Thanet born & bred (14 May 2010)

My husband and I went to the restaurant here above the fishmongers last Thursday; the place was full with at least 35 - 40 people. It’s the third time we’ve been here and the standard of the food for the price we paid was brilliant, the fish was perfectly cooked! I had scallops with cresses and curried mayonnaise and my husband had the local asparagus with quail eggs and aioli. For mains, we both had halibut with a mixed shellfish kind of bisque, the flavours were amazing, all washed down with a very nice bottle of local white wine. What is so good about Eddie Gilberts is that so much of their menu is local, which is so good to see. We hope they continue with the success they’ve been having and we are already planning our next visit. Well done!

Gavin (10 December 2009)

I visited Eddie Gilbert's in Ramsgate, when I was in the area on business after reading about it in The Sunday Times. When an established fish monger in a town with a trawler fleet opens a gourmet restaurant above the shop, you'd expect the fish to be good and it is very much. Eddie Gilbert's scooped a prestigious Taste of Kent Awards for best fish retailer in 2007 and was runner up in 2008. Despite the back street location this is a truly remarkable restaurant. Although the head chef is a local boy, he spent 4 years training in Warwickshire's the Michelin-stared Mallory Court. There are also excellent fish and chips, fried in a choice of beef dripping or vegetable oil in both the restaurant and new downstairs chippie. I tried the crispy smoked eel soldiers with soft-boiled duck egg, which are a delight at £6.00. The fresh rock oysters were excellent too, £5 for 6. The brown shrimp croquettes with shallot, white wine with a hint of parmesan and mustard were a hit too. Whilst most of the fare is local, some more exotic species come from further a field, like the tuna. For meat eaters the daily changing menu may feature 40 day aged rib eye steak and Kent venison. For the veggies the Parmesan polenta with mushroom fricassee and rocket is a real treat. If there's somewhere serving a better Dover sole, I've yet to find it. The seafood platter including lobster and dressed crab at £26.50 for two looked good value and there's a fixed lunch menu costs £9.95 for two courses or £12.95 for three, is available Tuesday to Thursday. On Sundays there's a roast beef, lamb, pork or chicken on the menu.

The restaurant itself is attractive with polished wooden floor and exposed oak beams are tastefully appointed with deft maritime touches and fishy pictures. I didn't have a pudding, but did taste the bay leaf ice cream - a first, and one that works perfectly. The only negative is the wine list is a bit short, but is expected to be elongated in the near future. Kent vineyards feature alongside Ramsgate's potent Gadds' beers. Oh! The service is pretty good too.