Andrew Kay: Dines Out

Brighton’s Best

It seems like only moments since I reported on the Sussex Food Awards, an event that celebrates the very best that the county has to offer from producer to table – and an excellent event that is truly representing the best in the county. As you may know, as a director of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, I am also involved in those food awards that are launched every spring and announced every autumn. These awards are based on public votes with the top three in each category verified by professional judges.
Now we have some new awards created by a group of food writers who wanted to highlight the top twenty restaurants in the city as voted for by food writers, bloggers, chefs and serious foodies. A great idea with results that reflect what serious food professional think about out city’s currently burgeoning and brilliant culinary scene.
The results were announced at the packed Brewdog venue in the city centre to an audience made up of some of the most notable food people the city has to offer.
What was most impressive was the camaraderie on display. There is of course rivalry, and there should be, but there is also a wonderful sense that as a whole, or almost whole, the Brighton restaurant scene is a cohesive body of food lovers who are keen to share in the city’s current food glory, share their passions and seek to keep the city at the top of the game.
That said, there have to be winners, but with what is estimated to be over 800 restaurants and cafes in the city, to come in the top 20 is a real honour and all those named should be very proud of that, and Pat, Andy and Euan should be very proud of putting all this together.
So here are the top twenty and I have to say that the ones that I voted for are all in the top ten, which of course I had little doubt that they would be. Congratulations to them all and also to those very close runners up who fell just outside the top twenty, you all contribute so much to a restaurant scene that is now achieving national and international acclaim and attention.

1 64 Degrees
2 Chilli Pickle
3 Salt Room
4 The Set
5 Silo
6 Plateau
7 The Gingerman
8 Terre a Terre
9 Little Fish Market
10 Curry Leaf
11 The Ginger Pig
12 Semolina
13 Bincho Yakitori
14 Moshimo
15 The Coal Shed
16 Riddle and Fins
17 24 St Georges
18 Flank
19 Fatto a Mano
20 Isaac@
Further awards were made for Top Chef which went to 64 Degrees’ Michael Bremner, Top Welcome to Rob Smith of Little Fish Market and Top Barkeep to Johan Claesson of Plateau.