Coast Restaurant in Shepway

We have been to this restaurant a few times for Sunday Lunch and we always enjoy it. The staff are amazing and could not be more helpful. We found the lunch to be very good and reasonably priced for a hotel restaurant. The staff even arranged for a take out Sunday lunch for a member of the family who wasn't well enough to attend.

We had a three course meal, with wine. Limited menu choices, but the food we had was tasty and nicely presented. The staff were lovely. A little pricier then other 4 star hotel restaurants we have dined in, but overall it was a pleasant experience

Bitterly disappointing Sunday, lunch pail, undercooked, parsnips, no seasoning, pale undercooked, Shatto potatoes, no seasoning or vegetables, i.e. red cabbage & buttered cabbage without butter, cauliflower cheese, minus the cheese on the top arrived almost 10 minutes after the beef was placed in front of us. Yorkshire puddings were spot-on, but I suspect the beef was not roasted, but was possibly cooked Suvi to obtained the level of medium rare that was apparent. There was no sign of any roast beef meat juices and the gravy which was described as red wine jus was bland and pale like poorly made gravy granules. Not a hint of red wine or flavour. I had a Tart Tartin with caramel ice cream which can on be described as pieces of brown apple on a soggy stodg, No sign of that rich caramel and butter with flakey pastry. The tartin sisters would turn in the grave. If your going to serve a pre-made bought in desert get Chef to read the cooking instructions plz. As my wife does not drink I settled for a beautiful Hendrix Gin. Unfortunately it was serve incorrectly this gin should be serve with very thinly sliced cucumber to enhance its flavour an can also have a garnish of a rosemary or mint sprig, but came with lemon only.🤦🏻‍♂️ We saved our first visit to this Hotel for a special occasion I.e my birthday but conclude that the general public are so use to being serve poorly prepared food that they now accepted this is the way it should be. If anyone should be in doubt as to my qualifications to say this they are 45 years of head chef classily trained and successful restauranteur. 👨‍🍳 Of 28 of the 45years. Plz see my pictures of how it was and how it should BE🙏

We had a splendid family Sunday lunch at the Coast restaurant. The staff were very attentive and nothing was too much trouble and they added to our enjoyment of the occasion. The food was excellent with a good selection and they catered for the children very well, making sure their meals came out first. They also made sure the birthday cake we had brought was at the table, suitably lit at just the right time. Thank you for looking after us.

Small choices and expensive wine, we wouldn't rush back and had too book a Table even on a Monday night and was not busy at all

Very expensive wine and limited menu, ok but I wouldn't rush back, only used here because we stayed here, never mind.....

Setting - 9/10 Food service :8/10 Value 5/10 Not get to spent too many occasions with family and friends but this was a very overpriced menu /dining experience.One of our party had to send his meal back twice firstly because it was the wrong option and then secondly because it was undercooked - Hotel did deduct that meal from the final bill and we elected not to pay the 12.5% service charge. Cocktails took for ever and a day to arrive and again overpriced as was the wine- Would expect certain mark up in a restaurant but not to the price point that we were charged . maitre d’ was charming and very hospitable and made our experience the best he could - With austerity measures in place it needs to be more affordable to attract more every day diners - the restaurant outside of our party of 10 was about 2/3 empty - make it more attractive with reasonable tariffs and this will hopefully incentivise a wider clientele

Went for Boxing Day lunch. The staff were all lovely, the place is lovely. All 5 starters were great 3/5 had roast beef. It was 1 large slice more like a thin steak but it was very fatty and very chewy with little flavour. None of us finished it. Dessert - 5/6 had sticky toffee pudding. It was dry, little taste and very little sauce. Disappointed.

Ate at restaurent whilst staying at the hotel Far from a “Fine Dining” restaurant, food and wine at the coast restaurant was awful Worse than microwave meals, worst steak I've ever been served Items of food served that were unidentifiable Wine was terrible for the price Slow service, unattentive staff, forgotten orders So overpriced for the poor standard and service that you get Avoid if I were you

What a lovely dining experience,warm welcome , gorgeous decor and fantastic service . Davide was excellent,nothing was too much trouble and so personable . The other young waiter was also fantastic and friendly. The food was so tasty and they were able to accommodate my food allergy as everything is cooked from scratch.

During a recent stay at the hotel, I opted to dine one evening in their supposed “Fine Dining” restaurant, Coast. Seeing that it had achieved AA Rosettes, now at the 2 Rosette level, I was looking forward to a great meal. I ordered the Ham Hock with Black Pudding Crumb, Poached Egg and Wholegrain Mustard Dressing. What arrived was a plate full of cress with the rest of the ingredients lost in it. The egg was over cooked, far too little ham hock. What black pudding was included looked like mouse droppings and did nothing for the dish. Overall, a massive let down. It must get better, surely, with the main course. I ordered Roast Rump of Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder, Pea & Mint Bon Bon, Clotted Cream Potatoes, Wilted Leeks and Sherry Jus. The lamb was overcooked. If there was a jus, I did not see or taste it. The rest of the dish was lacking in flavour and could have been comprised of anything. Would desert lift my spirits. Well as it happens, the desert was the only nice part of the meal. I do suspect it was supplied by a third party and not created from scratch on the premises. The desert was Brioche Bread & Butter Pudding with Creme Anglaise and Honey Syrup Apricots. It was a total delight. A tasty and well balanced dish. No way was this made by any of the chefs in the kitchen. The menu reads very well and is enticing but the team of chefs cannot deliver. The dishes that Coast is delivering are mainly way below AA Rosette level. If this standard continues, I would expect them to not just lose a rosette, but be omitted by the AA until massive improvements are made.

My husband and I recently moved to Hythe. We were looking for a restaurant to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary. I read the reviews about Coast Restaurant and should have listened. The quality of our dinners were below average. Service was okay. Overall we will not be returning. I had the Duck, it was extremely dry and the potatoes were like microwave quality. BAD! My husband had the steak and it was equally bad. The presentation of the meal was nice, but very disappointed in the food. We left knowing we will not go back! This is a $$$ restaurant!

Staying at The Hythe Imperial and stayed in then hotel on the first night, eating at the Coast restaurant We had the smoked salmon and the spinach and watercress veloutte followed by the Seabass and the Plaice as main courses ALL dishes were utterly delicious, perfectly presented and incredibly tasty… Good service and delicious food for sure!

Dined here for the two nights of our stay . The quality was okay , thwe prices were on the high side for what you got and the portions were not great. I do admit to feeling it could have been a lot better. That having been said the service was very good

Previous reviews did make me question if I’d chosen the best place for my wife and I to dine this Valentines Day. I concluded that despite a number of mixed reviews, I had. This is definitely more a 4.5 than a 4. Overall the meal was delicious, and the staff were welcoming and friendly. I’d say we ate well at a reasonable price with no hint of pretentiousness. There were a couple of negatives, I thought my Scallop starter was a little over priced at £17 and I thought a little muddled with the Potatoes, though beautifully cooked and delicious, having no place on the plate! My wife however disagreed. Both mains were excellent, each element well cooked and flavourful and the plated well presented. Deserts were really, really good. I was intrigued by the Rhubarb, and glad that I was. Superb. As I said, the service was warm and friendly, and that weighs heavy with me. As is often the case at costal hotels, the dining room staff are incredibly young, so not as attentive as some might want! But they were exceptionally polite and efficient. No complaints here, we had a terrific meal and a lovely evening

Main menu was ok, but portions definitely on the small side. We visited with my daughter who ordered the cheese sandwich and fries from their kids menu. It arrived only 5 mins after we ordered with another tables starter, was taken away, served to another...

We took eight family members to Celebrate my wife’s 60th birthday at the coast restaurant. At the Hythe Imperial hotel. Menu was full and varied. Food was superb and the staff were very helpful the service was second to none and we all enjoyed a...

Service was very slow 20 minutes for drinks to come and we asked for water which came after we finished main meal. Artisan bread was served after entree was finished salt n pepper both empty no spoons to serve vegetables dads mustard for beef came...

I was very pleasantly surprised by this restaurant, my group had different meals from the menu, everyone was more than satisfied with food quality and service, my only critique is that I couldn’t book a reservation for Christmas lunch, perhaps New Year’s Eve, many thanks...

Having read the reviews we were a bit concerned. However we found the welcome and service throughout the evening was excellent. The food was all beautifully presented and was delicious. The staff were all friendly and helpful. The deserts were were yummy, a real treat....

Went for a birthday meal for my son, four of us. We were shown to our table and after about a five minute wait a waitress came over and asked if we wanted water. We said no thankyou but we would like other drinks. My...

Cooked breakfast eclipsed by most motorway service stations. Limited choice of fresh ingredients/fruit for continental option. Dinner left me feeling very disappointed. See related Hotel review

We ate in the restaurant three nights out of our five night stay. The menus has aspirations to be a prestigious restaurant but at present it falls short. The chefs should eat the full finished dish age judge for themselves whether they are achieving the...

Excellent value for money. Pleasant surroundings and lovely music. Food good too! Staff very attentive and friendly

Had a beautiful meal at the hotel .would recommend this to others . Staff were polite and accommodating and very coved aware.

We had a fantastic meal in Coast restaurant. Tables were well spaced, food was top notch, service was really attentive - all round a brilliant experience and looking forward to returning for another meal

Coast exceeded my expectations. They were very well prepared with social distancing (well spaced tables, thorough sanitizing in view of customers, all staff wearing masks, discreetly checking details for Covid tracing), had a well balanced menu and though the room lacked atmosphere I think that...

Today we took my elderly mother out to Sunday lunch at The Coast Restaurant in Hythe Imperial (her first outing since lockdown). We were very impressed at the way the new procedures have been implemented, all staff were wearing masks, adhering to the 2 metre...

We stayed at this hotel on several occasions when it was still branded as a Mercure. We booked Sunday lunch here as we were interested to see what the new management had made of the hotel. First impressions were good. The grounds have been tidied...

Booked for lunch before traveling home. Homemade breads to start were really good and unusual flavours. We both had beef for main meal, it was excellent and from what we could see the chicken was equally as good. Too much to get to try desserts...

My family were down from Scotland to celebrate a 50th birthday. We took them for Sunday lunch. The food was delicious and cooked to perfection, there was a good variety of fresh vegetables and plenty of it. There was a good selection of desserts and they were superb. The service from Silva and his team was excellent they checked all was ok. My cousins said it was the best Sunday lunch they’ve ever had. I Highly recommend this restaurant.

The food is just fabulous!!!!! I have to come back again and again to try the whole menu :-) Despite to be very busy, we were served fairly quick

On arrival we were met by a very stressed looking young lad who took us to our table. He didnt have any menus so went off to get one along with a wine list. We chose our wine and asked for some water. The wine came and we asked for some water again. Then they came and took our order where we asked for water again and finally got it.We ordered Gravalax and smoked venison for starters followed by 2 ribeye steaks.The main lad came back after about 10 minutes and said he was was really sorry but they had run out of ribeye but could replace with fillet if this was ok. We agreed and carried on. Not once did anyone come back and top our wine or water. Next the lad came back and said he was really sorry but they only had one steak so i asked for the menu to chose again. At this point our starters arrived on the table but I was still waiting to order my main.I ordered pork belly and butterd greens to then be told five minutes later it was ok i could have the steak !!!The starters considering they cost £21 where the most bland, boring & small dish Ibhave ever eaten. Literally 3 mouthfalls and all gone. No one came to ask of the were ok. I have attached photos so you can see how disappointing they look.Our starter plates were cleared and out came 2 steaks £56  again I have attached a photo. Luke warm, no presentation  cold peppercorn sauce and literally 6 chips and  even had to ask for a steak knife. No the bit that really gets me is that the staff knew everything was going wrong yet still added a 12.5% service charge. Are you having a laugh ? I have never been so disappointed. We had just worked like you guys all through Christmas and New Year and fancied a treat for all our hard work. Instead we paid a fortune for mediocre food and wine with service of not even a 1* restautant. Its a shame  because we really enjoyed the use of the spa etc but you so let yourselves down. We get it was New Years Day and you all may be a bit jaded but you should still be able to provide the customer with what they expect.On returning home I decided to email the hotel as I really was disappointed.5 days it took to refund me 50 %. So disappointed at how my complaint has been dealt with. We were so excited to be treating ourselves to a rosette awarded restaurant yet so many components missing off our dishes. Had our complaint have been dealt with correctly we were going to give this place a second chance instead we will just go somewhere else next time

There were four us and we had the steak/lamb and ox and the food and service was excellent,We will now return again for any ocassion as just loved it

My husband and I took my mum for Sunday lunch today. We were promptly seated and asked for our drinks order whilst we looked at the menu. My husband and I had roast beef and my mum had chicken. All was nicely presented and served with fresh vegetables, Savoy cabbage, swede and carrots and broccoli cheese. The whole meal was of high quality ingredients and was very tasty. Service was excellent from Silva and his staff. We will definitely return and highly recommend this restaurant.

This is the main restaurant in the Hythe Imperial Hotel. The décor is modern, the seating is spacious and the staff are all pleasant and very helpful. There are very few windows with good sea views which is surprising given the location but we enjoyed our breakfast here - a nice buffet with plenty of hot and cold choices, and eggs cooked to order. Very nice.

I have no problem with the food as it was very good. Calamari well cooked and tasty. Ham hock, again tasty and well prepared. The pressed pork belly could have been better cooked so that the claimed 'crackling' was crackling and not just a chewy topping (how do these restaurants get square portions of pork now) and the lobster risotto could have had more lobster, but all in all nothing to complain of with regard to the food. BUT, this recently refurbished restaurant would have been better with candles on tables and more subdued lighting and for goodness sake, two huge tables provided a deafening backdrop to our meal which pretty well destroyed any enjoyment. Why do people feel the need to shout all the time, the acoustics in the room is appalling! Coupled with that a woman at the next table never paused for breath and I swear tirelessly chuntered on throughout the meal like some chattering incontinent parrot. Surely there must be a way of separating celebrating yobs from diners and let people dine peacefully?

3 friends and I tried to visit this restaurant for Sunday lunch having booked for their ‘dine and dip’ offer. (A roast dinner followed by a swim for £12.95)Knowing that we would be swimming afterwards, we arrived at the restaurant with our swim bags packed. Two of us wore dresses, whilst two wore trousers and and a top. One wore a pair of sandals, one a pair of converse style trainers and two in black havaina flip flops. We were aware that the restaurant operated a smart-casual dress code and assumed that on a summers day in May, these would be appropriate dress choices (especially considering that we would be visiting the swimming pool as part of our dining deal).Upon arrival at the restaurant we were rudely greeted by a male host who frankly spoke down to us and asked ‘can I help you?’ We explained that we had made our booking for the dine and dip experience. He looked us up and down slowly before ‘reminding us’, very bluntly, that we had entered a 4 star restaurant and perhaps we were not ‘aware’ of such expectations - but that the two of our guests wearing flip flops would not be permitted access, as we would not fit the aesthetic of the venue. He went to fetch his manager, who tried her best to help, though it seemed difficult as he proceeded to talk over her when she tried to resolve the issue with us. A lady queuing behind us then questioned if her partner would be permitted access, as he was wearing a pair of camo shorts and walking boots. They were called through ahead of us, straight to their table. Apparently it is only the female toes of girls in their early twenties that are offensive to the coast restaurant, muddy boots are fine - on the right man, of course. I asked if I would be permitted access next week when I arrive wearing my army pants and dirty timberlands - the answer was yes. Laughable. I think that a restaurant advertising a ‘dine and dip’ experience, should make their dress expectations far more explicit. Hythe imperial should also consider training their staff, particularly this host, in regard to the manner in which he speaks to guests. We were shocked and embarrassed to be spoken to in such an obnoxious and condescending manner, which was a real shame, as we had looked forward to spending the day together as a group of friends. Very disappointing.

We did a last minute booking online and thank god they had room!

Nice local menu with friendly staff. Really enjoyed our meal. My other half was gluten-free and they were easily able to adjust food to accommodate her. Highly recommend.

Having booked for a big group meal, we were in touch with the restaurant about special requirements. They came back with a good rage of vegan options - and clearly were trying to make an effort. The butternut & sweet potato soup was gorgeous - could have been too sweet but was really well spiced and flavoured. The veg stroganoff was a bit bland, didn't really taste like strogannof. The poached pear and non-dairy chocolate was also really good. Most of the group really enjoyed their meals, it seems a few were disappointed, but overall the food was very good. The service was really good, smart, friendly, unobtrusive.

Visited twice with family and friends and although my wife and I are vegetarians the nut roast is very good. Shame don't automatically get a Yorkshire pudding on the veg option and need to ask but a small point. The veg that accompanies the main course is varied, plentiful and tasty. Friends and family who are meat eaters all provided good feedback on their meals. The choices are pretty decent but would have liked one other vegetarian option other than a fish one.

We’ve just spent two days at the Hythe Imperial eating on both evenings in Tge Coast Restaurant. We have been very impressed with the quality of both the food and the service. Sergio, the Head Waiter runs a tight but very friendly ship with his staff very attentive and responsive. The food is well cooked and presented. I had the spiced lamb shank one evening and the stuffed pork belly the next. Both were delicious.

Visited today for the Spa and sunday lunch as a birthday treat for my mum and could not fault the experience upon entering the restaurant . The service was quick, courteous and very friendly from the outset and the food was excellent - our plates were hot, there was plenty of fresh seasonal vegetables and the head waiter and staff were very attentive. I would recommend a visit and we will definately be returning - many thanks !

Very tasty food we have scallops a few times but different size portions. Very slow service on both evenings . Drinks very over priced

We were quite disappointed by this evening dinner.

Went for Sunday lunch and asked for allergy menu only to be told it was not available on a Sunday. It has since been established that this was an error on the waiters behalf. Ordered a roast diner and was assured it was gluten free. When lunch arrived it contained a Yorkshire pudding. I called the waiter who confirmed it was not GF, after several attempts to tell him that I could not eat this he returned it to the kitchen. A new meal came out with assurance it was GF. The meal included Broccoli cheese. I called over the restaurant manager and checked this was GF as it is not normally, he assured me it had been prepared especially for me. After eating the meal I became ill. I made a complaint to the hotel and was given three different excuses as what could have happened. Without satisfaction I reported the restaurant to environmental health. After an investigation it was established that the restaurant does have acceptable controls in place however on this occasion they failed (which can happen to the best of us). The problem with this restaurant is that they have not apologised (despite the local authority ruling that their controls failed) or offered me a refund. My recommendation is to tread carefully if dining here and have an allergy.

We booked a table for 7 for Fathers Day (six adults and one child) several weeks before the event. A fortnight before a message was left on my voicemail asking me to call to arrange a deposit. I rang back twice and left a message for the person concerned to call me. No response. On the third occasion I did get through and paid the deposit. At this stage I was told we needed to provide our menu choices 3-4 days before. I telephoned back with the choices as instructed. At this time I queried the menu choices as the child with us was only five and the starters were not very suitable. Nothing could be changed initially but when I explained the point they saw my view and offered garlic bread which was okay.

We had dinner on a Monday night and feared the restaurant might be quiet and souless but it was busy with some large groups that provided a good background buzz. We didn't think the menu was very imaginative and opted for belly of pork and plaice fillets which were both cooked and presented very well. We shared a cheese board which we thought expensive for the small pieces provided. The Maitre D and other waiting staff were very attentive.

Beautiful restaurant lovely food excellent service smart staff, The best location, try the champayne bar after a meal stunning, The hotel is beautiful right on the beach.

We arrived at the hotel late in the evening and ate at the restaurant recently and were surprised by it being ranked so high. The good was not very flavourful and not very well presented. The duck had some feathers still on. The fish was watery and had no taste.

While staying at the Imperial we ate in the restaurant for our Anniversary dinner. The service was fantastic the food was excelent absolutly impressed. Great selection of food & wines. Thoroughly recommend.

I attended the restaurant for a family birthday meal. I hadn't been there before and due to the age and style of the venue I was worried it would all be very tiered inside. Much to my surprise it was beautiful. The decor looked as though it was going through a refurbishment on a big scale. It had been tastefully done. Clean matching and bright.

We ate here today as part of the 'dip and dine' offer. Our Sunday lunch was excellent; tasty, nicely presented, generous portions. We liked having the separate dish of vegetables to share. They were cooked perfectly- no soggy broccoli.

Goedkoop voor 3 gangen menu met keuze lekker gegeten goede serviceDe wijn was goed en niet duur een aanrader

I organised a evening meal for 46 people in the Coast restaurant at the beginning of a weekend function at the hotel.

We visited the restaurant while staying at the Hythe Imperial.

I attended a murder mystery evening which was well organised by the acting company. The hotel is a very impressive venue but, sadly, it's event organisation was very poor. In talking to other people, their experiences were very similar. I booked a table months ahead...

Nos alojamos en el imperial varias veces pero no ha comido en casa, quizás debido a el elevado precio de un menú a la carta. Esta comida era parte de la excelente oferta de media pensión, la cena estar y ser, que vio 3 campos por 25 libras. Tengo que decir que era excelente. Otros críticos más intensa de aquí han hecho comentarios injustos hacia la comida y el personal que no reflejan el lugar. El personal era encantador y muy agradable y realmente era muy atento. El menú parecía limitada con 3 opciones de carne, pescado y vegetarianos para entrante y plato principal, sin embargo, todos nuestros partidos acordaron los sabores y la calidad de los ingredientes eran excelentes. Entradas de sopa, caballa en una taza de queso fundido y pollo frito del sur parece extraño en el menú, pero estamos todos tan delicioso y bien presentado. Mi principal besugo venía con patatas y judías y era abundante, frescos y suculentos. El spatchcock pollo delicioso y muy jugosa y tierna. Los postres eran excelentes con una tarta preciosa, panqueques o la tarta de lima. Tengo bastante tenía vainilla o limón en el lado de las tortitas en vez de chocolate, pero en honestidad, fue una comida maravillosa. También el suministro de botellas de agua con y sin gas durante toda la comida era más bienvenido. La habitación no tiene ventanas y aunque hay otras habitaciones en el hotel que hacer, estoy dispuesto a hablar con mi familia mientras que con la salida de una ventana, para ser honesto. La decoración es muy agradable y sin duda volveremos para un menú del día. Puedes optar por el menú a la caet, pero para ser honesto, dar el menú. Sin duda costa merece ser manera más alto en estos rankings, no es un pretencioso lugar sirve platos originales realmente buena recién hecha y servido por un personal muy atento. Sin duda comer aquí de nuevo la próxima vez que me alojo en el hotel.

El Imperial tiene un gran espacio para opciones de comida. Se opta por la casa de la costa Restaurante en un espacio sin alma sin ventanas. En un extremo hay un comedor rodeado de jardines - no se utiliza. En el otro extremo de la zona de desayuno tiene vistas al campo de golf. Incluso si tienen que usar el área actual, podría hacerse más íntimo de algunas paredes divisorias o luces regulables. Casi no hay ambiente.

Fuimos a comer el domingo un grupo de ocho. Nos dieron una cálida bienvenida y nos llevaron a nuestra mesa. El comedor es bastante grande y las mesas están bien separadas y bien presentado.

Decidí probarlo como no interesado en Hythes no. 1 clasificado y me sorprendió gratamente. Obviamente, un comedor, un poco monótona pero buena decoración y mesas separadas para que no se tenga que experimentar otras conversaciones. A la carta así como menús diarios y son intercambiables sin problemas. La comida es muy buena, tanto para entradas y platos principales, un poco decepcionante en 2 de 3 budines, que parecía comprado en pero en general muy buena comida, servicio corroboró - volveremos!

Buena comida, aunque un poco limitado, pero realmente delicioso pasteles daneses. El restaurante es encantador y luminoso con vistas al mar por un lado. El personal es muy atento.

An exceptionally good meal with very friendly and efficient service. Would strongly recommend this restaurant. Would definitely visit again if we are in the area.

We attended the Rat Pack evening - group was very good but the room was to small for the Band as was the dance floor. Food tasted ok but was clearly cooked then reheated and pretty burned & chewy! It pretty sad really as the staff are attentive, smart & friendly. The restaurant location is disappointing - good decor no windows -( it's name would suggest otherwise) would have expected a view of the sea!

Immaculate décor, but clinical and lacking in comfortable ambiance. Pretentiousness oozed from every pore of the obsequious maitre d and his staff. The complimentary bread was very nice but satisfaction ended there. There was a £25 three-course formula on the menu but the choices were limited and uninspiring. We opted for the a la carte. The red mullet was acceptable; the sole quite nice but miniscule; my chicken was dry and lacked the garlic sauce which was supplied separately on request; the salmon was over-cooked and the sweet potato even more so, in fact so as to be inedible. This was sent back but the replacement was little better. We were not impressed with the dessert menu; two of our party of four stuck to ice-cream and sorbet which was melting before it reached them; my eton mess was unrecognisable as such, being devoid of fruit and served on a flat rectangular dish. High prices are fair enough for fine dining our meal fell far short of that mark. To add insult to injury there was 12.5% cover charge. Never again!

I am generally a fan of this hotel, having stayed here on 2 or 3 occasions in the last couple of years (including Christmas). The hotel also laid on a very good family Christmas meal for about a dozen people last year. I've always given it top marks but not the restaurant on this occasion. The lunch menu was extremely limited with only roast pork and two alternatives. They agreed to provide chicken for two instead. We all had leek and potato soup which was very cold and had to be sent back to the kitchen. Standard of the main course was ok. Two desserts brought out were not what was ordered. Overall a very disappointing Fathers Day lunch despite the friendly and attentive staff. Could not recommend.

Friends were visiting so booked the restaurant as a treat for us. They were told there was nothing before 8pm so we expected the place to be packed but there were only two other tables occupied when we finally sat down at 8.15. We started off in the bar but the bartender was not sure what a Campari Soda was or even if they stocked it. No menus were brought to us to peruse while having our pre - dinner drink. We made our way to the restaurant and were shown a table by a friendly Italian waiter. He was very attentive and efficient. There was a set menu at £25 per head which was fairly decent but lacked any seasoning, my chicken 'pie' was strange with the mashed potato cold. Two of us had desserts which were pleasant. Would not go out of our way to visit again even though we are local. The Hotel has certainly been revamped and refurbished over recent years since last visiting

When my partner asked for a slight amendment to an item on the menu we were told that "the chef would not like it" This is a restaurant that like to describe itself as 4* Service poor, food poor, and clearly on the night we were there just an inconvenience to the staff !

We stayed at this hotel last year for one night. The en suite room was very good, clean and fresh with extremely comfortable bed. Nice view of the gardens. Lovely evening meal, very attentive staff but not overbearing. Good breakfast.

Visited this restaurant today for Sunday Lunch. It took almost one hour for the main meal to arrive, the roast pork had congealed gravy and the stuffing ball was solid. Spoke to the waiter but he seemed disiinterested. We didn't bother with the third course (it was a set menu). Almost £50 for two poor meals and two soft drinks. Certainly won't be going back here again

We went here for Sunday lunch, I rang ahead and booked a table in the morning, thinking it would be busy - never assume anything!We arrived at the hotel and went thru to the restaurant to find it completely empty and were asked to wait in the bar until our table was laid up - there were laid tables at every view. But we weren't in a rush so off we toddled!We sat in the bar for about 10 minutes, grabbed a drink and were then taken thru to the restaurant. Another table joined us after about 20 mins.The staff were attentive and pleasant, we were told we could choose from the set menu only and the a la carte was not available - so why give it to us.We all chose the same, mozzarella with tomato and basil followed by roast pork.The bread we were offered was generous, but nothing special - looked a bit like those rolls you get at the supermarket to cook yourself.The starter was very disappointing, no basil, plenty of rocket, starter size portions on main course plates. I was beginning to think we had made a mistake.The roast pork was fine, plenty of meat and vegetables but again nothing special.There were 3 desserts on the menu and 3 of us - so we indulged. The only cost on the menu was for 3 courses so it seemed silly not to have one. The desserts were ok.When I asked for the bill, it was less than I anticipated from the info on the menu but at this stage I wasnt going to complain. On our way out we noticed another sign about 2 course and 3 course Sunday lunch which is obviously what we were charged.It is a real shame - great surroundings and good staff but it just doesnt hit the mark at all. Needs to improve significantly to attract a regular clientele.

We attended the Valentines theme night on Saturday 13th February having previously booked and paid for the event.On arrival at 7.30pm we were given a glass of fizz and shown to our table. The room was very well decorated and the table decorations were lovely. We were impressed and looking forward to a lovely evening.Although when we were seated we were promised the wine list but it just didn't arrive and after ten minutes or so l managed to get one from one of the waiters.We were served a amuse bouche which was nice but we noticed that others were not getting theirs . We then got our starters which were lovely but others in the room appear to have received nothing and looked concerned.We then rather too quickly received our main course which was not quite what we had ordered. As well as paying in advance we were also required to pre order which is not a problem when they get it right. My wife is allergic to shell fish and several days earlier when l ordered the meal l specifically asked for a plain risotto with the sea bass without the lobster. However in front of her was yes you guess it risotto with lobster.I explained the situation and apologies were tendered and both meals were taken away.After about twenty five minutes it returned as previously ordered although my wife's was perfectly cooked my pork was hot but the rest of the plate was cold.By this time we had noticed there was a problem as many people in the room had not received even ther starters and couples were talking and looking concerned.I should say the food we had was good although at different temperatures.I should say at this point because of the long delay we had gone for the second bottle of wine which is unheard of for us. It was obvious at this time there was a major problem as people on other tables were agitated and concerned as many had not received anything.As soon as we had finished our plates were whipped away and our desserts were placed in front of us much to the consternation of those who had not yet received their starters. The point was a few minutes break is the norm and is something we would have wanted.By this time it had become a farce and even the singer who was very good in his banter tried to lighten the mood at the lack of food. By this time although annoyed and frustrated people were determined to make the most of it. Complaints had been made but no explanation or reason was given. People took to the dance floor and every so often a waiter appeared with food looking for the recipients although frequently this was wrong.I think the last main course arrived at 10.45pm at which point the couple who had waited so long fell to their knees and prayed to the applause of those in the room.The 'millionaire shortbread' in the dessert was so hard and became another joke for those who had it as it could not be broken without extreme force.This event was a farce and was more like a scene from Fawlty Towers which is a theme night for this coming Saturday. I must say I wonder what will happen here.....The shame is the venue is good, the food when it arrives is good but the organisation is chaotic. The waiters need to top up the wine, refill the water and check everything is ok. There is no shortage of staff but they have not been trained to do the right thing and make the customer feel special.At the end of the night asked for the wine bill and even that caused a problem. I was eventually told that due to the problems one bottle was on the house so l paid in cash although no bill was given.I want this place to do well as l live local but lm sorry to say l was very disappointed. If there is a problem please let the customers know as most will understand. Please resolve these issues as Hythe needs another good restaurant.

Having already enjoyed a short break at the hotel before Christmas I booked a last minute table on Christmas Day for me and my family. The food was excellent and the service was great although they did seem rushed of their feet they all had that Christmas spirit which makes such a special day really memorable. Definitely booking for next Christmas. Thank you to everyone for making mine and my familys Christmas a memorable one.

A lovely restaurant setting and great modern china and cuttleryThe food was a bit disappointing. The starters were good and different, but my wife's main the roast chicken was very average. My nage of fish was quite and a mixture of mussels,salmon,cod and seabass.The home made rasberry and chocolate sorbets were excellent.A good meal but not worth the £ 70

Coast is a pleasantly refurbished restaurant nestling beneath the old Imperial Hotel, now a Mercure, and generally well renovated too. Having had a long drive from Devon we decided to skip starters and head straight to mains. Would we like some bread? Of course. Still warm, lovely selection of olive, sundried tomato, walnut, a good start. Ordered a full-bodied knock your socks off red. A wait. Another wait. Then at last – a chilled rose arrives! But the staff being so friendly and helpful, apologies warmly accepted. Would we like some more bread? Why not. I ordered the lamb chop (rare) with lamp something else, plus fresh veg. My wife the belly of pork, substituting fondant potatoes for sweet potato chips. The big red powerful red finally arrived. Would we like some more bread. Hmmm.A wait followed by a wait. More bread? Ah, no. The meal? A wait. Another helpful waitress arrives. Bread? No!At last- the meal. Lamb chop ok, though not more than that. Lamb something else curiously lacking in the lamb flavour stakes. The pork belly, when the meat was to be found, tasted nice, but it was a bit of a hunt to find it in what was really lacking in the slow cooked properly rendered stakes. Sweet potato chips the star of the meal! Passed on deserts which seemed to be a plethora of sorbets, ice creams and apple dishes. Maybe we were unlucky. Maybe tired. But for the price, and despite the pleasant surroundings and helpful staff, seriously underwhelmed.

First time to have dinner in this restaurant. Last time we came and booked a night and never tried this restaurant out. We were given this pre starter leek and potato soup - what can i say other than lovely! I had the soup of the day then we both have the pork belly then toffee pudding! A definitely good and amazing dinner indeed. The supervisor (Mark) was really great. He was very helpful and was very attentive of everything. Very good service indeed! Thanks Mark

Last year we stayed at the Hythe Imperial and had a fabulous meal at Coast. so upon our return this year we decided to re-visit this much acclaimed eatery especially after witnessing first hand what it can provide. Unfortunately a year is a long time and it appears that Coast has lost some it's charming personality it had the year before. We sat at 8.00pm and the waiter promptly asked us if we are ready to order any drinks. Normally we would end up with a bottle of red recommended to us but on this occasion we wanted something a bit more refreshing so ordered two double Hendricks and soda waters. These drinks finally arrived a couple of minutes after our starters had been placed on the table or around 20 minutes later to be more precise. Fortunately we had been given water so dehydration was not an issue. Unfortunately there was not much improvement from here. The food itself left a lot to be desired and for the prices charged you expect a lot more and you are left wanting. My starter of red snapper was not satisfying or fulfilling. The fish itself was overcooked and appeared to of been left in the fridge most of the day before being tossed into a jungle of watercress and sprouts. Even the splattering of watered down sauce could help this fish hydrate and leaving the soft, rubbery skin on just prolonged the non-enjoyment of this meal. Fortunately the girlfriend's starter of scallops was far more edible and enjoyed thoroughly. Maybe snapper was one fish too many for the culinary talents of the kitchen staff? Now the main course. A mixed grill. I awaited a mouth watering selection of appetising meaty goodness that would cast the starter into the section named 'just one poor food choice. It happens!' Unfortunately for Coast one bad food choice became two. For the money paid I am happy if one or two options arrive at my table: the meat mountain is as such and cooked with a degree of skill or the meat presented to me is of the finest cut, cooked to perfection and offers me a warm embrace of culinary excellence. Neither of these arrived on my token meat bread board (whatever happened to a plate!). Instead I got a selection of meat including a liver that looked like it would be better used in a game of operation and a steak, that whilst cooked rare as requested, once a two bite wonderment at most leaving me to indulge or the fatty remains of the rest of this meal. Once again my girlfriend had struck lucky with her choice of a seafood medley although the cuttlefish was overcooked and boarding on a rubber band consistency. Oh and during this time we had waited another 20 minutes for our next drink to arrive. The waiting staff during this adventure had been pleasant, friendly and had provide insight into the slow drinks service notifying us of the private party in the dining room and the charity function upstairs had commandeered the bar and the bar staff where under siege left, right and centre. These things happen but maybe I am sure the party nor function just randomly turned up and asked for use of the ballroom or half the dining room so staff resource could of been planned better.Possibly eating at the Hythe Brasserie the night before had set the dining experience bar quite high but Coast didn't even get off the ground. The only area that saved this dining experience was the staff. But good staff does not get me to return to a restaurant on it's own.

Good quality food, but portions can be slightly small however. Good customer service. Worth trying if staying at the Imperial Hotel.

For a hotel restaurant this was acceptable. The meal was served well and was very nice, though nothing exceptional. Mackerel pate was lovely, dressed crab was bland. Sea bass was very, very good. No complaints but there are better places to eat in this price range.

Just got home after a celebratory dinner at The Coast Restaurant at The Hythe Imperial.The staff were very polite and professional. The food was to die for, I had the mackerel pate, which was delicious, the the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, a must for Sunday lunch. Then I shared a sticky toffee pudding with my friend who had creme brûlée . The food was excellent and comes highly recommended!!

I live locally, & came here for a meal as I had heard good reviews. I have high standards & would say that the service was practically immaculate compared to many places I have eaten in. The starter was small, but very tasty. I then had tuna, which turned out to be 2 tuna steaks & therefore a very generous main course. Our puddings did not appear to be homemade on the premises, & were ordinary. 2 courses under £20, 3 courses £25. Good value. DO visit the female toilets - beautiful porcelain!It did seem a shame that the dining room had blinds at the windows - so I couldn't tell if there was a "coast" view or not.

Good starters, great dessert. Disappointing main course. Excellent breakfast! The had to wait an hour for our main course.

The food in Coast was part of our half board package at the imperial hotel. Very good food and service.

Good choice of food and wine and I thougnt the wine good value. Attentive service. Like much of the hotel, Coast is in the process of being done up, with additional terracing outside, so the staff are working under pressure of having builders en suite and they are managing very well.

We have eaten at the Imperial a few times and have always very much enjoyed the experience but since the recent improvement and decoration the ambience has been even better. The food is great, locally sourced and portions are a good size. Can't wait to see the hotel when the ongoing world are finished.

Disappointed with this place. Had lunch in the bar a couple of weeks ago and it was good so we thought we would try the restaurant. After overcoming the trials and tribulations of actually getting a table the menu looked hopeful. We ordered a bottle of wine only to be told that there wasn’t a corkscrew anywhere in the hotel and so could we order a screw top bottle. Not that anyone knew which bottles on the list were screw top! The food was pretty average – starters were ok but tiny. For main, I ordered lamb (no question of how I wanted it cooked) and my wife ordered duck (again no preference offered). My under-seasoned lamb was served with some under-cooked and under-seasoned crushed potatoes. The duck was served with an equally uninspiring Dauphinoise.£75 for two is the kind of money you would pay at Rocksalt or the Marquis – with considerably better quality offered – and every chance they have a corkscrew.

I recently ate at the revamped Coast restaurant in the Hythe Imperial. This was on a Sunday. The ambience, decor and service were excellent, but these in no way made up for the mediocre food. The menu offered a choice of only four dishes for each course. The main course, roast chicken, was inferior to anything I could have cooked myself - and I'm no great cook! Some of the vegetables looked tired, or rehashed from leftovers. The high point of the meal was the dessert of fresh fruit salad with cream, something a lot of restaurants don't offer. It was nice to eat a meal accompanied by piano music by someone who actually knows how to play the instrument, but it was a little loud and intrusive. The piano should be located further away from the room.Hythe Imperial - you are making long awaited efforts to refurbish the hotel, and Coast is good evidence of that in terms of appearance, atmosphere and staff attentiveness. But for goodness sake get a new chef and introduce a more imaginative menu! For a four-star hotel this was barely a two-star performance.

We visited Coast as a group of four. The young lady in the bar was excellent as we enjoyed a pre dinner drinks. The dining room is much improved as a result of the re-vamp and the food much better than our two previous visits, the service was good too.I would describe it as very good without being outstanding. We all enjoyed ourselves and would return.

We have eaten here many times since the new chef arrived and the food is amazing. Sunday lunch is to die for and with Mother's Day coming up that's where we will be heading. The restaurant has undergone a recent refurbishment and is a light and airing dining space. The staff are eager to please are polite and friendly. A walk along the beach after dinner is a must as you will be full, trust me!

As we live locally we have not stayed at the Hotel and have only used the new Coast Restaurant. We have visited Coast twice now since its refurbishment and both times have found the staff to be charming and attentive, the restaurant warm,beautifully decorated and relaxing and the food has been exceptional. The menu is varied and prices very good. Can thoroughly recommend the restaurant and shall look forward to visiting again very soon.

Visited the new re-vamped Coast restaurant at Hythe Imperial Hotel twice now. Excellent quality food and first class service. Couldn't fault it.

First ever tripadvisor review - but just had to recommend this fabulous restaurant. As part of a very large group, on a very busy night we could not fault a thing. The food was some of the best we've had in any restaurant and certainly THE best for such a large event. The quality of the meal and service of so many courses to so many people was exceptional.The table decoration both for the meal and the party room was festive but tasteful and the service all round was excellent.It's fantastic to see the difference that the improved restaurant quality and the ongoing refurbishment is making to the Imperial, restoring the grandeur to this grand old lady. Will be returning very soon.

We had evening dinner here for three which was good value, nicely presented & well cooked.I started with scallops with crispy pancetta followed by Fillet steak cooked perfectly as I had requested medium rare and finished with the cheese board selection. My Wife chose the Tiger prawns followed by venison & again the cheese board. Our Son also enjoyed his choice from the children's menu of crispy battered fish & nice chips followed by ice cream.The staff were all polite & friendly though we did find we had to catch their eye a few times to get service rather than them watching out for our need.They offer 2 course & 3 course set menu's too.Overall, well done.

I recently had a fabulous experience at the revamped Coast restaurant. The food was sublime and the service from the staff was second to none. I highly rate my experience as it was a senses delight from beginning to end. Thank you for a meal to remember!

Ten of us ladies went here for our pre-Christmas party. Having had a disastrous experience here a few years ago we were a bit sceptical, but I am pleased to say we were very pleasantly surprised at how things have improved, probably due to the fact that the hotel has undergone new ownership since then and is currently undergoing major refurbishment. Gone is the "faded elegance", and the whole of the ground floor now looks fresh and appealing. There were six large parties going on, but there were plenty of staff on hand. The three course meal was really good and the food was piping hot, as were the plates - a rare thing when catering for such a large number. Those of us who had the roast turkey for main course thought it was excellent, apart from the sprouts which were rock hard. Our main criticism was the price of the house wine. At £21 per bottle, or £15 for two smallish glasses, it is much too expensive. Surely people would consume more if the prices were more affordable. There was a "fun" casino laid on and also a disco, so very good party atmosphere, and we wouldn't hesitate to recommend this venue for a party event.

We had Sunday lunch in the recently refurbished 'fine dining' restaurant. We were surprised to be led into a restaurant on the ground floor with a lovely view .... Of the car park! So disappointing when you consider the sea front location of this hotel. The waitresses were friendly and efficient. Starters and dessert were ok, 8/10 but the main courses were abysmal. The vegetables had all been cooked in the same water so tasted and smelt of one thing only, sprouts. The beef (asked for pink) was really overcooked, stewed, as were the 'roast' potatoes which were soggy and we can only assume had been kept warm under lights. The pork hadn't fared any better though the crackling was crisp. So for the mains we both scored 2/10. We were asked if everything was ok, and just nodded as it was so far away from 'ok' we really didn't know where to start. This was our Sunday treat away from the hassle of our busy working week, we simply didn't want to have an antagonistic interaction. Sad that this hotel has such a prime position and could command a fantastic trade in its restaurant if the kitchen simply cooked to order, and the restaurant was moved to a place with a view.

Dropped by out of curiosity to see the newly revamped hotel and restaurant. We planned to stay for one drink but ended up staying the evening and having a three-course dinner. Absolutely excellent. Food superb, service attentive, atmosphere romantic. The place has changed out of all recognition. Will be back!

Thank you it's about time we had an alternative dining experience to the stayed restaurants in the area , this is not just the best restaurant around but you can park your car, enjoy cocktails and indulge in the ambiance of luxury, watch out Eastwell Manor, Rocksalt and all the others.Great food,service,wines and real people at amazing prices.Thank you Coast we will be back with our friends.

A great dining experience at the Hythe Imperial recently. The new chef and new refurb has taken this hotel to new heights. The meal was absolutely delicious, the staff and service superb, the wine choice fantastic. Overall a fabulous night thank you.