The Gingerman at Drakes

Four of us went to Gingerman at Drakes last night. It was booked with much anticipation because of the good things that we had heard. What a total disappointment! The service was excellent (accept for one waitress dropping an empty tray on my brother) but the total let down was the food. The terrine starter was very fatty and mostly inedible, and then three of us had the fillet of beef, again fatty - including grissle? They were accompanied by a few (4) tiny roasted potatoes, again dripping in goose fat and some tasteless spinach. The desserts where ok - nothing special. There was also a very noisy table next to us, with no attempt from the waiting staff to ask them to respect the other diners. And all this for nearly £200 (including drinks). I can't help thnking that a bit of the 'Emperors clothes' syndrome has entered into this restaurant - either that, or we had an expensive 'off' night from this establishment.
Comment on this reader review

Dan Reed
Tuesday, November 14, 2006

We had a very enjoyable dinner at Gingerman on friday evening.

I opted for the Fois Gras with pieces of eel followed by milk fed Kid pie served with a delicious pastry top.

My wife's steak was perfectly cooked and one of the best that she has tasted.

The service was attentive and the staff knowledgable.
Comment on this reader review

J and a Henley
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

We had a very enjoyable dinner at Gingerman on friday evening.

I opted for the Fois Gras with pieces of eel followed by milk fed Kid pie served with a delicious pastry top.

My wife's steak was perfectly cooked and one of the best that she has tasted.

The service was attentive and the staff knowledgable.
Comment on this reader review

J and a Henley
Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Loved it! I've previously enjoyed visits to both Gingerman restaurants & this visit was equally impressive. The food was outstanding ... lobster starter was sensational, as was the quail to follow, and the ole favourite - raspberry souffle .. really really special. Nice wine, great atmosphere, with really friendly and professional waiting staff ... what more can be said .. we had a wonderful meal.
Comment on this reader review

Michael
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Loved it! I've previously enjoyed visits to both Gingerman restaurants & this visit was equally impressive. The food was outstanding ... lobster starter was sensational, as was the quail to follow, and the ole favourite - raspberry souffle .. really really special. Nice wine, great atmosphere, with really friendly and professional waiting staff ... what more can be said .. we had a wonderful meal.
Comment on this reader review

Michael
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Loved it! I've previously enjoyed visits to both Gingerman restaurants & this visit was equally impressive. The food was outstanding ... lobster starter was sensational, as was the quail to follow, and the ole favourite - raspberry souffle .. really really special. Nice wine, great atmosphere, with really friendly and professional waiting staff ... what more can be said .. we had a wonderful meal.
Comment on this reader review

Michael
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Loved it! I've previously enjoyed visits to both Gingerman restaurants & this visit was equally impressive. The food was outstanding ... lobster starter was sensational, as was the quail to follow, and the ole favourite - raspberry souffle .. really really special. Nice wine, great atmosphere, with really friendly and professional waiting staff ... what more can be said .. we had a wonderful meal.
Comment on this reader review

Michael
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Loved it! I've previously enjoyed visits to both Gingerman restaurants & this visit was equally impressive. The food was outstanding ... lobster starter was sensational, as was the quail to follow, and the ole favourite - raspberry souffle .. really really special. Nice wine, great atmosphere, with really friendly and professional waiting staff ... what more can be said .. we had a wonderful meal.
Comment on this reader review

Michael
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

To be blunt - a bit of a disapointmet. The food was fine but the ambience was lost in what I can only decribe as a dark hotel basement".

I have eaten at the other Gingerman and that was fantastic.

My recommendation is to avoid this restaurant if you are after a romantic night with your loved one.
Comment on this reader review

Mark
Monday, August 21, 2006

Ben McKellar, the man behind everybody's favourite Brighton town centre restaurant, opened in the relaunched Drakes hotel on the seafront in late summer 2004.

The cooking has certainly gone up a gear to match the cool, tiled basement surroundings (no sea views, beach fans, alas). Some dishes aim for a certain level of complexity and bring it off well, as in a jointed roast quail wrapped in pancetta, stuffed with mushrooms and almonds and sauced with sweet wine and sultanas, making a thoroughly appealing first course.

Others are let down by a lack of firepower, and just the faintest hint of laziness. A breast of duck appears on a raft of thick celeriac chips with a whole roasted peach for company, but that's it. It looked a little naked - even the figleaf of a heap of spinach might have mitigated its undue modesty - and the meat itself was weirdly bland.

That said, when on song, this is one of the classier and least pretentious fine dining-rooms in Brighton. Staff are very knowledgeable, keen to chat but will leave you alone if you've come here to plan your divorce. And the prices are eminently reasonable. The shortish wine list is less than inspiring, but the cocktails are well-made.
Comment on this reader review

Fabrizio
Friday, July 07, 2006