Due South
our comments
Mother’s Day lunch is perhaps not the ideal day to try a restaurant (but not as bad as Valentine’s Day). We got their early to secure one of the few window seats, because eating at the back is a bit like eating under a railway arch, although I’m sure its not so gloomy at night. Unfortunately the usual main course grilled fish of the day, at a reasonable £12.50 had been replaced with a whole Dover sole at £25 a pop. A shame. Potted shrimp starter was a bit heavy on the butter and the shrimps didn’t have the strength to fight through. If I’d had my eyes shut, I would not have been convinced they were there at all and thought I was just munching my way through a pot of Lurpak. The bread had been toasted to a severe crispness; it could have done with a soft centre. Quite impossible to spread the potted shrimp onto without a shattering crash and fragments going everywhere. A plate of home made feta with the increasingly trendy Puy lentils was far better, the feta far less salty than the stuff beloved of Greek restaurants and the lentils cooked just right. A plate of oysters, priced singly so that you could order as many or as few as liked was a nice touch, and benefited from a spicy dressing. It being lunch and Mother’s Day the two mothers I was with, one mine the other my wife, both had roasts –lamb and beef. My mother raved about her tender beef and it was indeed very good. Even the roast potatoes got approval. The locally sourced lamb made a good roast too, although the red cabbage was wickedly acidic. My lamb’s liver with a garlicky mash benefited from a splash of strong green kale, an underused vegetable that, like Swiss Chard, earns its place in the English vegetable plot by being virtually indestructible. So full marks for good use of British produce and thankfully not a tasteless Kenyan green bean in sight. Good as my liver was, I do wish I’d had the fish soup which looked gorgeous. I suppose the thought of soup as a main course put me off; maybe they should call it stew because it certainly looked more like one when I saw one going past. Puds were fine, a nice honey tart had a decadent splash of Calvados cutting through the sweetness and some smooth ice cream topping it off. Due South has all the right attitude to its menu and sourcing policy and its prices are reasonable. Recommended.NH - March 2005
your comments review this restaurant
fantastic food, wine and service keep up the good work
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Friday, March 21, 2008
I love the site and the interior.
We sat upstairs in the prime position overlooking the sea. Problem was it was a cold windy evening and there was a chilly draught which they could do nothing about.
Service was quite slow probably because they take alot of care over the food which I dont mind. The food was good but not excellent. Wine also good but not excellent.
The bill was £92 for two people for two courses only.
I think this is expensive for what they offer.
I would not eat there again a la carte in the evening but I would go again for lunch or on a special deal most probably in the summer.
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Sunday, March 16, 2008
On Friday after a long week of work and arriving dinner time (well around 6 o o’clock) my friend and I decide to have an early dinner somewhere in Brighton.
We decided to go Due South, we didn’t book a table in advance but the staff were very welcoming and did mention that our table was booked at 8.30, without making us feel like we needed to rush.
We had a table next to the window upstairs and after seeing the disappointment on the face of some customers arriving after us I think we had the best table of all the restaurant.
For starters my friend had the fennel and vodka panna cotta, he was happy that he try and like the idea but he wasn’t really impress by it. I had the trio of rabbit terrine which was good.
For main course he had the vegetable Wellington and that he really enjoy it. When I saw is plat arrived I wish I had order it too but instead I went for the poached fillet of lemon sole.
I was a bit disappointed by the size of the fish and I find the ravioli a bit test less.
I didn’t really wanted pudding because after all I was full and happy but my friend order a Fentiman’s cola float.
It was amazing and not too big (big enough to share)I really like the small sweet which explode on your mouth sprinkle on the top of it.
I will recommend Due South. It is a very nice place to eat, the service has a very good knowledge of the food and the drinks.
I also really like the fact that all the product are local and in season and this is not all is all the charities that all team of Due South help.
It doesn’t take much to help other but It make a big difference. Well done for all your hard work.
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Swissy
Monday, March 10, 2008
Due to it's lovely views onto the sea, and local menu I've always wanted to eat here - however have been put off by the mixed reviews, particularly as I knew this would not be a 'cheap' meal. We took the plunge and went for a midweek lunch and were not disappointed at all. The food was good, the staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the wine menu excellent. We ended up staying for several hours – and at no time were we rushed out of the door, which for me counts for a lot in a restaurant. I have to be honest I'm not sure we'd have stayed so long or enjoyed it so much if we were sitting in the arch at the rear. A very pleasant experience which I'd love to repeat soon. Pricewise: 3 courses and wine came to around £55 / head incl. tip.
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Victoria
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Due to it's lovely views onto the sea, and local menu I've always wanted to eat here - however have been put off by the mixed reviews, particularly as I knew this would not be a 'cheap' meal. We took the plunge and went for a midweek lunch and were not disappointed at all. The food was very good, in a gastro food kind of way, the staff were incredibly welcoming and friendly, and the wine menu excellent (in my opinion). We ended up staying for several hours – and at no time were we rushed out of the door, which for me counts for a lot in a restaurant. I have to be honest I'm not sure we'd have stayed so long or enjoyed it so much if we were sitting in the arch at the rear. A very pleasant experience which I'd love to repeat soon. Pricewise: 3 courses and wine came to around £55 / head incl. tip.
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Victoria
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Very excited about eating at Due South, as it's a pricey place for celebrations only Opted for the tasting menu on a cold January midweek evening. Expectations high! First course, tiny piece of raw meat on a tiny bed of something, a mouthful, kind of tasteless as raw meat often is. Then an oyster with ginger sorbet melting over the top, not a great fan of oysters, particularly on a cold night. There was Jerusalem artichoke soup with pastry topping, that was pleasant, warm if small. Then pigs cheek rolled in crumbs and deep fried. Smelt strongly porky. Gagged, yuk, and again had that rare cooked texture. The it was venison and oxtail, again rare, concerned about amout of raw meat we were eating and combinations of it. Very few vegetables or carbohydrates. Then what really finished us off was the beetroot sorbet. Husband at this point refused to go any further, it really did taste of icy beetroot. Pudding was nice, some apple toffee thing, small though. We has some nice home-made chocolates, coffee and wines.
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Jane
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
I too am amazed with some of the poorer reviews of this fantastic Brighton institution! People rave on about Due South consistently, because there is in fact something to rave on about! A fantastic relaxed and low key atmosphere, with friendly knowledgable staff who are committed to promoting local produce, incredible food every time i go and of course its wonderful location!
People who complain too much should perhaps consider take aways! I will continue to support both this and my other favourite restaurants in Brighton!
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katherine birnie
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
This restaurant is not mediocre in my opinion and I feel happy with their ethos.
And have enjoyed dining there on numerous occassions.
I do not feel that I can trust every restaurant to buy organic and free range ingredients unless they have confirmed that this is something they feel strongly about and put into practice.
It is possible to have an unsatisfactory experiance at any restaurant but I feel that the way the problems are dealt with is proof of good management and a professional team.
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media type
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Please, please, please can media types who have heard from someone who heard from someone who heard from someone who most likely is friends with Zoe Ball, please stop giving free publicity to this very mediocre seafront restaurant?
Am I the only one who is sick to the back teeth of any tv or magazine feature on Brighton restaurants giving a glowing review of Due South? Is there NO other restaurant in Brighton and Hove?
It really is the most ordinary place. I don't care if they claim to use fresh, seasonal ingredients, blah, blah. Frankly I expect that as a given. The execution of their dishes is extremely uninspiring. Go somewhere else - really.
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Tiny Flower of Hove
Saturday, January 12, 2008
fantastic as allways
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Saturday, January 12, 2008
