Riddle & Finns

I have been to Riddles & Finns 3 times, twice with my friends and their kid and once with my girl friend. In my first visit, I have found the food average, service was good and friendly, hence went there again.

However, it was a complete shocker when I took my girlfriend there. We walked in at around 17:30 and there was only one other table with 3 people in the whole restaurant. We have been shown a table (which was for four people, they don't have a smaller table btw), and I sat on one side and my girfriend sat on the other side of the table. Soon the waiter approached and asked us to sit next to each other not facing each other!!! How bizzare eh?! His excuse was that usually the restaurant gets full in the evenings and that we have to share the table with others. I told him that there are only 3 other customers in the restaurant and we would be happy to change our seating plan if we have to share the table with others but only if they (customers) prefers sitting next to eachother as well. Reasonable? No it wasn't according to the waiter! He insisted that we sit side-by-side. I found it extremely annoying for a waiter to insist a customer in that way and not being flexible at all (in an empty restaurant!).

So all in all, it was a complete disappointment and I would never but never go there again. One should expect good service especially in places where prices are above the average.

On the food end, I have had clam chowder in my first two visits, they were not same soup at all, i got the expression then that they were using leftovers. I have no trust on their kitchen either.

Don't go there!
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Dinc Gungor
Friday, October 19, 2007

Riddle & Finns is a superb place with the freshest and most delicious dishes, friendly and exeptional service. I can recommend their Salt&Pepper Squid - delicious. But then again no matter which starter you pick you will enjoy each of them.
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Christin
Thursday, October 11, 2007

We really like seafood so were really pleased with the range and quality of the fruits de mer platter we ordered. It is brilliant to able to at last get this kind of quality in the uk - really top notch oysters, crab, clams, razor clams, winkels and whelks. The restaurant space too is really well done, all gleaming tiles and sliver candle sticks. However, one thing I really hated was the very loud, bass-heavy, club-style music that they insist on playing. It was like being a slave on a Roman galley, a driving rhythm pounding urging you to eat faster. I read a quote about Riddle and Finn's business philosophy online which stated that they are attempting to go for a Yo Sushi style dining experience. I wish I'd known because I can't stand any of this eat-to-the-beat stuff. It just encourages everyone around you to bellow, whoop and bray at each other above the din. I complained to the manager, and to be fair the music did get turned down but I sensed it was reluctantly. Perhaps other people enjoy eating in a nightclub atmosphere and maybe it makes money. The whole experience just reinforced my feeling that the dining scene in Britian is rarely about enjoying food but rather about trying to engineer an atmosphere where inhibitions and wallets are loosened. Most customers seem to be quite happy with this though. We finished our meal and felt it was fair-ish value, but left feeling rather alienated. Does anyone know where I can get a decent assiette de fruit de mer without the whole corporate dining experience?
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Kit Nielto
Sunday, October 07, 2007

the best fish in brighton by far
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Friday, October 05, 2007

I went to riddle & Finns with my hubby on a special occasion and I must say that our decision to go there was right.The food was delicious specially the 'Sea Bass' - Catch of the day fish.We enjoyed our evening with candles & wonderful service with awesome food!!!! Go There!!
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Tripti
Wednesday, October 03, 2007

This has got to be one of the most exciting places to eat on the South Coast. I've been a regular at Riddle & Finns since it opened last year and it always feels like a well kept secret, an affordable treat, with the chandeliers and candles adding a very special air. Even on a rainy day in the middle of this woeful British summer, I can sit and imagine I'm throwing back oysters in a chic Manhattan hideaway. The food is completely amazing- really, really fresh, with lots of different options to choose from according to occasion and appetite- and it's always consistent. The champagne and cocktail lists are long and well conceived. The staff take care of everything. I'm such a fan, I've even dragged myself down there for a fry up and a dash of hair of the dog from their weekend breakfast menu. I just can't wait for them to finally open in Hove so they are right on my doorstep!
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sandgirl
Thursday, September 06, 2007

I was considering taking friends out for dinner at Riddle and Finns and so decided to check it out one lunchtime. On arrival we were welcomed by a member of staff who was so helpful it was a bit intrusive, and she explained that we were only allowed to sit side by side which seemed odd and pushy, but made sense later as the tables are quite wide and shared with other parties (like at Wagamama). I think it is a very pleasant café for lunch but not for dinner as the seating (high bar stools) are not really comfortable for longer periods. I also wondered how they could accommodate a wheelchair user as the tables and stools are so high.

I had Rock oysters, which were nice but small, and very mild compared to the Rock oysters I had the same week at The Gingerman (which were almost 1/3 cheaper too). This I followed with goats cheese, roasted peppers and tomato salad, the portion was good, but it was disappointing that the cheese was served hard and cold, like the butter which came with the plentiful supply of bread. There was a large drinks menu though I think it would do no harm to offer some more reasonably priced wine and champagne.
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Richard
Tuesday, August 21, 2007

The best fish I have eaten in Brighton, catch of the day was excellent.
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Adam
Saturday, August 18, 2007

Fab little restaurant with a really well priced menu and a great selection of wines and champagne. You can't make a booking so may have to grab a pint at a local bar while you wait for a table to become available, but it will be well worth it. The service is really friendly and the atmostphere is buzzing. Will be back to Riddle & Finns sometime soon.
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Monday, August 13, 2007

A real gem of a fish restaurant tucked away in the lanes. Great dishes at affordable prices. A culinary must for any pescatarian or fish lover. Hot tip: try rock oysters with fennel seeds! :-)
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Ray
Monday, July 23, 2007