Ravenous from our 20-minute windswept hike along the Hythe seafront , which as a location is always beautiful , but on this day was channelling wind that whipped us about like ragdolls , we may have been dishevelled once seated at our window-seat table , but boy were we hungry . The seafood platter – a doubledecker serving of oysters , king prawns , dressed crab , mussels , shell-on-prawns , mackerel pate , aioli , shallot vinaigrette and chunks of bloomer bread and butter – caught our eyes immediately and will be first pick next time , but this time we were too tempted to devise a sharing platter of our own in the form of lots of starters .
Whetting our appetite with steamed moules marinière in a tangy white wine , garlic and cream sauce , tender king prawns coated in sweet Marie Rose , crispy salt and pepper squid with a citrussy lemon mayo , and pan-fried calamari made rich by smoky chorizo and doused in a basil emulsion , everything sang with the earthy bitterness of fresh parsley and the sea ’ s briny undertones ; a fish-lovers dream . If fish isn ’ t your thing , don ’ t be put off – mushrooms topped with Kentish Blue cheese and a really interesting feta and watermelon salad dressed with sweet honey and crunchy of pumpkin seeds are also winning choices .
Opting to go our separate ways for mains , dishes of the day were a simple panfried sea bass on a bed of squash and spinach risotto , which was delicate enough to let the buttery , tender fish speak for itself , and a braised chicken thigh with five-bean salad , olives and warm bread to dip into a piquant tomato ragu – very much the Mediterranean on a plate . As with the décor , which reflects the notion that surrounding yourself with what gives you pleasure will make you happy , a fantastic quality of The Waterfront ’ s menu is that anything goes : if you wat to graze on smaller plates , you can ; if you want a hearty steak and a portion of chips , go for it ; equally , if you just want to pick at some fresh , tasty seafood while nursing a bottle of Laurent-Perrier , so be it . It ’ s an experience , not just a meal , and the attentive staff are on hand to help that happen however you choose .
Make sure you go for a wander – the walls and floors are decked out with the most extraordinary of keepsakes including vintage Chopper bicycles , life-size wildlife , classic photos of onscreen icons , and a personal favourite , a sporting walk of fame that leads to the loos and boasts shirts signed by football legends , Gazza and Steven Gerrard . The fact that we ’ ve got this far and barely touched on The Waterfront ’ s unbeatable Hythe seafront location speaks volumes – the outside space is prime for sunny soirees and this summer promises live music and the grand opening of a Champagne and oyster bar too ; what better way to while away an afternoon in the sun ?
The Waterfront Marine Parade Hythe CT21 6AW www . the-waterfront . co . uk
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