10 Aug The Briny, Southsea
Southsea esplanade is dotted with coffee bars and cafes, so walking past The Briny close to South Parade Pier, you could be forgiven for thinking it was just another beachfront stop off. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Let’s not beat around the bush – The Briny is a gem and an absolute must if you love all things fishy.
It’s not surprising that it has recently been awarded its first Rosette for the quality of its food, because it’s absolutely delicious.
Befitting of its position right on the seafront, the restaurant has very chilled vibes. Dress up, dress down – anything goes. A special occasion meal, or just sharing a plate of mussels after a stroll along the beach, what matters is that the seafood is fresh, beautifully cooked and very tasty.
No matter where you sit inside there are panoramic views of the sea, but those looking to get a bit closer to nature you can site outside on the terrace – just remember it can get pretty windy on that seafront!
The restaurant is family-run and their passion for relaxed perfection runs through the whole team.
They pride themselves on sourcing ingredients from the best suppliers and locally where possible. And such is their passion and respect for them you can even watch the masterpieces being created in their open kitchen.
So, what delights can you expect to see on the menu? We had roasted cod with pork belly on salad of beans and fennel drizzled with lobster salad cream, which was without doubt the tastiest cod dish I’ve ever had. My husband had the fish and chips which came with delicious house pickles and homemade tartare sauce. Baked crab head and whole Cornish sole also feature – there’s even sirloin of beef for those less enamoured with fish.
With nibbles, small plates, a seafood bar serving oysters and crevettes as well as the larger meals and deserts, The Briny literally caters for everyone and we haven’t even mentioned the crab Benedict for breakfast!
For a city right on the sea, Portsmouth has struggled to deliver quality fish restaurants – that was until now!