Eastbourne Restaurant Tips by zadunajska8 Top 5 Page for this destination

Athens Restaurant & Steakhouse: Go Greek!

This Greek restaurant has been a feature on Eastbourne's Terminus Road "Restaurant Row" near the Seafront for many years and it's easy to see why it has stood the test of time.

The friendly and informal service is a essential part of the experience. They won't win any prizes for silver service, but they will win hearts with a service that is like joining a large and loud Greek family for a very special meal.

The food is good to excellent, with portion sizes that will leave you satisfied. The decor is a bit dated now. It's a sort of 1970's "look at all these souvenirs I got on my holiday in Greece" sort of theme, but somehow it still works.

Favorite Dish: I had stuffed vine leaves (which are always my favourite Greek dish) as a starter and was very impressed. For the main course, I tried the aphelia (pork in a red wine sauce with mushrooms) which was served with roast potatoes and a greek side salad. My partner had the stiffado ( a beef dish) and we were both very pleased.

The house red wine is a very pleasant and drinkable Merlot (but Italian, not Greek!).

Address: 195 Terminus Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3DH

Comparison: about average

Directions: Google Maps

Phone: 01323 733278

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Flamenco Tapas: Flamenco Tapas

Flamenco Tapas is a pleasant little restaurant near both the town centre and the theatre area of town. It's quite small and intimate and the decor creates a cosy atmosphere but could feel a little crowded when busy.

They have quite a wide ranging menu to choose from and a very considerable wine list (all Spanish wines). For those who have never had tapas before, this means ordering a number of dishes (all of which will be just small portions) which are brought to the table for everyone to try a bit. I would recommend 3 or 4 such dishes per person if you are as greedy as myself and my friends!

The one drawback can be that the kitchen seems to close strangely early here. The first time I tried to come here we arrived just after 8.30pm and were told they had stopped cooking! This and the limited number of tables probably makes it worth calling ahead to book a table for a certain date and time.

Favorite Dish: My favourite was the " Cordero con Salsa de Albaricoque " which was lamb with Apricots in a rich sauce, but I'm also a fan of " Patatas Bravas " which is potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce.

Address: 8 Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne, BN21 4NN

Comparison: about average

Directions: Right by the Memorial Roundabout near the Town Centre.
Google Map

Phone: 01323 641444

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Website: http://www.flamenco-tapas.co.uk/

Gurkha Delight: Tried Nepalese?

I'd never tried Nepalese food before and so I was curious to give it a go. As it turns out it looks quite like Indian food but the taste is quite different. Imagine Indian food without the spicy hotness but instead just full of flavours. I really liked it. There was also a good standard of service. Food was a bit slower to arrive at the table than in the average restaurant but when it did arrive it was all so obviously freshly prepared that it would be just mean to hold that against them! Decor isn't wonderful but it's not objectionable either.

Favorite Dish: I haven't learnt the names of the dishes here yet but the friend I went to the restaurant with suggested that we order a couple of their "signature dishes" and share them. One was a chicken based one and another was lamb. Both were simply gorgeous and i'd be delighted to try them again. we also had a nice bottle of Argentinian Malbec to wask it all down with.

Address: 128 Seaside Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3PF

Comparison: about average

Directions: Google Map

Phone: 01323 734833

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Other

Meze: A Turkish Delight

This Turkish restaurant has been here for years. In fact as a teenager I used to walk past it every day on my way home and yet somehow I never got round to eating here until now. As you would hope from a well established restaurant that has been there for so long it was a good experience and I'm sure I'll be going back again at some time soon.

I wasn't really sure what Turkish food would be like except kebabs (and I didn't fancy that really) so I was quite pleased to discover that there are Turkish versions of many of the dishes I have enjoyed so much in the Greek part of Cyprus in the past (but they have different names in Turkish) and so I was actually quite spoilt for choice.

The wine list is quite limited but the house Turkish Red is quite drinkable (but not a top quality wine by any means).

Service was cheerful and welcoming and always very quick. Towards the end of the evening some Turkish customers and the chef decided to give us all a show of some Turkish dancing which helped make it a memorable evening.

Favorite Dish: As I had so much trouble picking what to go for I eventually went for the "Meze Special" which meant that we got to choose a starter each (I had stuffed vine leaves which I've always adored in Greece or Cyprus before and Turkish ones are just as good) and then we had a monster sized platter with a mixture of dishes placed before us alongside a salad, some yogurt and some Turkish breads (pitta and another one that I don't know the name of).

All of it was good and I particularly enjoyed the bulgar wheat in a tomato sauce. The portion sizes were very generous and even as a group of larger men we struggled to eat it all!

Address: 15 Pevensey Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3HR

Comparison: about average

Directions: Google Map

Phone: 01323 731893

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: Middle Eastern

Website: http://www.meze-restaurant.co.uk/

The Thai House: Excellent Thai

This was a delight to discover!

The food here was simply delicious - every last bit of it. Add to this the very drinkable house wine for less than £13 a bottle and the fantastic staff and it made for a most enjoyable evening.

The waitress was very welcoming and warm. She also showed a wonderful sense of humour all evening long and we felt very special, as I think did all the other customers there.

I'll certainly be making this one of my regular restaurants now.

Favorite Dish: We had the chefs platter to start which was nice to be able to try a selection of different Thai nibbly things. All were great.

I then enjoyed a thai red chicken curry (Kaeng Dang kai) with a fragrant coconut rice (Kaw Man kati). We shared "Drunken noodles" with king prawns between two of us alongside this and I was very impressed. In fact I just can't find fault with any of the food.

But do leave a little room to try the desserts. I had a type of banana fritta with coconut and some type of syrup and ice cream which is apparently the house speciality (Kluay Tod) and found it to be excellent.

Address: 55 Grove Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4TX

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Between the Town Hall and the railway station on Grove Road in the 'Little Chelsea area of Eastbourne.

Phone: 01323 646155

Price: US$31-40

Rating: 5

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Website: http://www.the-thaihouse.com/

Gringos: Great Tex Mex

Gringos describes itself as an authentic Tex Mex restaurant and whilst I don't have a great deal of experience with such restaurants I was very pleased with the quality of food here. The restaurant has a good location in Eastbourne's sovereign harbour right by the waterfront.

The place is very clean and the kitchen is open so you can see where your food is being prepared. You also see a bit of very flamboyant flaming grills etc.

The staff were very friendly and the place has a very informal feel to it. The only let down was that the decor didn't seem to help create much of an atmopsphere but it's hard to pinpoint what is wrong. Perhaps just nothing adventurous? Perhaps it was just becuase it was quiet on the evening we visited? Or maybe it's just me?

Favorite Dish: We had the Texas style beef which was great. It came to the table still sizzling which is always a nice touch in my opinion. It was very spicy, which I loved.

Address: 5 The Waterfront, Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the harbour and behind the cinema at the crumbles retail park.

Phone: 01323 478 151

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Mexican

Website: http://www.gringosgrill.co.uk/

Pizza Express: Good Antipasto

This branch of the chain of Italian/Pizza restaurants is pleasantly decorated and has polite and cheerful staff. I've had a couple of pleasant meals here with friends and will probaly visit again.

Favorite Dish: I Like the "Classic Italian Antipasto" as a starter - I think teh peppadew peppers are my favourite bit of it. The Romana Pizzas are also good.

Address: 24 Cornfield Road, Eastbourne, BN21 4QH

Comparison: about average

Directions: In the Town Centre. From teh train station head down Terminus Road and at Bankers corner (where Barclays, HSBC and Natwest are on the corners) turn right down Cornfield Road and the restaurant is down this road on the right hand side.

Phone: 01323 649 466

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Italian

Website: http://www.pizzaexpress.com/our-restaurants/871/eastbourne-.aspx

The Treacle Mine: Great service just out of town

The Treacle Mine is one of those out of town places which comes complete with adjacent Premier Inn etc. It's in a pub style but clearly the reason people come here is for a meal, it's not the sort of place you come just to drink and as it's out of the town on the A22 at Polegate there aren't really any locals to come here. I've visited on a number of occasions and the service is always fast and very cheerful. I've never been disappointed with the food and there are some interesting specials each day. The only down side is that it would probably be quite difficult to get here without a car.

Favorite Dish: The Scampi and Chips is always a good choice, as is the caramel apple crumble with custard for dessert.

Address: Hailsham Road, Polegate, Eastbourne, BN26 6QL

Comparison: about average

Directions: Just off the A22 north of Polegate

Phone: 01323 489520

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Pub/Brewery

Website: http://www.tabletable.co.uk/content/tabletable/our-pubs/brighton/treacle-mine.html

Cosmo: Good 'All you can eat' buffet

Cosmo is a buffet style 'all you can eat affair'. It is cheap and the buffet style means no waiting for your food as you can just go up and get started straight away. The prices of drinks are also not too bad for a restaurant. The decor of the place is light and modern.

The food is a lot better than most chinese 'all you can eat' buffets I have seen before and there is a very wide choice of dishes - but because of this format it was never going to be great quality food. Unlike most oriental buffet places there is an interesting selection of desserts as well.

The place does seem to be very clean (including the toilets - often neglected by many restaurants).

Unfortuantely the low prices may attract a less refined type of fellow customer!

Clearly this isn't the place for a lavish meal or when you want to impress, but it is a good place when you want to be feed (a lot!) at a low price and quickly.

Address: 113-115 Seaside Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3PH

Comparison: less expensive than average

Directions: Near Eastbourne Pier and seafront. From the town centre - head up Terminus Road towards the seafront and at TJ Hughes department store turn left on to Seaside Road. The restaurant is on the right hand side on a corner of the 3rd turning on the right.

Phone: 01323 738833

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 3

Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim

Website: http://www.cosmo-restaurants.co.uk/find.php?rst_id=5

Shimla Palace: Best Indian in Town

This is without a doubt my favourite Indian restaurant in Eastbourne and I love Indian food and have lived here for most of my life!
It doesn't look anything that special from outside but once inside the service is good and the food is divine! Do try the specials and get the popadoms when they offer - you get much more than the usual 4 dips that most Indian restaurants everywhere in Britain serve - they have several others which I couldn't name but enjoy every time I go here.
The prices are quite good as well for the quality (average prices but top class food) and they have some nice red wines (but only a fairly limited wine list).

Favorite Dish: Chicken Xancti - one of the house specials - fairly hot but also very flavoursome rather than just a load of curry powder as many Indian restaurants serve. Here the dish actually has a full and unique flavour.

Address: 9-11 Seaside, Eastbourne

Comparison: about average

Directions: Next door to Thayers Ice cream parlour at the point where Seaside Road becomes Seaside - also just a few minutes walk from the pier.

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 5

Theme: Indian