Great for breakfast, with some lovely potato scones. It could use a bit more seasoning…read more The décor is really great and different. Worth a visit.

I feel quite excited about writing this review I have read so many fiercely opposing opinions on…read morethe Tuscan Kitchen in Rye that I am itching to join the fight, and I'll tell you now - I am firmly flying the Tuscan flag! We booked a table courtesy of a recommendation, and from reading several very glowing reviews. The trattoria (NOT restaurant) is located on a quaint cobbled street in the charming Sussex town of Rye and is in fact housed within what used to be a very olde worlde teashop! This incongruous setting is your first indication that any preconceived ideas should be left at the door. You're in for an unexpectedly wonderful experience. Looking beyond the low beams and memories of cream teas and doilies, the trattoria is simply arranged with wooden tables, paper napkins and lovely blue glasses from Italy. Don't expect interior design - it is all about the food (although the plates and mugs have all been imported from Italy and had me lusting after them). Loving Italian food I was very excited about the meal and the intoxicating smell of truffles as you walk through the door only heightened the anticipation. Jen, the charming owner, brought us some wine (we just asked her to choose - it was excellent) and some bread and oil to eat while we decided what to order. This was the first teaser for our taste buds. The olive oil had an incredible taste and was made with olives from their own grove in Italy. Ask nicely and they might sell you some - it really is worth it! After salivating over the menu it was time to order. Everything looked delicious but I plumped for Insalata Invernale (a winter salad of pear, blue cheese, walnuts and Tuscan honey) followed by Ravioli Porcini (homemade ravioli in wild mushroom sauce) and finished off with Pollo All 'Aceto Balsamico (strips of chicken in Chianti and aged balsamic, grilled with radichio and truffle oil). My Better Half chose the Antipasto followed by Tuscan meatballs, culminating with beef fillet with a white truffle sauce. It was clear we were in for the long haul; but we were ready! Our food was incredible. It took its time in arriving but that was no matter as we were enjoying the Tuscan wine, the atmosphere and our host's conversation. We really felt as though we were enjoying a home cooked meal in their kitchen in Italy (hence the name of the restaurant as Jen pointed out!). The salad was delicious, and confirmed what I had heard that Franco and Jen source their ingredients from either Tuscany or quality local producers - the flavours and textures really were superb. The antipasto was also great, and could have easily fed two. Before our pasta course arrived we were treated to some truffle honey with Italian hard cheese. This is possibly the most amazing thing I have ever eaten. It felt so decadent, like you were eating something incredibly expensive, I think I'm going to name it liquid gold! Swooning over the truffle honey happily occupied the time waiting for our pasta. Every dish is made to order and comes to your table piping hot, in a reassuring way, letting you know it has been made for you and you alone. It's no surprise that the pasta dishes were delicious but we were both getting a little full and made a mental note that next time we come we'll skip the pasta course and head straight to the meat (unless we haven't eaten for two days previously). Again, no surprise for guessing but our meat course was sensational. Better Half managed to eat all of his, but I have to admit I was a little defeated by my delicious chicken (we had only just finished a full English Breakfast a few hours before)! At this point I should also point out that the "closed" sign was put up on the door. There were only 3 tables being served but Franco and Jen know when to stop. With only Franco in the kitchen they just can't serve up the quality food that they take pride in if the trattoria is overly crowded. There were no complaints from us - it felt like a lock-in in a secret, member's only restaurant! Desert looked enticing but was flatly refused by both of us. Better Half still had room for some 40% grappa though, so it was clear who was driving back to London. Talking of London, I can't stress enough that the quality of food we enjoyed in Rye completely surpassed any experiences of Italian food I have had in London. The prices are also a nice change from London (particularly considering the generous portions), with the meat course averaging at £14.95. In order to digest our food we sat and chatted to Jen and Franco for sometime about their business. They've received a little bit of negative press from customers who have not understood the concept of the Tuscan Kitchen, so here are a few tips! Arrive hungry, with time to spare. It is part of the Slow Food Movement which should give you a clue to ethos behind the food. Don't feel obliged to eat every course - unless of cause you have a huge appetite in which case lucky you! Sit back,

This restaurant is a GEM tucked into a small spot in Rye. The couple who owns it brought their time…read morein Italy to the streets of Rye and we couldn't be more lucky. The pasta is extraordinary. The ribboleta is worthy of Italian Grandma approval. And their wine list is unique and took us back to our time in Florence. A MUST if you love great italian food

Great escape from the street; great coffee and scone. Delightful service! Staff warm and friendly.read more

Maurice and his team offer fantastic coffee within a wondrous environment…read more The waiting staff are lovely. An exciting addition to the Rye e experience without the pretentious air that some establishments in this town display. Big up The Apothecary. Try it.

I can't think of a better way to eat a traditional English breakfast than sitting in an iconic…read moreEnglish double decker bus. This cafe is run by the 1066 bakery (whose main 'bakehouse' is located just next door). So bread is super fresh and thick cut :) We've found food consistently delicious and quick. It's often busy but the staff are friendly and happy to help. We brought a birthday cake and they happily gave us plates (as they're a small cafe though I can imagine on a busier day they might not have enough spare if you're a large group like us - best to bring extra napkins if you want to do cake just in case). Great play structure for kids outside as well. Overall lovely little hidden Cafe - we will return.

super cream tea for two today 05/03/2024. wonderful food -…read moreservice - interior design. a well oiled machine. 5stars are not enough. thank you john & Jackie law

This is by far one of my favourite cafés in Eastbourne. The inside decor is fantastic, and when I…read morevisited, we sat up in the upstairs area, which was very comfortable. Our food and drink was lovely, and I ordered a medium hot chocolate with marshmallows and a slice of Victoria Sponge. The hot chocolate quite frankly lived up to its name (it was hot) Served with our drinks and cakes, we got given exquisite Belgian chocolate truffles. The Victoria Sponge was very sweet and large. The waitress was very friendly and polite and made me feel welcome. I would recommend Deliciously Gorgeous in Eastbourne to anyone, as they are extremely accommodating. I would most certainly go back again. Great job Deliciously Gorgeous!

Good= excellent Service= excellent…read moreAmbiance = excellent Prices=excellent. The owner is VERY pleasant!

I had a great experience here the coffee was rich and flavorful. The staff was so friendly,…read morewelcoming and made my coffee experience a relaxing atmosphere.

Located in the picturesque town of Rye, near Hastings you'll find the hidden treasure that is…read moreHaydens coffee shop. Rye is quintessentially English and very popular with locals and tourists alike for its timeless look, surrounded by rolling hills and scenic views. I frequent the area about once a month and no visit is complete with a visit to Haydens. At the end of the high street, it has a prime location for people to pop in for a coffee and a snack in between their tour of the town but they also have great options in their breakfast and lunch menus. I, myself, always have to have at least one meal here with either a bacon sandwich made with locally raised pork, or a plate of their amazing pancakes, with a lot of times both of them since I have trouble deciding! As well as locally sourced meats and produce, everything else on the menu is home-made and hand cut, which shows in the quality and attention to detail of the food on offer. Gluten-free, vegetarian and most other food intolerances are catered for. There is an area at the front that feels cosy like your living room and the back of the building opens up with a bright and spacious conservatory complete with balcony seating that overlooks the River Rother towards Rye Harbour and beyond. If you need a room for the night they also double up as a B&B with a choice of 8 large and tastefully decorated bedrooms that all come with en-suite and lots of other amenities. Definitely give this hidden gem a visit if you're ever in town, even if it's just for a coffee and slice of cake!

My friends and I came here after being rudely spoken to from The Fig. The lunch was lovely and…read morereally good portions for the cost. The seating is lovely in the back and service was good.

This was a lovely place I went to for breakfast before starting my day. I have the Royal Benedict…read morewhich was honestly the best Benedict Eggs I've had in my life. The draft selection of beers is, well, one beer - Korev Cornish Lager with Soul. It's a refreshingly bold lager that goes great with any egg and toast breakfast in my opinion. I will definitely be returning here before I leave back to the states, but hopefully I can get British Citizenship and avoid returning all together.

Just an excellent place for tea, coffee or a great meal at the amazing little village. The cakes…read moreare so good along with the breakfast and all the different kind of sandwiches. The staff are so great and the service is just perfect. The place is dog friendly which is a super bonus. They also have outside seating when the weather is good.

From the owner: Tea, Coffee, Cakes, Gifts, Light Lunches, Paninis, Salads, Soft Drinks, Scones with Clotted Cream…read moreand Kent Jam

If you're in the area you have to go to "Le Scoop". Their food is delicious and inexpensive. Great…read moreseafood, great meat and great pasta gratins. This is a typical "locals" restaurant. Always packed and full of people who know one another. I wouldn't call it traditional because although their dishes are sort of like comfort food while sophisticated and original. Just try the burger and you'll understand what I mean. Anything's good there so try anything.

OK, we had dinner last evening at this place and it was really, really bad. The food would have…read morebeen considered mediocre to poor in an American restaurant -- The portions were too large, the dishes completely uninteresting, and among the four of us (a veal dish, salmon, and mussels) there wasn't one good dish. There were only three servers who were incredibly overextended, but the service standards were terrible (For example, not giving us a test pour of the wine to see if the bottle was OK, and just leaving it on the table - and not providing anyway to chill the white wine while we were having dinner; we had to work really hard to get a bottle of water with our meal, and then the waitresses would disappear for long stretches and we never did get a refill of it). We had two beautiful dinners on our other two nights in France, but this was just ridiculously bad. We couldn't get out fast enough at the end of dinner (In part because it took so long just to get the damn check, but also because we were so anxious to leave). How does it get a four star plus rating??? Jack F.