Buoy and Oyster in Thanet

Absolutely recommended. Lovingly furnished restaurant with a fantastic sea view. The service is really very accommodating. Attentive and very quick on the move. A great selection of fish dishes but also meat. The side dishes also offer something for every taste. The dishes are beautifully prepared and the best thing is that you can take a look into the open kitchen. The toilets are also clean and nicely decorated. Highly recommended with a great price-performance ratio.

First time going to Margate been seeing this restaurant on Tiktok. We thought oh its going to be delicious here, we thought wrong soon as we enter we asked for a balcony table , not available cause it's cold outside even though there's a couple of people Dining there already. So I asked if we could sit near the window so we glimpse of the ocean or the sunset at least but still allowed apparently its reserved as soon as we got sat on our designated table a new customer came in being assist by a different server I over heard them asking if they have any reservation and they said no and guess where they seated the window table where apparently is reserved. I try to overlook this we ordered , the food came we had the seafood boil all it came are empty shells there's 4-5 mussels in there but mostly empty shells. Never again coming to this place better off to some fish and chips shop close by. Avoid tourist trap.

Everything was fantastic from the moment we entered, the warmth of the restaurant to the friendly kitchen staff (open kitchen) to daniel our host, who provided us with phenomenal service. We ordered the scotch egg bhaji (veggie) which was mouth watering, gooey centre as we cut it open, paired with a curry mayo which was delicious too. For mains we ordered the catch of the day, reasonable price, sea bream with fennel, samphire & shellfish basque, melted in our mouths. We love prawns so also ordered the king prawn parpidelle which was so creamy and delicious. Everything was so well thought out and put together, a lot of love in this restaurant. Even in our margaritas which were perfect. Really wish this family run, independent restaurant success, and highly recommend eating here. If only we lived closer! But defo worth a 2 hour drive for another visit. Thank you team & Daniel for a pleasurable experience during our stay in Margate.

Stunning sea views, exceptional seafood, and fantastic service. A special mention to Darren, whose friendly and attentive service made the experience even better. Whether you're craving classic fish and chips, delicate oysters, or something more adventurous the menu caters for all. Buoy and Oyster is a must-visit for anyone looking for a truly exceptional seafood dining experience in Margate. With its stunning views, outstanding menu, and remarkable staff, it's a restaurant that consistently exceeds expectations. Whether you're a local or a visitor, you're guaranteed a delightful and memorable meal. Highly recommended!

Very good meal, the staff was very pleasant. If you're looking for a good seafood restaurant in Margate, go for it!

Valentines Day Massacre - the food that is! Paid £28 for an over cooked dry slither of halibut. First attempt, cold mash under luke warm fish. Second attempt, dry and so very over cooked!! Shame!! Not the plaice for us I’m afraid and their specialty is fish, really?

Seafood boil is maybe the best food I've ever had. Outstanding

5 well deserved stars, frim walking in to walking out everything was how it should be, greeted by a friendly face , the food was excellent all the servers were attentive and did their jobs effortlessly, the ambience was spot on! Would absolutely recommend we will for sure be going again soon, thank you

Served over-cooked halibut on cold mash! Sent it back to receive again, dry over-cooked halibut. At £28 didn’t live up to rating or reviews on Valentine’s Day, heart breaking!! Sorry, a plaice to miss. For us, reputation well over-cooked!

Darren was amazing, great customer service and food. It was very busy when we had visited yet he still managed to give amazing customer service to us all

Went during Margate Restaurant Week & had a fabulous lunch. The 3 course set lunch was imaginative & had a very good selection. The onion bhaji scotch egg was the star of the starters & the cod & chips & halibut were the standout mains. Although it was a set menu & Margate Restaurant week, Buoy & Oyster did not reduce their quality food or portion size so it really was excellent value. Restaurant was v busy & fab time was being had by all and at £20.25 for 3 courses, excellent value!

Best place to eat in Margate. Have lived here all my life and it never disappoints! Great restaurant!

We visited during Margate Restaurant Week. The menu was spectacular. We got to try food we would not usually have. All was absolutely tasty, and served up hot. The Bacchus wine by the bottle or glass is local, and very good. We were well looked after by Anais who served us. Attentive and professional. Thank you. As we left the chefs told us about ongoing menus which means we will return soon.

My friend & I dined today as part of Margate restaurant week. We are both locals, living in Thanet. I have wanted to visit Buoy & Oyster for some time & wasn't disappointed! The staff were great. From the minute we arrived they were friendly and attentive & maintained this even though the restaurant soon filled up & they were all extremely busy! The decor, location & ambience was spot on. The food was delicious. We both had the calamari which was lovely, perfectly cooked and tasty. My friend had the halibut & I had the steak which was cooked to perfection! We had espresso martinis for dessert. Everything about the meal was perfect. This was our first visit but certainly won't be our last, especially as we're local, so there's no excuse not to come back soon! We can't wait to sit on the outside terrace in the summer with the stunning views. As already mentioned the staff were fantastic. We both said that it can make such a difference when dining out, so thank you to all for such a great lunchtime dining experience!

Fantastic meal for February Margate deal. Darren was our waiter and was extremely attentive and lovely. Great menu and choice. Will be going back xx

Really enjoyed our evening here. First class service from Darren. Like the strong support of local suppliers, tried a number of fish and seafood items, the local house white (Bacchus) was so good and nicely chilled that we had to have a second bottle! Shared some well kept local cheeses to round off a lovely unhurried meal.

Me and my family all come here regularly the food is amazing the staff are very accommodating… highly recommend

Absolutely outstanding - wine, food, service

Was a last minute decision and it was worth it. Perfect if you're gluten/dairy intolerant as they use a separate fryer. Definitely recommend

This is a fantastic restaurant with warm and friendly staff and fantastic food .

This is our numerous time to visit this place, the food is always good, the waiter was friendly, will go back soon

Veg was beautiful but my roast beef was a little bland and the wine wasn’t great, but the staff were nice, as was the view.

Service and food was outstanding! Recommend the prawn toast! Will most definitely be returning!

Amazing Christmas afternoon tea, so well presented and staff were so polite. Would definitely recommend and will be going back next year

Great service and top quality food. One of the best skate wing I had.

Had a fantastic time here, staff was very friendly and service was great. Food was exceptionally delicious.

The food was great. I had the Buoy bowl. Great combination. The service was perfect.

Party of 17. Communicated well re booking, menu choices. Nice atmosphere Great food / fish cake especially good, as was halibut & veal steak Cooked a special dish for family member with more complicated dietary requirements Nice Kentish house white Efficient & helpful team

What a great find, me and my daughter on a day out and was truly amazed upon walking in the decor was pretty, staff extremely polite friendly and welcoming , seafront views amazing and wow the food was delicious a definite place to visit highly recommended and will definitely have a trip back

Birthday celebration for my husband. Lovely meal. Great cocktails and a nice touch to celebrate his birthday.

Not cheap but very very worth it

Great dining experience. Very nice customer service our waitress was named Emily and her attention was just right. Food excellent. Would definitely return

Great seafood restaurant. The fish was fresh and prepared well. Great use of local ingredients for the seafood and the sides. House Kentish wine paired well with the food. Recommend

Service was friendly and decent, food was, sadly, a little underwhelming to be honest. Good range of drinks, including non-alcohol options. Decor and atmosphere was lovely.

Me and My family Had a lovley Dinner last week, Service 5 ⭐️ Food 5 ⭐️ We gonna be Back soon!

Nice view but, the food is overpriced and not fresh. £35 for dry lobster is unacceptable.

Loved this place. Staff really helpful. Food great. Pudding not so 'wow' and was overpriced

We went yo the Buoy and Oyster for our wedding anniversary, the staff we very friendly, superb service, food was magnificent. Would highly recommend this restaurant, 5 stars us not enough praise, thank you all for making our evening Debbie & James

Great lunch. Lovely food. Excellent service. Nice location

They do not allow group bookings over 6 people. Booked in advance and the table was not ready in time (20min late). Poor service and our waiter seemed miserable. Took several requests and a long wait just to get tap water. Food was alright, really expensive and nothing special. For the people that got lobster, they didn't bring any of the utensils to eat it. Pints of beer were London prices (edited post their reply and note they are factually incorrect as the rest of the UK sells cheaper beer). Everything overpriced. Would not go again.

My partner ended up with severe food poisoning after we ate here, I would guess it’s either the muscles or oysters that caused it as we shared everything we ate. The lobster was very dry and tasted old, and to be served with frozen chips it simply does not warrant £35. We traveled to the area specifically for seafood, and this restaurant after seeing them on instagram, but it wasn’t worth it. Whitstable offers better and fresher seafood for less money.

Sea views are really nice and you can get a table without reservation. Service was friendly and attentive. Food is ok, nothing special.

Lovely setting, very attentive staff. Brilliant food. Mixed starters of beer battered pickles, scallops, trout pate with sesame crackers, delicious olives. He then had fish & chips which he said were ACE. I had the Buoy Bowl of mixed fish & seafood including THE best shell-on prawns I've ever eaten. Side of gorgeous samphire. Great wine list, lovely staff, relaxed vibe, great food. No rushing to move your plates away, they ASK first. Yes you pay for how good it is - of course you do. Worth it! If you're in Margate, book (you'll need to!) and go.

What a cute found in Margate! On a day trip to Margate on my birthday and got to find this gem restaurant just before leaving town. Had such a lovely meal. Delicious food & lovely service!

An absolute gem in Margate. The seafood here is nothing short of spectacular – fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The oysters were perfectly shucked and bursting with briny goodness. The menu offers a fantastic variety of dishes. The restaurant’s seaside location adds to the charm, offering stunning views that make the dining experience even more special. Whether you’re a seafood lover or just looking for a memorable meal, Buoy and Oysters is a must-visit. We can't wait to return! Highly recommended! 🌊🦪

Such a great find. Super service and food. Would definitely return if we ever visited Margate again.

Great service and lovely atmosphere. The food was delicious! We had the oysters, the crab donut, and prawns to start which I highly recommend

Great food, great service, crab to die for! Highly recommended!

Service was absolutely spot on 👌 Food was absolutely spot on 👌 All staff members were friendly and nothing was to much trouble, partner that with great food....5 star from us

Service was amazing, I can't fault that... but honestly.. overall, way too expensive for what you get. The food was just 'OK', two of us had upset tummies after having the lobster, possibly nothing more than a very big coincidence... we also though it could be because we had a huge portion of samphire as our greens accompaniment, nothing else... maybe too salty?? In terms of decor, the terrace is cosy and great views over the beach, but again for the price, the overall decor needs updating... they need to either slash their prices or improve the standards to make this value for money.

Had a decent experience at the time but half our group got terrible food poisoning after. We had the oysters, crab donut, king prawn, and the Atlantic prawn (which I think was maybe the culprit if not the oysters as the prawns were cold and rubbery).

We came for dinner on the terrace last week, our waiter Daniel guided us through the best options for us with our various preferences, he was super helpful and the food was incredible ❤️

Brilliant seafood! I had great service from the girl on the picture working on Thursday night 29th August. Will definitely be back next time visiting Margate.

Buoy and hoyster is a beautiful place to taste fresh sea food, I took the clams cooked in white wine, sourdough bread, broccoli with nuts and salt and pepper calamari, this one was very tasty and soft… simply amazing

Had a birthday meal with my friend out on the terrace. We both decided on the Buoy bowl. The squid and prawns were superb. Could have done with a finger bowl to clean up after the prawns (a wipe just wasnt up to it)

I came here for my anniversary with my partner and we had the most amazing time! I had the mussels and they were absolutely lovely, and my partner had the half lobster and really enjoyed it. Only thing I will say is the restaurant is definitely expensive and we only went as it was a special occasion. The seafood was very high quality from what I can tell so you do get what you pay for in my opinion. As a coeliac the options were absolutely amazing and they were very accommodating. As a waitress myself I really appreciated the wonderful service we had there. It was a completely full restaurant and yet the service was still amazing and we felt very looked after which I know is sometimes a difficult task during a busy service. Will definitely be back.

Had such an amazing evening. Lilly went above and beyond and was an absolute gem! Highly recommend, amazing food and service was incredible x

Great fish & chips, huge portions, fast friendly service. A bit on the expensive side

Really great experience. We decided to try it out because a previous review had stated how well they cater for families and we were glad we did. We felt welcomed from the moment we arrived, the food and service was brilliant and the views of the sunset behind were gorgeous. Highly recommend the catch of the day paired with the restaurants own white wine. Will definitely return if we get the chance.

I honestly can't remember the last time I enjoyed a meal this much. Lovely staff and generally un-pretentious. We had the hot seafood platter and the crab doughnut starter. Good draft lager. Very reasonably priced, I thought, for the quality and amount of food. Scallops were a stand out favourite!

I came looking for a nice drink and some oysters. Something nice for early evening. I chose well. They were busy and I hadn’t booked but they were really helpful in finding me a space in their schedule and it was perfect. The Maldon oysters were delicious and just what I was after thanks to the knowledgeable young lady who put up with all my questions. The glass of local white wine wasn’t bad either.

Had a great lunch here before an evening at Funland. The table was 30+mins late. Could have offered Drinks... But we spent £100 next door at no. 42 (thinking why we did not not book 42. Jake was a great waiter thanks, the meal could have been a little better and would have been amazing if they had been aware of the birthday, wait ...

A very good place to eat. We were next to the terrace with great views. It has plenty of staff, although some are more dedicated to walking around than serving. We were lucky and were served by a person in training who was friendly and fast.

Visited today 22nd August with my daughter for the first time for a lunchtime meal. Have been intending to visit after reading the positive reviews, and was not disappointed. Both had a fabulous meal and will certainly make a return visit. Thanks to the attentive staff and of course the chefs.

Perfect venue to confirm that Margate is truly moving upmarket. You would be delighted to discover this place in London, let alone the east coast of Kent! The food was delicious, absolutely couldn’t fault it - we shared starters of smoked salmon and the mixed tomatoes, both very tasty. I had the sea bream main course and my partner had the pork chop. Again the flavours were perfect. We chose a local Kent wine which perhaps was our only gripe, it was a little sharp. The decor and ambiance of the restaurant is wonderful and we were sat by a window ( bit windy outside that evening for our liking but you can dine on the balcony) with the most amazing view of a sunset over the massive beach and sea. Perfect. Stan, our waiter, was very pleasant and on the ball. All in all, absolutely no complaints! Fantastic

First time visiting and amazed by the whole experience. Booking the table online was simple and quick. We were greeted at the restaurant in a professional but warm way and showed to our table. We had ample time to choose our meals, which arrived quickly. I had the local Cod and Chips. The cod was in a beer batter that was light and crispy, and the cod was cooked perfectly. The hand cut chips were perfect, crispy on the outside with a fluffy centre. My daughter had the King Prawn Papperdelle, which she described as "The best thing she has eaten so far." The ice cream for dessert was smooth and creamy. The flavours were just amazing. Eating this while sitting on the terrace with the sun shining added to the experience.

Beautiful day to sit on the terrace overlooking the beach. The food was reasonably priced considering the food quality. Service was friendly.

Absolutely perfect experience from start to finish. Our server Daniel was excellent and very friendly and attentive. He also recommended some great places for us to try after our meal (Mariachi Mezcal bar!) Even small bites such as the olives were an absolute delight! Huge and full of flavour. My husband ordered the Buoy bowl which he demolished and thought was excellent and said the King Prawns were some of the best he's ever had. Meaty, fresh, full of flavour and cooked to perfection. I had the Halibut which was also fantastic. Loved the saffron mash. Would of liked a bit more leek in there as potatoes are a bit dense. But the crispy skin on the fish and the bisque were superb. Also...a must try is the crab donut!!! We were so curious and so glad we tried it. Lovely sauce and dill herbs too. Also the view is to die for. We had a seat on the terrace and the sunset was unreal. Toilets super clean, all other staff very friendly. Can't fault this place whatsoever and so pleased we went!

We went for a seafood lunch, and it was so delicious! We booked the terrace overlooking the beach! Weather was amazing! And our waitress was so lovely! We would definitely recommend this place for good food and atmosphere!

Nous avons passé une excellente soirée. La responsable adorable , nous a déplacé dur la terrasse. Plat de poisson divin . Une très bonne table

Such a gorgeous restaurant with a warm, cosy atmosphere. The staff are so friendly and personable with great knowledge of the menu. The food and drinks were amazing and we can't wait to go back. I also love the beautiful and creative decorations at the entrance. So grand!

A lovely welcome and we're taken to our table outside. Oysters, scallops, squid, Atlantic prawns were beautifully cooked and delicious. Skate wing was super tasty. Service was spot on and can't wait to wait to go back.

The scallops were really good but we got the fisherman’s platter and the best bit about it was the chips. The prawns hadn’t been deveined and the lobster was overdone and bland. Overall I was disappointed

Great seafood restaurant with balcony tables looking out to sea.

AMAZING The food is delicious and really yummy however a bit it expensive but worth the money

Ordered crab and ray fin of the day. The ingredients are fresh and delicious! Exceeded my expectations. A little pricey, but worth the price. The service staff are enthusiastic and professional. Will stay again.

Best oyster we had in UK! Came after lunch just for the taste of the oyster, and we ordered one more plate at the end

It was a good meal, mussels and calamari can be better. Prawns was amazing 🤩 service needs to be better. Thank you for such a nice time..

Very nice food with a great view. Excellent service too. Special thanks to Lilly.

TERRIBLE EXPIRED food, terrible service. Massively overpriced. I went to Buoy and Oyster for a dinner - the waiters are rude and don't care. I ordered a Fisherman's Board worth £75, which included half lobster. The lobster was not fresh to say the least. In fact, it tasted terrible and was well beyond it's expiration date. When I asked when it was cooked, the waitress asked the chef and confirmed that it wad cooked IN THE MORNING (i.e., 8 HOURS AGO, and it was lying outside in 25 degree heat!!!). When I asked why they didn't cook it fresh, they said it was to make the chef's life easier. Basically, they sell expired food for premium prices. I asked to speak with the manager - she wasn't concerned at all. No apologies, no conversation, no replacement. THEY JUST DON'T CARE. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

A fabulous restaurant, a must visit when in Margate! Salt and pepper squid with fries, mussels (unlimited on Wednesdays!) with fries and the Buoy Bowl (mix of hot seafood) was so delicious. Our server Eloise was so sweet, helpful, attentive and knowledgeable. Great food AND great staff make this a restaurant we go back to when in town.

Many thanks to the wonderful staff of the Buoy and Oyster for my very delicious birthday lunch! A glass of bubbly at the start and a plate of ice cream with a chocolate birthday message on the house at the end made it even more special!

First time in this restaurant and found it a nice place to eat lunch the fish was lovely. Staff were attentive but desert was very poor (rum Baba) absolutely the worst we've tasted

Environment and food quality are good

From walking in, we were approached by friendly staff. We sat on the terrace, was a bit breezy but lovely views over the beach. Food was well presented & tasted as good as it looked. Will definitely be returning 👍.

Went on a Saturday as soon as the restaurant opened at noon - managed to get a lovely spot on the terrace with a relaxing seaside view. We ordered various seafood dishes including a whole crab, a hot platter, a single oyster and also chips on the side. Have to say everything was simply fresh and excellent - prices reflected the quality and the portions well! The waiter serving us was also polite and knew how to be friendly without being too bothersome which we appreciated. All in all, if you're visiting Margate and only have room for one nice meal, then this is the place!

Fabulous location, delicious food, fantastic service and amazing menu. Perfect place to spend our wedding anniversary 💕

such a lovely venue! had dinner on the terrace and had a beautiful view of the sunset over the ocean. in the upper price range but absolutely worth it. amazing staff, unfortunately forgot to get the name of our waiter but he was absolutely wonderful! highly recommend the house brand wine - even got a bottle to take home! bloody mary shots with oysters were great!! and food wise, the prawn pappardelle and the buoy bowl were delicious!! for dessert, we had the affogato with a serving dessert wine - great for sharing after such a satisfying meal. 10/10 - will be coming back to margate just for this restaurant <3

The maitre d is charm ,personified(and he's from the Elephant and Castle,yes!!)Wonderful setting,sitting overlooking beach.I had the Margate Mess(sorbet,blue candyfloss,chocolate discs,pannecotta,etc),chai latte...husband had ice-cream (very creamy),great coffee. Waiter was handsome and very,very articulate(in a good way) Go and enjoy.,more reasonable than 42 next door. Elevates that part of Margare.

Booked a table for 5.30pm . Arrived on time & was able to sit by the window overlooking the beach which was lovely. It was my husband’s birthday & going to DL for a gig . Ordered drinks ( bottle of wine & beer)then after about 20 mins we got a waitress’s attention to order food . She told us “we weren’t her table “ but took our order regardless having ordered starters & main at the same time . Our starters came & went . So did 3 or 4 other tables , having had their whole entire meal , before we’d even had our mains . We asked the waitress who took our order , if she could find out how long our food would be , she said “ she’d find out”… she never came back !, We then chatted to another waitress, who seemed distressed as it was only her second shift & said it was her fault we hadn’t got our food … something to do with her not telling the kitchen that we’d finished our starters 🤷🏻‍♀️.. but She didn’t take our order !!!!!!!!!!!! The girl that did , Grace I think her name was ,continued to walk passed us & ignore us without any answers to when our food would arrive. By this time our wine we got to have with our food had gone , 1.5 hours later our main arrived , with no apologies or even looked like they were bothered. Leaving a new staff member to deal with the situation the way you did was disgusting .. Where is your team spirit ??? I own a kitchen & Alehouse & for No one from management to acknowledge the situation or even come & let us know about our food , is shocking 😳… in the end the lovely new waitress Lilly had words with her manager & we got 10% off our bill for the long wait .. however due to lack of communication with more senior members of staff we won’t be coming back .

It's a really great seafood restaurant with the most fantastic mussles and fat chips. It's 2hat these Thanet sea side towns have been crying for.

The Best Vegan 'fish' & chips. (Made from banana blossom)

we were given the table with the best sea view! the stuff was very attentive and accommodating. I’ve had the best tuna steak ever! definitely recommend!

Delicious seafood, lovely views and great atmosphere

Delicious food, great staff & super location. Definitely worth a visit.

Such a great restaurant, had the skate & veg with a nice bottle of wine. Service was good & food was superb. Thanks guy keep up the good work

We got norovirus after eating the oysters. Might be a coincidence. Might not be.

Magnificent restaurant where you enjoy delicious dishes concocted with fresh, quality products by a passionate chef. Bravo, we will come back with pleasure.

Good fish restaurant with fresh food and generous portions. Friendly attentive staff. Good location facing sea and sunset.

Excellent food and excellent staff