The Briny — Restaurant in Portsmouth

We were visiting Portsmouth and decided to give Briny a visit. The reviews were so good that I think they gave me overly high expectations. The atmosphere was very pleasant, interior highly tasteful and staff very welcoming but something in the combination of prices, quality of the produce and the food preparation process itself didn't match up. I was left with the feeling that the restaurant pays more attention to the presentation of the dishes than their actual quality and flavour.

At the arrival we were greeted by a lovely welcome from the staff and were sitted at a bit excluded area, which would have been fine if we had a good view. Instead, all we could see was the panels of the construction works going on at the seaside.

Originally we wanted to order the seafood platter but once we couldn't find it in the menu the staff explained that it needs to be ordered 48 hours before (not completely sure if it was 24 or 48 hours). This was a disappointment. I probably should have researched it more, but I think that's a bit too much for a restaurant located at a seaside.

We ended up having deep fried samphire and green olives with pickled herring for starters and the catch of the day, which was red mullet for mains along with fish cake, kentucky fried trout and ceasar salad, with some chips. The wait felt very long. After the starters, we probably had to wait at least 40-50 minutes for the mains to arrive. The portions were small for the prices, which would have been fine if it would match the quality and taste of the dishes.

Deep fried semphire had very promising look but the coating made the flavour of semphire disappear, and although the zesty gel that came with it was a good idea it tasted of corn startch (or a similar thickening agent) and just needed better execution. The green olives with pickled herring literally only had two small bits of herring in it. The sour dough croutons were very nice, though.

The fishcake was alright, nothing special, a bit too much potatoes in it maybe. The kentucky fried trout was dry, and the bed of salad under it was just boring. The red mullet was probably the best dish we had. Loved the salad on the side, I did find the fish dry, but I'm not sure if it could have been executed better, providing it is a flat fish with not much meat to it. The Caesar salad was lovely.

The wet facilities were clean but very restricted in space. There were only two unisex toilet cubicles, and if you are using the washing basin, you have to squeeze to the side to let someone coming out of the cubices pass by.

Overall, it's not a bad place, but for me personally, I wouldn't like to...

I visited today this restaurant with high expectations, but sadly the experience fell short due to disappointing service.

Upon arrival, I approached the front desk and was immediately told, without any greeting, that dogs were not allowed inside. The delivery was abrupt and unfriendly, which set an uncomfortable tone from the beginning. I asked whether there were any indoor tables available, as it was particularly cold and windy. I was simply told no, with the explanation that the restaurant had an open kitchen and that I needed to go outside. While I fully understand and respect such policies, the way this information was communicated lacked warmth and professionalism.

Determined to give the restaurant a fair chance, we opted to remain seated outdoors. Unfortunately, the service continued to be impersonal. The waiting staff seemed rushed and disengaged, placing items on our table with little interaction and never checking in to ask if we needed anything else. In contrast, we noticed staff were noticeably more attentive at the table next to us.

The food itself was enjoyable, but the inattentive service overshadowed the meal. Given the chilly weather, I had to request a blanket, which was provided, but it would have been more thoughtful if it had been offered without prompting. The outdoor seating area also appeared slightly neglected, which contributed to an overall sense of discomfort.

As a dog owner, I recognise that not all venues can accommodate pets indoors. However, the manner in which this policy is communicated matters greatly. In this case, the lack of courtesy and hospitality made the experience far less enjoyable. For dog owners visiting on a cold or windy day, I would not recommend this restaurant, as the outdoor area feels like an afterthought rather than a...

Arrival - as a family of 6, somewhat lukewarm, but generally welcoming.

Seating - white chair indoor seating arrangement is not comfortable and we needed pillows to make it tolerable especially if you have any medical considerations.

Service and atmosphere - generally good, a few smiles here and there, drinks service was less than enthusiastic, especially since our cider and wine were lukewarm and needed copius amounts of ice (which we asked for and received) but overall more than acceptable. Music was very muted, a mix of electronic funk with some interesting selections like Thundercat. It was quite stuffy and we ended up opening the doors that lead to the beach for some fresh air. Toilets were also full of waiting customers and are unisex, which some may not appreciate.

Food - the reason why we keep coming back, excellent Cod, fish and chips, crab and fish of the day, all very fresh and beautifully paired to create a superfluous and rather decadent tasting experience. Portions are somewhat on the smaller side, akin to fine dining aspirations of this eatery. I recommend supplementing with plenty of small plates if hungry. Excellent sides, especially chips and decent wine and drink selection.

Food prep timing - my main gripe time and time again whenever we visit - our main dishes took almost an hour to arrive , this was a rather painful wait, whether it was worth it is highly subjective, we thought it was JUST about acceptable. Overall, I would return here to celebrate my next birthday if given the chance, hoping that food prep, service and seating arrangements get addressed....