Restaurant 2015

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

Went to Seven Stars for lunch with Mrs DCH today to sample the Little Blue Smokehouse extended menu. I had the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich which was very tasty and the Mrs had their brisket chilli which she said was the best chilli she has ever had - not too spicy but had a really deep, rich taste. Good quality cheapish eats with a fine beer selection to accompany your lunch.

 

[JJ McClure]

Had dinner at Cote Brasserie last night prior to going to the Corn Exchange for a show and sure it's a chain restaurant but I thought it was really good. The staff were really friendly and I couldn't fault the food or wine at all. I think I could happily live on the steak frites.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

The Spotted Pig (http://www.thespottedpig.com) - [MENTION=409]Herr Tubthumper[/MENTION] is a fan of this April Bloomfield gastro pub which received a star last year. There couldn't have been much more of a contrast with Jean-Georges as you are served by heavily-tattooed cool dudes in jeans, t-shirts and Vans. The renowned sheep's milk ricotta gnudi stole the show from a taste perspective - it was amazing. I need to learn how to make these little parcels of cheesy wonderfulness. The 'side order' of shoe-string fries provided some visual appeal and I'll confess there wasn't much left in the bowl when our table was cleared.

The Coney Island pilsner washed everything down nicely.

Just visited for the 6th time. I am now firmly of the belief this is my favourite restaurant. I love everything about it: the ambiance, the food, the service, the staff, the beer, the decor, the location. I plumped for a special of squid stew with mashed potato alioli and sour dough toast. It was magnificent. I had their chicken liver toast to start, which is one of their flag ship dishes, washed down with cask Thirsty Dog Citra IPA - a great pairing.

 

[Tony Meolas Loan Spell]

Interesting regarding The Set. Maybe got in there at the right time as it was top drawer.

Coalshed has been disappointing. They dont know how to cook steak although maybe I'm spoiled being in London for work so expect extra good. Their mediumrare basically translated as cremated. Mind you got a voucher for next time.

Anyone been to Isaac@ ? Im due there in a couple of weeks time.

 

[CHAPPERS]

Just visited for the 6th time. I am now firmly of the belief this is my favourite restaurant. I love everything about it: the ambiance, the food, the service, the staff, the beer, the decor, the location. I plumped for a special of squid stew with mashed potato alioli and sour dough toast. It was magnificent. I had their chicken liver toast to start, which is one of their flag ship dishes, washed down with cask Thirsty Dog Citra IPA - a great pairing.

If you're in Greenwich you could do a LOT worse than go to Frankie's Spuntino for the cavatelli with hot sausage and sage butter, though the Brooklyn restaurant is definitely preferable if you don't mind schlepping out that way (if you do then go and have a Pilsner at Prime Meats next door first).

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Had a great lunch last week at Table 26 (The Salt Room)
Anchovy based starter divine/Monster Sea Bass (extra pots) wonderful grilled leeks/Taste of the Pier signature dessert
Great fun
Fantastic fishbowl citrus Gin & Tonica and Sauvignon Blanc
£104 no service charge
Marvellous

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Brighton gets a couple of mentions in Jay Rayner's Observer column today:

■ The Little Blue Smokehouse began life as a street food operation in and around Brighton and became so popular it now has a permanent base at the Seven Stars pub in the city. You need to choose carefully. The beef brisket sandwich and the smoked fish are not that great, for example, and get dessert elsewhere. But the Korean chicken wings and the pig’s head croquettes are terrific. Best of all is the huge smoked and charred pork belly rib, which alone is worth the trip (sevenstars brighton.pub).

■ And talking of Brighton, the city is to get the first branch outside London of the small plates Italian restaurant group Polpo. The outpost, launched by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, will be on New Road near the Theatre Royal (polpo.co.uk).

 

[Soulman]

Oh dear......
Wetherspoons: Woman Visits 972 Branches of Pub Chain, Report Says
Mags Thomson, 66, started the endeavor with her husband Ian in 1994, visiting 708 branches with him until his death in 2010, the BBC reported. As of Oct. 31, 2015, she had visited 972 locations.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34440109

 

[CheeseRolls]

Brighton gets a couple of mentions in Jay Rayner's Observer column today:

■ The Little Blue Smokehouse began life as a street food operation in and around Brighton and became so popular it now has a permanent base at the Seven Stars pub in the city. You need to choose carefully. The beef brisket sandwich and the smoked fish are not that great, for example, and get dessert elsewhere. But the Korean chicken wings and the pig’s head croquettes are terrific. Best of all is the huge smoked and charred pork belly rib, which alone is worth the trip (sevenstars brighton.pub).

■ And talking of Brighton, the city is to get the first branch outside London of the small plates Italian restaurant group Polpo. The outpost, launched by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, will be on New Road near the Theatre Royal (polpo.co.uk).

I have a tendency to be cynical towards London imports. In fact I can't quite believe meat liquor is still trading. Polpo however looks classy and I will definitely want to give it a try.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

In fact I can't quite believe meat liquor is still trading.

Out of interest why not?

As an aside, one thing I will say is that Meat Liquor was well ahead of the London Road curve.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Out of interest why not?

As an aside, one thing I will say is that Meat Liquor was well ahead of the London Road curve.

Before Trolls Pantry and the Barbecue Shack at Worlds End ?

there are loads of decent quality burgers available in Brighton. Meat Liquor offers little more than McDonalds in the dark.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Before Trolls Pantry and the Barbecue Shack at Worlds End ?

there are loads of decent quality burgers available in Brighton. Meat Liquor offers little more than McDonalds in the dark.

Meat Liquor is a lot more than "McDonalds in the dark." I've eaten there and I'm more than happy with the food; it's a very very good standard. And the atmosphere and environment you allude to is all part of the product. You either like it, or don't. It's not my thing, I doubt I'm their target market, and I doubt I'll ever eat there out of choice again. But for what it is, I can see it's very good....it's the environment which is not for me. Trolls is my preference but have yet to try Burger Bros (my top 3 of burgers is The Spotted Pig, The Bird and Trolls)

As for being ahead of the curve the two brands you mention both set up shop in pre-existing established pubs with an established clientele. What Meat Liquor did was quite different and a huge gamble. Most people I know were thinking WTF when they announced that, of all the locations in Brighton they looked at, they chose London Road. There was no foot-fall market for their product at the time so either they either felt they would become a destination in their own right, like Brewdog, or believed that London Road would itself become a destination in it's own right. It was a bold move and few predicted London Rd would become what it has.

 

[BensGrandad]

I am a little lost as to who would go out for a meal and have a burger however good it may be, or is this me showing my age?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I am a little lost as to who would go out for a meal and have a burger however good it may be, or is this me showing my age?

If you don't want to cook a burger at home, how else would you eat one?

 

[Machiavelli]

Brighton gets a couple of mentions in Jay Rayner's Observer column today:

■ The Little Blue Smokehouse began life as a street food operation in and around Brighton and became so popular it now has a permanent base at the Seven Stars pub in the city. You need to choose carefully. The beef brisket sandwich and the smoked fish are not that great, for example, and get dessert elsewhere. But the Korean chicken wings and the pig’s head croquettes are terrific. Best of all is the huge smoked and charred pork belly rib, which alone is worth the trip (sevenstars brighton.pub).

■ And talking of Brighton, the city is to get the first branch outside London of the small plates Italian restaurant group Polpo. The outpost, launched by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, will be on New Road near the Theatre Royal (polpo.co.uk).

Thanks for posting this. I'm definitely keen to go to Polpo, and it's another sign of things looking up on the Brighton restaurant scene.
But, I'm more pleased to report back on The Little Blue Smokehouse. Or, rather, whoever has replaced them or taken their spot at Street Diner. They are the polar opposite of TLBS, as much as they try to be like them. I went there on Friday (30 Oct). The two guys there just didn't know what they were doing:
-- they have a substantially reduced range -- no pastrami, only two (rather than about ten) sauces, only one pickle and slaw
-- by 1, they'd run out of one of their two meats (brisket), and were making their 'Mac' while queues grew
-- the pulled pork and slaw was passable, but not as good as that made by TLBS; the Mac was disgusting and, as far as I could tell, contained no cheese, in stark contrast to TLBS' indulgent version

I shan't be going back.

 

[MattBackHome]

Brighton gets a couple of mentions in Jay Rayner's Observer column today:

■ The Little Blue Smokehouse began life as a street food operation in and around Brighton and became so popular it now has a permanent base at the Seven Stars pub in the city. You need to choose carefully. The beef brisket sandwich and the smoked fish are not that great, for example, and get dessert elsewhere. But the Korean chicken wings and the pig’s head croquettes are terrific. Best of all is the huge smoked and charred pork belly rib, which alone is worth the trip (sevenstars brighton.pub).

■ And talking of Brighton, the city is to get the first branch outside London of the small plates Italian restaurant group Polpo. The outpost, launched by Russell Norman and Richard Beatty, will be on New Road near the Theatre Royal (polpo.co.uk).

That's good news. Polpo is nice.

 

[MattBackHome]

24 St Georges tasting menu last night. Overall excellent, in particular the venison carpaccio. Paired wines were nice if not amazing but I'd recommend Silo above this as it's better quality and about a third cheaper.

 

[Spider]

Very excited to hear about Polpo coming to Brighton. Been keen to go since I saw Russell Norman on The Restaurant Man last year. Not a massive fan of small plates, or London prices, but now it's on doorstep I will definitely give it a go.

HT I think you're being extremely generous about MeatLiqour - they are a london Road establishment but not exactly the 'heart' of London Road (around Preston Circus). They are as close to Trafalgar Street as they are to the main London Road drag so I think hailing their opening there as brave etc is a bit misleading!

 

[BensGrandad]

If you don't want to cook a burger at home, how else would you eat one?

I certainly wouldnt pay top price for it and would sooner go with out as a burger isnt the top of any cullinary expertise.

 

[Machiavelli]

I certainly wouldnt pay top price for it and would sooner go with out as a burger isnt the top of any cullinary expertise.

It isn't, but who cares? A well made burger is something that I want to eat. Sometimes.
I know you're fond of a G&T. I like a well made one of those too. Again, sometimes.