Kooks Restaurant Brighton Review
Kooks Restaurant
Brighton
Reviewed by Meresa Bergin
The first thing you notice about Kooks is it’s awesome location slap bang in the middle of The Lanes in Brighton, anyone who knows Brighton will know The Lanes is the place to be, filled with quirky and amazing shops, places to eat and drink and so full of life.
I have to admit I had never noticed Kooks before when in The Lanes, I haven’t ate anywhere in it though and I normally just shop but the restaurant is very hip and classy which is a hard thing to be! There are some tables and chairs outside if you just want a drink or like to be outside which on a hot day is always nice to do.
We were greeted as we entered and asked if we had a booking, we explained we did and were seated close to the bar which is very trendy and I can see it being a big hit with young people and students, there are chairs to sit at the bar and even little hooks to hang your coat to keep it from getting dirty on the floor which I thought was a really clever idea!
Our table was on the small side but I loved it was wooden and I loved the little candle in the middle of the table. We were greeted by our waiter who asked us what we would like to drink, I decided to have a ginger beer and my husband had a beer, both were reasonably priced for the area. The menu is not huge with choice but there are options for vegetarians which was good as in some places you simply get one choice, the waiter explained that on Friday’s they are now running specials, we decided to order for the menu as this more readily on offer.
The waiter had a good knowledge of the menu which is good and offer some suggestion of what was good and most popular, I decided to have the local aged beef burger topped with vintage cheddar, candy bacon, butterhead lettuce and red onion marmalade, served in brioche with twice cooked chips – £12 and my husband decided on the waiters suggestion to have rosemary salted pork belly, mascarpone mash, parsnip and apple puree, honey roasted roots, apple cider sauce and parsnip crisps (gf) – £14.
Whilst we waited I studied the menu a little more which is designed like a clipboard, I loved the vinyl’s it was made from but I didn’t really like the way the menu was laid out which is sheets of paper on top of each other with food, drinks and desserts on each sheet. I think it would be amazing to have the vinyl’s as the menu so as the backing and have one large menu with the food, drinks and desserts inside for you to open out.
Also whilst I was reading the back of my menu which told me about the vinyl I was holding the waiter returned with our drinks and took it away which I thought was slightly rude as I found it really interesting and I hadn’t finished reading.
I felt the time waiting for food was good, it give us chance to talk and look around which confirmed my first thought that the place was very now and happening, a place to be. The food and drinks are well priced and the night we were there cocktails were by one get one free!
Our food arrived and I thought the presentation of mine was very good, I loved the wooden plate it was served on which was really different and my husband’s looked equally yummy and I am not really a fan of pork at all. Our waiter was very cheery and eager to please but I felt he was slightly rushed, we had tomato sauce on the table but that was it and he did not ask if we would like any other sauces with our meal.
The food itself was very good, as I mentioned pricing is reasonable for what you get and I would buy the meal again the burger was clearly handmade which was good to see and my husband said his pork was very well cooked and loved the mash. After our mains I went to use the bathroom which is one toilet for the woman and one for the men, I felt it was a good size but I was slightly disappointed they didn’t have a hand dryer and just paper towels, I did love the little quirky bin which looked like it had been made from newspaper though. On returning to my seat I noticed there was more seating towards the back of the restaurant which looked very nice and cosy, with bigger tables and areas.
Since arriving the place began to fill with more people, some wanting food and some just drinks sadly due to where we were seated this did become a slightly problem as it became very loud even when ordering desserts the waitress had to shouted and could not hear me well and it was hard to hear each other when we were talking as we waited, personally feel these tables would be better suited for those who just wish to come for a drink and for food to be seated further back in the restaurant.
For desserts I ordered Eton mess (gf) – £ 5.50 which came again on a wooden plate which I found different I am used to having it in a glass and my husband had chocolate brownie, cream and a shot of Toblerone cocktail – £6.50, again we both really enjoyed our food and my husband loved his shot which he wouldn’t normally have and is a clever idea.
We both enjoyed our meals at Kooks and would visit again but I would ask to be seated elsewhere and sadly I do think some customer care could be touched up on but the food is good and you get a lot for your money.
Rating: 4/5
For more information, to view menus or to make a booking visit www.kooksrestaurant.com.
Kooks, 56 Gardner Street, North Laine, Brighton, BN1 1UN | 01273 673 045
