Buoy and Oyster — Restaurant in Thanet

We went here a last week and the food was amazing. The only down side was the service, I always find younger people never get the experience they should in finer dinning restaurants (me and my boyfriend are in our early 20’s).

We hadn’t booked but when we arrived I asked if we could sit on the balcony. The lady at the front desk said there wasn’t a table available but as soon as there was one available we could move outside.

Our server was new which wasn’t her fault but she wasn’t listening. She came over to take our drink order wasn’t sure what beer my boyfriend had ordered but in the end understood and went away. We waited for 20 minutes and still had no drink. She came back 10 minutes later to take our food order. We asked her how big the sea food boil was as there were three different sizes and we wanted to know if we should get a medium or a large to share. She responded saying how big it would be would be based on what size we picked. OBVIOUSLY, we has said we was thinking of getting the biggest one. She said she would go ask and she actually came back with the plate the seafood boil comes in to show us which I thought was nice.

After we ordered that I went to order the rest and she tried to walk away. She didn’t ask if we wanted anything else just started walking and I had to call her back, I asked for a bread starter and some chips. We also asked for half a dozen oysters, I start to tell her that I want 2 battered ones and specific topping on each she reply saying that I cant have those toppings because that’s the individual price oyster topping. I was so confused, I asked her if she was saying if I get half a dozen oysters I can’t get anything on them ? And she said she will go check. She then never returned.

We at this point still hadn’t received our drinks. After a while the host said that we can move outside, she had two beers in hang and placed them on our table. I informed her I didn’t order a beer and it was a mistake and she took it away.

Shortly after the oysters arrived and they were amazing. I think you get all the topping when you order half a dozen so I was happy and I had my two batter oysters which were amazing. The only thing that would compel me to return is that balcony and the food.

A little while after the sea food boil came out and bread but no chip. Dispite the fact the balcony was nearly full there was no server in sight. We began to eat but no chip. Later a waiter come out and dropped fries onto a different table which was the wrong table. The other table said it was there’s, I called to the waiter and said we were also missing fries. 10 minutes later a different waiter come out with the fries and tell the table THAT ALREADY HAD FRIES, “oh there was an extra portion of fries so you can just have them” I was so irritated another table saw the whole thing happen and I was in disbelief. 10 minutes later a waiter finally appeared and I told he we didn’t have any fries, he then retuned with some by this point our seafood boil was luke warm and I wasn’t happy. Also I didn’t even want fries I wanted the hand cut chips but I realised my error after, but also it wasn’t even my error because I ordered chips at the start.

When we received the bill I asked for the service to be taken off and also noticed they charged us for 2 beers which we didn’t order. We then had to wait again so they could fix this. It’s a shame because I always tip but I couldn’t because of how poor the service was. They need to organise their section better not have all the waiters going everywhere because it creates confusing and end up with poor service. Additionally don’t let a new member of staff that has no idea what they’re doing have a section without proper training. I would return to give it another chance because of the food but hopefully next time they’ll treat younger people with...

Located along Margate’s scenic seafront, Buoy & Oyster continues to justify its reputation as one of the standout dining destinations in the area. Our recent visit as a family of three; myself, my wife, and our 16-month-old daughter, was nothing short of delightful. From the attentive service to the quality of the food, the experience was marked by thoughtful detail and genuine hospitality.

Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted and promptly seated by the front-of-house staff. The ambiance strikes a beautiful balance between casual coastal charm and refined comfort, you get the sense that care has been taken to create a space that feels elevated, but not pretentious. With large windows overlooking the beach and a stylish, nautical interior, the setting alone adds to the pleasure of dining.

Despite being busy, unsurprising for a weekend, the restaurant never felt overcrowded or chaotic. Staff moved swiftly and with intention, and there was a palpable sense of coordination between front and back of house.

We each ordered different mains, and across the board, the standard was exceptional.

Our daughter had the cod and chips, which arrived beautifully presented in a child-friendly portion. The batter was golden and crisp without being greasy, and the fish inside was flaky, moist, and clearly fresh. Even at just 16 months, she devoured it with visible enthusiasm, always a good sign when dining out with a toddler.

I opted for the Buoy & Oyster Burger, and I must say, it exceeded expectations. Far from your typical pub-style burger, this was clearly constructed with care. The beef patty was thick, juicy, and seasoned to perfection. The bun was soft but structured enough to hold everything together without falling apart, and the accompaniments, including a house relish and perfectly melted cheese, brought balance and flavour without overpowering the meat.

My wife went for the steak, which she requested medium-rare. It arrived exactly as ordered, seared on the outside, tender and pink in the centre. The quality of the beef was evident, and it was accompanied by a rich jus and a side of crispy potatoes that had just the right level of crunch. She was extremely impressed, and described it as one of the better steaks she’s had outside of a dedicated steakhouse.

We didn’t opt for starters or desserts this time, purely due to timing with our little one, but based on the food we did try, we wouldn’t hesitate to explore more of the menu on a return visit. The wine list was also commendably curated, compact but offering something for every palate, with a good range of both by-the-glass and bottle options.

Service throughout the meal was attentive without being intrusive. Our server checked in at appropriate intervals, ensured our toddler’s food arrived quickly (a detail we always appreciate), and answered our menu questions with confidence and clarity. Small touches — like engaging with our daughter, or offering to adjust the timing of our dishes — made the experience feel personal and unhurried.

It’s rare to find a restaurant that succeeds across every dimension, ambience, food quality, service, but Buoy & Oyster truly delivers. It manages to cater to both locals and visitors without ever compromising on quality or hospitality.

For those planning to visit Margate, particularly on weekends or during holiday seasons, booking in advance is strongly recommended, as the restaurant is rightly popular. Whether you’re after a relaxed lunch, a romantic evening meal, or a quality dining experience with family in tow, this place deserves a spot on your itinerary.

We left feeling full, satisfied,...

This was quite a disappointment. I'd heard good things about the Buoy and Oyster and am particularly fond of independent seaside restaurants specialising in seafood, but we were met with very mediocre food; good, if a little ungenerous, service; and a bill that in no way reflected our enjoyment of the dinner.

Me and my friend shared the seafood platter for 2 (£50, pictured). This was presented as an archipelago of shellfish poking out of an insipid suggestion of a seafood broth. The mussels were juicy and flavourful; the scallops overcooked and masked in an unimaginative nduja sauce; the prawns a bit firm and lacking in any real flavour, and the razorclams were overcooked to the point of resembling rubber bullets. It was a let down to not have the seafood, the star of the show, live up to what it could have been being right next to the sea.

We also had two of the Bloody Mary's, the Bloody Buoy Mary and the Vegan Bloody Mary (£14.50 and £12 respectively, both pictured). Whilst being a little oversized, they had a good spice mix and strong flavour. The Bloody Buoy Mary came with bacon, an oyster (which was very good), and various other embellishments.

The house smoked haddock chowder (£12 regular, £14 large) was excellent. A warming, creamy, and fishy bowl of goodness. Would highly recommend getting this and a side of skinny chips (£5).

Our waiter was friendly and welcoming without being intrusive or over familiar. However, when we raised our distaste and disappointment for the seafood platter with him, there was no sense of trying to make things right. He chose instead to focus on our complimenting of the chowder. I think, and I'm aware it's a slightly touchy subject, that it would've been a good gesture to comp something, even just the chips, off the bill considering that we didn't eat any of the razorclams past the first few mouthfuls and didn't particularly enjoy the rest. Even assuring us that our comments had been passed on to the chef would've been something but we left feeling unsatisfied from the food and uninterested in the idea of eating here again given that our dissatisfaction felt unheard.

The atmosphere was OK. a nice view of the harbour, but very loud and noisy interior (when there were only two other tables present) and harsh lighting made us both feel a bit tense and unable to settle in for a nice meal.

It's a shame that this meal didn't live up to the hype or our expectations. I think given the price, a final bill just over £100 for 2, some of these disappointments sting a little more. There is cheaper, fresher, better cooked fish in restaurants a short walk away. Perhaps some of the other mains are executed better, but again given the price, I don't feel it is worth the risk of having another bad...