Crab & Lobster in Chichester

Excellent lunch! Highly recommend it. Good wine list, great food, friendly and efficient staff and lovely lighting creating a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Definitely on our “go to again” list.

Really smart pub/restaurant with an upmarket clientele, friendly staff - but.... why do they leave the cleaning materials on the bar in full view? Why not put them out of sight - a small point but it looks scruffy.

While the food was good, our experience of the service was bad. We expected better for the price. We noticed that others were receiving far better service. The manager was more solicitous of and seemed to prioritise straight couples or at least tables including men. Sexism? Who knows? Unfortunately we’re a female same-sex couple who were celebrating our wedding anniversary and the quality of the service marred the evening.

This village pub is really a restaurant with rooms. Nicely appointed rooms, with comfy bed and all facilities you would expect. The restaurant features local produce,but the fish is exceptional. As you might expect from the name crab and lobster are excellent but other catch of the day are equally good. The staff were all friendly and helpful particularly the young waiting staff. We will return.

Amazing food, lovely seating inside and out. Menu was varied. I Had the sea bream with fish cream, which was perfect, partner had the lamb, again, perfect. Slightly above average pricing but worth the extra cost.

We had been looking forward to our visit for the ‘meal of the week’ as we had visited the Crab and Lobster before on a number of occasions Alas this was not the case. The fish soup was very salty and could not be finished and the battered fish smelt of ammonia. Service was extremely poor and the young staff were unwelcoming. A major disappointment. Sometimes places try to ride their reputation and become complacent. This certainly was the case during our visit.

It was my birthday treat and my wife and I had a wonderful meal, looked after royally by the waitresses who were attentive, charming and efficient. The icing on top was when my sweet appeared it had 'Happy Birthday' beautifully written in chocolate on the plate. Thank you to everyone for making my birthday so special!

Superb location & one we visit occasionally but away from weekends. Would suggest you reserve a table indoors. The main menu is not available on the deck. We ordered crab pate but we're fobbed off with dressed crab - it was SO oily with potatoes & very garlicky salad. What a waste of fresh crab. Otherwise lovely setting * great staff.

Popped in for a drink and came out more than frustrated ………………..a restaurant/ pub that prides itself, we had a very poor experience - the barman who had no customer care ability - -the waiters who did not appear to have any training or any idea of what they were supposed to be doing - - to the manager who lacked any understanding of a customer’s poor experience - don’t have high expectations !

Group went to celebrate friend's birthday. Very nice that birthday friend received a glass of bubbly from the restaurant. Good choices from both set menu and a la carte, and some very nice dishes. Nearly got an 'excellent' rating, but slightly let down by some things fridge chilled which would be much better at room temperature. Some green drizzle on fish dish which didn't taste anything. Also, not having spoon with soup, and needing to ask. Very pleasant staff an nice ambience. Would be happy to give it another go when we are in the area.

We visited here for lunch and we’re running late and they were so welcoming and accommodating.We both had the special of seabass with crab & lobster risotto which was exceptional.Service was on point,an excellent menu and extensive wine list.Personally we think it’s deserving of a Michelin star.We will for sure return.

Absolutely perfect. I wanted lobster and they didn't have any on the menu until the weekend (Thurs) as it depended on what came in so could book 4 2moro. We told her we were visiting from Wales, and the lovely lady that worked there asked the kitchen if they had any in and could make me lobster thermidor. They couldn't, but said it would be better than that, it really was. I have never tasted anything so nice in my life. My friend had fish, which was also devine, and the mussels were beautiful. My partner had the steak cooked 2 perfection and my son had a kids meal, even cutting into the sausages I said they smelled like good sausage, my partner had a taste and said they were perfect. It was just such a lovely experience all round. The puddings were just as delish. My son is non verbal autistic and started to make noise towards the end, but the atmosphere relaxed him enough 4 us 2 enjoy our meal and we got him out of there as quickly as we could to not disturb the other guests. And the staff were so understanding. It is expensive, but u expect such wiv such a high quality business food, so 2 the person who wrote that review and giv them a 4 star rating. Go 2 macdonalds. Top quality everything here and I will b visiting again next year xxx

This restaurant is truly amazing. The food is just excellent. We stopped for lunch and had the fixed lunch menu at £31.50. Loads to choose from and plenty fish options which suits my husband and I as we are pescatarian. We will return.

My friend and I had a delicious dinner. Whilst chatting to the lovely staff my friend asked if they served breakfast to non residents. (The hotel in which we were staying left a lot to be desired and the food inedible.) “Of course” came the reply. “What time would you like to come?” The next two mornings we were greeted like old friends, given the best coffee I’ve ever tasted, fresh fruit, perfect scrambled eggs and much more. Thank you to the manager who welcomed us each morning. She made what could have been a disastrous few days a memorable time. We are sorry we didn’t ask your name. We will be back to stay. Jackie and Suzanne

We were running very late due to the bank holiday traffic so phoned to let them know. A lovely chap on the end of the line said not to worry and they would look forward to seeing us when we arrived. When we got there, the welcome was genuine and warm. I had the tandoori monkfish to start, and my wife had the gazpacho - both absolutely superb. Delicate and clever. And then we both chose the halibut for mains - fantastic flavours and beautifully cooked. Dessert was also delicious. The service throughout was a total delight - friendly and helpful with authenticity that you don’t often get. Would highly recommend this wonderful restaurant and location. Thank you very much to the fantastic team who looked after us and helped to make our anniversary a wonderful day.

VERY popular restaurant so you need to book well ahead. We had Crab and Lobster! - Both were superb. Good puddings too plus wide selection of wines by the glass. Beware though, quite expensive - Rated £££, high end dining

We had two delightful nights here, superb. Rooms clean, well appointed and comfortable. We had dinner on one of the nights. Excellent food and service. Lamb was exceptional, one of our party loved the vegan beetroot dish’ with beetroot done in a number of ways. The deconstructed Eton mess my wife had was superb. Breakfast was also just a lovely experience.

We visited for our anniversary celebration. We had checked in advance that Covid provisions were still in place - they are. Staff are wearing masks, there is one way in and another out. Tables are distanced. Wonderful although some eaters seem to find this strange, but they are tolerated. The staff are lovely. Really pleasant and friendly. The food - wow. Having been before, we were concerned that it may not be as good - no need to worry, may even be better, if that is possible. It is not cheap, but it is worth it.

Went for lunch with friends, was greeted by very friendly staff, lovely atmosphere and the food was to die for. Absolutely amazing experience, highly recommended!

We decided to take a drive to meet our friends who recommended this fabulous inn that specialized in seafood. No question about the food, this is some of the finest seafood I have tasted in the UK and incredibly fresh. I must say it was a long journey to Sidlesham, but incredibly worth the visit. Staff are gracious and with a great sense of humor, food was spectacular and a great wine list, I only hope we have a chance to revisit, I would really like to visit again for dinner!

The restaurant is located next to the marshes in Siddlesham , with some great views.A constructed menu with interesting options for all 6 of us.Cooking a high standard. Everyone happy with the great food and service.With a couple bottles of wine it came to £60 which we thought was decent

We had a late lunch here, the food was really good and of a top quality. The cod loin was superb and fish soup had so much flavour. The staff were very on the ball and made our experience here pleasurable. Definitely coming back.

Beautiful surroundings and location. From the moment you enter a wonderful friendly welcome. Service excels and a great menu from a noted Michelin team. Food superb. A little piece of heaven by the shore of Pagham lagoon.

I stayed here for three nights in June. Nice location, and very pleasant rooms. Parking is a bit of a pain. (And that was in June!) Very nice "add-ons"-fridge in room, a litre of still, and a litre of sparkling, water, good-quality biscuits, and fresh milk. Nice mugs! Perfectly reasonably priced for what you get. A good walk is just moments away. Excellent breakfast-fresh fruit, quality juice, Dorset cereals, lots of options for a "main". Food would have to be a matter of personal preference. Kind of "Nouvelle Cuisine", still. (I thought that had died out in the 80s?) Very good, but all a bit "cheffy" and not, really, to my personal taste. Small portions, extravagantly priced. (But very tasty. As I said-it depends on what you want.) £11.50 for an absolutely TINY cheese plate really did wind me up, though.Good, friendly and efficient service. It seems very popular. I would stay there again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to have a meal.

I booked this restaurant a couple of months in advance for myself and my partner, as part of a belated birthday get away. I specifically picked it because of my love of seafood. The venue itself, is very nice, pretty and quaint. However, I think the food and wine are overpriced. I ordered lobster which was very chewy and flavourless, served with a basic salad and chips - for £30. I do not mind paying these prices for delicious food, but I found the experience underwhelming. When we were asked at the end of the meal, how the food was, we provided some polite feedback, but were told “no ones ever complained about the food”. With that we settled out £170 bill and left, rather disappointed.

Lovely location, friendly and attentive staff and the seafood was as good as any I’ve ever eaten. We’ll definitely be going back !

We celebrated our wedding anniversary here and honestly couldn’t fault a thing! A bit pricey but very worth it. Would recommended for a celebration of any kind.

We couldn’t get a booking for dinner here, but I really wanted to visit so we came for breakfast. Everything about our visit was extremely good, from the food to the service. The breakfast was excellent - couldn’t fault it. Everywhere was clean and fresh-looking and our server was polite, friendly and professional.

Lovely meal, staff very courteous and friendly what more could you want. Some restaurants offer good food but if the staff aren’t engaging it makes the experience less pleasurable. The Crab and Lobster delivers excellent food, beautifully presented and great choice of wines. Loved it and will come back. Be aware of the lack of parking, we had to park down the road, not a problem to us but maybe go early to get a closer parking spot!

Visited for our wedding anniversary on a busy Sat night. Menu choices were excellent and very much focused on local fish - we chose the gurnard and crab which were both very tasty. Service was superb with very knowledgeable and chatty staff. Highly recommend and will certainly be returning.

Luckily there was a special Crab Gratin on the menu and it was one of the best crab dishes I have tasted but I could not find lobster. This restaurant is at the end of a very small and isolated creek which itself is worth a walk. Parking is difficult and you may have to put your car on the road in the village nearby. Service is exceptional and there is a varied menu with great ambiance. Apart from the crab the Rhubarb Eton Mess is worth trying although the accompanying biscuits need to be lighter. My concern was over Covid precautions. The restaurant was full and tables were as apart as practically possible. However the ceilings are low and strangely the windows remained firmly closed. The bill for 2 was £100, including service, and this was with an expensive bottle of wine. I shall return.

Fabulous fish and a great wine menu. Service was exemplary. The best restaurant for many, many miles. Well worth a visit.

We travelled down to stay here for the night on the windiest day of the year. We found a lovely well run, welcoming and cosy pub. The only rooms stillavailable for our stay were standard ones and whilst it was a comfortable, clean and tastefully decorated room it was also fairly small and included a bathroom with a shower in bath for which we felt that £200 (albeit including breakfast) for one night was a little steep. Dinner was a fabulous experience and the food including pickled trout, rump of lamb and orange treacle tart were stunning. The wines were delicious and beautifully served. A real foodie’s delight. Breakfast was also fresh and absolutely gorgeous. We look forward to returning!

Great service and a quick Sunday lunch in between rain showers. Delicious and perfectly cooked Fish and a chilled Aperol went down very well.

Having driven all the way from Surrey was most upset to find the restaurant was closed. They had my phone number so why didn't they ring to let me know. We were there the week before and they never mentioned anything about it being closed Bank Holiday Monday. Then went to the Lifeboat Inn at Selsey and had an excellent meal. They were very covid compliant whereas Carab and Lobster were not.

About 3 weeks ago booked last Sunday and today, bank holiday Monday, turned up and it was closed despite taking the booking and last Sunday satiny ‘ see you next week’ Why waste our time, a customer lost.

We have been wanting to stay at the crab and lobster for a while - Then we stayed twice in one week . It was my husbands 40th birthday and we had a Lovely time during such uncertain times . The staff were amazing in all areas . The rooms were lovey and immaculate . We dined in the restaurant on both nights and the food was incredible - I highly recommend the lobster - yummy .

Myself and my family have been going to the Crab and Lobster for over 30 years. I hadn't been for a while so decided to book a table for lunch with a family member. They were just about to close the kitchen so we quickly ordered 2 salads and a bottle of wine. The salads arrived and were literally a starter portion (we ordered this as a main dish). One order was wrong and had to be sent back. When the bill arrived they had decided to charge us for one of the most expensive wine's on their list at £31.50!!!!!!! Two measly salads and a bottle of pinot grigio cost over £71.00. I can honestly say myself and my family will never go back.

Bit baffled by recent reviews as it is good value and certainly not overpriced. I came here for my birthday lunch on Sunday 13th December and we had a fabulous time. The food was perfect as always with brilliant service and a lovely Christmas vibe. My Mum had the featherblade beef which was a twist on a traditional roast beef and was gorgeous. The yorkshire pudding was clearly home made. I had the turkey which was amazing and the veg was perfect - al dente as it should be. Certainly not raw! We’ve been coming here for years from London and it is one of my favourites due to the high quality food and service. The restaurant is pretty and the staff are friendly and welcoming. I would highly recommend the Crab and Lobster and look forward to coming back in 2021.

We went for Sunday lunch, roast beef. Unfortunately the serving was very poor and disappointing. Yorkshire pudding, ready made and no better than supermarket offerings. Vegetables nearly raw and specialist roast beef was featherblade stewing steak, twice cooked. We were only charged for one portion as we had to leave most it!Most disappointing as we have had good meals previously.

Pretty dull environment where "they don't serve prosecco darling" and a thimbleful of some English fizz is £13.

The Crab & Lobster is a beautiful, historic building next to wildlife reserve, Pagham Harbour. We were given a charming welcome, with plenty of Covid precautions. Our room was very lovely, with views over the harbour, and it was beautifully furnished. Such a pretty and relaxing place to stay. The bathroom had lovely toiletries, and complementary tea, coffee, biscuits and water were offered generously in the room.Dinner was fantastic. Attentive, friendly service and great food. The fish and seafood were really fresh and delicious. Interesting specials were on offer and there was so much to choose from it was hard to make a decision.The Crab & Lobster offered one of the best breakfasts we’ve ever had. Everything tasted so fresh and was cooked perfectly. The only blip in our stay came at the end when we’d loaded up our car and I went back in to check out. We’d paid in advance for the room through Mr & Mrs Smith and paid for dinner at the time, so I was just expecting to drop the room key off. But the staff member told me there was no record that I’d paid for the room. I offered to go back to the car and get my phone to find the confirmation email and was asked to do so. It was a bit embarrassing because I was certain I’d paid in advance. I found the confirmation email and was told a bit coldly that it was ok and they accepted I’d paid. It certainly didn’t detract from the lovely experience of our stay but I think a little bit of training is needed around dealing with this issue so that the farewell is just as charming as the welcome.We enjoyed our stay here so much and have recommended to friends and family, would definitely stay again.

This restaurant has been on our wish list for some time, but we've always considered the 100 mile round trip a bit too much for a lunch. However, as the weather was perfect, a nice autumnal drive through the south downs was tempting.I'm glad we did as we were pleasantly surprised. Located near the water's edge in a cute little hamlet, it's an attractive whitewashed stone building.We had our temperature taken on the way in and all other Covid precautions were in place.We both had the smoked haddock fishcakes from the set lunch and they were excellent. The breadcrumb coating was crunchy and the filling (mostly fish) was moist. Served sitting on a bed of Italian style peas which were excellent.All the staff were professional and most welcoming and friendly, we were made to feel like regulars on our first visit. But it wont be our last !

Perfection is not a description I use lightly but we had a Saturday lunch here and it was...... perfection. I'm quite fussy when it comes to sea food as the slightest over cooking can spoil the freshest ingredients. Scallops starter was a joy (and poor scallops can be horrible) and i didn't want the sea trout with mussels to end. My wife had cod with various subtly curried accompaniments and waxed lyrical.Wonderful food, perfect service (friendly and helpful, not over formal), good wine and a really cosy ambience.2nd lockdown announced that evening - when that is over we will be back as this was an exceptional experience.

Recommended by a gourmet mate it necessitated a 250 mile journey from the North to Deep South in lousy weather and Friday Traffic.Slightly underwhelmed when we first approached we were very pleased to meet a friendly,efficient and helpful member of staff as well as a very pleasant ambience.There are only 4/5 rooms and having booked late on we were in room 4-the Garret room at the top[Lovely ,roomy and well appointed it had sloping ceilings and a shower[I prefer a bath!]On request we were moved for our second night to room 1.....A perfect,beautifully appointed suite tastefully decorated and with a bath!!This gesture was symbolic of the attitude purveying the whole staff....obliging,helpful and prepared to go the extra mile to meet guests needs.So combined with well prepared food,with an excellent menu range and balanced wine list this place is a great find,and we will return as and when Lock Down ends Thank you!

Fabulously cooked fish and duck. Wow! What a find! Wonderful meal, great wine and relaxed atmosphere

Delicious meal, in a cozy pub atmosphere. The only downside for us was the fact we thought it was a fish restaurant; don’t be fooled by the name ‘Crab and Lobster’. With that said the food was amazing and really well cooked, with friendly staff and quick service. I had a special which was fish (yay, but the only fish on the menu) and my partner had the steak; we were both really pleased and enjoyed the meal, I would definitely recommend.

This is one of our reliable go to places for special occasions - others are Mama Mia in East Sheen (also a favourite of the PM and Carrie) and the Excelsior Vittoria Hotel in Sorrento. Very friendly, efficient, attentive young team front of house. So attentive my daughter doubled the tip when she paid the bill for our anniversary lunch.So worth the one hour drive for such a lovely lunch in a lovely setting. We already plan to return for my daughter's birthday in December.

Had great expectations but found the experience lacking. The food generally was OK although a couple had the fish soup which they said was more like a thick oxtail soup. The restaurant was lacking atmosphere not sure, why the staff were pleasant and efficient but lacked a more personal touch. Maybe they were just having an off day. The big question is would we return probably yes .

First visit to the Crab & Lobster and I was do looking forward to it . On arriving we were told we could not enter until our temperature had been taken . Not a problem for us but then the machine stopped working ..... not to worry , come in anyway ! No track and trace asked for . We did have to ask to see the specials board or it would not have been offered . Excellent scallops and other starters . Main course was equally tasty and very well presented however the side dishes came about 20 minutes later so not great . Desserts were lovely however the cheeseboard was extremely over priced , three tiny pieces of cheese with some biscuits and quince jelly priced at £11.50 , very disappointing . At 9.58 we were told we had to vacate the premises , we had a taxi booked anyway , which was waiting outside , and my husband was told he could only go to the bathroom if he was going to be less than one minute . I do understand that we have rules to abide by as I am also in this trade however I found it quite rude that we were spoken to like we were little children so that we would leave the premises by 10 , which we were about to do anyway , when the staff were not fully COVID secure as they only had visors on when they should have been wearing full face masks too . It’s not one rule for some and another for others and attitude in this very strange time actually counts for a lot .

This was our first visit to the Crab and Lobster. Even given all the social distancing requirements that are currently in place, the atmosphere was good as was the food. A couple of things which would have made a big difference to my review however - On ordering we were not made aware of any specials on that night and only noticed the board at the end of our meal. This would have definitely affected our meal choice and was a bit disappointing. Secondly, I ordered a gin and tonic on arrival and was given no choice at all of gins available (or tonics) - a Hendricks was just put in front of me. These are small things and didn't spoil our evening but would have been the icing on the cake otherwise, and, given that it is listed in the Michelin food guide you do have high expectations!

Attractive bistro pub, well maintained, staff on the ball with service and Covid, food excellent, what's not to like?

Just had a lovely anniversary meal. We had been before so that is why we chose it again.Food and service was excellent as before although my ribeye steak was a little gristly. For a meal costing £130 you may of expected some complimentary mints with the coffee and maybe some canapés at the start of the meal. Had that been the case I would have given them 5 stars.

We were lucky enough to visit this place twice in our week's stay in the region. It is a stunning setting and the food matches this. We had a drink in the garden before dinner - set alongside the RSPB Pagham Harbour nature reserve - we could hear the curlews while enjoying the drinks and scenery! Absolute magic. On our first evening we both had the crab and lobster risotto which was fabulous. We shared a house salad with that. The watercress soup we had first needed a bit more flavour but that was made up for by the delicious bread that accompanied it. On our second evening, my husband had the John Dory - perfectly cooked with crispy skin and melting flesh - I had the crab gratin which was good, if a little creamy. We shared a pudding and then I had a small blue cheese plate. Staff were friendly and helpful and virus measures (visors, temperature checks) were in place.If you're visiting from outside the area there are rooms here too. An absolutely delightful place.

We sat outside and had a lovely meal. My friend couldn't eat dairy and they were so helpful in tweaking the meal so she could have what she wanted. Would definitely go again.

Very pleasant and efficient front of house staff. The best meal of our holiday with excellent cooking and presentation of the food, served by charming staff. Some may consider it expensive but food and service of this standard is worth paying for.Its well worth a visit, but is very busy so its best to book in advance.

Early dinner on a Saturday night, worked out well, quick efficient service and very tasty meal, highlight was able to have a taste of the lobster

Highly recommended and rightly so. The food is wonderful, cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. Excellent service and safe during these strange times.

First time at the Crab and Lobster and we were very impressed. The food was excellent, clearly the chef knows their trade. The service was also very good. Would definitely recommend and can't wait return.

Anniversary meal. Food was amazing. Everything cooked to perfection. Service with smile. Great outside seating. We can not wait to eat here again. Thank you very much.

Our daughter booked for lunch she lives in Chichester we were visiting for a birthday weekend.Super location, lovely place& garden....fizz to start with....food was delicious, I had the beetroot starter& baked crab for my main, daughter& husband thoroughly enjoyed their food too. Signs up for one way system...tables adhered to distancing inside.We thought the setting, the food the whole atmosphere was really lovely so a very special birthday celebration!

Visited for the second time, but hopefully not the last!. We live in Hertfordshire, and a major reason for coming to West Sussex is a visit to “The Crab & Lobster”. We enjoy everything there, the exquisite food, the wine, the service and the pleasant interior. We were served by the lovely Anna, who knows how to provide service with a smile! I had the guinea fowl and my husband the catch of the day, both beautifully prepared! Can’t wait to return!

The food is outstanding here. I’m not sure what more you can say. It’s not particularly near to where we live and only found it after I had bought a car in Chichester and wanted to find somewhere to eat. Second visit today and will happily return.

Dinner for 4 on July 9th, day after reopening. Food was exquisite & the service was great. Mark & his team are always welcoming & make the experience even better. Dealing with covid restrictions was seamless. Thank you Gilli B

We booked a table 3 weeks previous for a 70th Birthday, we rang numerous times at aroud 11 am this morning to check that all was ok with the booking, no answer.We then recieved a call this afternoon from Mark asking if we are still fine to be seated outdoors because rain and thunder had been forcast and it might not be safe to sit there?? To which we explained we had booked indoors, he then went on to say that if you book online you are seated outdoors? I have never heard this one before, how ridiculous. Our reason for booking online as stated as above, nobody answered the phone.Busy or not busy, during these uncertain times a restaurant like this should be more organised. Unacceptable customer service and very dissapointing.

Last Saturday afternoon I was exploring the scanty remains of the Hundred of Manhood and Selsey Tramway, which between 1897-1935 connected the Cathedral City of Chichester with the holiday resort of Selsey, when I chanced upon the Crab and Lobster Restaurant at Siddlesham Quay.Although it was lunchtime and I was on my own and hadn't booked a table the helpful proprietor managed to find me a place on the shady patio, where I was able to cool off in a gentle sea breeze. After a pint of cold lager (£5) I opted for the Pan-Fried Loin of Hake with Hand-Cut Chips and Tartare Sauce (£18.00) which was delicious. I hadn't intended to have a dessert but the Strawberry Pavolva (£8:00) looked good and in fact met all my expectations. I happily paid the optional £3.10 service charge as the service received from the young but friendly and efficient waiting team had been outstanding. The male toilet was scrupulously clean although in order to use it I had to have my temperature taken (36.5 C) to ensure that I wasn't suffering from Corona Virus. The restaurant itself is located in the hamlet of Siddlesham Quay, on the very edge of the tidal inlet known as Pagham Harbour, close to the coast path and handy for the frequent road bus service to and from Chichester!This was my first visit to the Crab and Lobster at Siddlesham Quay but it definitely won't be my last!

Booked here based on the reviews and the place itself looks lovely when you get there. Covid steps have been taken, clear signage that entry is via the back, there’s a contactless temperature gadget when you come in and anti bac at the ready. I would say though the the waiting staff had no gloves or masks and weren’t not overly cautious about distancing. We sat outside in the lower garden which was lovely and as we went early it was just us for most of our meal. Food was okay but we had arrived as they were changing the specials so we’re not shown the evening specials and the waitresses were confusing when telling us about the fish of the day, different answers from different people each time. Staff were not very attentive either and we felt ignored. If we had seen the specials we would have ordered very differently and this review may have been much better. Ordered the crab and salmon mousse and the fish soup to start. The mousse was average and only two mouthfuls but very beautifully presented. The soup was delicious! For mains we had the fish of the day, which in the end was sea trout, was very nicely cooked and the caper butter was delicious. Also had the Guineafowl, everything on the plate was nice accept the shallot jam which was all over the plate and completely overpowered the other flavours was pushed aside. I don’t think we would return again sadly but would advise you make sure you are getting to see the specials as they certainly sounded much better.

We were so excited to eat in this beautiful place. Our order was taken without any enthusiasm or greeting. The food came out without any cuttlery. We had to go inside to ask for the cutlery and still had to wait for it to be brought out. The steak was over cooked and we were given money off but the general feeling was that everything was just too much trouble. Very over priced for this level of service.

This small pub with 4 rooms and a separate cottage is set beside the salt marshes close to Pagham. The room was spacious and very comfortable. The menu is smallish and the food delicious. Also a very affordable wine list is on offer. Also a lovely rear patio for eating as well as a socially distanced small restaurant. Highly recommended

great location, friendly service, good food, the only downside for me was the cost, i thought it was over priced.

We walked through the fields to arrive at this well known pub to enjoy a most delicious evening! Top marks for quality is food and wine together with terrific service in a beautiful location :)

It is rare for me to want to compliment a pub restaurant but after one of the most satisfying meals I have had the joy to eat post COVID lockdown I felt it was only right to compliment a venue that offers great seafood , great wine list (yes even great wines by the glass!) matched by superb service.The starter of crab mouse in smoked salmon lifted by an incredible mayonnaise simply devine. The sea bream, pan fried and served with a medley of spring greens, leek, and new potatoes, buttered and capered left me saying give it to me again. The mango and cardamon cheese cake with passion fruit rounded off a perfect meal.I had the Orvieto Classico wine which complimented the food excellently.This is a British dining Experience you must not miss.

Well worth a visit for the setting and tasty food. We visited twice in our few days in the area and it enjoyed it both times.

We booked a 1 night stay as part of a trip to Sussex to see some friends. We wanted a comfortable room in a pleasant setting with great food. And we got just that. Mark and the team were very attentive throughout. We had drinks in the beautiful sheltered beer garden overlooking the surrounding wetland nature reserve, had dinner and breakfast in the pub went for a couple of walks locally based on Mark's recommendations. The food was excellent, guineafowl, sea bream, mussels, crab and salmon mousse - it was all beautifully presented, fresh and flavorful with reasonable portions for the price. The room was very comfortable and clean, simply finished but with everything you'd expect - nice toiletries, good hair dryer, complimentary tea, coffee biscuits etc.An excellent base for wildlife enthusiasts, those wanting to explore more of West Sussex or anyone just passing through.

We found this restaurant because we were gifted a voucher for Xmas . It appeared on the listing as a fine dining restaurant but with a relaxed and laid back feel.It was exactly that and we had a fabulous meal in a lovely setting with great service.You wouldn’t just come across this place as it’s off the beaten track but despite the corona virus rules it had a great atmosphere. The Lobster was to die for. Highly recommend this venue and we’ll be going again soon.

Interestingly, there were some similarities in our experience to @Tricky625's, hence we've written this review. We were passing through, thought this looked like a lovely setting for a drink (it's a gorgeous spot). The info board at the front of the building indicated the tables out the front of the building (i.e. on the road) "are you for you" if you're only having drinks. At the time of day we visited these were in full sun with no shade. The garden at the rear was earmarked for diners (but empty when we looked). We asked (nicely!) if it might be possible to have a very quick drink in the garden at the back as there was some shade and one of us can't sit in the sun for health reasons. The younger man who we initially spoke with appeared to consider our request but an older man (? manager perhaps) rapidly dismissed this without any consideration or attempt to discuss with us. It's a shame really as this is a lovely setting and, had we been treated with a little more consideration, we'd quite likely have returned to eat in future. We're really sympathetic to how difficult everyone, businesses and those in the service industries in particular, has found lockdown and the impact of the 'new normal', but we'd have thought businesses that have been forced to close unplanned for several months would really be trying to welcome customers. We also wondered if the response to our request was because tensions are running high between management and staff at the Crab & Lobster; we overheard what sounded like the older man (? manager) 'telling off' a member of staff about their attitude, which seemed an unusual thing to do in an open area of the restaurant in hearing of potential customers. Ensuring there is some shade available for customers visiting for drinks only would be a real improvement. We wish the Crab & Lobster well but we won't return based on this experience.

The Crab and Lobster holds a lot of memories for my wife as she used to visit it with her parents over 50yrs ago. So, when we were in the area we decided to pop in for a quick drink and maybe a lunch.BIG MISTAKE.Due to the recent restrictions, you cannot go in the front door as this is marked EXIT.So we were directed round the back.We asked for a table. We were told they were fully booked for lunch. We asked if we could just a drink. Frustratingly we were directed back to the front.We were told to sit at a bench and wait to be served.We sat down, and to make my brother in law smile to bring back memories, I took a picture and sent it to him. That is time stamped 13.57.The table had empty glasses and a full ashtray ( we don’t smoke)There were about 4-5 benches out the front and all occupied. The table to our left had obviously finished their drinks and were waiting to pay.The table to our right, was waiting to order.The other tables were the other side of the porch and we couldnt see them.After about 20 mins, a young waiter (1) came out with full face PPE.He had a pad and pen. This was looking good.Sadly and beyond all comprehension he took the order of table to our right and then disappeared.This was now around 2.20pm.After 10 minutes a young girl (2] served the table behind the porch.She went back into the pub without clearing any glasses, or ashtrays, or taking our order or taking payment from the other table.Another 20 minutes went by. Its now 2.40pm, a different girl (3) delivered drinks to the table to our right.Unsurprisingly, despite trying to get her attention she disappeared very quickly to the pub without addressing the aforementioned outstanding issues including taking out order.Its now 2.50pm almost an hour since we sat down. A slightly older man ( the fourth person we had seen) asked us if we were being served. He took our order.He went back in leaving all the aforementioned issues.3.00pm still no drinksPerson no. 4 re- appeared and looked in our direction “ two lager and limes?” He checked. “ yes!!” We said.3.06pm our drinks arrived from person (5]. She disappeared back to the pub without addressing the aforementioned issues.Three new parties in the meantime asked us about getting a drink needless to say they left.The lady to our right after waiting over an hour to pay, decided no one was coming so took her card inside,We finished our drinks and eventually someone came to take our payment.I asked based on the terrible service we had received how much was going to be discounted.We were given ridiculous excuses, and in the end we were comped the drinks.The restrictions imposed by COVID are not easy.But this had nothing to do with that.It was evident from the numerous people we saw there was no system.Bottom line.Avoid till they can get their act together

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Crab & Lobster when we visited Sidlesham for a couple of days. We had booked ahead and understood the booking to be inside however on the day the weather was glorious and when we asked if we could dine in the garden the young waitress was very accommodating. Staff wore visors and the social distancing was good so it felt safe. The food was amazing, the three of us had fabulous starters; the ham hock, the textures of beetroot and the selsea crab then two of us had the fish of the day, perfectly cooked and one had fantastic guinea fowl. I highly recommend!

I've been to this restaurant a few times, and it is always a bit of a treat. At this time it was so nice to be in a lovely location, and to feel safe. Your temperature is taken on arrival and you must sanitise your hands before going to your table. The food as always is beautifully presented and delicious. The set price lunch menu is reasonably priced.

Set in the marshy landscape of Pagham harbour, a restaurant of some note. Without doubt, it provided us with one of the better dining experiences of the last year, Covid-19 notwithstanding. An excellent starter - Selsey Crab and Salmon mousse - featherlight, wrapped in a slice of well smoked salmon and served with a wasabi mayonnaise [ perhaps a little understated]. Main course of a pan roasted guinea fowl, succulent flesh and crisp skin, garnished with a chunk of fresh cep and accompanied by the smoothest, richest mushroom sauce I have tasted in a long while. Tasty, well prepared vegtable side [leeks and dauphinoise potato]. Dessert of dark chocolate and ororange delice did not disappoint - dense texture, with fine undertones of fresh orange. An eclectic, well-chosen wine list, including some unusual Spanish dessert wines, and a locally cultivated Sparking [Tinwood] . Service was charming, efficient and unobtrusive - reflecting the values of welcoming hospitality exhibited by mine host. Our only regret is that we live too far away for regular visits - but thank you for an excellent evening.

Enjoyed our meals here Sunday lunchtime. Hood menu lots if fish. I had fillet steak chips watercress ( I had to ask for more as only a few pieces as a garnish ). half a tomato’s and half a sep mushroom ( I would have liked a whole tomato and a whole mushroom as quite pricey at £30 ) but the meal was delicious and have been here before and would return .

Just returned after a long absence as previously we were underwhelmed. However, that is behind us as our recent visit ends to be applauded. The menu is not extensive and seems unnecessarily fussy to understand. However, the Venison with salted caramel tartlet to follow was nothing short of "orgasmic" Good Beer and choice of wines by the glass. We'll be back.

I almost didn’t write this review because I didn’t want to tell too many people what an absolutely lovely place this is.....Then I thought this would be unfair to Mark the manager who gave us the most wonderful customer service. The Crab and Lobster has beautifully decorated rooms and we were lucky enough to stay in the cottage. There were seven of us and it really was the most perfect place to celebrate a birthday.Mark gave us a really lovely table in the restaurant in the evening and the meal was delicious. We all said how much we enjoyed it. A perfect nights sleep followed by an equally tasty breakfast. We will all certainly be returning.

Really talented chef here plus great, attentive and knowledgeable staff that made our meal here truly memorable!

I went to The Crab & Lobster whilst away in Chichester for the weekend. I’m staying at a local Air B&B, the host of which had recommended it as her local.The pub itself is lovely and very well kept, but the lights were really bright and there was no music which made it feel a little austere given the fact it wasn’t busy.The service was good and the cava and glass of wine I had, really lovely. The food, however, was a great disappointment. I ordered the haddock kedgeree for my main, which was the special. It looked the part, but it was really lacking in depth of flavour. It needed a lot more seasoning and there was very little actual haddock in the dish. At £19 for a very shallow bowl’s worth, you’d expect more.I asked for the waiter’s opinion on what dessert to order. He told me the vegan chocolate and peanut butter brownie with banana sorbet was lovely, so I went ahead and ordered it. I expected it to be, well...chocolatey and peanut buttery - but in actual fact, it was incredibly dry with a soil-like texture and totally tasteless. Again, at £7.50, you’d expect a bit better than that. I had two spoonfuls and apologised to the waiter for asking it to be taken off the bill as it really wasn’t nice to eat.The waiter promptly came back over from returning it to the kitchen and told me it was “meant to be that crumbly because it was vegan”. Sorry, he said, but that’s the chef’s intended texture. I’ve had loads of vegan desserts that were moist and more importantly, delicious (who can go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate?!). That was, quite frankly, an unreasonable excuse in lieu of an admission for it being dry and tasteless. I really didn’t appreciate the dishonesty and attempt to cover up something that was clearly substandard... you could tell it was dry and anaemic by looking at it, let alone attempting to gather up enough crumbs on your fork to taste it!He said he’d take the coffee off my bill but I was surprised to see he still charged me full price for the dessert I didn’t eat. I work in the restaurant trade, this isn’t the correct way to deal with a customer send-back. I didn’t want to get into any more discussions around it so I just paid and left.Overall I would not recommend (unless you fancy a very nice drink in silence and under bright lights) and I certainly would not return.

Had a wonderful meal here . Food excellent and good quality. Good menu. Attentive but not over the top staff. We will definitely go again thank you

My wife and I had an enjoyable lunch at the Crab and Lobster yesterday.I had the Textures of Beetroot starter and my wife had the Crab & Prawn Cocktail. For the main course we both had the Fish of the Day which was Sea Bass.The service was attentive and the food excellent and attractive on the plate, although the portions were on the small side (hence the 4 star review).For dessert we shared the Rhubarb Parfait which was also good.The ambience was very relaxing and all in all it was a great experience. We will definitely return.

We have eaten at the restaurant a number of times & have never been disappointed & whilst staying in Selsey for a few days I decided to book a table of eight for family & friends for my wife's birthday. The food & the service was very good with everybody enjoying the food & the staff could not have been more helpful.We will definitely return.

This is the second time we have eaten here and we had another amazing meal , service was really good and staff were very helpful explaining the menu and very friendly , were made to feel very welcome , we bought my inlaws for a christmas treat and they loved it and will definitely be back next time they are down from london

Called in, having spotted The Crab and Lobster in our guide book. Really excellent. Lovely country pub with tons of charm and atmosphere close to pretty Pagham Harbour. Friendly service. We picked from the Christmas menu - very good indeed. Delicious chicken and mushroom pasta, and celeriac soup starters - then we both had the fabulous baked cod in a cumin and apple veloute with crab and potato fritters - yum, yum! Good wine list. Excellent value. Very small niggle - it was quite difficult to pay! Recommended.

Christmas work lunch. Quality as usual and your getting a taste that is at another level. Both fires pumping and super efficient service. Had the set Xmas lunch, 2 course and a memorable event for the team.

I really love this pub/inn/restaurant/hotel - whatever - because the welcome from superb staff and an excellent manager who has been there for 12 years!, and has an memory for previous clients and welcomes you back. Food as good as ever, somewhat pricey but the quality of either the pre lunch cocktails with real juniper berries in the G&T;, or the wine and the food, makes the 15% approx. premium to other local inns and pubs, totally acceptable! It's worth it! Well done once again !

Explained to the chap we were in a hurry and they rustled up two steak sandwiches in double fast time. Food was great, service excellent and the ambience fantastic.

found the Crab and Lobster from trip advisor and the result wqs perfect for us , great food great atmosphere.we will be back.

This time we visited at lunchtime, to celebrate a birthday. It is the sort of place that should only be used for a celebration unless you have a lot of money or are prepared to pay for glorious food. I selected the set menu and easily found 3 courses to meet my appetite and taste. The cheesecake was amazing - a totally different texture to the cheese - very creamy. The belly pork was very tasty and had plenty of meat (too often it is just fat). My fellow diners went off of the a la carte, and were all delighted with their choices. The dishes are all wonderfully presented. Mein host is very friendly and clearly enjoys his business and meeting his customers. Other staff were also pleasant, as was the chef (always remember to thank him through the doorway as you head to the car park - he does appreciate it). Starting to save up for the next visit. Plenty of choice for gluten free eating.

Faultless meal. The fish soup set the bar and there was no downhill from there. Excellent service, plentiful choice of beverages and every mouthful was a delight. Even simple things like bread were done very well. Save room for pudding!

i came here on my holiday and i was overwhelmed at the politeness of the staff there, the food was beyond perfect and i could eat tons of it. overall a lovely place to go.

Went here for a birthday dinner as a treat. Whilst I had had a look at the website and seen the pricing, I am always happy to pay for quality, however this restaurant appears to think because it has a captured audience of a wealthy area that it can charge Michelin prices for substandard service and food.

No-one would come across this lovely restaurant by accident; access is by winding narrow roads, but the effort is truly rewarding. Guests are welcomed and presented with a fine quality seafood menu, which is promptly and attractively served. Not cheap but still very good value.

We arrived around 2.45pm having driven past the road sign for the last 6 trips to Selsey!