Ancient Grains in Eastbourne

Delicious Sardinian cuisine! I’m really impressed with their fish stew. ❤️

Pretty place not alot of atmosphere.

We enjoyed a 'fish taster menu'. The food was stunning. Brilliant value. An amazing trio of musicians. We couldn't have asked for a better evening. Thank you Carla and Davide

Met friends for breakfast our first time their second. Lovely peaceful restaurant. All 4 breakfasts were delicious, service was excellent and ambience perfect.

Just a wonderful dining experience, with a home-cooked feel and such friendly, attentive service. Book in advance to get a more extensive menu with some really unusual and authentic Sardinian delights.

What a charming offer.Imane,the waitress,is lovely as isxthexowner. The coffee cake was fantastic The decor utterly charming Thoroughly recommend

Great menu, cosy surroundings and lovely service.

My goodness this is a very very good restaurant. The fish stew in particular was just stupendous but everyone’s food was delicious, authentic and beautifully cooked. I will definitely come again,

We had dinner here and I can’t recommend it enough. A lovely family run restaurant with traditional Sicilian recipes, excellent wine and a very cosy atmosphere. A wonderful surprise in Eastbourne’s otherwise rather predictable dining scene !

This was a superb find - the food including the fish is very fresh and extremely good quality. We walked in and had kind prawn linguine and ravioli - both Sardinian classics and totally delicious. We had the squid and aubergine to start. The restaurant also has a pre-order menu full of the most delicious fish. Next time we are going to do that! Lovely family run, restaurant that is the absolute star of Eastbourne

Arrived just before closing for lunch and they stayed open to serve us the most delicious freshly made pasta dishes and amazing desert. One of best meals we have had in UK by far and highly recommend it

Last night was the third evening that we have eaten at Ancient Grains and each time we have had a delightful time at this cosy family run restaurant. Wonderful Sardinian food. Also excellent, friendly service, particularly from Carla. The zuppe di pesce is exceptional, a generous portion of perfectly cooked fish, prawns and other shellfish in a perfectly seasoned and very tasty soup. All the fresh pasta dishes we have tried have been incredibly good (including those with lamb and wild boar) as are all the other Sardinian dishes we have tried so far. It is a cuisine I hadn't tried before going to Ancient Grains, but think Italian with some really interesting and creative twists. Clearly the owners take great care in sourcing excellent ingredients and the quality of food preparation and presentation is extremely high. Some very nice wines too. Lovely relaxed and friendly atmosphere and superb choice of background jazz too, at a volume that doesn't get in the way of conversation. As one of our friends rightly said, this place is "a little gem". Anyone trying Ancient Grains will not be disappointed. Also a great choice in the daytime - one of the best English breakfasts in Eastbourne and very good for lunch, but for me it is in the evening that this place comes into its own.

Tried Sardinian side of the lunch menu for the first time and it was great so we're going back soon

Warm and cosy restaurant with great service. Wonderful authentic Sardinian food, portions are generous and taste is amazing. The best restaurant in Eastbourne! We will come back!

Following on from our wonderful seafood food and music night at Ancient Grain we had another memorable meal, our food choices taken from the pre order menu. The seafood stew was incredible, the restaurant only uses the freshest of seafood and the taste was better than any bouillabaisse we have experienced in France. We had eaten the seafood risotto previously and again it lived up to our expectations. The atmosphere and service are always exceptional and Davide and Carla should be congratulated on creating a unique dining experience and one that is superior to any other in Eastbourne.

This is such a lovely place and the food quite wonderful. Authentic Sardinian dishes. I hesitate to recommend it as don't want to find I won't be able to get a table, but can't not. Would highly recommend a visit

Carla was absolutely charming and so attentive. We had the seafood risotto which was gorgeous. I wished we lived closer to be able to go again soon. If you haven’t been I can’t recommend Ancient Grains more highly. High class food in a relaxed setting.

Wonderful Scardinian trattoria serving a limited range of lovingly cooked food, home made cakes and ice cream and stunning wines.

Fantastic authentic Sardinian dining. Relaxed atmosphere with a family run feel. Absolutely delicious food and great advice on meal selection

Firstly, this is an amazing place during the day - food as well as ambience. But nothing fully prepared me for just how amazing the Sardinian evening would be. I had heard the food is wonderful but my goodness it was beyond my expectations. The flavours were full of depth and you could feel the passion and care that had gone into the preparation. The service was exceptional too. Sadly their next two themed Thursday’s are already fully booked but we are definitely including Friday and Saturday nights at Ancient Grains on our “must go” to places to eat. So looking forward to working my way through the menu! Thank you all.

Lovely place, lovely food, lovely staff.

The first thing to say is that the food is excellent with tasty, well-spiced dishes. It is freshly cooked and you are asked to order the special dishes in advance. Because of that you need time. So it is not a fast-food place (which is meant as a compliment!) There is a genuine Sardinian atmosphere and flavour. We found the service friendly and obliging. Ancient Grains is not cheap but very good value for money. We’ll go again.

Lovely place with extremely delicious food, like you will find nowhere else in Eastbourne. Everything is freshly prepared with quality ingredients and according to traditional Sardinian recipes. I really appreciated the choice to serve only authentic regional cuisine. The atmosphere is very pleasant and cozy and Carla, the owner, is very kind. We will certainly be back!

Amazing food. Had the Sardinian omelette, which was delicious. Fresh ingredients and wonderful coffee. They do a good full English breakfast / brunch too

A little gem tucked in Meads high street. Booking is a must as limited seating. You must pre order your dishes. The photos do not do the food justice, fresh fish and very flavourful. You certainly do not feel rushed and always good to hear Italian speakers dining in a Sardinian restaurant. Throughly recommended a visit.

Simply fabulous Sardinian food at its best.Lovely host and great service. A true pleasure to dine there.

Simply exquisite Sardinian food at its best bursting with authentic flavours. Perfect host and service, you won’t be disappointed!

As a party of six, we had a truly exceptional dinner at Ancient Grains last Saturday evening. The restaurant is small and intimate with an enchanting rustic feel that transports to you to Sardinia, where the owners hail from. You are invited to pre-order from the menu a few days in advance which offers a good selection of starters and main courses, with vegetarians well catered for. The quality of the food was exceptional, with a great fish, seafood and pasta selection in particular, and although none of us had been to Sardinia, it left us all with the impression that it was wonderfully authentic. The food and wines were very reasonably priced and the atmosphere was intimate but not stuffy, with jazz music playing quietly in the background. Carla looked after us so well and we were introduced to her husband the chef,who was only too happy to talk us through the tradional Sardinian cuisine. If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Eastbourne you will find nowhere better.

As a party of six, we had a truly exceptional dinner at Ancient Grains last Saturday evening. The restaurant is small and intimate with an enchanting rustic feel that transports to you to Sardinia, where the owners hail from. You are invited to pre-order from the menu a few days in advance which offers a good selection of starters and main courses, with vegetarians well catered for. The quality of the food was exceptional, with a great fish, seafood and pasta selection in particular, and although none of us had been to Sardinia, it left us all with the impression that it was wonderfully authentic. The food and wines were very reasonably priced and the atmosphere was intimate but not stuffy, with jazz music playing quietly in the background. Carla looked after us so well and we were introduced to her husband the chef,who was only too happy to talk us through the tradional Sardinian cuisine. If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Eastbourne you will find nowhere better.

Full English breakfast was wonderful 😋

At real treasure, a hidden gem of Meads village. Authentic, home cooked Sardinian food served with love.

We were recommended to Ancient Grains by an Italian friend who suggested this was the best 'Italian' restaurant in Eastbourne, and apologies to the wonderful owners being more specific it's Sardinian. After yesterday's lunch I would have to agree. The food is cooked to order which can take longer than usual but the wait is worth it. At last we have a restaurant to take friends and visitors to in Eastbourne I'm only sorry I didn't discover it sooner.

This cafe serves great coffee and the kind of food you’d expect to find in a really top class restaurant. The Sardinian couple running this place clearly understand flavour, know how to cook and execute every dish to perfection. Melanzane with Sardinian crisp bread was delicately flavoured and seasoned, as was the mackerel with a perfect balance of flavours. Pastas were all home made. The agnelottos was a standout with ricotta and spinach stuffed inside complemented by a sage butter. Mini gnocchi with sausage was gently flavoured with saffron and tomato and the toasted frageole with mussels and clams was hearty but delicately flavoured. We finished with homemade gelato and a dark chocolate and orange truffle. This cafe is a reason to visit Eastbourne. Find a reason to go!

My wife and I have visited this little gem of a café/restaurant in Eastbourne’s Meads for brunch on a number of occasions, but this was the first time we had booked for dinner, which is (I think) only served on Friday and Saturday evenings. It is very small with a nice ambiance: William Morris wallpaper and Jazz playing in the background (there is even an old radiogram playing during the day). For dinner booking is essential really, although we did spot a couple who got lucky. The menu is traditionally Sardinian and best described as ‘no frills rustic’ cuisine. It’s delicious. There is a small a la carte menu, but also a more extensive one from which diners can choose in advance, with the dishes cooked to order. It makes the experience more special. Carla and her staff are lovely and we certainly didn’t feel at all rushed. For starters we ordered gluten-free Calamaratti fritti (deep fried squid seasoned with salt and lemon); Su Telleri Casu (a very generous platter of Sardinian bread, crudités and cheeses); and Pecorino arrosto (Sardinian pecorino cheese on sourdough bread). Mains were Zuppa du Pesce Casteddaia (a very hearty fish stew from Cagliari); and Malloreddus Alla Campidenese, which is Sardinian sausage and homemade pasta … the homemade gluten-free pasta is very good, the sausage is very tasty, and the ragu was the best I’d tasted since I ate in Bologna! Our son had the vegetarian version and was very impressed. Well worth visiting for a special occasion. Not the cheapest but also not the most expensive meal I’ve eaten. Well worth it and I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

This is a beautiful, truly authentic Sardinian restaurant serving mouth-watering Italian cuisine with a home-cooked feel. The family who run this place are beyond charming, Carla looked after us so well: expect relaxed, laid-back service. We have Italian heritage in our family and we really know and love our Italian food…we all agreed that this was reminiscent of the best restaurants we’ve been to in Sardinia and mainland Italy! I am only sad that we aren’t local so can’t enjoy this place all the time…grazie mille Carla e famiglia!

Fantastico! Lovely relaxed place and superb food. Interesting and ambitious cooking and great to have this in Eastbourne. Will be back. Thank you Carla and team.

This is a real hidden treasure, sardinian food cooked beautifully. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, its like being in an italian home. The food is probably the best I have had anywhere in Eastbourne. This now rates at the top of my list of places to eat, you really should give it a try.

This is an absolute gem, The service, atmosphere and food were all outstanding. The food is the best I have had anywhere in Eastbourne, very authentic Sardinian food and wine. I would very much recommend a visit for a lovely evening with the best home cooked food.

We had a lovely celebratory meal at Ancient Grains. The service was attentive and excellent, the food was traditional and delicious, we will be back again!

10/10 Very good experience, friendly service, delicious food and welcoming atmosphere. Well recommended.

What a find! We chose this as they offered gluten free options as one of our party is celiac. We pre-ordered in advance and we were not disappointed! The food was fresh, beautifully presented and absolutely delicious- everything made with love and attention. The restaurant is small and quirky and feels very personal. We will be back - it was so refreshing to find a restaurant that offered gluten free pasta and calamari (and even the bread) Thank you Carla 😊

This is an amazing restaurant! Run by a lovely Sardinian couple whose passion and expertise offers the most incredible dishes. All freshly prepared, amazing flavours and superbly cooked - close your eyes and you could be in a Sardinian restaurant on holiday! Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, you won’t be disappointed. We like the Jane breakfast and the fish stew for dinner, and the Verdicchio wine - delicious. Lovely ambience and if busy, there is a lovely little courtyard in the back. Would highly recommend.

The place is a hidden gem ! Food is so fresh it melts in your mouth ! Fresh pasta just like my mum used to make ! Delicious! Apple cake so lovely with a bit of home made ice cream ! Wow wow so well done guys !

The food is amazing and the owners very lovely! Nice people for sure! Tipical and delicious sardinian food! Thanks ancient grains

We pre-ordered our meal. The food was fantastic, really authentic. Fresh fish, great risotto prepared from scratch to the highest standard. The desserts were home made and delicious. The wine was Sardinian and really good. The owners are passionate about food and sourcing the best ingredients. I will definitely be going back for dinner many times and I will try the lunchtime menu as well. Great service and ambience. A real gem.

We’ve visited Ancient Grains several times in the past for brunch and coffee and have never been disappointed. A really lovely place to visit, with super friendly and helpful staff. Today I decided to sample the lunch menu. I opted for the Campidanese: homemade Malloreddus pasta in a Sandinian sausage ragù, cooked in a rich saffron flavoured tomato sauce. It was absolutely delicious as my clean plate proves! As someone who is gluten intolerant I throughly recommend the homemade GF pasta!! Thank you Carla and your team. We’ll be back for more.

We went for the Sardinian special evening. Food was superb, chose the house wines which were very good and a delicious limoncello drink was served at the end of the meal. Food was typically Sardinian and absolutely delicious. Thank you.

Me and my partner are down in Eastbourne visiting family and decided to go out for lunch. Found this little gem by accident and we ordered the Italian Carbonara and Gamberi & Zucchine. Both were absolutely lovely dishes, filled with flavour and perfectly cooked pasta. We are already talking about going back, maybe for an evening meal this time.

Wonderful Sardinian experience. Food was top, service couldn't have been better and such good value too. Went for dinner and it surpassed all expectations. Wonderful visit.

What a delicious meal! We received such a warm welcome and really enjoyed every course.

Fabulous food created on site with real passion and care. I had their amazing hand made gluten free pasta with sardinian sausage and their sardinian starters and deserts which were amazing. Will definitely be going back to try their fish platters which look amazing. Thank you for a great experience.

I spotted this restaurant as it popped up on Facebook and saw they did a fish platter, so I decided to treat my mum. Omg the food was amazing....so fresh and full of flavour, never had fish like it. The wine went perfectly 😊 we had such a lovely evening and the host was lovely. They do a meat feast as well so we will be returning with our husbands very soon!

Beautiful place run by lovely people, family run restaurant poured their hearts into the business to provide great service and excellent food

Nice and friendly customer service. Pleasant atmosphere. Very tasty vegan food. Would definitely recommend and will be returning at some point!

Meads, Sardinia! Exceptional food and warmth. We had the meat and cheese platter to start with and that sheep ham is from another planet! And then fish soup and lemon lamb as mains and we couldn't be happier! Will definitely be back to taste more family recipes 🙂

Locale di buon gusto estetico e culinario e molta cortesia

We ate Dinner here for an early January birthday. After a very warm welcome we were served an excellent, authentic Sardinian meal full of flavour. The ambience was cosy and friendly and we were transported to Sardinia for the evening! We were asked to pre...

The food and atmosphere were both outstanding - one of the best breakfasts I had in a very long time. The service was on point too

Wonderful authentic Italian cuisine reminiscent of mountain food in ski resorts Lovely wine complimenting food Great value for money Will return soon

Wow. I was welcomed with a friendly smile. The service was attentive and timely. Best breakfast I've ever paid for. Ordered partly because of the name, Jane! Everything was fresh, ingredients perfectly balanced. Oat milk latte hot and wet (not much foam) just as I ordered it. Put Ancient Grains on your list to visit ✨️

We have now dined in this restaurant 3 times and have booked our 4th.The food is divine and so different from other restaurants in Eastbourne.You almost feel as though you have a private dining experience here.There are only a few tables so you do not feel cramped or overlooked as you dine.The service is impeccable.Just the right amount of interaction.The time between courses is also perfect what more can I say.Everyone MUST dine here at least once,I promise once you have you will not be keen to venture elsewhere.Top marks for everyone who contributes to this fabulous restaurant.Decor designer/chef/waitresses/washeruppers etc etc.We love you and have told you on a couple of occasions you are the best and our favourite eating out experience. We always have the Fish gourmet Banquet,it is perfection itself. So looking forward to dining with you again. Thank you.

A completely wonderful experience. Superbly cooked Sardinian food where, genuinely, you will get taste and texture like you have never experienced. I managed three courses, but only just. The main was filling and I made a big assault on the flatbread. Dessert was worth the...

A completely wonderful experience. Superbly cooked Sardinian food where, genuinely, you will get taste and texture like you have never experienced. Short but interesting wine and beer selection. Staff could not be better.

A lovely little restaurant/cafe that does teas and also opens on Fri/Sat evenings for dinner. Sardinian food lovingly cooked. My only criticism is the portions were too large ! Definitely worth a visit.

Wonderful Sardinian hospitality with the best pasta in Eastbourne. Will definitely be back. Lovely rear terrace

I'd highly recommend. Serves authentic, rustic style Sardinian food, each dish clearly prepared with love and attention. The fact that you need to select from menu in advance bears testament to this. We had the mackerel and the huss starters, the boar stew and the lamb rack with lemon sauce, and the honey/cheese pie and the cake for dessert. All excellent, and generous portions too. Restaurant itself has a lovely ambience. Our meal here was the high point of a lovely holiday in Eastbourne . . .

A lovely relaxing Friday evening at Ancient Grains with terrific food! Everyone was very friendly and the atmosphere was chilled. We will definitely be going again!

We had dinner for four last night at Ancient Grains. I honestly cannot remember when I've seen and tasted better food. The presentation, the ingredients and the passion that the food was prepared with is second to none. If you want authentic Sardinian food you won't find better anywhere.

We always have great service and wonderful food; this is a little treasure of a place and the team who work there are a real credit - LOVE the ambience, the decor, the friendliness and the food tops it all off perfectly :) x

Very disappointing ordered 2 sandwiches and 2 cup of coffee had to wait 20/25 minutes for food by then coffees had gone cold .1 of the sandwiches had a ingredient missing. Over priced. £17.50 could have gone to our local chip shop and had cod...

Delicious meal, very authentic and fresh. Lovely owner and intimate atmosphere.

We go here for coffee when we walk to the shops with our dog.We had been wanting to try the food here in the evening for a while. Managed to book in for tonight.What an absolute delight to dine here. We have eaten in some...

If you live in Eastbourne and enjoy good food, well prepared, at a reasonable price, then you must try this Sardinian restaurant one evening. The cooking and service are top notch. Start with the charcuterie and cheese platter - recommended.

If you enjoy beautifully cooked home made rustic Italian food then this is the place to eat!

Interesting Sardinian menu. Warm and welcoming service. Excellent Sardinian wine.

I have been going to Ancient Grains for coffee and cake or lunch for the last year. All food is freshly made and a much higher standard than any coffee shop I’ve been to in town. The cakes are delicious and my favourite is the fresh cream sponges. Everyone who works here is very friendly and welcoming and it’s a great place to meet friends for coffee.

Had a beautiful evening and meal here with friends.The restaurant had a cosy and happy vibe, and the service was fabulous with attention to detail. The food was delicious too, with many options to choose from. They cater for all dietary requirements, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan. Would highly recommend - you won’t be disappointed.

First time. An excellent location choice of food setting and staff. Everything was wonderful. Will be back for sure

Lovely cafe 😁 great staff and service.

Had an wonderful evening meal, gorgeous food. Recommend the mackerel starter and the platters are heavenly but you really must try the flat bread, totally morish! The staff are lovely & attentive & made us feel welcome.

We had a lovely Sardinian Dinner at this lovely family restaurant. Delicious, authentic food accompanied by very good beers and wine. We enjoyed it so much we popped back for a coffee the next day. We would highly recommend and we will be back.

Absolutely amazing food and a wonderful ambience. Everything is made with a lot of care and attention to detail. Garden at back is very nice for summer Our new “go to” place when in The Meads.

It was absolutely gorgeous. Step back into Victorian times furnishings perfect beautiful record player incorporated in a unit playing background music on LPs lovely touch. Toilet facilities second to none. Food all home made and was very tasty. Thank you would love to go again. The owners friendly and attentive.

Amazing cafe, a real gem! Had afternoon tea, the best I have ever had by far. Will be back!

The food was really good and the service was excellent. Warm and friendly. Will definitely return and try some more dishes. The meat and cheese platter was superb Highly recommended 👌

We had a wonderful dinner. Food was delicious. A unique Sardinian menu. Staff and owners so friendly.

A really great place, small and intimate. Staff friendly. It's a small menu and you need to pre order, but everything we had was lovely. The fresh pasta, the sharing meat and cheese platter, and the unusual desserts were fab. We took home Doggy bags...

Lovely coffee and cake , highly recommended

A quaint and cozy little restaurant. Very intimate for small group. Needed to wait a little for the table as it seems to be a popular spot. Decor was cute and antique-Ky. Breakfast and light lunch menu. Food was delicious and good size portions. We had the egg Benedict and pancake with bacon. All were very tasty. The owner and the staff were very friendly and polite. Will definitely go back again.

cozy place for breakfast, good food :)

Definitely worth a try. Its was BYO when we went so best to check. Great food and friendly service

An outstanding brunch of eggs florentine. Great service, surroundings and food. Highly recommend 👍🏽

Lovely fresh food great service a must visit. Phoned up in the afternoon to book table so helpful had to pre order as amazing food cooked fresh. A real find

When I came in, all the tables were reserved for 12.30 and I know now why! It’s a really quirky old fashioned restaurant with a record player playing and probably the best coffee in Eastbourne. The food changes daily and there were 3 options when I visited. The sides were to die for and the portion size enough. This will be my local restaurant, I will definitely be back for!

Food was fresh and delicious; plenty of it and wonderful flavours. Staff friendly, informative and attentive but not intrusive. Lovely muted decor in the evening with good music.

I took my very well travelled friend here for lunch when he stopped off in Eastbourne between Nice and Brazil, I had booked on the strength of the delightful decor and friendly owners when I'd had a look in the previous week. I am pleased...

A really lovely family run cafe by day and bespoke restaurant some evenings. Decor includes touches such as William Morris wallpaper and carefully chosen objects creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. We have been for brunch/lunch when in addition to cakes, paninis and a select...

A really lovely family run cafe by day and bespoke restaurant some evenings. Decor includes touches such as William Morris wallpaper and carefully chosen objects creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. We have been for brunch/lunch when in addition to cakes, paninis and a select menu there is a daily choice of delicious hot dishes. On restaurant nights a menu of Sardinian delights offers a delightfully different choice and the food is beautifully prepared from really good ingredients. Our dishes included fish starters, a board of salamis and sardinian chesses in optimal condition. Our mains included a Sardinian fish stew and two different Sardinian pasta dishes. Unfortunately we were too full for desert on this occasion- but next time. Service is calm, warm and friendly. We love Ancient Grains.

They’ve only just opened up for the dinner menu two nights a week and we really enjoyed the experience. Carla is a fabulous front of house and has a good understanding of the menu. The olive and bread entree was delicious. Starters were lovely and...

Turned up without booking and lucky to get a table so book in advance. Atmosphere and decor are wonderful but this is essentially a cafe with a limited menu of hot meals (including a veggie option) while the rest are various types of sandwiches and...