Two bites in and I’m trying to figure out what that delicious taste is. Three bites in and I realize I’ve made a pretty big mistake.
As a vegetarian, I somehow completely managed to miss the description on the menu, which upon double checking quite clearly mentions chorizo, also known as good old fashioned meat. Should I stop and spit it out in disgust?
No, I don’t. For a penny, for a pound, I scoff at everything. I have some morals, don’t I?
But in reality it was ruddy delicious and having not experienced the smoky flavor in years, I tried to put my finger on what delicious ingredient it was during those first few bites. I miss meat sometimes, I can’t deny that.
Am I sitting here wracked with guilt? No I am not. After all, it was in crumb form on the dressing of an extremely striking scallop dish. And I doubt the scallop was more enamored with being caught and fried than the pig that contributed to that chorizo.
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But I digress.
I’m sitting on the outside terrace of a modern, tastefully decorated bar and bistro right on the promenade in Westgate-on-Sea – a lovely little town just outside Margate and normally best known for its fantastic old-fashioned cinema with old-fashioned prices (£4 per card!).
The weather is pleasant, crowds are low (it’s a Wednesday afternoon) and I’m about to put The St Mildred’s Bay eatery to the test.
It’s not my first time here. I came not long after it opened in 2022 and was thoroughly disappointed by the snail-like service and mediocre food.
It was disappointing because its location – just meters from the sandy beach – makes it one of the most picturesque in the province.
Two years later, however, it is clear that it has pulled its socks up.
Within seconds of walking into the warm and welcoming indoor restaurant – with large windows overlooking the Blue Flag Bay from which the restaurant takes its name – we are met by a friendly member of staff.
Given how hopeless the summer has been so far, it seems a shame not to sit outside on the rare occasion when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds, so we sit on one of the thick, bolted wooden tables, all of which they sitting under a series of giant umbrellas. Handy for people like me, who don’t want to accidentally burn their balding bone.
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When we arrive we’re the only ones there – within 30 minutes there’s a bunch of others, including a big guy sitting with a dog almost as big as him. My dining companion and I have a brief discussion about what to do if the dog goes crazy and attacks. We formulate a fully-proof plan. Fortunately, such evasive action is not necessary and the dog does not squeal.
As with all restaurants these days, the prices are not what they used to be. And I understand that very well. So instead of a ‘big plate’ dish, as they were around £18, we opt for smaller ones.
Cheaper. But not cheap.
I order seared scallops with a cauliflower puree, grilled asparagus, chorizo crumb (see, it doesn’t get any clearer), parsley oil, apple cider vinegar and micro herbs (small versions of your classics). It costs £12.50.
My companion opts for calamari with garlic aioli and baby herbs for £9.50.
We’re not sure how ‘small’ their ‘small plates’ are, so order a side order of chunky fries to share just in case. Steep for £5. And all washed down with two diet cokes (£2.60 each).
When the food arrives, we are thoroughly impressed with the presentation. The scallops – all three of them – sit among the herbs and grilled asparagus and, despite their sparseness, look as tasty as possible. Looking back at the photo of the dish, I’m surprised the chorizo didn’t stand out to me. But there’s more to worry about in life, right?
They taste divine, as does every aspect of the dish (including that cheeky chorizo). And I try not to think that each scallop costs me about £4 each.
But this is a well-made dish; the scallops light and full of flavour; the herbs and asparagus melt wonderfully in the mouth.
The calamari looks grander – all fluffy batter like cotton candy. Aesthetically, it’s not as pleasing to the eye as the colors of the scallop dish, but it looks good.
They are light and tasty, although the dish, if there is something wrong with it, is a little oily. It is of course an oil-based sauce that goes well with a fried dish. But still.
As for the thick chips – fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside – very tasty.
The bill comes to just under £35.50, including a 10% service charge. A well deserved tip as all the staff were friendly, helpful and quick – very different from my previous trip here.
Would I say it was good value though? Well, the food was good no doubt, but the price is high in my opinion. It was a very light, but tasty lunch.
Charging a fiver for a small portion of chips – no matter how tasty they are – is a hard sell in my opinion. Mind you, they sold it to me, so what do I know? But they could be on par with the most expensive chips Thanet – or Kent for that matter – has to offer.
I guess you end up paying a premium for a prime location. But was it a pleasant experience? Yes that’s right. Was the food good? Yes that’s right. Would I come again? Probably, but I would probably save up for one of the larger dishes.
Let’s never talk about my meaty mistake again.
Of the five:
Food: The menu offers sufficient choice and sizes. What we had was tasty and, in the case of the scallops, at least exceptionally well done and presented ****
Drink: The Diet Coke had fresh notes and a slight… no, I’m kidding… you know what it tastes like ****
Decor: Very warm and welcoming indoor dining area and a well maintained outdoor patio – it’s hard to beat *****
Staff: Friendly and efficient as you would hope *****
Price: I will say it was a little steep. And £5 for a small bowl of chips pushes profit margins to the limit, even in these challenging times***