Top Restaurants and Foodie Pubs in Brighton / Sussex

[Timbo]

The Middle House in Mayfield is superb.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Best restaurants: Due South, Terre a Terre and Gingerman win all the accolades in Brighton and the first two certainly well warrant it (I've not been to Gingerman so can't comment).

Best foodie pub in Sussex has to be The Griffin at Fletching - superb food with fantasic views from the garden

Due South?? Do me a favour!!! The chef is a total bastard. The week before my daughter was born we made a reservation there. First of all the staff cocked up because they gave us a time when lunch is officially finished so when we got there they said the kitchen was closed. After checking their records they realised we had a reservation. Cue apologies and a howling tirade from the cook which could be heard all over the restuarant. Then the menu did not make clear that the fish soup was not a chowder but included shellfish... very disappointed wife... cue another tirade from chef. (the kitchen is in a little glass cubicle below the restuarant so you can see and pretty much hear everything)

So we wolfed things down (admit the food was excellent) but were then denied dessert because... yes you guessed it.... the kitchen was closed. This time tirade by chef followed by swearing breaking of glasses etc... finally we got a cold dessert that needed no preparation. I have to admit the head chef tried his best and was very apologetic...especially when their credit card machine also didn't work... but I am convinced that little visit brought forth my daughter early two days later.

Due South?? Avoid at all costs!!!! (unless they've sacked the chef)

 

[CHAPPERS]

Due South?? Do me a favour!!! The chef is a total bastard. The week before my daughter was born we made a reservation there. First of all the staff cocked up because they gave us a time when lunch is officially finished so when we got there they said the kitchen was closed. After checking their records they realised we had a reservation. Cue apologies and a howling tirade from the cook which could be heard all over the restuarant. Then the menu did not make clear that the fish soup was not a chowder but included shellfish... very disappointed wife... cue another tirade from chef. (the kitchen is in a little glass cubicle below the restuarant so you can see and pretty much hear everything)

So we wolfed things down (admit the food was excellent) but were then denied dessert because... yes you guessed it.... the kitchen was closed. This time tirade by chef followed by swearing breaking of glasses etc... finally we got a cold dessert that needed no preparation. I have to admit the head chef tried his best and was very apologetic...especially when their credit card machine also didn't work... but I am convinced that little visit brought forth my daughter early two days later.

Due South?? Avoid at all costs!!!! (unless they've sacked the chef)

I agree. The staff there are a bunch of utter UTTER bastards. The food is no more than okay in my opinion and the service leaves a LOT to be desired. I'm certainly not going back after the way I was treated there.

 

[Kylies Stunt Arse]

Due South?? Do me a favour!!! The chef is a total bastard. The week before my daughter was born we made a reservation there. First of all the staff cocked up because they gave us a time when lunch is officially finished so when we got there they said the kitchen was closed. After checking their records they realised we had a reservation. Cue apologies and a howling tirade from the cook which could be heard all over the restuarant. Then the menu did not make clear that the fish soup was not a chowder but included shellfish... very disappointed wife... cue another tirade from chef. (the kitchen is in a little glass cubicle below the restuarant so you can see and pretty much hear everything)

So we wolfed things down (admit the food was excellent) but were then denied dessert because... yes you guessed it.... the kitchen was closed. This time tirade by chef followed by swearing breaking of glasses etc... finally we got a cold dessert that needed no preparation. I have to admit the head chef tried his best and was very apologetic...especially when their credit card machine also didn't work... but I am convinced that little visit brought forth my daughter early two days later.

Due South?? Avoid at all costs!!!! (unless they've sacked the chef)

Hang on. In the middle of your story you have actually said that the food is excellent.

I'm not surprised the chef was pissed off, it's the front of house staff that are to blame here. Why are they giving you a reservation for a time when service is finished? Why are their menus not clear about what the dishes contain? (although I would suggest that most fish soups will contain some elements of shellfish as well.)

Professional kitchens close so that the chef can get everything cleaned up, get preparation underway for the evening service, and maybe get an hour off for themselves! Ok, so the chef perhaps should have kept his noise down, but it's the staff outside the kitchen that are mainly at fault here IMO.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

Hang on. In the middle of your story you have actually said that the food is excellent.

I'm not surprised the chef was pissed off, it's the front of house staff that are to blame here. Why are they giving you a reservation for a time when service is finished? Why are their menus not clear about what the dishes contain? (although I would suggest that most fish soups will contain some elements of shellfish as well.)

Professional kitchens close so that the chef can get everything cleaned up, get preparation underway for the evening service, and maybe get an hour off for themselves! Ok, so the chef perhaps should have kept his noise down, but it's the staff outside the kitchen that are mainly at fault here IMO.

Absolutely not! The chef knows the environment he works in.... he knew he could be heard and seen and it was was he who kept thrwoing the baby out of the pram. We all know these things happen from time to time and there is no excuse to make the customers feel guilty.

 

[Billy in Bristol]

I'm still confused about Due South



or

Please advise!

 

[Billy in Bristol]

BTW if you run any sort of places

...or if you know them well, please let them know the publication I work for is free of charge for inclusion. Full details on Welcome to The Invitation Book website

The book aims to be packed full of discount offers from the Tourism, Retail and Leisure Industry, and then used by good causes to raise money for themselves. (The model has already raised £500K for good causes across the UK).

Its also a great way for businesses to support the Albion by buying the books to give to their staff and raise money for the club!

Keep the suggestions coming along!

Regards
Billy

 

[csider]

due south is excellent.

 

[Gwylan]

I'm sure all of us could name restaurants where we've had a bad experience does this make it a bad restaurant? If lots of people say so, then yes, it is.

But Due South has had lots of excellent reviews and has done very well on readers' ratings (I think it's been Observer Food Monthly's restaurant of the year twice) so it must be doing something right.

In SCS's case, the front of house made a cock-up - it happens. But I don't see how one error makes it a bad restaurant.

It would be like going to see Manure and seeing Ronaldo have a quiet game until he misses a sitter in the 89th minute. Does that mean he's a crap player? People make mistakes, but if a restaurant's on the ball, 99% of the time, then it sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Billy in Bristol]

Thanks guys, we have put the book together

Invitation Book

Due South said no! Thanks for your help, and we have done a draw of all the names who entered, and CSider has won a book! Please PM me with an address we can send you a copy next month.

Appreciate your views on the book, as you will see from the website, we are doing this to raise money for good causes. The deals are all valid till May 2010, and whilst we are aware that you could spend a considerable amount of time surfing the net getting one week only deals, the book has proven popular (120,000 sales last year), because it is convenient, saves time and money and also means that you get the discount when you need it.

DON'T BUY just yet. I will be trying to do something Albion related, and have sent a few messages to try and establish a fundraising code or several!

Billy

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Lots.

The Rainbow at cooksbridge is a great gastopub very similar to The Jolly Sportsman at East Chiltington.

In Brighton, Blanch House is my fav but also very good are Gingerman at Norfolk square and also Gingerman at Drakes. One Paston Place is suposed to be excellent but not been there.

Gingerman at Drakes and One Paston Place have both changed hands.

 

[pishhead]

Gingerman at Drakes and One Paston Place have both changed hands.

Paston place has been taken over by Sam from Seven Dials restaurant and has taken on a more formal decor.

 

[maffew]

My curry house in Worcester changed hands a few years ago after some bad reports about things to do with want went in the curry. Rumour going about was they started using their left hand

 

[The Large One]

Paston place has been taken over by Sam from Seven Dials restaurant and has taken on a more formal decor.

I didn't think it could get any more formal than it was.

I've only been there once, and I found it good but stuffy. And bloody expensive.

The bill for the four of us for a three-course meal and wine was £96.00.























































Each.

 

[pishhead]

I didn't think it could get any more formal than it was.

I've only been there once, and I found it good but stuffy. And bloody expensive.

The bill for the four of us for a three-course meal and wine was £96.00.























































Each.

My mistake I meant a less formal feel.
My brother done a bit of work there previously, he said the food was top notch but he felt they were still living off the glory days of years gone by.

 

[scooter1]

The Forragers Arms in Hove, just off Sackville Rd - used to the Stirling I believe(??). Great food in there and good service. Only discovered it a few months back and am planning to go again in a couple of weeks. You need to book a table though, its always busy, and a DJ on Friday nights

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Sussex Pad is well worth a punt on the A27 just past the Shoreham flyover. Easy to get to and park and great views of Lancing College, the Adur and Shoreham Airport. Formal or informal with good seasonal menus – little bit pricey but not OTT.

 

[The Spanish]

coach house rottingdean

plough rottingdean

rottingdean club

queen vic rottingdean



in fact anywhere in rottingdean except the white or black horse

 

[seagull_special]

Pelham House in Lewes. Went for Sunday lunch had roast ribeye for £10.00 absolutely stunning cooked rare with duck fat roasties and loads of veg - making myself drool just thinking about it, did a brilliant treacle tart as well.

Would recommend

 

[caesar]

Invitation Book

Due South said no! Thanks for your help, and we have done a draw of all the names who entered, and CSider has won a book! Please PM me with an address we can send you a copy next month.

Appreciate your views on the book, as you will see from the website, we are doing this to raise money for good causes. The deals are all valid till May 2010, and whilst we are aware that you could spend a considerable amount of time surfing the net getting one week only deals, the book has proven popular (120,000 sales last year), because it is convenient, saves time and money and also means that you get the discount when you need it.

DON'T BUY just yet. I will be trying to do something Albion related, and have sent a few messages to try and establish a fundraising code or several!

Billy

I hope that book has pictures because Csider has very basic reading skills