Rex Piano Bar and Restaurant in Isle of Wight

Went to celebrate a family birthday with family and friends and I could not believe the poor service we got after pre-ordering our starters mains and desserts weeks before the event, everything came out it dribs and drabs. The starters were ok the mains were anything but. In our group of 4 the chicken in white wine was poor with hardly any sauce and the rice was clumpy, My vongolae was passable but not much taste and two fillet steaks were dry and seemed liked they had been cooked then placed under hot lights to keep warm and were only fit for our dog when we got home. I had cheese board which lets face it you cant really muck up, while the Creme brulle was actually burnt and even after taking of the very burnt top it still tasted burnt. We did have a few drinks but couldnt believe the £250.00 bill. I did not complain as it may have spoilt the night for the rest of our group but I will never visit again and would deffo not recommend to anyone

Came here last time we stayed in Ventnor and had a very enjoyable return on a quiet Friday night. The host is very friendly and welcoming. The food was excellent: linguine with fresh clams was an authentic dish served as a generous portion. Excellent wine list, too. Watching the sun go down over the bay from our window table made for a memorable last night before our return home. We highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to coming again next time we are on the Island.

Visited The Rex last night for dinner with my husband whilst staying in Ventnor. We received a warm welcome and the food was absolutely amazing. Lovely cold beers and prosecco too, all with a lovely view of the sea! Will definitely be returning!

Please don't let the negative reviews sway you! This place is a real hidden gem and has such a lovely atmosphere with views across the Ventnor coastline. We were lucky enough to be there when the pianist was playing which added to the ambience as we ate and watched the sun go down. The food was absolutely stunning! The prawns with garlic butter and the gnocchi were chefs kiss, and all the desserts we had were just as indulgent . The staff were so sweet and kind to us during our visit, we almost felt like we were dining at home, it was just a really warm and welcoming feeling we felt during our time there. Thank you so much for a lovely meal and we hope to come back again soon!

We’ve just got home from another memorable dinner at The Rex. My wife has to follow a careful diet and they accommodated all her requirements, we couldn’t have asked for anything more. We had our youngest daughter, who was celebrating her 21st birthday, with us and of course they made a big fuss of her. We watched the cruise liners going down the channel from the big picture windows and then the weather fronts coming up the other way. The service was, as always, attentive but not overwhelming. It was just what we wanted, we’ll keep going back again and again.

Average food to start with. Totally disorganised in service. Staff running up up and down inside. Food came but no cutlery. And then worst part - they DO NOT. Accept foreign credit cards. None of our cards worked on his machine and he started shouting at us. Will never ever go here again.extremely insulting behaviour by the owner.

Went for an early dinner with my wife and daughter (8). We were the second group in the restaurant at 18:30 so service was good to start with. However, by 19:30 we had finished our main course but the restaurant had filled up and with just two waiting the tables we waited 30mins and with empty plates and glasses, before getting the bill and leaving. How was the food? I had sea bass which was OK but the rice was not fresh and had been reheated (it was dry and stuck together). Polo Funghi was very excellent, King prawn tagliatelle was OK!. My wife orders a gin and tonic which was £5 on the menu but £12 on the bill, we did not ask for a double!. I guess it is what it is, but definitely not repeatable........

We were both very impressed with this restaurant , I started with a cheese souffle (special} followed by a well presented chicken. My wife really enjoyed the fish . Bad weather meant there were only 3 covers so the owner had time to chat. This is not really a pasta and pizza restaurant but one that cares about the food and its presentation.

Great food with lots views. Lovely ambiance with good music but not too loud so you can hold a conversation. Portions aren’t too big so you can have a gorgeous dessert too. Staff are friendly and attentive. We went 3 times in a week which says it all really! Not really suitable for children.

Lovely greeting but food leaves a lot to be desired Had four small pasta dishes we could have cooked better at home. Left most of it and the waitress never even asked if we had enjoyed our meal, which spoke volumes Do your self a favour and buy a can of spaghetti from the supermarket and save yourself £165

Love this place! It was a Sunday evening, and we had the best time! We had a fantastic table with a view right across Ventnor and the sea, lovely food ( the goats cheese, fish soup and peperonata were a real delight!), and the desserts were also wonderful. The owner, Abdel, made us feel so well looked after- I would go back in a heartbeat!

I’m sat here at the venue as I write this. PHENOMENAL. The owner is so friendly and accommodating. The food was honestly the best gnocchi I have ever had. One to visit for sure! Thank you The Rex! Xx

RACIST Staff, I am never the one to write reviews, but I honestly can't believe the treatment that my family and I received from the old man (who seemed to be the manager) behind the bar who greeted us so rudely... so my family and I were reluctant to try The Rex as we had looked at the reviews previously and there were many complaints about unfair treatment of families with young children and also mixed race families, which we also happen to be.. My mum was the 1st to walk in as my sister, dad and I were trailing behind and when the older gentlemen saw my mum he welcomed her into the restaurant but as soon as he saw us he said that we were not allowed to come in as, and I quote, " people are trying to eat " and shooed us away like naughty children, we were in complete SHOCK at his behaviour... It was DISGUSTING. Therefore, this restaurant doesn't even deserve 1 star.

Always wonderful food and ambience. Large portions. Fantastic view. Abdel, the proprietor, always welcomes one like an old friend.

I see reviews are very mixed. Just one man (owner?) served the entire restaurant so service was a little sporadic but very attentive and friendly. Its a shame that not everyone has been shown such a warm welcome as us. For us, this was the best meal of our entire holiday. This was also the opinion of our teenage children who can be difficult to please. Menu was short but I like this as, for me, it shows attention to detail. We shared a garlic bread to start between en us - delicious. Mains were great. Authentic lasagne, pizza and crab spaghetti. Portions were moderate, but I prefer quality over quantity and don't want to leave feeling stuffed. Would definitely return if I could.

What a lovely restaurant. Wonderful service and delicious food. The views over the sea are beautiful. Reassuring short menu, 3 pasta dishes, 3 pizzas and a range of desserts. The service was so lovely, even with two restless little girls. We had the crab spaghetti- it was the best I’ve tasted, lemon polenta cake and espresso was also perfect.

We have had some seriously good meals this holiday, including at Rick Steins and a 4 start hotel in Ventnor, this meal topped them both. The Rex is a smallish Italian Reataurant with great views of Ventnor beach. The menu is small but caters for...

We wanted a meal out on our first evening on the Isle Wight - Friday 29th July, 2022. I had read some poor reviews and also some good ones, although where they came from having been there I have no idea. We can only describe...

This place may seem a little odd and away from the main cluster of restaurants but it is worth a visit. The food is exceptional and the owner, a lovely Italian man was a lovely host. We dropped by with no booking but were made...

I popped into the Rex this evening as my son was literally desperate for the toilet. Having just arrived on the Island today we were also going to try and book a table for the weekend, but the waiter came storming over to us straight...

Enquired about booking a table for that evening on the off-chance they had one free. Very chatty (a bit too much) 'host' took reservation and agreed time. On arrival cold reception given - only the 'host' and a woman seemed to be front of house...

Dined many times. Excellent food and Abdel the owner and host is always happy and serving his customers personally. The views are stunning looking down to Ventnor beach and the sea.

The only thing better than the views is the food. The spaghetti with crab and lemon was incredible. Great service. Will definitely go back.

Family of four - relaxed dining lovely atmosphere and amazing food. Steak, crab pasta being our favourites. The tiramisu and semi freddo - delicious! Will certainly return in the summer xxx

We visited as a family group of 8 including 3 small children. We found the owner to be very friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious and the views stunning. Would highly recommend!

This is an excellent resturant in ventnor!!!! Abdel is so welcoming and lovely, and also so polite! Not only is the service good, the food is AMAZING! Most of it is handmade, with alot of care and thought into making it good food for a...

We recently had a week in Ventnor, and visited the Rex 4 nights. It has a wonderful balcony area with stunning views, which is great for a sundowner to watch the sunset. The food is really good, very tasty and good value. REALLY good pasta,...

Been here several times and it is always a fantastic experience. Food and service excellent. A little out of town but well worth it.

We stumbled across this restaurant, after finding that most restaurants in Ventnor were closed off-season. It had a good range of Italian menu options, including vegan and vegetarian selections. The manager was very attentive and the food was delicious. The restaurant also has lovely views...

This restaurant is amazing fantastic food amazing service and serves gluten free !!! Wonderful !! Thank you

My family enjoyed a delicious meal and a warm Italian welcome at the Rex on a windy February evening. The pizza, pasta and desserts were all excellent and the sweet potato gnocchi was a tasty take on a Italian classic. We will definitely be returning!

Valentines night, late notice booking, and The Rex were one of the few restaurants open and happy to accommodate. The food was excellent; we can highly recommend the Venison Ragu and the Steak (rare - cooked perfectly). But, the best part was the most hard working, friendly and attentive owner/manager, who did all of the front of house/bar tending on his own, efficiently. We will most certainly book here again on out next visit.

What a great dinner very high standard the chef prepared a vegetarian dish at a moments notice due to my dislike of mushrooms, It was very tasty ,3 courses plus a welcome drink .The others had excellent dinners too ,Relaxing hospitality cosy and lovely piano player and staff ,Highly recommended thank you Christmas day was special at The Rex .

The meal was brilliant - as a family of 5 we had a wonderful three course meal - all outstanding meals without exception. The speed of service was very good, the owner was very attentive despite being busy with a full restaurant. The steak was the best we have had for a very long time! The Polenta cake - amazing!!The views were beautiful - super location. We will certainly be popping back on our next break - could not fault it

I went here with my family there were 4 of us and we had a wonderful time. The food was delicious and quick. All homemade and tasted fresh and no faults. Very welcoming with the host made us feel like we were at home. Unfortunately, he did make one meal incorrectly but replaced it fairly quickly. The owner was very polite and helpful and his friend played live piano jazz music which was very nice. We had tiramisu for pudding and it was delicious tasted wonderful and the perfect serving. Would definitely come here again the atmosphere was peaceful and calm perfect for a nice meal.

They were short staffed and heavily booked but agreed to fit us in early. We enjoyed a very tasty Italian meal and the service was excellent despite the rapidly filling tables. The room is a "piano bar" theme with views over the bay and some tables outside. It was driving rain and blowing a gale so we stayed in the dry! Highly recommended.

We booked as a four and had read reviews that were mixed. The food was always well reviewed but often the service comments were less than favourable. Our evening tonight gave us an insight as to why. The food was sensational. Steak, chicken milanese and seafood frito simply amazing. But the real star was Abdul who whizzes around on his own getting the food out and getting orders taken. If you want fast food then walk on by. If you want great food served in a timely but not hasty manner then book a table at The Rex. Loved it.

We visited this restaurant at the end of September. We had read the various reviews of the restaurant but found the owners to be very helpful and charming. We both had filet steak which was amazing. I was told off for not eating all my greens but we had a great night. I would recommend booking early as it does fill up quickly.

Views and food to die for.....Firstly we had the olives I have never such large sweet ones before. I had the Steak meal, and the meat was cooked to perfection. The wife had the Frito Misto again perfection.They certainly have a very good chef, and the Bottle of Merlot we had was of the highest quality. We came away very pleased.

This was a real find. The menu is fairly small which leads to great quality food. There is a good reasonably priced wine list. We were there for dinner but I am sure that early evening or lunch on the deck area overlooking Ventnor beach would be lovely.Good very friendly service.

I had read the very varied reviews about this restaurant but not to be put off we booked for dinner as it was only a few steps from our holiday apartment. I can honestly say we weren’t disappointed, the owner welcomed us and although our table wasn’t outside to start with, when we asked he moved us onto the balcony as soon as a table became available. A young waitress took our order and our drinks arrived quickly. Both the waitress and owner were very attentive. The food was delicious, especially the steak and the view from the balcony is wonderful. Lovely relaxing atmosphere with the piano playing in the background, we enjoyed it so much we have rebooked for the last evening of our holiday.

We had read reviews that children under 12 were not welcome. However, after struggling to find space in restaurants, we gave it a go and the manager agreed that a well behaved 10 year old and a 13 year old could eat on a less busy Monday. No kids menu but our children loved the pizzas The steak was lovely and we all agreed the chips were the best ever. Fantastic views over the bay. Doughnuts were not the best but the ice cream was great.

So we decided to book the Rex restaurant for our last night on the island, we did read some reviews before we booked so did sort of known what to expect. I feel this review is a mixed one. If I was to rate the food only it’s definitely worth 5 stars, if it was service alone it would need to be 1 star. As soon as we walked in and sat down another couple walked out before ordering, guessing the service they received wasn’t what they had expected which sort of set the scene of what we had previously read on trip advisor.We were taken to our table by the piano player as the owner was running around other tables trying to do every role. The piano player asked what we wanted for our drinks and took the order, we waited about 20 minutes but we still had to ask the lady who had now turned up twice about our drinks until we got them. The two tables near us both had their main meals turn up before their starters, the owner actually shouted back at them across the restaurant as he took their main meals back to the kitchen saying “you will now need to wait” which everybody heard. When our food arrived we were very impressed, the steak was amazing, if you do go I’d recommend it. Seems to us like it it struggles to know it’s identity as a restaurant, a piano bar or an Italian. The piano is nice but way to loud and the menu is very very small and needs to be bigger with more options available.This could be a fantastic restaurant but the owner needs to take a step back and employee a team to run it for him as he looks stressed trying to do so many things at once. It’s a real shame because the steak was good but we wouldn’t go back because the way it’s being run.

We had our first night here for a meal. It was fantastic! Warm welcome by the owner, loveliest guy, very professional. Wine excellent, food amazing. The chef is very good. We had a meal on the first night and a meal on our last night. There is also a beautiful view on the balcony out to sea. We will definitely return. Thank you for two lovely evenings.

Honestly this is such a hidden gem!We booked earlier in the day and on arrival we're given a great table indoors with a fab view of the sun setting over the ocean.The food was gorgeous and they cater for both vegetarians and gluten intolerances. The wine on offer was divine.Once we had finished eating we asked to move to a table on their terrace which has an uninterrupted view over ocean. The service was truly wonderful, can't recommend this place enough.

Been coming to the Rex for years and it’s always been the best food with the best view. Love sitting outside. Thanks Abdul, a gent as always.

We tried to book a table over the phone. Two adults and a 13 and 14 year old. The man refused us a table and kept saying no children under 12. He was very rude in his manner.

While the food was nice the service was the rudest I have experienced in a long time. The old gentleman (who we assume is the owner) should be kept away from customers at all times. This is definitely not family orientated whether they accept your booking or not. He was so bad I would not even give him 1star but this is the worst rating possible on Tripadvisor.

This restaurant does not deserve a single star. We have come across the most atrociously rude behavior from the owner at the door of his restaurant, and we were blatantly turned away in the most unreasonable fashion even though we had already reserved a table with him on the phone.Having already understood that the owner did not want young children running around in the restaurant, I reassured him on the phone that we had two well behaved young girls aged 12 and nearly 10, to which he agreed to offer us a table on, not one, but two evenings. As we approached the doorstep of the restaurant, we were met by an older man who gave us a look without a word and shooed us away! When I explained our prior booking, he appeared to remember but instantly pointed out that my elder daughter was not 12 years old based on her looks! Admittedly we are a mixed race family and my daughter is one was the smallest in her class in her second year of secondary school. But he was not having any of our justification of her age. The worst irony was that there was clearly another family with two even smaller children (probably aged 6-7) already having a meal in the restaurant! His poor explanation was that they were his family, that it was his restaurant and he could let whoever in as he wanted! We did not wish to upset any of the existing diners but walked away feeling extremely frustrated and traumatized, particularly for our young girls.I am a professional in my early 50s and have travelled the globe and seen the world. Never have I come across such appallingly rude, arrogant and prejudiced manners in any public service. But I have since caught up with many 1 star reviews of the Rex Restaurant, complaining about the consistently rude, sometimes racist behaviour, and his dislike of children in general. I couldn’t agree more. I am only so pleased that we were never let in so that I didn’t have to pay him a penny.

We had delicious pizzas, which seemed very reasonably priced. It was a relaxed atmosphere with wonderful views of the coastline, and enjoyable piano music in the background. I will visit again when next in the Isle of Wight.

We loved this place! The service was outstanding… friendly, welcoming and attentive … which is amazing considering the owner was on his own.The menu was not extensive but I would prefer to see a small selection of dishes done well and this is exactly what is offered here. I had the best steak that I’ve had in a long time. I had my dessert to go which was no trouble at all.And to top it all, the bill was very reasonable.What a delight!!!

We visited as a family and absolutely loved it, having tried to book a few places we felt so lucky to have found Rex's. They have a lovely menu and the food was delicious and cooked to perfection. The table service was fabulous and overall had a great experience. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody visiting the Isle of Wight!

Amazing quality food, friendly and very welcoming. We were made to feel at home straight away. We will definitely be going back when we’re next on the island!

I’ve eaten at some of the best restaurants around the world - I never thought I’d be writing my first ever review about a restaurant on the Isle of Wight. Amazing meal at the Rex Piano Bar in Ventnor. Absolutely superb. Can’t believe we stumbled across this gem. Faultless quality and service. Take a bow.

This Italian food restaurant has the best views over the sea and good honest food reasonably priced. Although they say no young children, it is very much a family restaurant and we went twice with our kids (teenagers) and had a good time. If you're lucky enough to have the pianist in action, you'll have a good time! Also good for drinks and nibbles at sunset on their outdoors terrasse.

Strange place, small menu which is fine if the food on offer was top notch, it wasn’t. Bland food, even bland pizza which was a shame. Yes Ventnor is small and most places get booked up quickly but I just do not understand why this place is so popular.

We came to The Rex to celebrate our wedding anniversary with friends. We arrived and I was a little worried as it was very quiet with no music playing. Lady attending the tables was very friendly. Food was good but not amazing. The best part was the lovely gentleman playing the piano. He offered to play our favourite song and we had a little dance, he really made our evening.

We had booked to stay at a nearby hotel who weren’t offering any food on a Sunday evening. Most of the restaurants were also closed in Ventnor. The Rex was actually fully booked - but the owner very kindly squeezed us in. The food was excellent , service was great , and quick, despite the owner being short staffed and having to wait on all the tables that night. There was a live pianist as well which we hadn’t expected and really made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. . Wonderful hospitality. Our Sunday in Ventnor was saved!

Being honest here, it was late Saturday afternoon and we hadn’t reserved anywhere in Ventnor. I checked the reviews of the Rex and decided to try elsewhere first, despite wanting to try this place for a while. As it was, there was ‘no room at any inn’ in town so tried the Rex and they had a table. As it was, it was fine. We had plenty of time before our show in the park up the road (Ventnor Fringe) so he ordered drinks and decided our meal. It was obvious that our host was working the room alone. That didn’t mean that we had to wait. I had a veggie pizza and Chris had a chicken salad. Pizza was big! Probably enough to share. Perfectly cooked and the chicken was tender. The terrace door tended not to close of its own accord, so when a guy from the group drinking out there left it open like he was born in a field, he was given a long, hard, Paddington stare. That told him. Our neighbours at the next table were friendly and made us feel very welcome. They were regulars at The Rex. All in all, very enjoyable and would love to come back.

My wife and I visited here last month. We had booked a table so no problem getting in. It was a busy place, very popular. The owner worled tirelessly to see that we had everything. The food and wine wer really nice.We were seated inside, some great tables near the windows with fine virews over the sea. Later on in the evenng a piano player provided some great enterntainment. We enjoyed a good meal and our dining experience.

We ate here twice, once again a lack of staff means those working are rushed off their feet. Food was very good, bruschetta and steak worth having

Just tried to reserve a table only to be told this establishment does not accept children by a rude person who then hung up on me! I’m glad not to give this place our custom and hope that others choose to avoid it as well. I’m not sure they can actually prevent children from dining however they have lost my business for future adult only dining for sheer rudeness.

A lovely relaxed meal of steak and chips - delicious. Attentive, unrushed service. Was able to linger at our table, drinking our wine, listening to the beautiful live piano music. A very special evening.

Lovely friendly service, and the nicest vegetarian lasagne I have ever eaten, I almost cried when I got to the end! My wife was also very happy with her food.

We absolutely loved our evening at Rex. Lovely atmosphere, beautiful food, pianist who took requests and Abdul, the owner, was so friendly. We liked him so much we wanted him to meet our daughter but ran out of time while on the island. We particularly loved that we weren’t rushed out after our meal and could just chat and enjoy. Thank you so much. We will be back.

Dropped in to see if we could book for later the dame day but it was full but if we were happy to dine early we could. Had a lovely meal and will definitely be going back.

Lovely food & ambience but we had to wait over an hour before we got anything at all to eat last Saturday. Very busy that night. Would definitely go again but would avoid a Saturday night as over booked probably for the overworked chef & single waitress to keep up - lots of running around stressing going on around us. Polite service but a tad slow. Food was lovely though. Steak was fabulous apparently, pizza great & lasagne delicious (when reheated up as was only just warm on arrival).

Very warm welcoming, delicious food, amazing atmosphere. We absolutely recommend this restaurant. Very good value for money. A big thank you to the whole team. We had a fantastic night and will definitely come back.

We were recommended this restaurant by my in laws who eat here regularly when they visit the Isle of Wight. The food was fabulous and the prices are very reasonable , in fact at thirteen pounds for a main it’s doing the chef an injustice. The food was fresh and tasty and as a vegetarian there was equal choice for the meat eaters, pescatarians and vegetarians. The host is adorable and bought an old school restaurant vibe to the place. There’s even a pianist who is extremely good. It is in a lovely location with gorgeous views. In fact we were so impressed we rebooked for Friday before we had even ordered the desert.

We are holidaying with 2 other couples in Ventnor. A fabulous evening meal. Our host was amazing - he was a joy- how he deals with everything, I don’t know. Food was great, the Malbec was delicious and reasonably priced- - our third evening meal on the Island and bar far the best so far. Couldn’t recommend it highly enough.

What a disaster, must have been a different Rex than the previous reviews. Italian restaurant that had run out of Pizza??? Seafood misto very disappointing. Also with the restaurant only half full, four young girls asked to leave as they only ordered a main course meal with chips to share? Several tables including theirs remained empty all evening. I can understand why.

Went to The Rex last night. Front of house were a little strange. Ordered crab Mac’n cheese to share as a starter, ok but wouldn’t know there was crab in it. Went to order mains from a limited menu, but that’s ok, asked for a pizza to be told they had none left! So I ordered a sausage pasta. My husband ordered the Seafood misto which we had seen someone have earlier & looked good. When the mains came, the pasta was ok but the seafood misto was awful. It was like they had thrown in left overs, there was a couple of small peeled prawns, salmon & a white fish, non of which were in a misto tempura. A couple of whitebait & 2 scraggy calamari. As for the chips they were served on, these too looked like the dregs of the day. Certainly would not recommend this restaurant!!!

Not a good experience, long wait for food moved tables three times because of draught caused by open door asked if the door could be shut, but moved tables and then again, food odd combinations i.e. steak chips and cabbage ???, so called Italian restaurant, but no garlic bread when asked, the owner does everything hance slow service.

An unusual restaurant, with an even more unusual front of house gentleman. We were sat outside on the terrace which was ok until it rained. As mentioned before we had to write out our own order, this is where we thought things may go wrong, but surprisingly food was lovely. We had seafood misto and another had chicken salad, but another had crab pasta, but had barely any crab.The front of house did not wear a mask and was a character in his mannerisms and dress sense, with fly undone, which we did point out to him.

The Rex is a real gem with fabulous views from their sheltered terrace. Fabulous croquettes to start and my husband had a beautiful steak perfectly cooked. Lovely wines and entertaining owner - well worth a visit.

An amazing location and great food. The maître d is obvs worried he might mis-hear an order and prefers you to write it now. Which avoids mistakes! Sensible. And you don’t forget this view

Really enjoyed our meal in The Rex. All of our food was delicious and obviously made on site, I had the fish soup and my partner had steak, both amazing! The pianist was a nice touch and the owner/manager was very friendly and amusing to watch, as other have said. Would definitely go back.

We were a walk-in on a cold wet evening. Manager was lovely and welcoming, put us at ease and had a nice chat. Food was delicious and we were not rushed or hustled to hurry out after eating. Prices were not cheap but fair for the quality and the limoncello polenta cake was divine!

We took our parents for their first meal out in 6 months and what a success it was, even though we were the only diners, due to the violent storm raging outside. We enjoyed starters including the Venetian fish soup, cod croquettes, and charcuterie, followed by the seafood fritto misto, crab mac and cheese. chicken milanese and pork ragu pasta. Pre dinner Bellinis, a delicious Nero d'Avolo and Muscatel digestifs did add to the occasion. Thanks Abdel for the attentive service.

We ate and drank on the terrace twice in a 2 night stay, as enjoyed the sun and views. Specially liked the cod croquettes and polenta chips and the Negroni cocktail. The manager, Abdel is a bit of a character and made its feel very welcome indeed, we will return.

With an outdoor terrace area we really enjoyed an evening drink here. So much so, we came back the next evening.

We throughly enjoyed our evening at the Rex on Saturday night. We were a group of 6 - including 2 children - who were all made to feel extremely welcome and well catered for. The food was excellent and the live piano added some extra entertainment. A beautiful Art Deco spot with fantastic sea views.

We visited the Rex for lunch today, we were immediately greeted and welcomed and sat outside in a sun trap overlooking the ocean. After a couple of drinks we ordered lunch, a starter and a main. Everything we ate was delicious, hot, fresh and well presented. It's rare to be served a meal these days where everything is perfect but this time it was. I had the ribeye steak which was cooked exactly as i asked and was very tasty. My wife had a pasta dish which she said was great. Also worth mentioning how delicious the chips were. So many places these days seem unable to cook chips properly, chips at the Rex were exceptional, proper crucnchy with a dusting of sea salt flakes. The service here was perfect, very professional and friendly. Shame lockdown is back tomorrow as i would be happy to eat here again immediately. We look forward to returning here in the future.

Very unimpressed. Echo the other 1* reviews in relation to the atmosphere of the place. We were made to feel as though management (one man) was doing us a favour by letting us in and buying his overpriced food. Such a shame as something quite nice could occupy a very nice location, but is so disappointing that it’s inhabited by this utterly soulless “restaurant”. What little food we did order (we fortunately got out early whilst the night was still young) was as bland as nondescript as you can get. Not horrible, but worth about 20p. We were made to write out our order on a note pad. A Covid precaution? Then why were we given a crumpled paper menu and a used pen? Didn’t have much confidence in the hygiene precautions.Ventnor has so many lovely, small eateries- it’s unfortunate that Rex’s lets the side down.

Shades of Manuel from Faulty Towers springs to mind. The owner/ manager ( no idea) spent most of the evening almost running between tables. Had to double check several times what we had ordered. You have to write your own order down, now whether this is due to COVID or he cannot understand much English, we weren't sure. However, our meal was very good and much to my surprise my steak was excellent. Not sure I would make a return visit though.

Booked a table to celebrate my 50th birthday. Very attentive waiter. We had quite a few specific requirements and the chef came out to check she had all the details correct, a really nice touch.Food was delicious.Pianist was a perfect touch. Moonlight sonata made my day

Came here for a spontaneous drink last week while in Ventnor. The views were stunning overlooking the sea, and the wine was delicious. Loved it so much we decided to book our dinner there the same evening for live music and to try the food. They did not disappoint, the food and service was excellent. We will be back for sure next time we are in town! ❤️

My husband and I celebrate our 10th anniversary here and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The service was friendly and prompt. There was a good choice of food and drink, and what we ordered very tasty. The ambience was enhanced by live piano music, with the pianist taking requests. It was an excellent choice for a romantic evening out.

This was a lovely place to spend our last evening on the islandWe had a lovely table in the window, the pianist was excellent he played lots of requests and made a lovely atmosphere Our food was excellent nothing left on our platesWe had 2 x Ribeye steak - very tender, a lovely lemon sole special and a Prawn pesto pasta dish.

We pre booked a table for 2 indoors for the same evening. Slightly eccentric but wanting to please his customers, Abdul gave us the menus and asked us to write down our order on the order slip! He was keen to ensure that we enjoyed our food. We had the meatballs (which tasted average) and tiramisu (which was average) and panna cotta for dessert. Pianist was excellent.

I was delighted to get a reservation for the same evening, albeit we had to sit outside on the terrace. The venue was busy and whilst a pianist came around taking dedications, he completely ignored us. I had to chuckle when he played Rule Britannia, which was received with rapturous applause. The food was good, hot, freshly prepared and delicious. I tried the baked salmon fillet with roasted potatoes and vegetables and my partner had the pasta with chicken and chorizo. Both main courses were enjoyable and the view from the terrace overlooking the sea, was memorable. Service was slow as only one employee appeared to be on duty to serve the whole restaurant and the terrace. So it was a more reactive service rather than proactive. Still, the waiter was charismatic and friendly.

We (two adult men) arrived at the restaurant with the sole purpose of booking a table for 3 days ahead. The owner greeted us by asking if we already had a reservation and before we could ask if we could book a table, he very aggressively told us to go away - also gesturing with his hands to go away - because he was busy! His attitude was disgraceful and we left there feeling like we’d been scolded for being naughty children. So we didn’t eat there. The owners of the accommodation where we were staying later told us that the food at The Rex was poor and that we’d had a lucky escape. So the recommendation would be... AVOID!

The website needs to read "children under the age of 12 not allowed" nowhere does it say this1) I booked my table of 8 via the mobile text request on the website 2) after a text conversation and phone call the owner asked if my child of 5 was well behaved - my answer yes, he agreed to honour the booking3) we arrived, the owner pointed and glared at my 5 year old and said I dont allow children, my response was - weve spoken about this 4) shown to our table, given menus (which were not single use) and our own pen and paper to write our own order 5) pianist way to loud that even the other diners looked uncomfortable to shout above it6) we noticed the wine laid out on the floor of the bar, beer poured from cans7) the menu is VERY limited 8) we got up and left when we were quite clearly not welcome In a time where hospitality professionals are crying out for some form of return to normal, this is not the way to do itI would advise that you avoid at all costs

This place has beautiful views. Abdul, the owner, is a really interesting character who wants his diners to enjoy the food and music. Steve plays the piano and he had a neighbour Catherine to help on our last evening. The food was excellent, Steve played all the songs requested and came in especially for us on one evening. They had a great wine list. This place is very quirky and will not suit everyone. We had a great time and were treated like friends.

After reading positive reviews our meal was really so-so. We emailed to reserve but had no response so turned up on the off chance there'd be a table. We were charmingly accommodated but as soon as I entered I felt I had made a mistake. It felt slightly tacky (as in sticky - floor and table). Tatty menu. The most awful piped music from the 80s just added to the feeling of gloom. Nice guy serving, who seems to be a one man band. The food was cafe rather than restaurant but perfectly edible. Ventnor just doesn't seem to have got its act together regarding restaurants. The Rex has a great location but the food and ambience don't live up to the setting.

Our ferry to the island was delayed so we simply enquired if they would have a table for 9:30pm. A man answered and told me I should eat in a pub if I want to eat that late (it wasn't by choice). He said he could do 9pm, when I said thankyou can we please have a table for 2, he told me he had 'no interest' in only 2 people and hung up. Needless to say we will be going somewhere else. Brutta figura

To be blunt, does not look much but lovely view from the seats outside. Lovely chap running it and whilst a little disorganised, have some patience. Friendly and the food was really very good!!

The owner is a wonderful host who makes you feel really welcome.The food is lovely and they have a top quality wine list. The piano is a wonderful bonus especially as the pianist plays your choice of music. If you are in the Isle of Wight then make sure that you book a table at this restaurant as it will make your day.

We had booked an early evening and were ushered towards a table for two by the window by the maitre’d as we had not requested an outside table. As soon as we sat down and looked around, we were having second thoughts. None of the tables were laid, the floor was filthy and we were sat next to a stack of up turned chairs. We were told we could sit outside until the outside reservations turned up and ‘if they didn’t turn up’ we could stay outside. We were sat at an outside table which was absolutely filthy and at first, the maitre’d didn’t think to clean it - in the current COVID-19 situation, this was pretty off putting.We ordered drinks and hesitantly decided to order food as we had read some good reviews about the food and hoped things would improve. We also noticed other outside tables experiencing issues such as dirty crockery and waiting a long time to be acknowledged. As the outside area started to fill up, the maitre’d was outwardly flustered and seemed to have no waiting staff to help serve tables. The pianist, Steve ended up taking over the outside table service. After half an hour after ordering we were then asked by the pianist for our orders again! The Maitre-d who had taken our order initially clearly hadn’t passed this on to the kitchen staff. By this point we were really hoping the food would have made up for everything else but finding this out was really the limit for us. We were fed up and ready to leave! We paid for our drinks and didn’t receive an apology or any sort of compensation from the Maitre-d on our way out. Very disappointing experience!

We arrived at our booked time to find that our outdoor table had been given away to the family in front of us that had booked to be indoors, we then had to wait 20 minutes for the owner to set up another table in a corner of the balcony. Being watched by the couple who owns the apparent next door! (Not exactly romantic!) There were no waiters, it was just the owner (who was drinking behind the bar). He then roped in the pianist to take orders when he was getting to stressed. The food wasn’t that great. The pesto on the king prawn pasta was just oil and mixed herbs, no pine nuts, no basil, no Parmesan! Never had a pesto like it and hope to not have again! I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant, it seemed very run down and shabby, but not in a good way.Allowances have to be made due to Covid but the service and good we received should have been much much better. Should not be allowed to call themselves ‘Fine dining’