Petit Pois Restaurant — Restaurant in Great Britain

25th April 2025

Ruminating over the last few weeks on restaurant options for a birthday meal, I experienced a curious phenomenon: for some reason, I didn’t feel like just going for a massive juicy steak. Whether or not opting for upscale French cuisine instead is a sign of irreversible progression towards middle age is something I want to spend less time thinking about, but that’s what I did. What sealed the deal in the end, aside from Petit Pois being new and a bit different to what I’d normally choose, was that my usual quick glance at the menu – long enough to gain an impression without ruining the fun of deciding what to eat while actually there – revealed a good half dozen or so listings I really wanted to try. With Mum, Dad and Elle joining us, it felt like a good way to do just that.

Some average olives notwithstanding, that plan began phenomenally. Each of us went for a different entrée, and with my gentle encouragement Dad ordered 12 snails instead of six, and Mum six oysters instead of three. Completing the line-up were scallops, cod fritters in a worryingly-named ‘sauce chien’, and my French onion soup. Without everyone literally trying everything else there was still a lot of swapping and sharing, and the consensus seemed to be that the fritters – crispy on the outside, salty on the inside, with the sauce a sort of fiery chimichurri – came out on top. Dad’s garlic sauce was also very popular, and we ordered bread later to mop it up, but the snails themselves were a bit piddly. I really enjoyed my soup, but found myself trying to offload the giant cheesy ‘croutons’ – a meal in themselves – mostly because I didn’t want to fill up too quickly. I didn’t try any scallop but reviews were good; I’ve had better oysters more than once in Brighton.

Between us, we also managed to sample the halibut fillet, the blood orange duck breast, the cassoulet and the wild mushroom crêpes. There was a lot going on. Strangely the duck was the only thing that came out as a full course, with dauphinois, kale and beautiful blobs of beetroot purée; the cassoulet in particular could have done with a bit of veg but we were all fighting over the one side of delicious sautéed greens we ordered (except Elle, who thought they tasted of mussels). Highlights were the duck itself, high quality and cooked to perfection (although the orange was very much front and centre), and the halibut (although the subtleties of the shellfish velouté were lost on my palette by that stage). The crêpes were the least celebrated: nice enough flavours but heavy and lacking in variety well before the end of the unnecessary second.

Thankfully, it was only after all of that I realised the wall to my back was a ginormous blackboard charcuterie menu, because I would definitely have regrettably tried to squeeze in a few slices of jambon here and a gourmet fromage or two there. As it was, we shared the trio of unfortunate crèmes brûlées instead. I’m not an expert, but the layer of sugar was “too toffee apple” for those round the table in the know – for me the coffee one just didn’t taste very nice and so I left it there.

Overall, it did feel that Petit Pois managed to disprove that old rule of thumb that the fewer options on a menu – the more a place specialises – the better, but in hindsight perhaps the fact that there’s nothing I’d definitely re-order if I went back contradicts that sentiment. Really good, solid food all-round, bordering on the spectacular in moments without ever quite crossing over, and a nice wine list, too. I would go back though. I’m just glad Petit Pois is in Brighton, as I’m not sure I could handle the look of disdain I’d get ordering just the roast garlic mash and a block of soft goat’s cheese if I was...

On my first night and upon arrival in Brighton and checking into my hotel, did have a look around on Google Maps to see what places were around. I found Petit Pois and headed out there, where I had a delicious cassoulet. Having really enjoyed this cassoulet, and I liked the look of other stuff on the menu, on the following day I headed out back to Petit Pois for dinner. Despite it being a Monday evening, it was busy, but I was able to get a table. Inside is a French style bistro, lots of wooden tables and chairs. There is an air of informality about the place, also an eclectic decoration on the walls.

They had a really interesting looking menu and it was quite challenging to work out what to have. The previous evening I was stuck between the Bouillabaisse and the cassoulet. That time I had gone with the cassoulet, this time I went with the Bouillabaisse. This was described on the menu as bouillabaisse of local fish & shellfish, squid, prawn, potato, samphire, rouille, grilled bread.

I have to say I was impressed when the dish arrived, it looked fantastic. The bowl was brimming with shellfish and fish. There was grilled fish portions, prawn, scallop, squid, clams and mussels. You couldn’t have really asked for any more fish in that bowl. All the fish was perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious, full of flavour. I loved the addition of the samphire and this really added to the flavours and texture of the dish. I could have done with more bread, though most meals I could do with more bread. Having finished the bowl of tasty seafood, I was left wanting more. I made the decision it might be a little greedy to order a second bowl.

As with my previous visit, the service was warm, friendly and efficient. Overall a...

Petit Poisbrighton is a French restaurant located in the heart of Brighton on Ship Street. The restaurant has a cosy and intimate atmosphere, with elegant decor and soft lighting. The menu features classic French dishes, such as escargots, coq au vin, and bouillabaisse, and vegetarian and vegan options.

The quality of the food, and the ingredients are fresh and cooked to perfection. The beef sirloin and the duck breast were just divine. The portions are also fairly generous. The wine list is also highly fantastic, with a good selection of French wines that complement the food well.

The service at Petit Pois is excellent, with friendly and attentive staff who are knowledgeable about the menu and happy to make recommendations. Petit Pois would make a wonderful place for a romantic dinner or a special occasion, with its intimate atmosphere.

However, the prices at Petit Pois are on the higher side, and it may not be the best option for a casual or budget-friendly meal.

Overall, Petit Pois is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality French cuisine and a romantic atmosphere. While it may not be the most affordable option, it's an excellent choice for a special occasion or a romantic night out. Venue/ambience 9/10 Food 9.5 Staff 10/10 The only very slight downfalls were the tables were quite close to one another and the bread needed a little refresh in the oven or to be freshly sliced. Just one more thing as a preference. I thought the goats cheese croquettes were some for of dip. Maybe a fig honey or something along those lines

Possibly the best meal I’ve had in the UK and would put it in my top 20 restaurants to try...