Well Run Family Restaurant
A small excellently run family restaurant which caters for all types/ages/pockets.

Fantastic views over the working harbour.

We had a great time and were made to feel most welcome.    []

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: steamed mussels, scallops and monkfish

     ­A seafood lover   

Great Sunday Lunch
An informal seafood restaurant with views over Whitstable harbour.

The fish couldn't be fresher - the restaurant is under the same ownership as the fishmongers downstairs - so there's little point in choosing anything else.

We were impressed by the friendly welcome, and throughout the service was attentive without being oppressive.

Half a dozen oysters is almost compulsory in Whitstable, and there's something special about eating them in their native habitat. I followed with the seafood paella which was crammed full of mussels, king prawns and langoustine.

Highly recommended.    [22 Sep 2003 13:14:32]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: oysters, paella

     ­Graham Parker   

Poor Service and Poor Food
Very poor service and food.

The only great dish was Garlic King Prawns. Thai Crab Cakes were horribly burnt. We had to order some bread 8 times until we finally got them. By then we finished main meals already. The manager (female) was arrogant.

1 hour to be served starters, 1 more hour to be served main dishes.

We will never go back there. It was such a waste of money and time.    [02 Aug 2004 07:26:27]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: garlic king prawns

     ­Kath   

Amazing
Great place for fresh fish! Chefs obviously know how to cook fish, and cook it well! Everyone I know enjoys a meal here. Service is very lacking but the young waiters/waitresses make up for the older ruder management "type" with their youthfulness. Balcony is best view in town.    [18 Jul 2004 19:55:33]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: crab and Waldorf salad

     ­Mr J Harp   

Tourist Trap
There are some good dishes at the Crab and Winkle but they are few and far between. The restaurant survives on day tourist trade into the harbour. Some of the platter dishes are an absolute disgrace for a place that clearly seeks to make mileage from its position above a harbour and the Augustine fish-sellers because they feature deep-frozen and compiled seafood when every other decent restaurant locally serves it fresh.

If you're after decent seafood in Whitstable, almost anywhere else will give you better.

The C&W is really a prime opportunity that's done very poorly and very lazily. I only wish our local papers would get off their arse(s) and give this place the review it deserves. With a good slap around the chops for complacency, a decent couple of chefs and a shot in the arm for the boring wine list, this could be the place it should be...    [16 Jan 2005 15:17:55]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

What The Heck?
It would help if the previous reviewer had actually bothered to comment on a particular experience he/she has had in my restaurant! I have looked at the "anonymous diner's" other reviews and it appears that this person has sampled the menu and wine at two or more restaurants in the same day?

I'm not suggesting that we are perfect, but since I bought the restaurant from my parents in March 2005 we have received an AA rosette...the only restaurant in town to have managed it so far!

I intend to build on this success in the future and hope that any diner that is served in my restaurant has a favourable time.

Those that genuinely do not have a good experience at my restaurant - - please could you write and let me know?

To avoid spam you can contact me through my web site:
http://www.seafood-restaurant-uk.com

Regards Andrew.    [28 Apr 2005 19:29:15]

Food: -   Service: -   Ambiance: -   Overall: -
Recommended Dishes: divers caught scallop thermador

     ­Anonymous   

Poor Service and Patchy Food
Booked a table as it was May day Bank Holiday. Arrived on time with place only 1/4 full and plenty of staff. Despite this we suffered endless waits and poor service - we had to ask for menus, reminder about drinks, requests for cutlery, etc. All small points but not a good sign.

After an hour and still no starter (6 oysters) we were beginning to regret our decision. When the food arrived the battered cod was excellent, although the chips were rushed and not fully cooked. The frito misto was a disaster - dry and tasteless fish with an overcooked rock hard breadcrumb crust. The worst suprise was a scallop with the taste and texture of a golf ball.

We will not be going back in a hurry, despite being given 50% off.    [02 May 2005 12:52:19]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Richard   

Nice meal here the other evening for my wife's birthday. First came here a few years ago and I must say how much it has improved. Much better menu, and the young staff friendly and attentive.    [16 May 2005 14:50:31]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: wild sea bass, oysters

     ­Amor Shakin   

Good Food, Appalling Service
The food was excellent, well prepared and imaginative. The restaurant is let down by the woeful service, examples of which were a) the time spent waiting to give our order b)drinks not arriving despite constant reminders c) bread never arriving despite being asked for d)waitresses asking if we wanted drinks/condiments/etc. then completely ignoring the request e) tables only being half cleared between courses...and so on. One of the problems was the number of new staff (helpfully identified as being under training by their badges, although by the amount of crockery and glass dropped this badge seemed a little superfluous), but also the attitude of the elder staff left much to be desired.    [27 Jun 2005 05:45:48]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

What a Rip Off
Overrated tourist trap as previously mentioned. If it wasn't for the location, this "restaurant" would have nothing to talk about, apart from the appalling lack of knowledge and experience of the staff. Food is well overpriced, and not even near fresh, which is a sin being next to the sea. Owners/management define rudeness.

Could be so good, just run by the wrong people.

Greed.    [29 Jun 2005 14:09:15]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: oysters

     ­Mr Andrew O'Neil