gross), and you can stand outside on the balcony overlooking New Road. The inside space though is pretty small and very loud; I like my cocktails in a chilled environment.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 7 New Road
www.elmexicano.co.uk/bar-valentino-cocktail-bar
A known quantity as a top Brighton resto, and I agree wholeheartedly. Eschews the typical Indian menu of approximately 40,000 dishes for a selection of interesting spins. Had some tamil peanut pakora (spicy peanut clusters), green pea & cheese crispies (pea patties with melted cheese and crunchy bits, yum) and South Indian Village Chicken Curry, which was awesome (although was also ogling the lamb chop platter that someone else had). Four of us had a bottle of wine and a few rounds of big beers, starters, mains and shared two kulfis (not my thing it turns out) for like £170. Bargain!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 17 Jubilee Street
Awesome Chinese takeaway! I had honey shredded chicken with chilli & salt which was super crispy and great, with salt and pepper chips (!) and prawn toast. I have it on good authority that the actual meals, which I will try when I am not drunk, are delicious too.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 34 New England Road
Ordered pizza from these guys – a “boaro” meaty one with pork and wild boar salami, and a margherita with mushrooms and red chillis. Really tasty, although it’s a thin base if you don’t like that sort of thing.
Edit: Had another, BBQ Treat – excellent too.
Verdict: Awesome
Location 4a Montpelier Place