Restaurants

Brighton and Hove offer one of the best ranges of restaurants in the country! I would argue that in many cases the restaurants are even better than in London because the restaurant owners are always conscious of the trade it gets from the local community – and so avoid the complacency which disappoints in so many London restaurants!

The recession is taking its toll on the industry but it can mean some fantastic deals for the visitors and residents of Brighton and Hove alike. The main chains are very well represented  (Pizza Express, Strada, Rouge Cafe, Ha-Ha, La Tasca etc. etc.) – so coupons and vouchers should be printed out in advance of your visit so you come well armed and able to take advantage of the deals.

In addition to that a walk along Church Road offers a huge range of meal deals that the individual restaurants are offering, such as Otello’s in Hove, which offer very inexpensive lunch deals as well as really good value set meals fro the evening – a really attractive option if you’re trying to please a family or a group!

One of the star restaurants in the whole of the Brighton and Hove area is Pomegranate on Manchester Street. As well as providing the best customer service in the city – Zelal and Hassan, the owners – provide some of the highest quality and best value food in the city, as well as a beautiful environment for a romantic evening meal. Even better value is their incredible lunch menu which has 2 courses from £8.95 – lots of food, lots of flavour and lots of quality – and always lots of locals in the restaurant which really puts the stamp of approval on a restaurant. In a time when the Kemptown area has lost a couple of very good restaurants, its good to know that quality and high standards still exist at affordable prices!

Dermot O’Leary has had a much publicised forray into the Brighton restaurant market with his restaurant Fishy Fishy in the Lanes. A restaurant which has gained a great deal of publicity but so far seems to be struggling to live up to the public’s expectations with mixed reviews.

Somewhere which has always maintained a high level of food quality – although matched peg

for peg by its prices – is Havana on Duke Street. Sourcing some of the best from local producers and fisheries, the menu is always stimulating and imaginative, and the dining experience one of the best in the city. A great restaurant for a special occasion or celebration that justifies the expense!

Another great little independent restaurant that makes the effort to make sure you enjoy your meal is Archipelago on Western Road (Hove end). The quality of the food is excellent and clearly freshly made on the premises to the best Greek standards. The moussaka is truly a work of the heart, and its clear just how much Theo, the  owner,  prides himself  on the quality of both the food and the service. In the evenings its a romantic place for two – or a fun place for a group, and its lunch deals are incredible value with 2 courses and a glass of wine for £8.95. Highly recommended.