Broadstairs, Mediterranean Restaurant Guide

2022 Review: In a “great” harbourside setting, chef Craig Mather’s collaboration with hotelier James Thomas namechecks the heroic homespun flotilla of the Dunkirk evacuation, also echoed in the decor. The food, mostly sourced within 30 miles of the restaurant, is reliably “solid”, not least the “lovely fresh catch of the day with interesting saucing”.

“Fresh-off-the-boat fish is supplied by local fishmonger Jason” and “imaginatively, even exotically, cooked” at this Mediterranean sharing-plates bistro (est. 2021), whose other virtues include a “joyous bar to dine at” and “a few outdoor tables which are quite sheltered” (plus have views over Viking Bay). The “consistently good service is overseen by Sarah Kebbels”, who here makes her first – very successful – foray into the restaurant world alongside husband Richard.

This two-year-old neighbourhood bistro, handy for the station, pairs the British and Spanish backgrounds of owners Ben Hughes and Rafael Lopez, who honed their talents working at The Goods Shed in Canterbury. Local fans say the cooking is “absolutely beautiful” – “all local and seasonal” – with “great imagination shown” despite the simple descriptions on the menu. Further boons: the “great-value set lunch” (two courses £26, three courses £29.50) and “very warm” service “with a smile”.