insideKENT Magazine Issue 42 - September 2015 | Page 43

FOOD+DRINK Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant AT DOVER The Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant and Bar on the Hythe seafront has built up a reputation as one of the best seafood restaurants in South East Kent. The combination of views and gourmet dining is obviously a winning formula as, at just over four years old, Hythe Bay at Dover has proved itself a culinary hub for fish-loving foodies everywhere. BY ADAM READY Situated along the Dover Esplanade, with breathtaking panoramic views of the sea and iconic White Cliffs, you can enjoy al fresco dining on the terrace or soak up the large restaurant interior with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the rolling waves. The menu changes often, with daily specials making the most of fresh, local catches whenever possible. From tender, lightly battered calamari and pan-fried fillet of sea bream, to Hythe Bay fish pie and of course, traditional fish and chips, the Hythe Bay at Dover offers an array of seafood delights. There's also a selection of non-fish dishes, including 28-day-aged sirloin steak or oven-roasted, corn-fed chicken breast. Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside at insideKENT, so you can imagine our delight when we were invited to dine at Hythe Bay at the end of last month. On what must have been one of the wettest August days on record, we set off to enjoy dinner by the sea. Upon taking our seats, we admired the view before a welcome of warm bread rolls and smoked mackerel pâté – a charming pre-starter. Having already planned my seafood-based main, I opted for the fried calamari – rings of tender squid, cooked to precision and served with homemade tartare sauce and lemon chuck. My guest enjoyed the shellfish board for one, which included cockles, welks, king prawns, razor clam and crayfish. Opening at 10am for drinks and coffees, and serving food between noon and 9.30pm every day of the week, the Hythe Bay at Dover is perfect for romantic meals, morning meetings, business lunches or family get-togethers. During our experience, my guest and I remarked that the spacious floor plan would be a perfect venue for many different events with its extraordinary views of Dover Castle, the harbour and White Cliffs. In fact, the Hythe Bay at Dover can accommodate private parties of up to 50, and the restaurant team are more than happy to create a tailor-made menu for your special occasion. After finishing my sublime calamari, I moved onto my main course of pan-fried sea bass served with sautéed new potatoes in a pesto dressing and samphire. The sea bass was perfectly fried and flaked off as I cut into it, and the dressing delightful. My fellow diner ordered the traditional beer battered cod and chips, which happened to be the biggest piece of cod I'd ever seen. A delicious course, we washed it all down with a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Apaltagua, Central Valley, Chile, 2011 – a choice recommended by our host Alison, who looked after us all evening. The menu displayed eight tempting desserts, including dark chocolate marquise, sticky toffee pudding and 'the magnificent seven’ – seven scoops of indulgent ice cream from the delicious Simply Ice Cream range. I was so content with my meal and starter that I didn’t want to pass 43 into that can’t-move-so-full stage with a heavy dessert, so I chose the light and tasty crème brûlée and a scoop of palette-cleansing mango sorbet (also from the Simply Ice Cream collection). My guest on the other hand went for dark chocolate and salted caramel tart, served with a white chocolate mousse and caramelised white chocolate, which looked and tasted amazing. Just a few minutes from Dover town centre, The Hythe Bay at Dover boasts all the ingredients for a tip-top dining experience: spectacular views, a classy and relaxed atmosphere, helpful staff and delectable cuisine. What more could you ask for? Hythe Bay and Seafood Restaurant at Dover The Esplanade Dover CT17 9FS 01304 207740 [email protected] www.hythebay.co.uk @hythebay