Samphire in Canterbury - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

A comforting atmosphere , excellent food , the two ladies /staff were very welcoming and friendly , definitely recommend , you won't be disappointed .

We were a group of 8 and our table was at the back of the restaurant near the kitchen. Overall the experience was great, but I have a concern to share with the owners. From my seat I could see into the kitchen, I was surprised to see that the chef was on his phone while cooking food. My concern is that I don't think this is very hygienic. I'm interested in a view from the restaurant management. We didn't raise it as an issue at the time because we didn't want to spoil the atmosphere of our meal with our visiting relatives.

Best steak I've had in England ever , beautiful food , super special , a must visit restaurant !

Staff helpful re 2 off menu diets. 6 people 2 x 2 had same. 5 happy with food. Mine : chard needed draining, olives v dry and peppery, sour dough toasted ? , mash off putting shape. Arrived on opening time, but waited 1 hr for food. Youre given 2 hrs to eat and go.

beautiful food and the friendliest service, we were made to feel so welcome all the servers are super lovely! We recommend the mussels which were amazing:)

Great, there was no reservation, they helped us immediately, the menu tastes super, thank you.

Little gem with fabulous food and service. Definitely book during busy periods.

The bacon chop and leeks were so good I had to call my Irish Mother to tell her!! The best thing I’ve eaten in a long while, simple, tasty and nostalgic. Lovely warm welcome from the team and couldn’t fault the food. Go. Go tomorrow. And the next day….

Superb little bistro. The food is excellent, with a good little menu to choose from. The waiting staff are a wonder, they really make the place shine.

This was a prebooked Birthday treat for my partner. On arrival we were put in the window seat area which was not comfortable for older people. We were sat right next to the open door at supposedly the best table in the house! Unfortunately, it was a very warm day and our area was completely surrounded by flies so we were constantly swatting! The starters were Oysters and Cod's Roe which were excellent. The mains were fish pie and we added vegetables. The other main was liver and bacon, for some reason, on toast. The mains were rather bland and overpriced. Because of the flies, we decided not to stay for coffee or dessert. Overall, our main disappointment was the lack of care from the staff. It would have been so easy to have offered us another table and perhaps a complimentary coffee or dessert as an example of good caring customer service. We have been there a number of times for excellent meals but we won't be returning. A disastrous Birthday lunch.

Best brunch ever! So tasty, fantastic, friendly and efficient service on Sunday morning! If I had to be critical, the coffee was a bit strong for us but will not stop me from returning

Dropped in for lunch when on holiday. Unpretentious little cafe serving some really wholesome and flavourful food. Our server Ashley was super friendly and accommodating and a don’t of knowledge in the local area. I had bacon chop, creamed leeks and a smoked apple sauce, my wife had freshly caught mackerel, beetroot and samphire. We enjoyed it so much we extended to STP and summer pudding + coffee. Reasonable price and a lovely friendly vibe, thoroughly recommended!

Tonight I had the best meal I have ever tasted, but this place is special. 5 stars all day long; amazing staff too.

Very tasty meal. Friendly service. Recommended!

Food was delicious - home made, and so tasty. Staff were very attentive and friendly. This was one of the best meals and restaurant experiences I’ve had for a long time.

My son took us here for a belated fathers day present. He is a vegan and enjoyed his cauliflower steak,,I had a lovely Dover sole and my wife had the lobster ,Food wonderful, staff excellent.and at 5.30pm the place was packed . If you go ,booking is a must !!! We will be going back

Great staff, lovely food and value for money. Excellent venue.

Took my Mum to Whitstable this past Saturday and had a lovely walk along the harbour and had booked Samphire for 2pm on a recommendation from a friend. We ended up walking by the bistro at 1.15pm and popped in to see if we could seat early as we were hungry. They could not have been more accommodating and seated us at one for the side by side tables in the front so we could watch the world go by whilst enjoying one the tastiest meals we have ever had. I cannot express how impressed we both were with the food, service and atmosphere of this lovely little seaside bistro and would recommend to all with total confidence that you will too feel the same….as I did to quite a few passer’s by who saw what we were eating 😉 Thank you very much Samphire team including the chefs who I personally thanked on the day. We will for sure return for more or the same.

Took my Mum to Whitstable this past Saturday and had a lovely walk along the harbour and had booked Samphire for 2pm on a recommendation from a friend. We ended up walking by the bistro at 1.15pm and popped in to see if we could seat early as we were hungry. They could not have been more accommodating and seated us at one for the side by side tables in the front so we could watch the world go by whilst enjoying one the tastiest meals we have ever had. I cannot express how impressed we both were with the food, service and atmosphere of this lovely little seaside bistro and would recommend to all with total confidence that you will too feel the same….as I did to quite a few passer’s by who saw what we were eating 😉 Thank you very much Samphire team including the chefs who I personally thanked on the day. We will for sure return for more or the same.

Me and my husband came here for lunch and wow!!! Amazing food and lovely setting. We had the set menu which is great value. Our oysters were so tasty we ordered another half a dozen. Mussels for our main which were the best we’ve ever eaten. Will definitely be returning

Exceptional food in a lovely environment. Steak tartare starter was excellent with lovely crispy onions. Mussels were really good, such a refreshing change from the usual mariniere. My wife loved her fish pie. The creme brulee with pistachios was amazing, probably the best we've ever had. The wine was good and the espresso martini as good as I've had anywhere. Overall an excellent evening. Highly recommended.

Exceptional food and very friendly/helpful staff. Steak tartare starter very good. Mussels really good, so much better than the usual mariniere. Creme brulee with pistachios was amazing. The only disappointment was the olives, which were ok but nothing special. Overall an excellent meal with lovely waiting staff in a very enjoyable atmosphere.

Really really nice lunch with fantastic fresh oysters and smoked cod’s roe and as mains great Creole mussels with smoked prawn butter. Price-quality is very good.

Good appetisers and drinks, however; there can certainly be a better variety of vegetarian options. Just one option on the menu at the moment!

Gorgeous food, quick friendly service. Ashley was chatty and helpful when we had questions about the menu and made my girlfriend and I feel very welcome. Also, the veggie options are creative and delicious! And the pistachio brûlée was a real surprise highlight. Also, great choice of music too. Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in Whitstable, thank you!

An amazing little place, food is clean & filling, some nice concepts on the classics. Breakfast is a must at this place. The girls on front of house are kind and fun

We were passing through the area and chose this restaurant based on its good reviews and ratings. It did not disappoint… Started with both some amazing fresh oysters, and the soft roe with crackers. The fish of the day was a perfectly prepared grey mullet, and I had the “famous” fish pie. Delicious. Even the sides were great, a chargrilled smoky hispi cabbage, and some divine potato pavé. All finished off with an interestingly green bit delicious pistachio crème brûlée. The three ladies serving were efficient and full of fun personality. Very inviting and engaging. Oh, and I forgot… don’t miss the Italicus Spritz. Popular in Italy and Austria, and great to see it in the UK.

Nice enough food and atmosphere. Seating slightly cramped and unfortunately a screaming baby near us when we went.

Food is good, here the 4 stars are driven by value for money. The offer is around classic British fish food slightly more expensive than average. Good quality, but not different from what can be found around in Whitstable. On the other hand. The cocktails were amazing ! Italicus spritz highly recommended. They have an excellent service

Simple, classic, expertly executed. Great little spot with a relaxed vibe. Lovely staff. 10/10

Professional service,great food.

Was expecting better food but any Fish & Chip shop would be better choice, and much cheaper. My fish was burn out and tasteless.

One of my favourite places in Whitstable! Limited menu options but fresh and well thought. Some cooked dishes might be a bit too buttery so that can be a consideration.

Had excellent lunch on set 3 courses menu . Seaside town price . Will visit again in future

Chef’s kiss! A gem of a place. The cauliflower steak was magic. Also had the mussels which were delicious, has a really nice hot kick to it, which I’ve never really had with mussels before. Service was quick and friendly. Beautiful decor and ambience. Kombucha topped things off. Little expensive but totally worth it. Definitely recommend!

Lovely place, amazing food!! Best oyster ever

Excellent evening with beautiful food service. Gorgeous fish. Especially happy with the gypsy tart!

We arrived around 19:20, on a Sunday, and we had not reserved a table. Still, a very helpful waiter managed to fix a table for us (two adults and a 12 year old boy). What followed was honestly the best meal we have had in a restaurant for years. The fish pie was out of this world, probably the best one I have had my whole life, and our 12 year old loved the mussles. The burnt basque cheesecake with rhubarb that I had for desert was equally wonderful. The atmosphere was great, and the service was impeccable. If you ever visit Whitstable, you have to pay this gem of a restaurant a visit! You will not regret it, I promise.

Worst restaurant in the whole area. They allow big dogs in the middle of the restaurant who aren’t being controlled by their owners or on a lead. The big dog went after our dog and didn’t listen to any recall from its owners and hurt our dog. Then the server proceeds to smugly call our dog “untrained” when our dog walked by us ever since we entered the establishment. Overall the worst experience ever, staff are unprofessional and stupid.

Staff were absolutely lovely and the food was amazing. Our favourite restaurant in whitstable

Excellent food and service! This is a must go if you’re in Whitstable. The staff are all lovely and welcoming. We had the Sunday lunch menu which was super tasty and great value.

They may have ruined fish pie for me. Not sure it will ever be as good anywhere else. Superb food. Great service.

Had walked past this place many times but finally went. Excellent brunch menu- not boring and inventive, good quality food, most nicest service and ever so helpful as we had an infant! Highly recommend - I’ll be coming back for lunch

I sent back the mussels which were full of sand so inedible.

We were in Whistable for a couple of days and this place caught our eye. Great food and service. Highly recommended

Simple, seasonal, utterly delicious food, cooked exquisitely. Relaxed and friendly atmosphere with intuitive, attentive and warm service. A huge bonus for us was being able to take our beloved elderly retired guide dog. Not for everyone I know, the whole dogs in a restaurant thing. However so important to us. We visited twice during our stay ((lunch and dinner ) after all, when you find a gem. We cant wait to return. Thank you. Sarah Carl and Foxy

Excellent food, high quality and friendly service. We had the beef tartare, veggie pithivier, mackerel and croquettes, all delicious. Great to see this restaurant getting better since last time we visited. Will definitely come back soon.

Lovely food, my dish was a bit small for me, which was fish pie. Busy place need to book. Lots of fish dishes.

Wow, if you are looking for an amazing old restaurant in Whitstable then Samphire delivers old world charm. The food is amazing and the options curated for a wide range of tastes. Their special menu is highly recommended and maybe join their FB friends to see their latest offers. Special mention to George and his staff in back of house for making it a thoroughly memorable visit.

We had a delicious lunch today. The mussels were absolutely lovely as was the fish pie. To make it even better they are dog friendly! Thank you we really enjoyed it.

An unplanned lunch stop - and some of the best food I’ve had in a while. I love eating mussels and these were very plump and fresh with an unusual creole sauce plus a fantastic smoked shrimp butter. A big shout out for the amazing fresh bread too. Thanks for being so dog friendly 😊 we’ll be back even though it is over an hour away!

Wished I could have given this more stars from reading the good reviews. Went in a Sunday for lunch, we made a reservation and glad we did as it got busy very quickly. Staff were attentive and polite. We weren't told that the specials board was not on, on a Sunday, until we came to order. It's also not clear on the website that the children's menu is not available on a Sunday. Child option was only a small roast portion- okay of your child eats roast, not great if that's the only option. Also only an hour into service and one of the mains had sold out. The food we received was okay.

We really wanted to have a good meal here. Walked passed many times and have heard such good stuff. What I can’t really get over is the smelly glasses and plates. It was like they had washed up with dirty water. It was very off putting and spoilt the whole experience. Food was disappointing and we won’t be coming back

We had a lovely meal at Samphire last night, our second visit there. They allow (well behaved) dogs which is so helpful. One of the team called us the morning of our reservation to make sure we had a table that would work well for tucking our little dog out the way which was good. The food and service was brilliant (the focaccia, mussels and fish pie were all delicious), we had a great night and we'll definitely be back next time we're in Whitstable

Excellent service polite and discreet.Had from the lunch menu with a glass of wine. Delicious fish pie and soup so tasty

Amazing fish and oyster place . Far more than your senses could imagine

We are so happy we chose this place to celebrate my birthday. Thank you very much for this kind surprise they prepared for our table!✨ Everything we ate was very delicious! I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a nice meal in Whitstable!

Loved this place - special attention if it’s your birthday, attentive staff, delicious food. Oysters are twice more expensive than anywhere in the town, so you might want to eat them elsewhere, but the rest of the food was great and interesting. Highly recommend but book in advance!

Sunday roast was awesome! And the mussels starter was the best I've had.

Super little cafe, with a delicious breakfast menu. My wife's Turkish eggs were delicious and spicy. My white beans on toast with green salsa was superb. The coffee is nice and mellow but a little lacking in bite for my taste. Recommended.

Pleasant cafe. The white beans on toast was excellent.

Very friendly staff and a good atmosphere

Toast was tough, coffee very small, dutch pancakes not fully cooked. Staff did not tell us about the service charge. Not enough vegetarian options.

Saturday night with friends. Good food, good wine and great service. More fish, chicken and steak options please.

Probably my favourite restaurant, ever. Always tasty, relentlessly innovative, amazing value for such considered cuisine. Truly splendid.

Great and fast service! Highly recommend the bacon with hash browns

Been wanting to pop in here for ages, as we are Whitstable regulars but usually just picnic or do the fish and chips, so thought we’d treat ourselves to brekkie. Not many hot veggie options, but I’m sure they would have accommodated if I requested to veggify a dish (e.g., without the bacon). The staff were friendly at first when seating us, but inattentive throughout our meal, for example, there was no check back once we received our food, and it was difficult to engage with them to get the bill (in an almost empty restaurant). So, although we paid the service charge, we didn’t think it was deserved. It took so long for our food to arrive - around 25 minutes - and my Eggs Forrester was cold all the way through when it got to me. Very simple brekkie that shouldn’t have taken that long, especially considering we were just one of only two tables in there. Perhaps dinner is better there!

Came for what we hoped would be a lovely Father’s Day dinner, unfortunately we were forgotten about once sat down and waited for drinks whilst a lady came round a few times looking at tables but ignored us. Once another staff member came after they’d finally remembered us we took our order only for a main course to not turn up until the other three of us had finished. We were offered the main course and a drink free of charge which we appreciated but didn’t feel like there was much care or explanation for the issues and would have rather the staff been honest if they had forgot to put the main course through. We were not offered any water or asked if we had enjoyed the food throughout the evening either. The Service here really needs to be looked into. Sadly I wouldn’t return after this which is a shame as the food was great as well as the Atmosphere :(

I thought it was overpriced a little for the food, although the wine was excellent value.

Absolutely cracking spot in Whitstable. Great service. The duty manager, Ashley, was brilliant. The food was awesome. We had the Porterhouse steak for two. Spectacular. That review above was from last year, and back again this year, 2023. Just fabulous. Had the most amazing pork chop. Great service. Ashley again attentive and expert, answering all the questions. Brilliant all round. Get there.

Freezing, poor choice of main courses, very expensive for what you get. Saving grace was the starter

We ordered the roast with the Yorkshire pudding. The portion was decently sized, but they told us that they would usually have more beef in there so they also gave us a portion of pork. The beef was great, but the pork was also phenomenal. The service was excellent. We also got the mussels and they were great and decently sized. Overall a great place, with great food and amazing service. We'll definitely visit it again

Good food, good service, happy days

We had a wonderful Sunday lunch here. We’d walked from Herne Bay so appetites were primed. We were greeted by a supremely handsome, tall gentleman who showed us to our table and provided us with attentive, friendly service during our stay. As it was Sunday, we opted for the 2 course roast menu. One of our party is vegan, and had dined at Samphire before without realising that the Sunday menu was slightly different. The staff could not have been more easy going or helpful - the vegan options were easily as large and well made and presented. Eating out for a roast can be a very mixed affair. So many places get it wrong in some way but this isn’t the case at Samphire. Large portions, ample accompaniments of veg (thank you!! This is an area most places fall down) and crispy roast potatoes. I would have liked a small jug of gravy as an additional thought(maybe I could have asked) but even so, the food was so good that it didn’t spoil anything. Didn’t have room for a dessert which is a shame because the option of sticky toffee pudding is one of my favourites. Anyway, highly recommend Samphire. Nice work, everyone involved!

Lovely breakfast, welcoming and friendly staff. Recommend

Excellent mussels for starter, nice to have something from white wine sauce. Good wine selection.

By far the best oysters and dinner I had here in Whitstable. Wish I have came here earlier.

The good stuff: Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, good wine list, starters were good, dessert was good. The whole meal was let down my lacklustre main courses. My partner had a veggie option that really lacked seasoning and flavour. Not worth its £18 price tag. I had the fish pie, at £26 I was expecting something special. It was very average in flavour, quite a watery sauce which isn’t my personal preference, sure the fish that was in there seemed good quality, but the whole dish was very small for the price. It seems like the portion has been shrunk in the last year so don’t pay attention to old photos. Real shame, was really looking forward to this place, was a bit of a let down because their ethos sounds so great but ultimately the delivered goods just aren’t there.

Fresh seafood and highly recommend the mussels.

Very limited menu. Bland fish pie (and tasteless potatoes) was one of the four main courses (two were vegetarian!) excluding a couple of specials. Great service though it has to be said. Why some Whitstable restaurants feel they should charge a discretionary service charge of 12.5%, perhaps because of all the DFL's. Went to the Tickled Trout in Wye recently - great food, location and service and only charged 10% on their food. Would have liked to give an overall score of 2.5.

Fantastic staff, food and atmosphere.

Very very very expensive and veritable quality. They do at least have one vegan option, so if that applies to your party, and you're staying in Whitstable, you can add this spot. Sadly they rarely seem to change the menu, although the garlic foccaccia is wonderful.

Best restaurant in Whitstable by far ! Amazing chef and wine selection

A lovely little place with really helpful and welcoming staff and superb food. The Creole Mussels hands down beat any mariniere. The fish pie was packed with fish, creamy and cripsy at the same time and went so well with the delicious hispy cabbage. Fab little meal deal at lunch to include a glass of wine as well :)

Food was incredible and service was outstanding. I have been many places but truly compelled to call out how great this was and would highly recommend. Great staff and food

I had a delightful lunch at "Samphire" in Whitstable! This dog-friendly restaurant offered a welcoming atmosphere. The Focaccia was a perfect balance of crispy and soft, complemented by the roasted garlic. The Mussels, served with handmade bread, were fantastic, and the Oysters were both tasty and "meaty." A great dining experience overall!

V gd lunch thank you. Set menu excellent.

Food good but all over priced, 1 very small mackerel fillet with caper sauce £23, with no side dish.

Lovely staff and food - small menu but diverse and interesting choices - delicious oysters and all 3 of us had a perfect meal - Ashley was a joy with impeccable service - calm and friendly atmosphere all evening . We ate on Monday night (Sept)this week and glad we booked as soon filled up ! Well worth a reservation - can find no faults with Samphire . Excellent and top quality 👍

First time in to this clean comfortable restaurant. The staff were friendly and service came with a smile. We were offered drinks right away and the coffee was good. I tried the Turkish egg dish, very tasty and nothing I am offered at home in Canada. The owners came by and said hello. I left feeling my money was well spent. I would highly recommend coming here.

Honestly I went to Oyster Company first because it is popular and famous. But they are just too arrogant and refuse people to walk in. Fine. Then we walked into this cozy seafood restaurant. We ordered a dozen of oysters to share because they are fresh. So satisfying. I ordered a fish pie. I can find green peas and salmon and some white fish baked inside smashed potatoes and cheese. I love it. My friends ordered lunch special which is a grey mullet in red chilli sauce, and their signature mussels. Surprisingly amazing and will definitely come back again!

Samphire felt like one of the few restaurants in Whitstable that really stood out when we were looking to book a dinner - nice vibe and modern food. The service was amazing - very caring and attentive staff that handled any requests. The food however was disappointing. It’s very expensive for what you get. You’d expect a fish special in a seaside town to be plentiful and outstanding. But our skate was tiny and very mediocre, for a high price. Overall the dishes were okay but very under seasoned in most cases. We left quite hungry for an expensive bill. Maybe we ordered the wrong thing.. Would still give it a second chance but be more cautious.

We had a lovely dinner at Samphire after a long day at the beach. The mussels were fresh and very flavorful, and the special steak was excellent as well. The service was friendly and attentive. As parents of a toddler, we also appreciated being able to dine in a more upscale environment that still had a sensible kids menu, a changing table, and even provided kids cutlery. Would recommend!

Delightful restaurant experience that perfectly captures the essence of this charming seaside town. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The menu at Samphire is a testament to the region's seafood offerings. The dishes are crafted with fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and the seafood options are simply exceptional. The oysters, in particular, are a must-try, as they are plucked straight from the nearby waters. The service at Samphire is impeccable, with a knowledgeable and attentive staff that adds to the overall dining experience. Samphire Restaurant in Whitstable is a hidden gem that should not be missed by anyone visiting this lovely seaside town. With its delectable seafood, creative cuisine, and top-notch service, it's a dining destination that leaves a lasting impression. Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or simply looking for an outstanding meal in a charming setting.

During a short visit to Whitstable, Samphire looked very appealing but it took my wife and I two days to get a dinner reservation (shortly after 6pm – child free adults beware!). The service was reasonable and not too intrusive, however we were wholly under whelmed by the food. My wife’s cod croquettes (not dissimilar to Dutch Kroketten) were the best thing we tasted although pricey for what is ostensibly pub finger food. My starter of ‘Cornish Sardines’ also tasted fine, but I was concerned that fish of such diminutive proportions had eluded the local fisheries officer’s attention. I grew up in the west country, worked at sea and “know my onions”. For our main course, both my wife and I had the fish pie; for the price we were expecting fireworks – we got a damp squib. At over £50 (2 portions), even allowing for a ritzy 4x markup, I could turn out a far more luxurious offering for 4 to 6 guests in my home kitchen. My own dish contained 90% salmon, was barely seasoned and had no definition between burnt potato and sauce – chef, be ashamed. Aldi are currently offering a very decent fish pie that will serve 2 to 3 for £5.39. I canvassed some locals before leaving Whitstable and was told that Samphire’s lunch service is OK because they have a deal, but that evening service is for unsuspecting tourists. I can’t believe that so many seem to think this is value for money and rate it so well! Strangely enough we won’t be back.

Enjoyable breakfast with gluten free options (toast) and friendly staff in a cosy atmosphere

Amazing food, staff super friendly, fabulous service. I could not recommend this restaurant enough.

Very expensive for what you eat....but that's how it is in this country..

Mussels were divine and service was fab.

The starter and main meal were delicious. I thought it was a fish speciality place, so I was totally surprised as we are vegetarian. Best food I’ve eaten in a long time. Desserts weren’t the best, but savoury food is top.