We had been recommended this place by folks in Woodstock Vermont USA, where we run an award winning hospitality business. We used to live in Dorset and the fact that a recommendation travelled 4000 miles is impressive...but could the place deliver on a damp grey November Thursday?
13.00 struck on the town clock and in we walk to the quiet cafe bar area, to be met by some delightful staff and seated quickly, after a drink in the rather fetching contemporary bar area. Now this place is not just another seaside cafe...oh no...it's a cut above that. The art on the wall has whimsey, and the large arm chairs would be more often seen in an urban Starbucks setting.
The restaurant windows all over look the bay and even on a grey November day there was atmosphere, simple jazz influenced music playing at just the the right level to create ambiance and not kill it. The location on the sea front, is a short sea shell throw away from the new beach, you do indeed have lots of sand in Lyme these days! The sea front had a make over in 2012 and now even has a very smart National Trust shop and was a real surprise.
We had taken two local friends and we all ordered, fish chips with mushy peas for some, fresh mussels in a wonderful cream sauce for others and tempura battered vegetables. To drink we had Fentimans ginger beer, Guinness and water. All got 10/10.
The bill 80 quid for six was very good value, and we left with a wonderful glow, to go to the gallery in the town and buy a small piece of Garry Jones art . He has an art piece on the restaurant wall....a car door...yes an actual car door with a fantastic ceramic dog leaning out of it! Priceless humour that cannot fail to make one smile.
This place is a real find and a cut above the average seaside eatery. read more