Pestle & Mortar in Lewes

We met up with our daughter and 9 month old grandson in Lewes on Tuesday 22 April and decided to have our lunch at this little place. We had eaten here previously a couple of years ago and remembered it being very good. Once again we were made very welcome by the owner and staff, and were shown to a lovely table in the corner by the window. We wondered if it might be quite awkward with a pushchair, but the staff were very friendly, helpful and accommodating. Nothing was too much trouble and the man kindly helped us with a high chair for our little grandson. One of us has dairy, gluten and egg allergies, but this was not an issue at all here, and the staff were helpful with the food options. There were many dishes on offer and we all had a variety to choose from. The food we all chose was spicy, delicious, plentiful and flavourful, all cooked fresh to order. This is an Asian noodle bar and eatery, with specials boards and an Asian grocery store selling a variety of items. It is a comfortable casual environment with indoor and secluded outdoor seating and complimentary pretty decor. We enjoyed our lunch here immensely and would definitely recommend and return next time we are down in Lewes. Thank you

Just the kind of off the beaten track eatery that delights. A wonderful menu of noodle soups, curries, baguettes, sides and cakes. Inside tables plus a secluded courtyard garden. Friendly, cheerful staff. The red curry was served with mixed rice and a salad. Full of pork and fresh veg. Delicious. They also sell a variety of groceries. Highly recommended.

This place is such a Lewes gem. Incredibly tasty well-executed dishes and interesting soft drinks. We had lunch for 2 for £30 - 2 mains and 2 drinks - and it was the most delicious meal I’ve had in ages. Friendly service too. Not many tables inside but a sunny sheltered terrace in the back.

I've been meaning to write up my review of Pestle & Mortar for months now, but life has got in the way! A shame really, as people need to know just how good this place is. I've been pescatarian for 20 years, vegetarian for 20 years before that, and was a regular writer for Pat Chapman's Good Curry Guides. I've eaten at a lot of Asian eateries of all shapes and sizes and Pestle & Mortar really is up there with the best. I visited with my daughter, who had the Chicken Laksa, while I had the Tofu Laksa. Prior to that we shared the Vegetable Gyoza. Suffice to say it was all superb; fragrant, beautifully spiced and light-yet-filling. We were able to sit outside in the walled garden/ courtyard, which was pleasingly busy, certainly for a weekday lunchtime. Highly recommended!!

It’s been a while since I visited so I was delighted that P & M is just as good as ever. We both had the belly pork noodle soup- I had medium chilli with rice noodles - just right. Oh and the folk there are lovely!

Really lovely food in cute garden - friendly and laid back staff and great Asian food. Good value as well

Run by a local family this lovely place serves food in, take away and also has a grocery store selling a wide range of products. They also have a lovely garden in Summer. The food is wonderful. I recently took a friend for the first time and she was delighted with the food. If you love this type of food then this is a real treat

Went here to get some grocery shopping while passing on the way to Brighton and stopped for some noodles and Vietnamese coffee it’s very busy but it’s busy for a reason because the food is amazing defiantly worth waiting for I had pork belly noodles and chicken wings with papaya salad they also do some really nice looking cakes but I was already too full up to try them so I’ll have to wait until next time defiantly worth a visit whether your after some Asian groceries or just after something to eat I think we will be visiting this place regularly from now on!

Travelled in South East Asia and this was reminiscent. Lovely people and a great choice, especially for vegies and vegans.

This was an interesting place to go for a simple lunch. The food was plain but well made. There was outside space where it was pleasant to sit. For me the best thing about this place was that there was no hovering of waiting staff, Indeed the service was adequate but not quite friendly.

We had Vietnamese coffe for two, chicken noodle soup and a baguette. All utterly delicious, freshly cooked and reasonable prices

Excellent food and relatively cheap. Amazing flavours. Really enjoyed my Bamh mi. Plenty of other options on the menu and a great little courtyard. The vietnamese coffee is a must try

What a cute little place not far from the train station. The tofu masaman was so flavoursome with scummy rice. One friend had noodles, other had the salad. Everyone enjoyed their food and the service was fast and friendly. Fabulous oriental food items in sale, must get the sweet potato noodles next time we go. Happy to recommend for a yummy lunch 🍜

I've visited this place a few times and have been impressed every time. Today was no exception - my pork banh mi was very good and the service was friendly and quick. Highly recommended.

This is a lovely hidden gem, the food is so clean and the staff are so nice. Amazing flavour and taste I'm glad I came here. This is amazing for lunch but if you want dinner go to Erawan its next to it and Thai.

Lovely hidden little gem of a place that does fantastic food. Service is friendly and efficient, surprisingly big garden out back..

Delicious Thai/Vietnamese food, served in a friendly environment. We love it and go there the whole time - best place for lunch in lewes - hands down!

Delicious, flavourful food and lovely staff. A great spot for lunch in Lewes, lots of vegetarian and vegan options. The dishes are mostly authentic Thai and Vietnamese dishes. They also have a well stocked Asian Grocery store and seating in the garden in the spring and summer.

Came here for Saturday lunch. Pork belly noodle was absolutely delicious. Slightly cramped inside which is a bit frustrating but certainly won't deter us from returning.

I was looking for something for lunch. Found this place and its the best Vietnamese food I have had in ages. Banh Mhi was spot on. I will definitely be coming back next time I am in lewes.

Went in for lunch with a friend. Food was fantastic, best Thai food I've had in Britain! Ended up buying ingredients to make it again at home. Good atmosphere and hosts

Great food and always good for vegans and vegetarians. Think this is a really welcoming place with a great menu.

I love it here, such lovely staff and a much needed addition to the Lewes food scene. Home cooked, tasty food and reasonably priced. If I had one tiny draw back it’s that the food is very occasionally a bit hit and miss - I think after a very busy service maybe surprised the kitchen? I’ve had the veg clear broth noodle soup several times - it’s usually DELICIOUS but last time very watery and bland with a simple sliced button mushroom and tiny piece of tofu rather than the usual bountiful ingredients as if they’d run out and rushed a batch whereas I’d probably have just left it off the menu. Other than that it is generally a fantastic place!

This is a great place to eat if you enjoy authentic tasting Asian food. Visited at the weekend with my family . We sampled a variety of dishes including salad, curry , spring rolls , summer rolls and a baguette. Everyone enjoyed the food. The attitude and service of the staff was very hospitable Andre the venue - part cafe and part delicatessen shop- was full of charm. We ate in the sheltered garden . Can’t wait to return .

Great food, very nice service and unique and lovely space. This in not a chain and it's unique to Lewes. I highly recommend a visit.

We visited this place for lunch and the food was exceptional. Very fresh and beautifully presented. We could have happily eaten anything on the menu - there were so many great choices with a special every day! There is a lovely garden at the back. Staff were friendly and helpful and you can stock up on some Asian grocery supplies. Great value for money. We will definitely be back frequently!

I keep thinking I should extend my horizons here but the pork banh mi is just too good! Lovely crusty baguette, succulent pork, crispy and tangy fillings, and a choice of dressings. I always have sriracha.In the past I’ve had a beef noodle soup too, deeply savoury and slithery, warming for a chilly lunchtime.They sell lots of interesting fresh, frozen and processed foods and the people running it are all lovely too.

Lovely place for lunch with great garden. Had vegan broth which was very good and friend had one of the salads.

Absolutely love this place for buying lunch, ingredients or just a coffee. Its run by a lovely couple and they really put their heart into there place. Definitely visit!!

With Thai, Malay and Vietnamese dishes on offer it is difficult to choose. The flavours are all authentic and food freshly prepared. If you want alcohol take your own, there is no licence. Delicious food. Will certainly visit again.

Sat outside in the sun in their sweet garden at the back and had their noodle salad which was great. Really good choice of Asian dishes and friendly people who run it. Really good.

Visited and got a takeaway sandwich, was very tempted to get the delicious looking noodles or curry when inside but decided to stick with the sandwich and I'm very glad I did! You can pick from a variety of fillings and also pick different sources. The staff were friendly and helpful and there was a lovely atmosphere inside. For £5.50 the sandwich was an absolute bargain as it was enough for two adults. Cannot wait to visit again.

Flavourful freshly made food: noodle soup, curries, Bánh mì (sandwiches). Spicy and mild options available. Also delicious tea, coffee and cakes. Friendly service.

Fantastic banh mi, pho and Thai curry to name just a few of the delicious homemade dishes served at this lovely family run restaurant. Totally recommend this lovely restaurant to anyone who loves authentic Thai and Vietnamese food.

Really amazing food, we had pork belly noodles and it was delicious! Owners are super friendly and helpful! Great place to go for lunch!

This is a brilliant place for an Asian-style lunch treat in a characterful little shop-cafe. It's a few hundred yards from Lewes station, so worth stopping off to eat and to buy all sorts of Asian ingredients. Just up the hill from the equally brilliant but much bigger Depot - try this for a change. Everything is fresh-cooked, and goes from vegan to omnivorous, Thai or Vietnamese style; there are noodle-type soups, green curries, and a Vietnamese speciality of baguettes with Asian fillings. You can sit at a sunny table in the little shop or in the peaceful courtyard at the back. These people really deserve to flourish. And they take Lewes pounds - well done them!

Having visited a few times now I can thoroughly recommend this Thai cafe. You can order to eat in or take away- if only they were open later in to the evening! The quality of the food has always been outstanding and beautifully presented and the service friendly and helpful. And, if you are then inspired to cook, the shop has plenty of wonderful ingredients to buy and take away.

Great little place with wonderful owners and delicious, well priced lunches. All food I've had here has been top notch.

We had pork noodle soup for lunch here - what a lovely find. Our meals took us to Asia rather than to an Asian restaurant in UK. Delicious. Limited menu which is wise for a small place and very welcoming staff. Round the corner from The Depot so very convenient for a meal before the cinema. We’ll be back soon

very nice lunch, Thai noodle salad, pop in for lunch you wont be disappointed, i also bought some of the Asian ingredients including the Thai green curry paste. for somewhere a little different

We loved this little eatery, we had one of the best curries ever, beautifully presented and delicious, the owners were lovely and were very helpful, two of our party were vegan and were very impressed with the choice. The food is cooked to order and reasonably priced, we returned the following day for more and sat in the quiet, secluded garden on a perfect late afternoon. I have to say that was nearly 2 weeks ago and we are still talking about it, a real find

I think this cafe is great. Been a few times and the food is really lovely - fresh and simple Asian food. The summer rolls are really good as are the salads and the soups and the noodles! Really good for vegetarians as well. There is a little garden at the back which is great to sit in and they also sell Asian food. It’s a mixture of Thai/Vietnamese but they also do cakes. Nice atmosphere and friendly people run it.

I visited this cafe with my daughter for a lunch time treat and we were impressed. We both ordered vegetarian Tom Yum Soup and it was delicious so fresh and tasty. We were told we could adjust the level of spice, we went for medium which still packed a punch, it was delicious. The staff were really friendly and it was quite busy, on a rainy Thursday lunchtime, obviously a popular place. Will definitely go there again to try out the other items on the menu