RestaurantsSuffolkAldeburghIP15

Harden's says

The former lockdown pop-up and now permanent seaside sibling to Soho's esteemed L'Escargot.

survey result

Summary

£73
  £££
4
Very Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

With its “great fish dishes – we had a whole brill for two served at the table with chips and hollandaise sauce, which was… ’bril’ (geddit?)” – this yearling from George Pell, formerly of L’Escargot in Soho, “has ambitions to be the new east coast superstar. Another year will tell whether they have made it”. Locally born head chef Tom Payne, 25, certainly made a good start, mightily impressing Observer critic Jay Rayner a week after his promotion to run the kitchen, with a ‘menu that is certain of its mission’. It’s certainly “a welcome addition locally – a treat”, and the “nice new bedrooms” and “well-made cocktails are a plus”. (It’s one of the few good legacies from Covid, as the team from L’Escargot shifted here during the pandemic).

Summary

£73
  £££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

George Pell’s August 2022 newcomer (converted from a former pub) started life as ‘L’Escargot Sur-Mer’ – a transplant of the Soho landmark he co-owns necessitated by Covid-19. It incorporates a 60-cover restaurant now named just ‘Sur-Mer’, a rooftop terrace complete with sea views, wine bar, private dining rooms and bedrooms. Chef James May only joined in March 2022, so the ratings we use (from its previous pop-up incarnation) must be guidelines only. Fans expect a continuation of the “great locally caught fish and shellfish, cooked in a great French style from a good bistro-type menu and wine list”.

Summary

£50
   ££
3
Good
3
Good
3
Good
* Based on a three course dinner, half a bottle of wine, coffee, cover charge, service and VAT.

“A terrific addition to the food scene in Aldeburgh”, this August 2020 pop-up – a transplant of Soho’s famous French veteran to provide employment for his team during lockdown – was such a smash hit that co-owner George Pell has now made it permanent. Albeit “rather expensive for the area”, and with “rather too authentically Parisian service”, it wins fine praise for its “good balance of almost fine dining and produce straight from the sea”.

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Have you eaten at The Suffolk (fka L'Escargot sur Mer)?

152 High Street, Aldeburgh, IP15 5AQ

The Suffolk (fka L'Escargot sur Mer) Restaurant Diner Reviews

Reviews of The Suffolk (fka L'Escargot sur Mer) Restaurant in IP15, Aldeburgh by users of Hardens.com. Also see the editors review of The Suffolk (fka L'Escargot sur Mer) restaurant.
Paul F
Mostly great Arrived and got a friendly gre...
Reviewed 8 months, 29 days ago

"Mostly great Arrived and got a friendly greeting. Sat at my table and ordered my food from the menu, which isn't the longest but enough choice. Starter was escargot with the pastis flame, absolutely delicious and helped by more bread for mopping up! Main was a slightly odd skate wing, Indian spiced. The green vegetables were ok, but sadly prep was poor and washing was inadequate so they still had grit in! Dessert was a chocolate mousse, nice flavours, undramatic texture and overall experience. Toilets clean. Staff efficient and organised if small delays clearing plates and serving next course. Minor issue only. Needs tweak to get to next level. Ps nice Kombucha cocktail. "

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What the Newspaper Critics are saying

The Times

Tim Hayward was reassured by the menu at this restaurant-with-rooms from George Pell, formerly of L’Escargot in Soho, in this “sleepy corner of Hampstead on the Suffolk coast” – “seriously, when was the last time you saw escargots (£2 surcharge for a Ricard flambé) or a twice-baked soufflé in the wild?”

His fellow customers, in linen and “daringly sockless deck shoes”, and the crab, with a “toothpaste-like wiggle of alarmingly sweet avocado purée”, were a little “overdressed” for Tim’s liking – but everything else was pretty well perfect.

The star turn were the specials – “big stuff straight from the sea”, in this case a “brill the size of a tennis racket” and a “Leviathan lobster pavilion’d in salad and girded with chips”. Both were prepared with “elegant restraint” and timing, and the lobster in particular was “sublime”.

Tim Hayward - 2024-09-01

Prices

Traditional European menu

Starter Main Veggies Pudding
£12.00 £22.00 £8.00 £10.00
Drinks  
Wine per bottle £30.00
Filter Coffee £3.00
Extras  
Service 10.00%
152 High Street, Aldeburgh, IP15 5AQ
Opening hours
MondayCLOSED
TuesdayCLOSED
Wednesday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm
Thursday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm
Friday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm
Saturday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm
Sunday12 pm‑2:30 pm, 6 pm‑9 pm

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