Shesells Seashells — Restaurant in Folkestone and Hythe District

What a disappointing meal. We were in town from London for the day, and spent a lot of time researching where we should have lunch. We decided to go here and I truly urge you NOT to do the same.

I ordered half a lobster and it was boiled to death. It was chewy and flavourless. It hadn't been seasoned either - it was like eating a rubber. My partner got the dressed crab salad which was ok, though the chips were also unseasoned (we had to ask for salt) and the salad seemed to be dressed with Hellman's or similar - for the price we were charged, we would have expected an accompaniment with the lobster, and a dressing that wasn't shop-bought for the salad.

We waited quite a while for our order, though the young man serving us was lovely. Only towards the end of our meal were we asked how our food was - at which point my partner mentioned how disappointed I was with the lobster. About 15 minutes later the woman who seemed to be the manager came out to follow up on what we'd said - she was extremely defensive and rude. She kept telling me I should have said something before "eating most of it". Unfortunately, we weren't asked how everything was until very long into our meal, which is really poor etiquette. Additionally, I only ate about half of it, and only out of necessity (we had been walking round all day), but certainly hadn't eaten most. She seemed to be suggesting we were actively trying to scam them out of money - she didn't bother to apologise for our disappointing meal, but instead kept saying "we can't do anything now". The polite thing to do would be to comp the main, or at least the drinks. I have lots of experience working in hospitality and I have never spoken to a customer that way. Again, we didn't even get an apology, we were just met with defensiveness and an accusatory tone.

The crab croquettes that we had as a starter were nice, but unfortunately there is nothing else good to say. Total waste of £80 and being spoken to like that completely ruined our trip. I will definitely not...

Located right in the middle of Folkestone harbour with a gorgeous view of the White Cliffs, this adorable, humble little seaside restaurant hidden in old train carriages is easily the perfect spot for a filling meal before walking up to the lighthouse. Lots of love to waitresses who made sure that we enjoyed very bite of our late-lunch!

FOOD REVIEW: Crab croquette- 4.5/5⭐️ Possibly some of the most decadent croquettes I’ve had in a very long time. It was served piping hot with a crunchy, thin coating that perfectly. The filling was smooth and creamy with a nice, subtle freshness from the crabmeat - a dish that is deemed on a heavier side but just you might accidentally order an extra portion. My only complaint is the simplicity of this dish, which could be improved if there was a bit more heat that could possible give a nice kick - maybe a sprinkle of peppercorn or chilli.

Cold Seafood Platter with 6 Oysters and bread basket - 3/5⭐️ Generous seafood platter that consists of 6 whole oysters, meaty mussels, shell on prawns, mackerel patê, chilli garlic prawns, peeled prawns and beautifully pickled octopus. Not only was the platter presented beautifully, but everything was extremely fresh. While I enjoyed basically everything on the plate, my personal favourite was interesting the mackerel patê, which was such a lovely treat when smothered on top of buttered toast (that was served warm as well!!).

FOOD: 3.5/5⭐️ SERVICE: 4.5/5⭐️ ATMOSPHERE:...

This restaurant was right at the top of our list, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. My mother, cousin and I showed up without a booking on a busy Easter weekend, but the owner and her three daughters welcomed us with such warmth and kindness. Even though the main cabin was full, they offered us a private, tucked-away area that turned out to be perfect—quiet, cosy and with a lovely view of the sea.

The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, and the whole place was spotless. It felt like being invited into someone’s home, where every little detail had been carefully thought through.

Now, the food—just wow. We started with mussels, both the classic and Thai-style, and they were honestly the best any of us had ever had. The crab salad was incredibly fresh, the mackerel pâté was rich and beautifully balanced, and the Parmesan and truffle fries were dangerously moreish. Everything was packed with flavour and presented with care, and the portion sizes were just right.

The drinks were spot on too, and we appreciated the thoughtful recommendations. It’s clear that the family behind this place puts their heart into everything they do—from the cooking to the service to the vibe of the whole place.

We loved it so much we went back two days later for another round. T-shell is an absolute gem, and we can’t wait to return. If you’re in Folkestone,...