Riddle And Finns The Lanes in Brighton and Hove

RIDDLE & FIDDLE....with emphasis on the latter ! Strolling through the narrow street along which this restaurant is located we were attracted by its marble table tops and its blackboard promoting the fish of the day. Welcome was friendly and we were seated immediately. The interior was cozy and also featured an open kitchen. From the extensive seafood & fish menu we selected a bream tartare, salt & pepper calamari and black lentil fish curry. Unfortunately there weren't any draught beers available (only some bottled ones or in a can?) so we selected a French white Muscadet wine (surprisingly no local white wines available?). Before the bream tartare being served, without us asking for it, four half slices of bread with two condiments were served, which we thought was a nice gesture. The bream tartare was exquisite and well presented and the salt & pepper calamari and black lentil fish (cod) curry were ok, however it took way too long for these last two dishes being served, something which must have been the result of a timing or priority problem in the kitchen since the restaurant at the time of our visit had only a few tables occupied. At the end when we received the bill we noticed UKP 11,17 was added to the bill under the heading "Service Charge 12,5%" with the following added "12,5% service charge was automatically added.....and a little further "Service charge is discretionary" When we asked the waitress for an explanation for this so called discretionary service charge we were informed this was a government decision?......but that we could opt out???....huh! Normally you leave a % of service charge to the customer and add any relevant % after the customer indicates it (this is definitely a feature option of handheld card readers which we experienced at other dining venues we visited in this region), instead of automatically adding an amount linked to a fixed percentage simply on the assumption that the guest experience deserved this fixed %, and then giving customers the embarrassing option to opt out. We paid the bill and left Returned at our hotel we checked again the bill and noted that a further UKP 4,00 was added under the heading "Cover Charge x 2".....and only after checking the menu again we noticed in the small letters text at the bottom "There is a cover charge of UKP 2,00 per head, which includes freshly baked bread & a selection of condiments" We also noticed that 87p was added to the bill under the heading "StreetSmart" with at the bottom of the bill written "Thank you for helping the homeless with your StreetSmart donation. An automatic 87p donation has been added onto your bill, if you wish to opt out just let one of our staff know :)" Seems at this restaurant customers need to read the complete text of the menu so as to not have any surprises when paying the bill and having to make embarrassing decisions (since who doesn't want to help the homeless, who cares about UKP2 for some bread and butter and who doesn't want the staff to get a decent remuneration for their efforts?) .....obviously not a money issue but a principle issue ! Not really a venue we would recommend, a venue which isn't really offering value for money and in fact an extra charges trap

This place is utterly delightful. The ambience is charming, the staff are superb and the food is fabulous. Good fresh fish and seafood simply and expertly prepared, and the sides are great. It is relaxed yet elegant— the kind of place you’d get in France, for example, and wonder why we don’t have places like that here; but we do! A real gem.

great menu, good range of champagne, cosy atmosphere, not a lot of covers so service is welcoming, friendly and attentive. I love the open kitchen with all the drama of cooking and aromas. Recommended

Superb food and service... highly recommend. Trust me when I say, you won't be disappointed. Great location on the beach, I would assume it's lovely for a long summers lunch (we went in winter for dinner) Food was stunning; I had the Dover Sole my brother the lobster and husband the fish curry along with oysters, longuistine and sushi to start and stunning desserts. We enjoyed every mouthful. Drinks were great too. 11/10

Adore. The atmosphere is warm and inviting and they serve a high standard to food. They could easily hold an air of snobbiness in their service but they absolutely don’t. They’re incredibly warm and Accomodating. I’m celiac and they make me the most gorgeous bilinis to order when I arrive instead of the bread basket. They also have a special gf menu. Great food, might be my fave restaurant in Brighton. It’s definitely my most frequented. I recommend the risotto, the oysters and the sashimi platter is fantastic.

Arrived by chance on a weekday evening outside of school holidays. It was excellent, impeccable service, relaxed and chic atmosphere... I am from Dieppe, used to good fish restaurants... The haddock was the best I have ever tasted: subtle and sweet flavors... I had a glass of Gewurztraminer for dessert with a truffle: made immediately, it was an incredible experience! I didn't expect it! Everything was delicious! My husband and I had a dinner that was as simple and delicious as it was romantic! We will come back to it!

Just completely exceptional - service and food and ambience amazing. Incredibly helpful and responsive staff. Will absolutely return.

Nice atmosphere with friendly and helpful service. Child friendly. The fish is as fresh as it gets and cooked very well. All the sides were great - the potatoes were my favourite. The dessert platter is good value if you can squeeze it in. £2 a head for tap water which is a bit annoying (we also ordered a bottle of fizzy water and a glass of wine) but not uncommon, On the plus side, kids eat free (from a kids menu).

Unique restaurant experience 😎👍

had the seafood linguine and friend had the pan fried salmon (todays special) both dishes were amazing. i usually like my pasta dishes to be spicy (not very authentic, i get it) as im from Singapore and i requested for them to add more chillis if possible and they rly delivered. the dish still managed to communicate its original intended flavour while still meeting my spicy needs. just an advice you may want to be on the waitlist on their website while youre on your way to the restaurant, as the place is pretty popular and packed.

Went with the OctoberBest offer. Havent been before and was looking forward to trying 5 of their dishes for £25. It was the worst meal I have had. None of the dishes complimented each other. And the main meal was a fish head...oily, greasy and not what i expected to have from apparently a great fish restaurant. I definitely wont go back and wont recommend this to anyone else. We expected some fresh fish and if this was a taster of their best dishes, i would be terrified to try the rest. And then to be charged a cover charge and service charge on top. So disappointed!

Very delicious sea food. My family really enjoyed

Catch of the day is always a good option. Really good clam chowder.

Decided to try this place as saw the sister restaurant on the sea front and it looked interesting. Was reasonably busy on a Thursday night around 6.30,was shown to a table where you share with other people which created a friendly atmosphere. Ordered the smoked salmon and lemon sole which were both very good. However although there appeared to be enough staff there was no organisation and for Approx £75 a person you expect more 1) water cup was cracked when I asked the waitress to replace there was no apology she just took another glass from the table 2) I ordered a Hendricks gin with cucumber.it came with lime,when I asked for cucumber it took 10 mins to come and was presented cut up in a saucer. 3) when a different waiter took my starter away he asked me if I wanted a desert.Informed him I had not had my desert yet? 4) I ordered the sole instead I was served Bream,the waitress came after a couple of minutes and said I had the wrong fish.When the right fish came it came without my side orders I was presented with my bill including service charge,there was no discount offered for the cock ups. This restaurant has massive potential it just needs to slow down and needs some organisation

amazing experience, our group was very happy and we definitely had a good time.

Absolutely incredible and delightful staff! I only went for a cup of coffee, but I felt so welcome! Super patient with inquiries, cannot wait to go back for a full meal sometime. 11/10

This is by far the best fish restaurant I have been to in quite a while. Never will I travel to Brighton without enjoying a meal here!

Great food! Went back 2 days later because the menu was so tempting. Shame they do not have a branch in Devon. Could revisit again and again!

I've always wanted to try dining in Riddle & FInns since living in Brighton. My first time did not disappoint! We were greeted by the nice and friendly staff (asian-looking) and the way he treats the customer were above par. So, hats off to him. The food, I must stay, is nothing like I had before. The price though is a bit steep compared to other seafood restaurant. Overall, I had a nice experience and will go back again.

A most excellent meal. Helpful staff who couldn't do enough to ensure we enjoyed our meal filleting my husbands Dover sole even though the menu stated "served on the bone" and the restaurant was very busy. I had seared scallops to start and followed with the seafood linguine. The seafood linguine had squid, prawns, scallop, mussels and clams. The place was buzzing. Shared tables made for interesting conversations.

We took some friends from Ireland to the Lanes in Brighton last Saturday 28th September. We decided to have a late lunch. We ordered 1 seafood linguine 1 seafood risotto and 2 Dover sole. We had 1 bottle of wine plus 2 coffees and 2 extra glasses of wine. The bill came to £250!!! We were charged £92 for the 2 Dover Sole. How can they justify this exorbitant price for a locally caught fish…. Outrageous!!!!!

Very fresh muscles, oyster and lobster. Atmosphere is relaxing. Staff are very friendly. Good for a couple or a group of friends or even want to meet some new friends.

I was walking by on a Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and a lovely waitress was out setting up tables, and said they open at 12:00, but I should come back.. I asked if the food was good and she smiled and nodded and said very.....So I took her word for it, returned a short while later, and had a most enjoyable meal and met a most enjoyable wait staff and enjoyed the two hours I spent eating.... as I was lucky enough to be sharing a table with two others for lunch... The seafood linguini I have was spiced correctly, not too spicy, and not too mild... The seafood was fresh and delicious, and the braised cabbage was out of this world... I want to thank them all for making my short travel to Brighton a most enjoyable one!

All very good except when one looks up - the ceiling/ lighting needs to be given some attention - only small criticism 👌

The ingredients are fresh and delicious, and the portions are very generous. It makes you feel full.

Lovely atmosphere, staff are brilliant and the food is fantastic. Had the Oyster platter, scallops and bisque ravioli, all excellent!

Lovely food and lovely service in the Laines restaurant. Was last here about 17 years ago and really won't leave it as long again. Still thinking about the oysters 😍

Horrible experience, we've been bullied and shouted at because we didn't want to pay 17 pounds service charge! We were literally told " empty the table now'. That I call harassment

I visited the restaurant in the Lanes. A great atmosphere, turned up and was able to get a table. The food was delicious, I had the scallops followed by smoked haddock fillet. Recommend for sure! Enjoy!

Great food as always, the service here really stands out as wonderful! Staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful.

I love seafood and this place really amazed me with their flavours, atmosphere and service. Although they could keep those toilettes a bit cleaner 😖

Can't wait to return, the most gorgeous food.

I very rarely leave bad reviews, but this interaction really upset me. My aunt, who’s not from the UK, really wanted to eat some kind of seafood pasta. We did some research to find good options while we were visiting Brighton. Unfortunately, we ended up here. The food was mediocre for the price, and although there was almost no one there, the decor (I have attached a photo of the candle) and the staff were nice. My girlfriend and I shared the “squid and shellfish risotto” (photo attached). I had about two bites because I’m not too keen on seafood. I was quite surprised when my girlfriend, who loves seafood and eats loads of it, didn’t manage to finish the meal. A couple of hours later, both my girlfriend and I felt quite unwell. My girlfriend then threw up all evening, which, as you can imagine, spoiled everyone’s evening. The staff at Artist Residence, the hotel we were staying at, heard her profusely vomiting for hours. After spending a ridiculous amount of money on this meal, my mother sent an email to the owner of the restaurant, explaining the situation and asking for a refund for just the risotto that my girlfriend and I ate (£22, by the way). I thought this was a very reasonable request and expected to receive the refund with an apology without any hassle, considering this is supposed to be one of the best seafood restaurants in the area. The owner replied to my mother, asking for a stool test to confirm that my girlfriend had food poisoning. This is a ridiculous request, considering my mum is a doctor with 25+ years of experience and was 100% certain that my girlfriend had food poisoning. Additionally, a stool test requires a GP appointment in London and that can take many weeks to get. As well as this, my girlfriend had vomiting, not diarrhoea so food poisoning is unlikely to come up in a stool test. In response to being told this, the owner offered us free champagne, but still no refund for the £22 dish that ruined our short stay in Brighton. We don’t have any plans to go back to Brighton anytime soon and will definitely not be returning here, so I don’t know what he wants us to do with free champagne LOL. If you are the owner and want to make this right, please reach out to me or my mother.

Date: 31st August 2024 Cost: £150 for two As Mum and I threaded our way round Brighton one Saturday morning, stringing on second-hand stores and thrift shops like Charms for a PandoraTM (on second thoughts possibly not quite like that), I pointed out various Options for her Birthday Lunch Treat (BLT). There was Moksha, the old fave, but I’ve been there with Dad and we’d have to double back - we’d yet to attain the requisite stepcount to feel like we’d really earned our lunch - and we wouldn’t want to tie our thread in knots. There was Solera, for tapas, which received enough oohs and ahhs to cement it as a maybe (Mum doesn’t give those out for nothing). There was Ten Green Bottles, but we wanted something more substantial than cheese and wine, as indicated by Mum’s sudden and uncharacteristic interest in a standing room only burger bar. And then there was Riddle & Finns. I was maneouvering us in that direction anyway, partly to gauge those oohs and ahhs like some 90s TV clapometer, but primarily just to get us to the next shop I wanted to visit. With R&F’s no-booking policy I’d expected this to end up a pie-in-the-sky pipedream, not a fully-fledged and realistic Option, given estimated waits far longer than my patience every time I’d been past previously. But hang on! Is there… no queue?! Should we enquire, just in case? Mum’s eyes lit up, soundlessly splitting the clapometer right down its centre. The waiter, whose position at a bustling city restaurant during the Saturday lunchtime rush we questioned, kept us in suspense, but the maître d' was much more accommodating, and seated us with a flourish at the outdoor high table in front of the kitchen. This was great, and contributed to our delay to ordering, as we snacked on bread and various dips served in shells and watched the young staff go about their business with aplomb. We got the oyster selection - because why not? - and I tried a Black Velvet to go with mine, Guinness and champagne, which was delicious at first but quickly seemed to curdle. The most surprising thing about the oysters was the variety of shape, size and taste across the different types and the fact that Mum chews hers. I did the same on my third - just enough to release a bit more flavour and was immediately converted - now something else I’ve inherited from her. It was difficult to believe she was enjoying her BLT given the floods of tears streaming down her cheeks after a drop of Tabasco went down the wrong hole but she assured me she was, very much. After the waiter talked me out of the ginger and chilli Singapore crab on account of the danger cracking saucy pincers might pose to my nice new shirt, I ordered the black lentil fish curry. Flakes of stonebass fillet came apart from its crispy blackened skin at the prod of a fork, and actually, the potato gave a weight to the dish that rice might not have done, acting simultaneously as a carbohydrous base and a bulker-upper that prevented me from gobbling all the fish down in seconds. Onion bhaji and some rocket and/or watercress added flavour and texture contrast. Mum went for a linguine and we got some broccoli to share on the side.Both were delicious. I didn’t deign to steal any of the actual seafood from Mum’s bowl - not on her BLT - but it all looked juicy and generous; the pasta and sauce was somehow rich and light at the same time. I tried my very best not to stare at it over the course of the 20 minutes longer Mum took to finish her dish than I did mine - a result, I think, of our much catching up to do, and an attempt to savour it. “Best lunch I’ve had in ages”, was her verdict when the maître d' came over to check up on us. He slapped me on the arm with a menu. “First time here? I love new converts”, he said. Mum took that same arm as we sauntered off back into the Lanes, onto our next destination. Best lunch I’ve had in ages.

The sea food is amazing, staff are very attentive and helpful. Will definitely visit next time I am in Brighton.

We were excited to try this restaurant, given the many positive comments. However, we were extremely disappointed. We ordered moules marinières (£19.5), seafood linguine (£22), a glass of red wine (£9.5, the cheapest), and a bottle of cider (£6). Although the dishes were quite good, given the price we paid for them, we found the portions outrageous. My main course of mussels left much to be desired in terms of quantity, as the plate was half empty. Once the mussels were eaten, the empty shells didn't even fill the plate! So I had to order an extra side of French fries (which mind you were frozen!) for £6! And even after that, I was still hungry. As for my mother's seafood pasta, even though she is not a big eater, she finished her plate and had to fill up with bread as she too was still hungry!!!! Moreover, upon arrival, a tray of bread with condiments was brought to our table without us even asking for it. It turns out, they charged us £4 for it. Had we known that wasn't offered, we wouldn't have accepted it. Finally, we were not told that an automatic tip of 12.5% was added to the bill. To sum up, the quality and quantity of the dishes is well below the advertised prices. We ultimately paid more than £80, just for a dish and a drink, with no starter or dessert, only to be left hungry at the end of the meal. It's simply shocking and we certainly won't be coming back, despite the pleasant atmosphere and staff.

Food wise, the oysters were delicious, the squid and shellfish risotto was nice but a bit underwhelming with not a lot of seafood and the risotto rice itself was a bit underdone. The flavour of it was nice though! Atmosphere was good, loved the lighting from the candles and the wait staff were very helpful. I would say it is a little overpriced for what it is, but for a special occasion it’s a nice spot.

A tiny Half Lobster 38 pounds more expensive than London ,you have to pay a cover charge on top of service charge and get sharing tables ? they run out of bread at early dinner time , friendly service, though

We were looking for a good place to have seafood, and went here. We knew the price was high, so in my mind, so will the experience. Firstly, disappointed on the small and sharing table set up (not recommended for a romantic date). But still, food is most important, so we went ahead. We ordered oysters, they were excellent! I had never eaten lobster, so thought the best place would be here! We ordered Lobster in garlic & butter sauce, unfortunately it was chewy, and hard especially around the claws. Since we didn’t know any better, I insisted to my partner, let’s eat it. I must say, they came and asked how the food was when we were done, I was honest about it, and the main person there also came over and let us know that if we had said something sooner, he would have sorted it for us. That’s on us I guess, but that still doesn’t take away the fact that it wasn’t good. Hence the 3 stars, all 3 go to the oysters and of course, the friendly staff.

Environment is good, food is terrible. Rice and noodle are raw, super hard. Two ravioli is 21£! Only two. super expensive. Chinese people don’t lie to Chinese people. Don’t come. Rice and noodles are extremely expensive. Very small portion

The Linguini and Singapore crab here are amazing! The people and service here are incredible!

Amazing place !!! Recommend 100% Service 5 stars, atmosphere very good!

Food was overall above average - but not something memorable. The guest oysters at £5/each were excellent, same as the mussels. Disappointing Bloody Mary ( no spice, not enough seasoning and the tomato mix taste of nothing ) Service was good and efficient for the pace of the restaurant. Very busy, definitely book in advance. I believe it’s on the over - priced side, as you pay premium money for a not so premium experience.

The food is delicious and the service is great. This trip is also the birthday of a friend of ours, so the restaurant manager specially prepared a little surprise. Thank you very much for your attentiveness and thoughtfulness! In addition to the delicious seafood dishes, the desserts are as exquisite as works of art. It will be on your must-visit list next time you return to Brighton! Thank you for giving us wonderful holiday memories!

They have Singapore crab, some different styles of seafood cooking. The inside sitting was too noisy, so I moved to the outside sitting later on.

Scallops, paella, lobster, and crabs are all delicious. After taking pictures for a while, it is best to book in advance. There will be a text message notification when the time is approaching. The service staff is very good. One thing you need to pay attention to is that there is a half step from the toilet. At least two customers stumbled there during the hour. Overall, it is one of the best seafood restaurants I have ever eaten. The boss also liked it very much and will definitely come back.

Delicious, romantic atmosphere and great food (and champagne). Always a great place to visit, doesn’t disappoint! Am yet to try their other venue on the front - I hope it is just as decadent!

Fantastic atmosphere and food quality. Service was meaningful and enjoyable. Tables are social, so you do share part of your space with others.

One of the most delicious seafood dishes I have ever eaten in my life. Special thanks to the staff for their kindness and courtesy.

Incredible food, drinks and service. Definitely a go to location when in town.

a random recommendation in a pub led us to this absolute gem of a restaurant. it was, i dare say, the best plate of food i've had this year - and the restaurant i really nicely designed with high tables and an open kitchen. AND the service is impeccable.

Just perfect food and a lovely service. Had a fantastic time. We had a lemon sole, as the fish of the day. Perfectly cooked and scallops. Highly recommended

Food is so tasty service is fatastic . A must when in Brighton

This restaurant has good vibes. It was the best restaurant on entire trip through England. I recommend this place. Service was 100 percent top notch. The waiter walked us through the menu and talked through the menu as well as making great recommendations. The staff here works hard and thoughtfully for their customers! Not overbearing but present when they needed to be. The seafood was tasty and top notch as one would expect from a seaside restaurant. That means quality seafood prepared really well, tasty and no surprises in the cuisine. I’m so glad we stopped here to try the restaurant because it raised the standard of what we were receiving in other restaurants throughout England. Go here if you want top quality and attention from staff and have time to enjoy the food…don’t be in a rush! But rush here to try the food and service.

OMG the food in this restaurant is to die for! Everything was excellent, the fish was perfectly cooked, starters were awesome and the desserts wore all great. Great selection of wines as well - not the cheapest but definitely the right choice for my brothers birthday treat

Had the lemon sole it was wonderful! Super fresh and tasty, highly recommended 👌

One of the nicest meals ive had in a while. will say the staff at the beach location were a little rude to me and my mum but coming to this location the staff were extremely friendly and helpful! the communal seatimg was intimidating at first but came to be something i really liked as we got chatting to the people around us and it made the experience and aptmosphere really nice. the food was great and will come back next time in brighton.

Bad service to foreigners, especially Asian I think. We had group of 8 people and only one basket of bread was served, so I asked if we could get another basket, the waiter told me I had to say “please”, and forced us to ask again for the dips (also missed one, so we only got 3 dips out of 4). He also said “thank you” in a mocking tone when the bread is served. There were flies on the wall near our table, and at the end of the meal the waitress try aggressively take the plate off my table by asking twice if I’m done with it. I don’t know where the condescending attitude is coming from, image 8 people sitting at long table trying to spilt one basket of bread, and we didn’t say anything improperly either, I asked nicely “can we get another basket”, I’m guessing it’s a UK thing? Being a foreigner I also don’t wanna ruin the night just for it, but feel obliged to leave this review for whoever comes after.

Tucked inside a small alley, their seafood linguini was the highlight in our trip to south England, while the grilled seabass wasn’t as good.

Superb meal, great atmosphere, great service.

Delicious food and fantastic service, but the price was a bit steep and the serving size of some of the starters was on the smaller size! The restaurant has a lovely ambience and we were immediately greeted with a 4-spread bread basket! Out of what we ordered, the fish soup was the standout dish, it was super flavourful and contained a good amount of seafood. The seafood linguine was also really delicious, but both dishes were on the pricier side compared to other seafood places in the area. The scallops were good, but the serving size definitely didn't warrant the price. We probably would've skipped this if we had known there would only be 3 small scallops. Service was incredible, staff were attentive, friendly and really made the place. A good experience overall!

Staff were friendly, great service. Food was great, oysters were fresh and the seafood risotto was exceptional, with lots of cheese and the taste was so good.

In Brighton for the weekend - walk to Peacehaven Cliffs gave us an early appetite and we found that this restaurant had good reviews and an easy policy on walk-in bookings. we were given a table right away - just after 6pm - at a long shared table - the system is to seat couples next to each other rather than opposite - unusual. Service was friendly ad positive - cover charge included excellent bread, butter and toppings including taramasalata horseradish and salmon pate - nice opener to take the edge off. Starters of monkfish tempura were Ok - the aubergine was not the melanzana I would have liked and the tempura was underdone though both were tasty. Mackerel smorgasbord was great. Fish soup was tasty and the mackerel main course excellent. Drinks seemed really expensive even for a well-reviewed and trendy place - Picpoul de Pinet was good and (presented in can..) pale ale was OK. Generally an interesting meal but not the showstopper the reviews would have suggested. Off night for the chef? The waitress discovered it was our anniversary and had the thought to arrange a small chocolate treat as pictured. Nice! Be aware the service charge at 12.5% is added to all bills.

Fantastic seafood restaurant tucked away in the lanes - it’s walk in only as opposed to the riddle and Finns on the beach. We walked in and were lucky to immediately get a window seat table. Service was attentive and our waitress was great, amaretto sour wasn’t on the menu but she sorted us out and was knowledgeable about the oysters. Food was on point, my favourite was the special aubergine parmigiana, Imogen loved her catch of the day which was lemon sole. One minor nitpick, most cocktails were £14 but the “black velvet” (champagne and Guinness) was £17, I ordered this and while it was delicious but quite small - described as coming in a tankard but was the standard cocktail glass, not worth it. That is a minor detail, however, genuinely think this is a must go if you’re in Brighton and want a treat!

We were on our boat trip from Poole to Eastbourne and back. On our way back we stopped at Brighton Marina for 2 days. A friend recommended Riddle and Finns at The Lanes. We gave it a try. And we were not disappointed. We wanted to book a table for dinner but the lady said they don’t take bookings as the restaurant operates in a first come first serve basis. She suggested to get back there for 5pm is after walking around the Lanes. So we got back there just before 5pm. We had a cocktail each and I must say the cocktails ( Bloody Mary and Negroni) were beautifully done. We ordered the seafood platter and our favourite white wine to go with it. It was a treat. The meal was expensive because of what we ordered but it is worth every penny. The staff were very friendly and attentive. They made us feel very welcomed. We will certainly recommend this place to everyone and will certainly visit again ourselves when we are in Brighton next.

What a place! Oysters (Jersey) superb, pan roast cod magnificent, halibut, ginger sticky toffee pudding lethal, all with great service. And the Saint Chinian red wine! I will come back. June 2024: I went several times in the last couple of years, pure joy again today - the food, the service and the beautiful personality of Iker!

Absolutely exquisite! Hidden away from the main streets, this gem boasts a large selection of fresh fish and seafood, great drinks and top-notch service! We opted for calamari and sea bream and were pleasantly surprised with how fresh and well-cooked the fish was, utmost grateful to Riddle & Finns team for making our dinner in Brighton a satisfying experience😎👍🏼

We had an excellent lunch here. Right from their breads and butters through to the best mussels I've had in the UK. Staff were super, super friendly and the place was busy with a lively atmosphere. We were sat in the window which was actually a good spot, a little more private than the other tables but it meant occasionally being at eye level with people walking by... Really rate it, would love to return.

Great choice of food (esp. Catch of the day) for dinner with wine; 👍 dessert - Tiramisu. A cosy small setting atmosphere (candlelight) & friendly helpful service staffs.

Excellent food, and excellent service. Jess was an especially good host. Would 100% recommend paying this special place a visit.

This place was just excellent. We passed by on our way to the beach and it looked interesting. We tried to make a booking but it’s walk in only, so we just came back in the evening and luckily got a table by the window. The whole evening was just perfect, the food was delicious and the service was honestly better than a started Michelin restaurant. Our waiver, Claudio, made our evening all the more special. From the menu, I highly recommend the sashimi, the scallops and the bream tartare as starters. To follow, we ordered a dove sole and a sea bass. Large portions and just delicious. To finish, get the dessert platter, too good to not try a bit of everything. We stayed some three hours, we were perfectly looked after. This was honestly one of the best dinners I’ve had in a long time. Anyway we’ll go back to Brighton, we will go back. If you go to Brighton, and don’t stop here, you’ll most definitely miss out. And thanks again to Claudio for making our evening all so special.

Lovely food and brilliant service, friendly staff and an extraordinary manager(Iker). Will come again for sure

Had a great experience at this restaurant. Beautifully cooked fresh fish and incredible seafood platter. Very attentive staff. Would recommend!

I am normally a fan BUT just eaten there and frankly £20 for the mussels was a joke - the portion was about 15 mussels so over £1 a mussel is rather a stretch. As I say normally a fan but not today.

Amazing seafood, brilliantly presented, unbelievable flavours, superb service from Josie. Thoroughly recommended

Incredible! We visited Brighton and wanted to enjoy the taste of some fresh seafood, and luckily, we came by this restaurant. The impacible service and the cool atmosphere in this restaurant with its lovely open kitchen are so nice, but the big deal is the food. We had crab gnocchi and tempura monkfish for starters, and grilled salmon and a brill as main dishes. The gnocchi was one of the best I have ever had, and the salmon was incredible. Everything was delicious, fresh, elegantly plated and served with a smile.

The best restaurant in town, visited this micro chain maybe 10 times already throughout the last 3 years, it’s stable at being one of the tastiest restaurants I’ve ever eaten!

Clearly the best seafood place to visit in Brighton. Hands down.

The fresh seafood, amazing servers, and lovely warm atmosphere made this an incredible experience that I would highly recommend! One of our servers had a vast knowledge of the menu, and was able to give me personalised recommendations on the oyster selection that were available. We ordered a variety of dishes, which all tasted delicious! I found out that all dishes are made with fresh, locally sourced high quality ingredients in-house by the chefs. It certainly tasted like it too! The restaurant was very accommodating to a member of my party, who cannot eat any fat. They were happy to make adjustments to the menu to accommodate their dietary restriction, and were extremely helpful and kind towards this as well. I was also delighted and touched by the friendliness of the staff who went out of their way to create a beautiful congratulatory dessert plate for me as I was celebrating a special occasion. The chocolate truffles were divine - rich and velvety, which seemingly melted in my mouth. I really appreciate the wonderful staff here, both front and back of house, that go beyond to deliver exceptional service. I especially wish to thank the servers, that went above and beyond to make this meal a truly memorable experience.

Amazing quality and atmosphere 👏 👌 great work team. Thank you for an amazing dinner 🍽 😍

Sea bass was really fresh and tender! It didn’t have any fishy smell. Very delicious. Seafood linguine is full of flavor. So good

Wonderful food and excellent service from Claudio! Highly recommend. Will come again.

A charming place with lovely customer service and a happy, busy atmosphere. Would recommend having the catch of the day. It was one of the best fish I've had in a long time. 💯

Ikel the manager and Fatima our server were delightful. Genuinely made the night truly special and I would visit again just for them. Fantastic service and food recomendations Food was great overall and atmosphere was lovely. Would definitely recomend.

It’s OK. Good food well cooked. Can be variable. Nothing will disappoint but just not that much fun. There are better places close by.

SUPERB PLACE!! We had so much food here and all of it was amazing!! Best oysters of my life 🫶🤤 the risotto was sooooo good and creamy; the chowder was mind blowing as well. The bread basket + spreads are also soo delicious! Claudio was so welcoming and attentive - he really made the whole experience extra special!

Food was absolutely amazing - the oysters, mussels, scallops, the chowder (timely on a cold day) the risotto, the wine and the tiramisu. The bread basket and the various condiments were so so good. Our server, Claudio, was a delight, so incredibly friendly, helpful and was a big part of this wonderful lunch experience. The other staff were super friendly and in high spirits as well. Overall, amazing vibe in the restaurant - incredible food - great service - it was my friend and I’s favourite meal in our 3 week long trip. Highly recommend!! Ps for non French speakers - not an issue at all!

We had yet another wonderful meal at Riddle and Finns. It was my daughter's 21st and they made her a lovely birthday plate with free chocolate truffles without us even asking. We can't wait to return.

Amazing dinner, wonderful service. I want to thank Fatima especially for being so nice and welcoming, enlightened our night!

Food and ambiance was great and especially the amazing service from Fatima, for being attentive and lovely to us throughout the night!

20 minutes wait for G&T £300 bill when my food didn’t arrive so cancelled, phoned owner who told me he was doing a favor and made it out to be my fault and I should be grateful, lovely wait staff but owners attitude appalling in my opinion, won’t ever return!

We liked it here! Won’t be back. Charged a service charge for the bread and tiny dips? Have to share your table with any old randoms?! Tiny sad little oysters?! So expensive for no apparent reason. I guess that’s why we could get a walk in on an Easter weekend.

We happened upon this place by chance, and were very happy we did. Wonderful posters, food, wine and vibe. Had so much fun!

Beautiful place, staff was amazing.was served by Claudio who is a legend super friendly and helpful with what to order etc.

I thought it was super beautiful and their attention was 10/10, the dishes were very fresh and of high quality.

We came here 4 years ago and couldn’t wait to come back. 4 years ago we were happy to join the waiting list that was 1 1/2 long. Tonight (Friday 8pm) we were seated immediately as the restaurant was half full. Despite have plenty of empty tables we were sat opposite a couple who had clearly been there for quite some time. The gentleman element of the couple kindly tasted my negroni and explained that the plaice had gone downhill. I did not realise that he meant the place. Unfortunately he was right. Our waiter (I wish I knew his name) was genuinely great. The manager (not so great) offered a free negroni at the end of the evening, which was nice of him given that another of his customers had drank most of my first one. So now to the food - the restaurant was empty when we left at 9pm. Please feel free to make your own mind up.

Welcoming staff who really couldn't do enough for us. Delicious oysters - highly recommended! Mouth watering mains, and we watched them being prepared from our outside seats. A must visit

Great vibe, friendly staff and lovely decor. Squid ink riso was rich and the sardines were delicious

We go here every few months and the food is always great. We like the seating arrangement too.. One of the waiters was a bit loud but not a big issue. Decent wine list

My friend and I had dinner on Thursday evening. The service was excellent and the food was delicious. We had 12 oysters between us. Unfortunately, we both had terrible upset stomachs and spent an uncomfortable night.