JOURNEYS Wine Bar And Restaurant — Restaurant in Eastbourne

Well, where to begin. I'm not a big reviewer in general - I fall into that terrible category of person who will have a positive experience, thank the owner, but not take any further action. But in this case, I cannot stand idly by after such a pleasant evening. The welcome we received was so warm, like meeting with a friend you haven’t seen in a few years. Despite the restaurant being quite busy, we were made to feel like we were the most important people in the room.

We went with the Taster Menu on the recommendation of a friend, and if wasn’t for the recommendation we wouldn’t have even know about this gem in the heart of Eastbourne. I will describe two of the five dishes we had (It’s a four-course meal but my partner and I chose differently for the main course do had the pleasure of each trying an extra dish).

I’m not a real ‘foodie’. I basically have four tastebuds that have to work overtime. I generally require a sledgehammer of flavour so to me texture is very important. However, in this case I think the food managed to resurrect a sense of taste that has been dormant for most of my life. The roquefort panna cotta was perfectly balanced and so creamy, the accompanying chutney and homemade bread adding a delightful tang and crunchy texture.

The Lamb. I think I may have had a religious experience as the food gods truly shone down upon me that evening. The pairing with a celeriac (a delightful and underutilised vegetable) puree was glorious, and the jus…. oh the Jus! I wish the chef had left the kitchen so I could kiss her hand.

I’m not going to comment on the dessert as that may be a spoiler but suffice to say it didn’t disappoint.

A final note – the wine paring. Clearly great lengths have been gone too (and probably many nights spent testing) to find the ideal wine paring with each course. I enjoy my wine, but as I do not boast a particularly refined sense of taste, I have never really appreciated a pairing. I know good quality wine; I appreciate a good wine. But the pairings for this menu, and the explanations provided, have elevated my understanding.

The dessert wine. Oh my days the dessert wine. Beautifully balanced orange flavours teases you and entices you to drink more. Do not listen to the wine if you wish to remain upright. It’s a trap!

Finally, as price is always a consideration, a comment on the bill. Price doesn’t always equal value for money, but they excelled. I have been to fine restaurants such as Gravetye, The Pass, and the Tasting Rooms at Rathfinnie and you get what you pay for. Fabulous food with a price tag to match. We left the restaurant something thinking that we had conned them. Food of that calibre should not carry a price tag that low! As a more direct reference, it was half the price of the Tasting Rooms. A reader may think this review as unnecessarily flowery. I do not. A ‘quick’ paragraph wouldn’t do the establishment justice, nor the clear efforts of the team to create an experience. Suffice to say it wasn’t just an experience, it...

Both me and my partner love to go out for dinner, journeys is our new best place. We were late (due to taxi issues) however the staff were very accommodating. From the momment we stepped in we felt welcomed. The menu was explained in such great detail along with the wine choices, we had to go for the taster menu. This did not disappoint! The salmon, pickled cucumber and wasabi saurce was out of this world and the second course of scallops with and chorizo and chilli jam took it even further. We opted for the sommelier wine, with each course and it came through, everytime. The pairing was excellent. The red that was served before my main (of local lamb, Dauphinoise potatoes, apparagus, roasted onion and a saurce i cant even describe) i didn't think much of, however I was mistaken, it complemented the meal so well. This place is an absolute gem, the host and staff were amazing. Well done to what they all have achieved and good luck in the future. I look forward to the next...

Taylor’s has quickly become my favorite place to relax and socialise in Eastbourne. It has a fantastic location just near the station and Little Chelsea. They have an informed and tasty selection of wines and sell bottled beers, cider, Aperol Spritz and coffee too. The cheese and meat platters have quality ingredients, are well portioned and come with lovely freshly baked baguettes. The clientele, and the staff especially, really make for a warm, welcoming atmosphere. I usually socialise in bars with friends but I would feel comfortable going for a glass of something here on my own too. They have now also started to do wine tasting, acoustic evenings and bottomless brunches so I will most definitely be back.

If you are in Eastbourne, enjoy good wine, accompaniments and company then you must...