English's of Brighton — Restaurant in Great Britain

I want to bring your attention to the following issue that I experienced at this restaurant: This was a celebration for a milestone birthday, and my friend mentioned this on the online booking so the restaurant knew this as they had prepared a table for us. We travelled down from London on 2 August because this seafood restaurant has very good reviews.

The table decorations and setting were lovely, and the appetizers of raw Rock oysters and Oysters Kilpatrick were delicious. For the main dish, we ordered a shared Hot Platter of mixed seafood.

Upon inquiring about the cooking method, the waitress informed us that the seafood would be cooked in butter and oil with no seasoning or spices. However, when the platter arrived, all the seafood was covered in black pepper, which I dislike but I decided to give it a try. I was unable to eat after a few bites. When I mentioned this to the French waiter, he explained that it is normal to use black pepper in European cuisine, but I wasn't comfortable with it.

After I shared my concerns, the waiter removed the platter and left only the mussels which were, unfortunately, full of grit. We could not be bothered with complaining because a previous review a few months back had mentioned grit in the mussels. Later, he brought out a separate platter just for me with only 3 small fillets, 1 prawn and 2 scallops. However my friend did not have anything to eat. When queried he said my friend had mentioned she had ate her share. He then brought out MY old plate with food to compare what was eaten and what wasn’t. This was humiliating in a crowded restaurant. He had misunderstood my friend who had said she was fine with black pepper TO “she had eaten her share of platter”. In all my life of having shared platters this has never happened. Most restaurants would have just brought out a whole fresh platter without black pepper.

When I raised my concerns again, the waiter promised to bring out a new platter. However, the second platter still did not meet our expectations. It came in 2 separate plates and on my plate it contained the same two fillets, two scallops, and two tiger prawns, all of which were overcooked. It looked like waiter had put my second platter to stay warm in oven while my friend’s was being cooked. The rest of the items advertised were missing.

An English gentleman who looked like the manager later apologised and offered us £16.00 off the bill and complimentary coffee. Unfortunately, despite this gesture, we felt deeply disappointed with the overall experience. I was also never wished a happy birthday by the staff at any point. I presume only people who are fine with plenty of black pepper on their food have left good reviews. It also seemed like the French waiter was penny pinching so he can get brownie points for reducing costs for restaurant. Well I hope he is happy with his brownie point because we are never...

My partner is a chef. Not just any chef, he has worked and eaten in some of the world's best restaurants. Nonetheless, we like to support local businesses and for a recent birthday celebration I discovered English's after some very quick research and booked a table for the two of us. The reviews and photos painted a picture of great food and great service.

Those in the industry will be well aware that the purpose of a set menu is to entice customers by providing a selection of their food at a discounted price, to ensure returning custom. The first dissapointment came when the waiter seated us and explained they had sold out of the fish and chips, as well as two of the starters (including the only vegetarian option). Understandable, although slightly dissapointing given it was 6pm on a Sunday night.

Sadly, the food we were served was less than good, a chewy steak served only with wilted greens, when we question this the waiter explained they had served the steak with chips (as the website menu stated) but this stopped around 3 months ago. Disappointing for my 6"3 partner, and made the £3 additional steak supplement an even more bitter pill to swallow. When the £50 bill finally came for a 2 course meal which was on par with the likes of a high street chain - at best, we felt thoroughly ripped off.

The service was equally poor, with our waiter shouting back and forth from the restaurant floor to the kitchen, not about the food or service, just having a casual joke. Constantly clattering plates at the service caddy, practically throwing a bottle of wine in an ice bucket on more than one occasion (very noticeable in a small dining room with no background music) the overall experience was very dissapointing.

We both suspect that the restaurant would have been an institution in its day, but much like the old pier has been left to decay and ruin. A shame because it could...

I ate once in this restaurant about which I had heard excellent reviews. it was for my step-daughter's graduation. We had not booked prior to coming and were about 10 including 2 children. We were told we could have a table a bit later. When we came back, there was no table inside so we were offered a table outside (therefore I cannot comment on the decor seeing as we didn't experience that). By that time it was late and thus too late to find somewhere else for so many people. it was also very cold. Service was slow and extremely haughty. We felt we were just not posh enough as we sat there shivering. To add insult to injury, my fish didn't taste right (I had two pieces - one was delicious the other tasted off). I informed the waiter and my plate was taken off. I assumed the fish would be replaced. How stunned was i to receive my plate back after what seemed a very long time with the same piece of fish cut up into small pieces and by now the rest of my meal stone cold, to be told that there was "nothing wrong with it". Now that for me is terrible and unforgivable customer service. I remember the humiliation and shock of this experience years down the line. I would never give this restaurant a second chance nor recommend it to anyone. This is positively my worst culinary experience ever. I can forgive a restaurant for bad food - we can all have an off day - but not for treating their customers with so much disdain. I live in France and have travelled all over the world. I have eaten in good and bad restaurants but nothing has stuck in my mind like this experience. My friends are in Brighton today and this is the first thing which came to mind when they...