On our most recent trip to Deal from Canterbury by bus (more about that in separate review) my friend and I walked to the end of Deal’s iconic concrete pier to have brunch in the Pier Kitchen restaurant. I had heard it was very good but this was my first visit. We went inside and when we said we’d like a table for two we were asked to go back outside and wait until a table had been cleared and sanitised. Back outside we went and sat on a bench in the sun; luckily it was one of the hottest days of the year but as we sat down we noticed a sign we hadn’t seen on the way in saying PLEASE WAIT HERE TO BE SEATED INSIDE or words to that effect. Within a couple of minutes we were taken in and shown to our window table on the seaward side so the views were lovely – a couple of yachts with blue sails skimmed past on a turquoise sea in the fresh breeze – through the windows on the other side of the restaurant we could see the long seafront from Walmer to Deal lined with colourful, picturesque old houses. Menus arrived along with tap water in a glass refillable bottle and two glasses.
The Pier Kitchen is open from 10.00 to 4.00 Monday, Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday and 9.00 to 5.00 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for brunch and lunch which is non-booking. However, there is a Bottomless Brunch available for £35 (alcoholic) or £25 non-alcoholic which has to be booked (full details of days and times are on the website www.dealpierkitchen). On Fridays and Saturdays there are Steak and Lobster evenings from 6.30 pm ’til late; the dates for these events are released monthly so it would be a good idea to sign up to the mailing list to be the first to know when the dates are released.
The breakfast menu, which is available until 12.00 noon has a `traditional` breakfast for £11, a vegetarian option for £10 and a breakfast `sarnie` for £6. There’s also a children’s menu.
The brunch menu had a good choice of dishes, mostly around £10+, although there’s also Eggs Your Way (on toast) for £5.50 with optional extras for £2.50 or £3.50. The lunch menu, which is served from 11.00 am has burgers, poke bowl, fajitas, mackerel etc. and the most expensive dish is lobster and crayfish roll (£22).
From the brunch menu we both chose the same thing – `Dill and lemon dressed crab with fennel, chive and apple salad, brown crab butter and two soft poached eggs` served on a crumpet (£13.50). It wasn’t very large but was absolutely delicious, even though I thought the flavour of the crab meat was rather lost under the herby dressing. There’s a good drinks menu and I ordered a small glass of Sauvignon Blanc (£7) but a lot of `fizz` and cocktails were being ordered and there was a relaxed holiday atmosphere.
Service was quick, friendly and efficient. For those who just want a coffee and a snack there is also a shack alongside the restaurant with outside seating although there is also plenty of seating all along the pier. Toilets can be accessed without having to go into the restaurant.
I will definitely return.
(There was a heat haze so the photos are not sharp.)
