Tiny reviews of Brighton food and drink
They call themselves a pub but they’re tending toward a bar – lots of seating outside, booths inside if you can get one, pretty loud music. Friendly vibe. Famous for its wings (“The Orange Buffalo” concession) and oh my stars rightly so. Skip the BBQ ones but the Original ones are just amazing. Mozzarella sticks and curly fries also great but my lips will still tingling twenty minutes later from those wings.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 2 Preston Road
Interesting pub split in two. We had a drink in the smaller bar, which is perfectly serviceable, but the larger part is more restaurant-y. Food looked good. Generally, just fine – bit lacking on the character side.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 90 Portland Road
Greene King pub and largely as you’d expect. Had nice gammon egg and chips, and a Mexican veggie burger. Loses points for being basic even for a Greene King.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 70-71 Cromwell Road
Bills itself as a “not-so-greasy spoon” in the Open Market. Bless them, the chap was really lovely, and the food incredibly cheap, so they’ve got that going, but it was pretty below par (average eggs, cold beans on toast) and the whole place smelt of the kitchen.
Verdict: Don’t go
Location: Unit 4 Marshall Row
Small, 20 cover restaurant doing set and tasting menus – we did the latter. A lot to love – a passionate team (seriously) making food focused on local ingredients, and all the drink is British. Some deliciousness on the menu especially brined slow roasted carrot, and lamb with aubergine paste. Matching wines a bit hit and miss but matching juice (yes, juice) offered fascinating combinations. Final verdict though is that it’s just way too expensive for what it is – superior experiences to be had elsewhere for less; worth one go, but no more.
Verdict: Ok
Location: 2 Gloucester Street
Neapolitan pizzeria – lovely bright and airy restaurant, and lovely staff. Food excellent and very reasonably priced. Not the best pizza in Brighton, but that’s more because that’s a competitive field. I enjoyed mine very much!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 14 West Street
I’m normally the first to defend a Wetherspoons – cheap but cheerful and normally quite good. Not this one, it’s huge and has all the decorating panache of a 1970s comprehensive. No charm to offset the loudly drunk people – go to the other Wetherspoons!
Verdict: Don’t go
Location: 20-22A West Street
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all-pubs/england/east-sussex/the-bright-helm-brighton
Shack serving up “organic dirty burgers” under the Trafalgar Street Arches. Tricky this. Proprietor is lovely, and the burger I had was EXTREMELY tasty…but tiny for the money, which can be just under £10 for not much. Clearly made with love, but too expensive for what it is.
Verdict: Ok
Location: Trafalgar Street Arches
Cracking Victorian pub, with loads of space, varying areas (big tables vs small but highly cushioned) and tasty food (had great burgers, enjoyable pork belly baguette special – and AMAZING brownie). Rock solid.
Verdict: Awesome
Location: 15 Black Lion Street
Hove Park is unexpectedly amazing, and so is its cafe. Most park cafes are just so-so, but this one has an extraordinary selection of tasty-looking cakes, brilliant-looking ready made sandwiches of all descriptions, plus cooked food including breakfast. Have yours outside on the huge amount of outdoor seating!
Verdict: Awesome
Location: Park View Road