All reader reviews by C & V

Santiago Restaurant

Myself and partner paid a long over due first visit to Santiago Restaurant on Tuesday in the late afternoon and my word was it worth the wait....

I have never felt particularly compelled to write review of a restaurant even though I have had some truly delightful meals out but after our meal there I felt the need to let others know of this little gem on the seafront.

On arrival at the restaurant we were greeted by an incredibly friendly and bubbly waitress/ hostess and after requesting to sit outside due to the fantastic weather we were shown to our table which had great views over the beach and even better for a bit of people watching.

There were several specials that were available from Tiger prawns (which although we did not have, looked and smelt divine) to a variety of salads, ideal in the weather.

I decided on the Chorizo cooked in red wine with garlic toast to start and my partner the goats cheese Crustini. Well I was not disappointed, I think I can honestly say that the Chorizo was the best I have ever tasted and I have sampled my fair share- my only criticism was that there was not enough garlic toast to help me clear the tasty sauce! I must admit that I am not a particular fan of goats’ cheese but the delicate blending of the fresh summery flavours of the perfectly soft cheese, herbs and roasted slivers of red peppers with the strong balsamic vinegar hitting through to top it off at the end was incredible.

For main course we decided on the free range chicken with Chorizo which was served with herb roasted new potatoes and green beans. The presentation of the dish was wonderful with the chicken breast falling off the bone, the crispy roasted new potatoes which are just fantastic at this time of year with just the right amount of seasoning and the green beans bright and cooked to perfection.

They have a wine list that you could spend an age perusing over and several glasses were sampled-well it would have been rude not too! I highly recommend the Sauvignon Blanc, Isabella da Silva - Maipo Valley, Chile a light and herby mix of green fruits which was very reasonably priced and available by the glass which is always helpful when only one of your party enjoys wine.

The meal was not rushed even though it was a busy late afternoon and it was coming near to closing time. The waiting staff/ hostess were attentive and more than happy to give advice in regards to wine selection with our meal. It really was fantastic to have a late lunch in a non pretentious environment where the levels of food, service and location were some of the best I have had since moving to Brighton.

All in all I would highly recommend Santiago Restaurant and will be defiantly be heading back as soon as I can.

Saturday, August 08, 2009
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10