Brighton Restaurants Reviews by David Pring

Cote Brighton

Cote Brighton

Cote Brighton is part of the ever growing and popular Cote chain winner of the best value restaurant in Britain by Good Food Guide.

Located in the Old Music Library, the room is sensational and well decorated, it is just opposite the Brighton Dome.

The venue is very popular and on my last visit was full at 2pm which is always a good sign. The food on every visit (and I have been here at least half a dozen times) is of good quality and great value for money and the service is prompt and friendly. The menu at £9.95 is excellent value for two courses at lunch time.

Cote Brighton main dinner room

On my last visit I had moules marinières like most of the best Brighton seafood restaurants they were very fresh - thank you to the local fishmarket. The mussels, crispy calamari or the deep fried whitebait are a must as a starter, they don't dissapoint you. 

Steak with french frites

Then followed a very well cooked grilled Steak with garlic butter and with the best thin french frites. The steak with fries for me in the real star of the menu. For dessert I had Apple Pie with vanilla ice cream - delicious!

 I have also  had before a rich and creamy céme caramel and the chocolate pot with creme fraiche on the top is a simple little gem.

In the wine menu you can find good french wine at very good price, you can also try the Meteor beer from an independent french brewery, this french  Lager is a light beer, very refreshing with a good taste.

There have been a few negative reviews on trip advisor but for me this is a great restaurant for an inexpensive meal, good service and always with good atmosphere.

The Coal Shed

The Coal Shed in Brighton

This recently opened The Coal Shed restaurant promises excellent meat cooked to perfection and it does not disappoint - I have visited four times, once for lunch to try the burgers and secondly for a full on meal. On the third occasion we took some friends from Spain to savour the food and drink I defy you to find a better place for steak on the South Coast which is cooked using specialized equipment from Spain . The flavour is awesome and the owner has sourced his meat from a farmer here in Sussex which is properly reared and then hung to mature.  The fish is equally good as the chef comes from Riddle and Finns in the Lanes. On the last visit we had oysters as a starter , beautifully chilled and very fresh with a creamy  taste of the sea. Main courses were steak burgers for two guests while the other opted for fillet steak served medium rare. 

Very tasty oysters (above). Coal Shed main room (right)

The burgers priced at £8.50 offer excellent value and are the best in the area and as previously stated the meat is cooked to your liking and served with dripping chips. The steaks were a hefty £25 but in my opinion were superb value The desserts are also made on the premises and I can recommend the doughnuts with a belgian chocolate dipping sauce. The staff are friendly and efficient but I think at busy times more staff would be necessary. The ownner Raz  is very passionate about food...and it shows. The room is welcoming and an upstairs private room for small groups has just opened. This is a fine dining experience with the ambience and price - (its not cheap) - to match but the quality and the extensive wine list is worth every penny.

Marrocco´s 

Marrocco´s Ice Cream

Situated on Hove Esplanade Marrocco´s is a great Italian ristorante famous for its ice cream, pizza and pasta dishes but mainly for the fresh seafood.  The room has a cosy neapolitan feel and the staff are very warm and welcoming and service even at busy times is very efficient.Having had  the superb ice creams on many a summers day we decided to try lunch and had a great value for money meal.

Marrocco´s Restaurant in Hove

Deep fried calamari for share

As a starter we shared some deep fried calamari which was cooked in delicious crispy batter. This was followed by two seafood pasta dishes, one with half a lobster the other with whole crab. The portions were more than generous and the crustaceans were cooked in a combination of garlic, brandy and white wine in a baby plum tomatoe sauce....delicious! . 

Spaghetti with Lobster

Spaghetti with a whole crab!

This is the perfect setting for an inexpensive lunch or dinner. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Brighton for have pasta with fresh seafood. We will be back to try the sea-food pizza!

THE GINGER PIG

Ginger Pig Restaurant in Hove

Since moving to Hove 2 years ago this establishment, part of the Ginger group of restaurants has become a firm favourite of ours.
The food is always superb, the ambience very welcoming and the service attentive.
We have dined here at least 20 times and have never had a bad experience.
 
Sunday lunches are a firm favourite for probably the best roast beef in Hove. The meat is always cooked to perfection and the portions of vegetables more than generous with enormous yorkshire puddings crowning the plates.

Salmon Fish Cakes. Even is not a fish restaurant they cook fish to perfection

Duck and Guinea Fowl are always the best choice in this venue

Weekday lunches and dinners are equally well executed with a great selection of starters, mains and scrumptious deserts.
A selection of specials is also available as well as an inexpensive menu of the day which is excellent value.

The wine list is extensive offering bottles from both the old and new worlds as well as sparkling wines sourced locally from Ditchling.

Menus change regularly and your palette will never be jaded.

www.gingermanrestaurants.com

CHINA GARDEN

China Garden, Brighton

Founded in 1980 this Preston Street venue is a Brighton institution which this reviewer has been visiting on and off for the past ten years.

This is a busy restaurant popular with the Chinese community which is always a good sign.

In Brighton China Garden I have never had a bad meal here and the staff are always warm and welcoming.

The quality of the ingredients is superb and I can recommend the set menus with no hesitation .But be warned portions are large and we often take home a doggy bag to have the following day.

Karen main waitress at China Garden

  I particularly like the shredded duck and lemon chicken but when money is no object then the sea bass and lobster are a must. A meal here washed down with a couple of bottles of Chinese beer is a very satisfying experience.

Crispy Aromatic Duck served with pancakes

A lot of options in the several menus

 Latino Tapas Pintxos Bar

Latino Tapas Pintxos Bar

We have lived in Hove for 3 years and have often passed this restaurant. Recently it was refurbished and now looks very attractive and welcoming. We have now dined here twice in three weeks which is a testament to the quality of the food and service. The tapas is varied and good and I can recommend the patatas aioli, meatballs , croquettas and the various cold meat platters on offer . A good drinks menu and a convivial atmosphere makes for a great evening out in Hove. The staff are friendly and efficient and on our last visit we did not have to wait too long for a table and had a glass of Cava at the bar.

The staff are mostly spanish as is the chef David Fernandez Rueda which is a good sign. An area on the first floor is currently being refurbished to give much needed extra space at busy times. Along with Havana Spoon further down the road this revitalised addition has much improved a quality restaurant wasteland in this part of Hove. Michael De Napoli you have done a great job of bringing the true taste of Spain to East Sussex.

Tortilla-Ali-oli potatoes & ham

New trendy design at Latino

Havana Spoon Brasserie Bar 

Havana Spoon. Hove

This is the latest addition to new restaurants in Hove and a sister to Havana in Brighton. A serious amount of money has been spent on refurbishing this large space which is now cool and elegant in various shades of white. A cocktail bar at the rear makes an interesting contrast being decorated in darker colours with wood panelling.

The staff are welcoming on arrival and service is friendly and efficient. On our first visit during a soft opening we were disappointed by the standard of food on offer and the rather confusing menu which suggests that the restaurant is suffering from an identity crisis.
However on a recent visit this week the standard of the food had improved enormously.We had an open mushroom ravioli and smoked salmon rosettes as starters followed by pork belly and beer battered fish and chips as main courses. Both were well presented and very tasty.
Clearly the initial problems have been ironed out and I think that Havana Spoon will become a firm favourite with the people of Hove.

Pork belly with apples.

Havana Spoon interior

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BANKERS FISH & CHIPS

  Located on Western Road Bankers offers the best fish and chips I have had outside of London.
Portions are ginormous of freshly caught fish and well cooked chips.
Starters and deserts are equally delicious and you will leave feeling very satisfied.
Nothing is too much trouble in this establishment and children are well catered for.
Service is prompt and friendly and the bill at the end of your meal will not break the bank!
http://www.bankers-restaurant.co.uk/


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Brighton Restaurants Reviews by David Pring