Off the Rails in Isle of Wight

Best food we had on the island during our week long holiday. Everyone ate VERY well, including my 8 and 10 year olds. We will be back next time we are on the island!

The food was very very nice and a lovely way to start the morning. But it is important to note that they open at 9:00am and stop serving the breakfast menu at 10:45 so make sure you get there early enough to not be rushed to order and to not miss breakfast, as another group who came in at 10:40 were rushed to order and didn’t fully get that train station experience as they were not aware of this change of menu. However the interior is stunning and the menu is actually on a news paper making you feel immersed in the experience, and they even have pictures on the wall of what the restaurant and cycle path next to it used to look like when it was still a functioning train station. Over all we had a very nice time and will be returning!

Well this place was recommended to me by J A at LYC, we came for breakfast on Sunday 13th oct seven of us, I must say the service and food was beyond expectations, absolutely fantastic guys we are coming back. Keep up the good work and quality A

Really worth it best on foot or bike off the old railway line Car parking but limited. But really worth visiting.

Had lunch here , lovely welcome and service from the staff and the meals were simply superb. Highly recommended, a short walk from the centre of Yarmouth to the converted rail station which is really interesting, a must see visit.

Absolutely gorgeous. Roast dinners with a little twist. Sunday Roast beef bone marrow taco was delicious as was the Hotbox pork. Super impressed with the food thank you. Service superb too. Really attentive and friendly. Loved it.

Quant old fashioned railway station.!! With a restaurant.. what would Thomas beeching say!

Fabulous and unique restaurant/coffee shop. Beautifully decorated inside and nice outside seating. Really generous portions of good quality food. The non-alcoholic drinks menu is great. The home made pink lemonade is delicious.

Super chill vibes, enjoyed the food and beverages as well. They even have a special menu for dogs and you can buy food to feed the wild ducks next to the cafe!

Excellent meal. Never disappointed.

Great place for breakfast. Love all the old railway memorabilia.

What a rare delight! All in perfect keeping with the location. Excellent nature watching views and wonderfully innovative menu which did not disappoint any of our party. Thank you for a great experience and wonderful food.

Excellent place for brunch on a rainy morning, with a range of imaginatively presented dishes. Revisited for dinner recently and enjoyed the railway theme and cheery setting. Food generally good although the Hot Box chicken biriani was strangely padded out with whole tomatoes and halved new potatoes. Service friendly but petered out after the main course, so we eventually left without ordering dessert

Well I can honestly say BEST breakfast I have ever eaten in 43 years So delicious, good cooked to perfection, excellent portion for the price! The full English is banging

Really lovely location and the food was amazing. Menu comes newspaper style and has doggy menu. Staff greeted us with a smile and a bounce and looked after us really well. It's a really good find and a bonus with some great walking areas.

We visited here for lunch on the 05/09/2024. This place did not disappoint- the food and drinks were 10/10. The atmosphere of being in a train carriage was unique along with the added touches of food presentation and surrounding deco. This place has awards for being dog friendly and I can definitely see why. There is a separate menu for furry friends to have a bite to eat with a good choice from ice cream to biscuits. We managed to get a lunch booking the day before, so booking is definitely advised before visiting. If we ever visit the Isle of Wight again we will return ☺️

Great lunch whilst cycling round the island. Awesome ambience. Portions pretty huge. Chowder, fish finger sandwich and veggie burger were all five star. All staff were lovely as well. Suggest booking though...it was busy.

Lovely freshly baked scones and tea.. perfect after a lovely walk

Food is good, slightly more creative delivery of the dishes than usual. Service is good. Like some other reviews mentioned, they are very strict with their timings when they change service from breakfast to lunch to dinner. But it's fine. The atmosphere here is very chill, especially on a nice day, can imagine spending here a few hours, but we needed to rush on this occasion. Liked the burger more than fish and chips sandwich.

Belly Pork Sarnie Special Epic and delicious, so lovely to come back here again, the food is amazing, thank you.

It was closed, opening times are 9-4 wednesday to Sunday.

Great little place with some history and nice views over the countryside. We had the luggage burger which was excellent and whilst I'm not normally a shandy drinker, I had their special peroni shandy and it was very refreshing on a hot summers day! Will definitely be back if we visit Yarmouth again.

Really good food, at fair prices, but found the lack of kids menu, and the "polite notice to parents", a bit unnecessary and pretentious. Staff a little bit brusque, but still reasonably friendly. Would visit again if we were in the area but wouldn't make a special trip for it. Beautiful setting.

This place is brilliant, fantastic location tucked away on a great walking route. The staff polite and well informed, apologising that they couldn't squeeze us in for breakfast (book in advance peak season!). We returned for lunch instead and enjoyed a definite top ten gluten free burger! The only star lost was for service, but I do feel bad as the place was rammed and the staff definitely doing their best, we were charged a gratuity that I didn't feel was necessarily earned...but it's not a deal breaker and we will defo be returning. (Also, had an iced latte to go which was lovely, the staff rustled it up pretty quickly as we were in a rush....maybe that's what I should think the gratuitiy was for!)

Magical Dining Experience 🚂 A trip to Off The Rails, Yarmouth will transport you back in time and treat you to a uniquely themed dining experience and home of a former train station and platform. 🕰️ It is clear to see that the restaurant values the smaller details which makes the dining experience come alive, with menus coming on old fashioned newspapers, food delivered in luggage boxes and service through the ticket hatch, all adding to the brilliant ambiance both inside and out on the platform. 📰 🚂 🎟️ 🧳 Finally, the cherry on the cake, THE FOOD! WOW WOW WOW! Our socks were well and truly blown off! Both my partner and I had the luggage burger and we both agreed that this was one of the best burgers we had ever tasted! Presentation, flavour, quantity was second to none! 🍔 Cannot wait to return to try more of this delicious menu! 🌟 Recommendations: The Luggage burger, Fish singer sandwich 🍔 🧳 ⛔️ Drawbacks: Book before hand as it is very busy 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 / 5 Stars

As someone with deep experience in the restaurant industry and a palate that has been fortunate enough to sample some of the finest dining establishments around the world, I can confidently say that "Off The Rails" in Yarmouth is an absolute standout. It’s almost unbelievable that a place this exceptional is tucked away off the mainland, but perhaps that’s part of its charm. The food here is nothing short of extraordinary, no matter what you choose from the menu. The fish finger sandwich, in particular, truly earns its title as "the best in the world." It’s the kind of dish that lingers in your memory long after the last bite. What truly sets "Off The Rails" apart, however, is the consistency of its quality, even under challenging circumstances. During my recent visit, the kitchen was operating with just one chef, yet the standard of the food didn’t falter for a moment. It’s a testament to the skill and dedication of the team that they can deliver such excellence, regardless of the pressures they face. The staff here are nothing short of amazing. They are always welcoming, warm, and incredibly professional, even when under pressure. Their commitment to providing an outstanding experience is evident in every aspect of the service. "Off The Rails" is a hidden gem that deserves to be celebrated far beyond Yarmouth. If you have the opportunity to visit, don’t miss out on this incredible culinary experience—it’s a true treasure in the world of dining.

What a great concept! It's so cool to see this place transformed into a restaurant while preserving its history. The charm is undeniable, and the food is fantastic too. It's all very well done with a great twist. I'll definitely be coming back for the mackerel again. The only downside was the menu layout. While I appreciate the creative idea of turning it into a newspaper, it was hard to follow and didn’t make much sense. The kids and older people I was with struggled with it. The formatting changes were all over the place, which made it difficult to read and navigate.

We are local, passed by while out walking, intended to stop for quick coffee. Looks idealic, always wanted to try. Arrived at 3.25pm, well before closing time 4pm. Promptly tried to buy 2 coffee's, but were told they stopped serving so they could prepare for the evening service. If the signs etc say 4pm, then should be serving till 4pm. We only wanted 2 coffee's. Mid afternoon is peak time for coffee, and why does it take so long to prepare for the evening? Surely doesn't take 3 hours to clean a coffee machine. Looks idealic and were really looking forward to it, but sadly disappointed. Unlikely to return. Suggest the business revises their operating times on their signage.

A great experience, some quirky ideas that work well along with some quality food

Extremely rude staff. Went for drinks only at 2:15pm and was told could not be served with no explanation even though it was well before closing. Lots of empty tables. The girl was extremely rude. Customer service at its finest - not. No wonder the hospitality industry is on its knees with staff like that.

A group of 6 of us came including my toddler on Wednesday and we had the best time at Off The Rails. We have come since I was much younger and it s always been a family favourite of ours. The staff are so friendly and looked after us well. The restaurant and toilets are clean and the atmosphere was great. The duck feed and dog menu are great touches too 😁 the burger was one of the best burgers I’ve had and everyone loved their meals, we will definitely be returning🤩

Brilliant breakfast and great location! Service was excellent, menu had a good selection of items and it was very clean. Dog friendly and lovely decor. Highly recommend!

Enjoyed a very tasty meal here with the family. Obliging friendly staff. Unique railway station restaurant and setting with great views across the meadows. Good walks afterwards.

Been here several times before but feel that it has sadly changed for the worse. the menu has been narrowed and there was a real reluctance for any flexibility. Our waitress was not the friendliest (consistent with another trip advisor review). Food was ok, but not great. We sadly won't be coming back.

Been here several times before and always enjoyed it. On this visit we were only stopping for a drink. We were met by a very surly waitress who was just plain rude. We decided we weren't going to stay as a result and as we went to leave one of the other customers said she had been treated on exactly the same way. Maybe caught her on a off day but instead went and had a very enjoyable experience at the George which we also love.

After a wonderful visit earlier in the year, we travelled over from Lymington with family specifically for lunch at Off the Rails - and we weren’t disappointed! The food was absolutely fantastic! Dietary requirements were catered for with ease and we all had a delicious lunch. I had the Platform which was really delicious. Great puddings and good service, too - plus the wonderful views! Thank you for a fabulous lunch - we’ll be back!

Outstanding value for money and outstanding food probably one of the best places to eat on the island

A great little find. We sat outside in the sunshine on the former platform of the station. There is a great choice of food and drink - all cleverly set out in an old newspaper style menu. The food is served in a variety of quirky dishes / containers - adding to the unique charm of the former station. All of our choices were amazing and were accompanied by a great selection of cold juices. The staff were very friendly and efficient and I would highly recommend a visit here for some food before embarking on one of the many walking routes that are recommended on the cafe's website.

Best breakfast we have ever tasted and staff welcoming and happy

What an amazing find this was! Staff were lovely, food was incredible with very generous portions sizes, the view was wonderful, and dogs and kids welcome to boot. Will definitely be coming back.

Wow. What a find! VERY impressed. Will go again when we pick up visitors from the mainland. Our son and daughter in law really loved it as much as us.

After a little difficulty making a reservation we were welcomed by enthusiastic staff. The menu was wide and our choice was excellent. Despite the high demand the staff were cheerful and anxious to please. We wish them well.

Lovely quirky restaurant with a unique theme and a surprisingly varied and tasty venue.

Used to go here a lot when cycling the island, but was disappointed this time. Just wanted a simple sandwich, but took ages to navigate a ridiculous, newspaper-style menu, and finally found some for £14. Left and went to the Alpaca place instead.

Welcoming cafe with cakes, good coffee and delicious homemade lemonade.

I cannot fault the experience I had here today, booked online about 2 hours prior to arrival, the staff were very very friendly, I was amazed at the theme and experience, the food completely surpassed expectations and although not the cheapest, very good value for money; you pay for what you get here. When asked if there any allergies they should be aware of, my partner was greeted with great understanding of her dairy intolerance, the vegan option that she had was great! I will be returning and will be recommending highly.

We haven't been here for a while but standard is still excellent. Chowder rates with some of the best I have eaten.

Lovely setting; sitting on the old platform with all the bunting was delightful. Staff were friendly; nice selection of cakes. We had the Victoria sponge which was yummy! Nice setting inside as well. Delightful little cafe all round!

Fabulous quirky place, absolutely delicious creative food to match the decor, and friendly, helpful staff.

What an absolute gem of a place! Quirky and delightful with very good quality food. Booking is essential as there is limited capacity and it fills up quickly for very good reasons. The menu is not hundreds of pages deep but the food that is on offer is uniquely presented and is of very high quality. The menu states there isn't a child's menu, but several of the main dishes can be scaled for smaller appetites and presented in a fun childs box. The only reason service was graded as 4 stars out of 5 is the time it can take for food to arrive when the restaurant is busy. Certainly not the level of service delivered by the staff who were friendly, helpfully and informative about the menu. If your not on a time limit then this wouldn't be an issue, however the parking near the restaurants is a max of 2 hours in the day, so if your looking for several courses during busy times this could get tight. Eating is available both inside and out with larger outside tables for menu dining and smaller tables for tea and cake orders only.

This is a jewel beyond compare in the Island's crown. I will never forget the special I had on Sunday 9th June or the amazing people who work there. I'm moving in.....

Wonderful service and good food, very peaceful place.

Arrived and discovered what looked like a lovely place but only had one couple eating inside. Was seated at a table and given menus then ignored while multiple staff were passing by. Finally a lad came to take order, then coldly told us that the food would start to be cooked in 10 mins. When questioned why not now, they told us they only start lunch menu at 12pm and breakfast had just finished. This is a serious pet hate of ours when a cafe/restaurant cant be bothered to do an order when customers want to eat. We walked out and will not return again. Had this been handled better we may have stayed and waited but clearly not valued as customers.

Excellent food and service. Would use this place for all of our meals while visiting the island if we could 😉. Bloody lovely 😍 We have been back again since the last time. Slightly different menu, but it's still the same great flavour and quality that we love.😁👍

At first we wasn’t sure as the menu is very limited and not flexible but omg what we chose was delicious

Every time we visit the Isle of Wight we always treat ourselves to lunch here after a long dog walk. The food is always very good, the restaurant is doggy friendly and the staff are friendly and accommodating. Love the styling, the nod to the buildings original use as a train station and the train memorabilia that decorates the interior. Definitely recommend!

Never disappointed. The chowder is tremendous, come with their own ciabatta and charcoal butter to stick to the theme of trains. Really brilliant atmosphere, location and theme. Looking forward to going.. again!

Amazing spot - beautiful views, delicious menu - great drinks. Hidden away so make the effort to come here, one of the best spots on IOW!

Exceeded expectations. Genuinely dog friendly and a fantastic menu. Friendly staff were able to accommodate my food allergies without fuss or bother. Highly recommended.

Good views over the River nice place to sit outside and enjoy breakfast Cycle hire and track to explore

Always a pleasure to eat here, staff are great, food is delicious, we've been a few times . Love it.

Amazing place! Lovely location, friendly staff and gorgeous food!!

What a beautiful spot for lunch with amazing food and great service. The fish finger sandwich was excellent.

Fantastic food, extremely tasty and interestingly presented! Well worth a visit if you're in Yarmouth and fancy a bite to eat. Very busy, expect people may need to book in advance, rather than guaranteed table if dropping in. There's more seating outdoors, which if weather is dry, may facilitate more of a table guarantee for walk ins! Great place!

Came here on Easter Sunday at 2pm, place was half empty and we were told that it was fully booked. Absolutely ridiculous.

Wow! What a gem this place is. Really impressive food, really well prepared and cooked. The menu concept and dishes are incredible. Service was really good. Can't wait to come back.

Lovely place to stop on a bike ride. 👍

Friendly service and delicious food!

The breakfast was fantastic, definitely recommend visiting here.

Not to be missed dining experience. Great breakfast menu

We only stopped for coffee, so can't comment on the food but the service and atmosphere was lovely so would definitely go back for food.

Great place and excellent friendly staff

Lovely tasty breakfast 😋 service friendly. We rate their breakfast the best on the island. Our dog enjoyed a venison, blackpudding sausage from the doggie menu. Can't wait to return

Come very hungry….the lunches are HUGE….as well as quirky. Not the place for a straightforward sandwich, these are sandwiches with attitude, so may not be for some. The dirty fries are amazing….I had to take half my sandwich home, Also the cakes are all gf and delicious.

What a wonderful surprise! Hidden away but worth seeking out - food and atmosphere are brilliant! The team are all so lovely and the food is outstanding! Reasonably priced for the quality

Myself and my boyfriend had the most delicious breakfast ever. Lovely atmosphere and very welcoming staff. Highly recommend

A cafe with variety of food options on the menu. My fav is pancakes 🥞😋

The views are as good as the coffee

brilliant food served nicely by staff. very nice service and lovely products. dog friendly. thank you. Great experience..

We called in here for a spot of lunch for my partners birthday having walked the Llamas at West Wight Alpacas. Lunch service was coming to an end but they fitted us in OK. The menu comes in a newspaper format which is novel with some pretty good menu james for the dishes all pertaining to railway theme. I had the firebox sandwich was packed with meat and cheese and loads of pickle. It tasted very much like a New Yorker but with different meats. Partner had the cheese based sandwich presented like a huge fish cake full of different cheeses and on a bed of pesto and tomato ketchup homemade sauce. We were both stuffed we didn't eat our dinner later that evening. The whole experience was fab.

Superb service and lovely food, will certainly be going back!

Wowzas - what a fabulous breakfast we had! The attention to detail at Off The Rails is superb, from the clever way the menu is put together ( no spoilers.. ) to the way in which the dishes are constructed. It takes a lot for my dad to use superlatives other than fine, and whilst eating his veggie breakfast called ‘Mind the Gap’ he described the sausages as ‘perfectly cooked’ and the beans as ‘delightful’! I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Steam Train’ breakfast and the chefs deserve all the accolades and praise that comes their way. The whole team were yet again excellent - nothing is too much trouble and the cohesion and communication between the staff means the service here is brilliant. This most recent visit happened to fall on my birthday and there were special touches from start to finish which really made the experience and meal extra special! The location of Off The Rails means you eat with a beautiful view of the Yarmouth marshes - with flora and fauna providing a stunning backdrop. Thank you to everyone - we will be back for breakfast, brunch or lunch very soon!

Visited Off the Rails earlier this month and had a lovely lunch with my husband and friends. I thought I would write a review and checked previous reviews and was extremely surprised to see the bad notice about the service to wheelchair users. My husband is a wheelchair user and we have had nothing but helpful and courteous service from the staff. We always book in advance and are usually given extra space round the table to allow for a wheelchair. The staff are always friendly and accommodating to our needs. We have been visiting the restaurant for several years now and have had good service on every occasion. If you are a wheeelchair user and take notice of the earlier review you are missing out on good food and an enjoyable experience.

My wife thought it was the best white onion soup ever. Great location in what was a train station with a cycle-hire shop attached. On a cycle path and a short stroll from Yarmouth town centre.

Went for lunch last week while having a short break on the island……what a lovely place!!! Great service, friendly and efficient. Fabulous menu and food…..go hungry!!!! Even the dog got a treat!!! So refreshing to feel there was nothing to feel dissatisfied with!!

Incredible food! Definitely coming back again and again 😁 this was my second visit xx

I wish all pub owners would take their chefs on a day out to this restaurant to actually show them what can be done without using a microwave in a small kitchen. The food they serve is excellent. I must have been there over a dozen times and I have always had a great meal. You would have to go to a restaurant that changes £50-£100 for a main to eat better. They have a relatively small menu (probably a dozen mains), but this is what you want. You want a chef/kitchen that knows how to cook 12 great meals rather than having to cook 30 meals badly using a microwave because they have everything on the menu to cater for every-one. Please don't change. I love this restaurant and tell every-one about you.

At last! After living here nearly 2 years I ate at this wonderfully quirky restaurant set in an old railway station/waiting room etc. Fabulous menu set in a “newspaper”! Huge range of drinks & food, all priced in accordance with most places of this calibre. Service was outstanding from Tom and also from other team members. I had a cheese sandwich “unlike any other” and my goodness so it was - but no spoilers here. Desserts were lush as well, Chef clearly has a good palate & food was presented beautifully. A special shout out for the hot chocolate, definitely one of the best I’ve had. Highly recommend but I suspect booking is recommended in high season.

We arrived at the restaurant after completing the walk that was suggested by the owners to find that, despite the walk being suggested by the restaurant we would not be allowed in due us and our dogs being slightly muddy. This seems strange as the restaurant is advertised as totally dog friendly and since the walking route was suggested by the restaurant owners, you would expect they would know the route would be muddy. We arrived hungry and tired and despite arriving at least an hour before the time advertised for last orders. We were told they were not, in fact serving food in a snobbish fashion. I would recommend not bothering to visit this place as there are many other nice places in Yarmouth.

One of the best Sunday roasts had for a long time, full of flavour

Nice place! Food was pretty good, although pricey. Nice place to be though.

I thought that after 7 years of using a wheelchair I was pretty confident of my abilities and of my chair. I actually considered myself a relatively intelligent human being. Luckily for me, the owner reminded me that (as a wheelchair user) I'm a feeble minded idiot by informing me I can't dine outside in case I fall off the platform.

A must visit! Food was fantastic! Service and atmosphere incredible!

We were staying in Brighstone with friends to celebrate a birthday. Our booking for Off The Rails was made in April !! Our friends had visited before and had said that this was the place to have the “best roast dinner ever”. So expectations were high ! Well we weren’t disappointed. What a roast!! We had lamb, fish and chips and the vegetarian roast and all were excellent. Our surroundings were incredible with an amazing, quirky attention to detail. Lovely, attentive staff and a fabulous chef.

This is so good. Off the usual waterfront and on the path of the disused railway line. The station has been converted jnto a wonderful restaurant/Cafe. The menu is inventive printed in the style of an old newspaper. The atmosphere was friendly and cosy. But let's not forget why we wrnt....The food....Delicious. We had the vegan chix burger and the fish goujon sandwich. Well it was a fish goujon sandwich like no other. It had chips, mushrd peas and yummy tartar sauce. But rhe best bit was the mint vinegar pritzer. I'm a mint sauce on my mushy peas kind of person...so this just ticked all the boxes. So good.My husband got a caramel milkshake made with Mr Whippy ice cream topped with whipped cream and cherry. The inside of the glass was drizzled with extra caramel...so decedent! Give this place a visit for unique comfort food prepared really well and served freshh and hot. The young lady rhat served us was chatty, helpful and so lovely. An all round success.

One of my new favorites. Absolutely love this place. Staff are all very lovely. Sunday roast was the best I've had since I can remember! and it really does feel like you are sitting amongst history. Such a great vibe. Highly recommended 👌

Just stumbled across this little station whilst walking our two dogs and waiting for the ferry. It was all set up for Sunday lunch but they kindly cleared a table for us to have a coffee and cake. So glad we did. Even our dogs enjoyed their treats offered by very friendly, courteous staff.

We had an excellent roast dinner at Off the Rails. Both ourselves and our dog were made to feel very welcome. Service was swift, friendly and attentive. The portion size was enormous and everything on the plate was absolutely delicious!

Gorgeous roast dinner and great value - they could charge more!

If you don’t eat here, you really are missing a great menu! It’s a surprising little spot, the old station at Yarmouth, the decor fabulous, the ambience tremendous and staff welcoming and very accommodating. The view over the marshes even on a grey day is filled with wild fowl going about their business. So the food……we had the homemade soup which was creamy and delicious, the bread crusty & warmed. We thought we would have a cheese sandwich with it but boy were we in for a surprise. They say it’s a sandwich that “you’ve never experienced before” they were quite right we hadn’t!