The Bay Fish & Steakouse — Restaurant in Canterbury

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Summary: The Bay offers a promising dining experience with flavorful dishes and a welcoming atmosphere. While the food generally impresses, some areas, including service and kitchen hygiene, require attention to reach the restaurant's full potential.

On a recent visit to The Bay in Herne Bay, Whitstable, I had the pleasure of experiencing a meal that showcased the restaurant’s potential while also highlighting some areas for improvement.

The meal began with an enticing starter of sourdough and smoked butter. The sourdough was wonderfully fresh, boasting a crisp crust and soft interior. Paired with the smoked butter, it provided a rich, indulgent flavor profile that was both comforting and sophisticated. To elevate this starter, I recommend incorporating a mature fig balsamic vinegar. This addition would introduce a subtle sweetness and acidity, perfectly balancing the richness of the smoked butter and adding an extra layer of complexity to the dish.

For the main course, I opted for the sea bass with sapphire butter, a dish that stood out with its bold flavors and elegant presentation. The sea bass was cooked to perfection, its tender flesh harmonizing beautifully with the savory, umami-laden sapphire butter. However, the dish would benefit from the inclusion of a vegetable to add variety and nutritional balance. I ordered a side of tender stem broccoli, which was attractively presented but unfortunately overcooked, losing its desired crispness.

The potatoes accompanying the sea bass were a minor point of disappointment. While they provided a good flavor match for the fish, their slightly undercooked texture was noticeable and detracted from the overall enjoyment of the dish. A bit more attention to this detail would significantly enhance the dining experience.

Service at The Bay was generally attentive and pleasant, though there is room for improvement in the finer points of fine dining etiquette. A noticeable instance was when the server accidentally tapped the wine glass with the bottle while pouring. Upskilling the staff in these aspects of service would greatly enhance the overall dining experience, ensuring that it aligns with the quality of the food.

A significant concern arose regarding hygiene practices in the kitchen. I observed the chef at the pass snacking while wearing disposable gloves and then continuing to handle and serve food without changing them. This practice raises serious food safety issues and undermines the otherwise positive dining experience. It is crucial that the restaurant addresses this matter promptly to maintain high standards of hygiene and ensure the safety and satisfaction of its patrons.

The meal concluded on a high note with an exceptional dessert of chocolate mousse accompanied by mango sorbet. The richness of the chocolate mousse was perfectly complemented by the bright, refreshing mango sorbet, creating a delightful balance of flavors. This dessert was a standout, showcasing the kitchen's capability to deliver truly memorable dishes.

In conclusion, The Bay offers a promising dining experience with its flavorful dishes and welcoming atmosphere. With some fine-tuning in both the kitchen and service, particularly addressing hygiene practices, it has the potential to be a standout restaurant in Herne Bay. I look forward to seeing how it evolves and improves...

We visited the Bay a few weeks ago and were really excited for a lovely meal.

The restaurant is lovely, venue wise. Great location.

Unfortunately the food was really disappointing. There were no oysters available. The main (I ordered the spaghetti) was quite poor. Spaghetti was over cooked, not al dente and to be honest the entire dish lacked flavour. I had to put salt on it, which is usually an indicator of lack of taste.

The service was the main issue. None of the waiters seemed to know what they were doing or serving. My prawns came with sourdough and that was placed down the opposite end of the table. The kids meal came out 10 minutes after all of ours. The waiters didn’t even know what sauce they were bringing out to us and were asking each other what it was. I even overheard one of them asking if he was holding a rib eye. Considering we ordered different types of steaks it’s quite concerning they didn’t know what they were holding and giving it to whoever.

All the cutlery was cleared after the starters and not replaced. My husband asked for a knife for his steak. They kept bring him a fork. It was on the final ask (3 times) that they brought him a knife.

We were looking forward to a final sophisticated meal after a lovely holiday and this did not do. Really really...

I had high hopes for this place but was a little disappointed if I'm honest. My first impressions were good, the decor and general aesthetics were really impressive. However, the service was incredibly amateur. Our server was a very sweet young lady. She was polite but really nervous and unsure of most of our enquiries. When it came to opening our wine, she informed us she didn't know how to use a corkscrew, so my partner did the honours. I don't blame her and felt very sorry for her as she seemed really embarrassed. I do, however, feel that whoever employed her should have provided her with a little more training. Particularly given that she was the only waiting staff working on the night we visited. The food itself was presented well but we were really disappointed to discover both the roast potatoes and yorkshire puddings were undoubtedly frozen! Overall, we were a tad underwhelmed by our experience at The Bay. If as much effort could be put into the quality of the food as it is with the decor and presentation then I think the standards would...