Sargasso in Thanet

We had yet another superb dinner here on a Saturday evening. This was our third visit with friends to this beautiful little restaurant on the harbour arm. We enjoyed a selection of sharing plates for starters and mains. The wine list is extensive and inexpensive. Every dish we ordered was superb. The fried Delica pumpkin with sage and peperoncino was inspired and the milk soft serve with salted caramel was sublime. All the staff were super friendly and our waitress was very attentive.

Wow! That is all I can say. Exceptionally good small plates with equally good wines to go with it. As a deli owner myself, I treasure fabulous food and wine. Sargasso delivered. We would not have found it if not recommended by Louise from The Reading Rooms hotel; so thank you for helping us find the best meal of our stay (outside of your breakfast of course!)

A delightful early evening supper. Lovely attentive staff. Delicious food cooked superbly. Good wine by the carafe. Right sized small plates. Absolutely spot on all around. You're doing things properly. Thankyou.

During a casual exploration, I stumbled upon Sargasso and decided to give it a try—definitely a decision I don’t regret! My friends and I sampled the smoked eel and Whitstable oysters, and they were nothing short of divine. Paired with a couple of beers, we found ourselves lingering longer than expected, thanks to the cozy, laid-back atmosphere. Sargasso’s inviting vibe, coupled with its delectable offerings, makes it a hidden gem worth discovering. I can’t wait to return and explore more of their menu!

Had been looking forward to this visit as have been wanting to visit for a while, but was very underwhelmed. Food was nice enough, but the space was cramped and not very comfortable and the service was ok, but not great. Felt that given the location, quality and quantity of food that it was vastly overpriced. By all means visit, the food is good, but don't expect a comfortable dining experience or to feel particularly full.

We had an excellent lunch for 3 at Sargasso a couple of weeks ago. It was wild & windy outside but the welcome from the staff couldn't have been warmer and as we ate we watched surfers in the bay from our window table. For mains we had a superb calamari fritti with the lightest of batters, accompanied by scrumptious aioli and a good generous portion of both. Washed down with a delicious biodynamic syrah. Lovely to see the kitchen brigade working so well together and the service overall was impeccable, professional at all times, but friendly and smiling too. We also had the delicious chocolate olive oil confection for dessert and again a good size serving. We have now visited several times and it has never once disappointed: we will definitely return. Complimenti!

Brilliant food. Great ingredients used very cleverly. Refreshingly different menu. Delightful situation on harbour wall. Plus helpful service.

We didn’t receive the warmest of welcomes by who we believed was the restaurant supervisor or manager- maybe he was just having an off day as everyone is entitled to have- acknowledging us and our booking felt like a bit of an inconvenience to him, however our main waiter made up for this and provided a fantastic personal service- friendly, approachable and knowledgeable about the menu! We had a 500ml carafe of Alborino and ordered a range of small and larger sharing plates- we loved everything! We ordered about 7 plates in total and shared desserts. We all left feeling very satisfied. The food was full of flavour and we honestly couldn’t fault anything about it! Reading other reviews on here about the restaurant being ‘overpriced’ is totally ignorant- there were 3 of us and paid £55 a head- this is very fair pricing and what you should expect to pay at this kind of restaurant. Just because you can’t afford something, doesn’t mean it’s overpriced 👍 We will be back and happy to pay the prices on the menu as they are very fair!

It was the perfect evening for supper. Wonderful location, great servcie and a stunning menu. Big shout out to max the waiter who gave some great recommendations. Would recommend to all . We will be back! Jlu

But not the food. Tiny portions . We love good food, this was something else. 4 Bell peppers. Slip sole tiny portion. Chick pea Frits . 2 glasses of wine and two coffees £67 . Never again.

Food was Amazing! Service was very good. They recommend 3 plates pp & that’s where it went wrong! The menu isn’t clear as to what you would be ordering & plates were £14-£17 per plate!! X3?! We had water & tea & coffee & shared a starter, both had a calamari in a bun as a “main” & then shared cheese & biscuits. All deelish but tiny tiny portions. We paid £73 & left hungry!!! I’m sure 3 plates each would have been more filling but we weren’t going to be paying those sort of prices!!

Food was good but poor value for money. Service was frustrating.. Staff were not particularly friendly or welcoming, which made the bill harder to stomach. Had high hopes but Sargasso was overrated, unfortunately.

The food was average but the portions were mean and overpriced. The restaurant itself is really small and no toilets. I wouldn’t hurry back.

Just delicious. Great menu selection. Helpful knowledgeable staff. Lovely view across the bay. Really liked it there.

Stopped at this restaurant for a late lunch in a great location, but was underwhelmed by the average quality of the food. The portion sizes were small but the price point was way off. £17 for a tiny calamari brioche roll was too much and we all left feeling thoroughly disappointed. The staff were friendly and accommodating, but I get the feeling you’d only visit this establishment once.

Great location, looking towards the main town over the harbour. The restaurant is nice and the atmosphere buzzy. There are public loos further along the harbour wall or there is a portaloo just outside the restaurant but this may not be accessible for all. We have been here several times over the years but we left this time somewhat disappointed. We had a plate of salami and bread which was nice enough. The leek dish was delicious but we did find some grit in the dish and the 3 small leeks (sitting on a generous portion of romesco sauce) for £13 was expensive for what it was. Our final dish of the claims in a white wine sauce was £18; we counted approximately 18 clam shells in our small bowl, although we had fewer actual claims as our dish was cooked in the same pan as another couple’s order and we lost some to them. The clams themselves were very nice but the sauce was quite diluted and lacked depth of flavour. We stopped ordering there as we were feeling somewhat underwhelmed by our experience (portion size, cost and execution of the dishes themselves) and left hungry.

10/10 food, drink and vibes. Would recommend to anyone visiting Margate to go to Sargasso. They were really accommodating for dietary restrictions also.

My experience at this restaurant was a mix of good and bad. The place offers incredible views and the food is made with high-quality ingredients, which should have made for a great dining experience. However, the service we received was far below expectations. The server paid more attention to what her colleagues were doing than to serving her guests. She spent a lot of time telling other staff not to serve the outdoor tables, which was odd and distracting. There was also a mix-up with our water; after waiting for 40 minutes, she questioned another waitress about why she was bringing us water, not realising she had forgotten to serve it herself. Additionally, the attitude of our server was notably poor. When we hadn't seen our waitress for a while, we asked another server for the bill. Our waitress, on her way to our table with the bill, got distracted by another waitress chatting with one of her other tables. She then inserted herself into the conversation, seemingly out of fear that another waitress was engaging with her guests, leading us to wait even longer to pay. If this behavior was an attempt to secure a larger tip, it came off as completely tone-deaf Eating out is about the whole experience, not just the food or the view. I don’t mind paying for a good meal, but I expect the service to be on par with the prices and the setting. Sadly, the poor service did not live up to the promise of a premium dining experience. While I might consider giving them another chance, hoping this was just a one-off issue, it’s important that the management tackles these service problems to ensure all guests get the quality experience they’re paying for.

I can’t understand the one star review given earlier today. We had a a fabulous lunch (9 of us) and the staff couldn’t have been more friendly or accommodating despite being incredibly busy. The food was amazing too. We will be back before long.

The staff is so rude that it doesn’t even matter if the food is good or not. Customer service in hospitality is the most important thing. If you are not ready to smile and being polite with your guests, change job.

Following Jay Rayner review, I took my mother and daughter to this great addition to Margate harbour. Absolutely top draw of food and service, excellent wines and a fresh face to a wavering culinary scene nationwide. Left feeling invigorated, as was my mum. Keep it up

Best food I’ve had for as long as I can remember, smiling service and easy atmosphere. Five plates were easily enough for two and it was good value too.

Lunch on 5.1.24 fresh ingredients and great atmosphere for lunch. Exceptional food and great service. Thank you Kierren for the looking after us.

We came here on a recommendation and the view looks simply stunning. When we arrived it wasn’t very busy and we asked for a window sit but we didn’t have a reservation so we had to sit at the bar which is fine. It was just disappointing when another couple entered and they were offered the window sit it’s a small place so we literally heard the whole conversation of the server saying the window is free would they like to sit there. Very ODD and rude tbh. The wine was lovely and the drinks were fine. We ordered small plates of food and it was ok. We were going to order lunch and a bigger meal but didn’t have the opportunity and was a bit put off by what ur service not being that friendly. I think you come here for the view and if your staring at the sink sitting at the bar except just that. The toilets are also porter loos outside in the cold and are what you would expect from a porter loo so don’t wear nice shoes or anything dressy for a date. Food is simple and ok. No frills no surprises. Service could be better … depends who you are I’m guessing. Go for a drink if your passing … maybe.

The food served was good with obvious technical skills. The menu was seasonal, current and seasonal. However, we found prices to be a bit steep for what felt like a rather simple bistronomic meal. We ate well, enjoyed the location and view but won't rush back yet.

Fabulous quality ingredients, prepared with passion. I simply do not understand the negative reviews. We had a glorious sharing meal, with several starters and a few main courses, plus an excellent cheese platter. The plate of Italian ham was the best ham I have had for years. I was dubious about sharing the kale risotto, but it was extraordinary. The wine list was really interesting and good value. Charming service.

We were really looking forward to visiting, the restaurant looked amazing and the location is great. I was really happy when the nice lady on the phone had a last minute cancelation for us. The review is mixed because the atmosphere is cool and it's in a great location but the food is so over priced for the quality and the portions are so small. We spent £100 and I walked out of there very hungry, we're not even big eaters. The food was average - very disappointing for what we thought we were going to get. I felt I could have recreated it or found it in a cookbook at home, there wasn't much that was special about it. Although the fish was cooked well. Service wasn't great although we still left the appropriate tip, barman was ok. A couple of the plates were bought to us by the chefs and just put down in front of us and not even explained what we had. (You might expect that here). I very rarely complain about places as I want local businesses to do well, especially in this climate but this has to be said. I felt a bit robbed when we left. Shame as we would have bought people back here.

I was looking forward to dinner at Sargasso as it had been recommended to us. Unfortunately we left feeling underwhelmed! The food was pretty tasteless /bland and although the staff seemed to get along with each other didn't seem to care about the diners experience and were rather standoffish . In particular the wine waiter was nonchalant, verging on rude.

What a truly memorable lunch! Delicious food and wine served by attentive and knowledgeable staff in a fabulous spot overlooking the sea. 10 out of 10 all round.

We tried again, oh dear. That is it... never again. Over priced, waiters/head of restaurant indifferent. No wonder shooting down the restaurant ratings in Margate..

So looked forward to going to this place but it never hit the mark. Mish mash of over priced dishes with no balance and limited cooking skill. It was a nothing lunch, not an exciting menu and some weird tasing dishes. Had a deep fat fryer in kitchen area and not great extraction as clothes smelt when out in fresh air.

Haven't been to Sargasso for a while as their opening times for dinner haven't coincided with our trips to Margate for about a year. Delighted that July saw them open on a Wed for dinner, though a bit worried by other reviews saying their food and staff weren't as good as before. Nonsense. Food fantastic (Staples bread, mortadella, oysters with chorizo, mussels & cider, black pudding & egg), though a shame the courgette fritti have disappeared. Staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. So glad we ignored the unfavourable reviews and returned.

Food was amazing I cannot fault it but the staff were rude, unapproachable and only slightly relatable when it came to tip time. I have never felt so uncomfortable I will definitely not be returning.

Just WOW! The menu is a variety of sharing plates. 3 of us had about 5 different things, all to share. Particular favourites were the cucumber side dish and the slip sole. Very different flavours and all absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back!

Literally superb. Excellent friendly service, fresh delicious ingredients and food, interesting selection of wines. Also a great location looking back over the beach to Margate. Would highly recommend

Disappointed return visitor - I’d visited in February and loved it. The food, the staff everyone was amazing. Today - totally different. The staff were surly and seemed too busy to take our orders. They were running off while we tried to order more dishes....

Another disappointed customer I'm afraid. Food was a bit expensive for small plates. Service was erratic (and a bit unnecessarily arrogant if I'm honest). We booked well in advance and were given pretty poor seats at the bar on a hot day (not the area...

What an amazing place. Had such a fantastic meal! Thank you so much! Staff are so friendly and welcoming!

Disappointed with food although classed as small plates the portions were extremely small .A piece of skate for 2 was an understatement. A glass of wine £8 and was presented with sediment in the bottom was not acceptable. Slow service too . Definitely would not...

First visited sargasso back in march 2022. Had a great experience and recommended it highly to a lot of friends. We’d heard some friends recently say they’d had not so good experiences and were surprised. We went back yesterday for the first time since last...

Been looking forward to taking lunch here after reading the great press, but honestly very disappointed. It really is over hyped and we experienced something I have never seen in any restaurant before. Food was decent but not great, timing from the kitchen was awful,...

Michelin star what a joke, service low lever, food tasteless in ugly old plate, price ridiculous but is Michelin so acceptable, jus a good view , I just don’t recommend

Was very excited to come back to Sargasso, however was left very disappointed and hungry - so much so we had to go and eat amazing white bait at Peter’s fish and chips shop. A tad annoying after an expensive meal. The menu is no...

Very disappointed, heard lots of good things and was hungry for dinner on Saturday night. There was no aperitif to our liking, the wine was good but the food choices were so limited and not a main dish in sight. A hen party turned up...

Sargasso is a special find - on the harbour arm with lovely views of The seafront. Margate is now cool and funky and foodie and arty and … as always … nostalgic Sargasso’s food is outstanding, imaginative and absolutely delish. We ate mussels, wild sea...

5 stars. Every single time Stunning food and service. We really love it here and will 100% be back

The food here is spot on. Flavouring is exceptional. Highly recommend. My wife is disabled and the setting is all on stools inside. So the staff removed one of the tables and took in a bench from outside so she could sit comfortably. Very kind...

This place was recommended by a friend and indeed we obliged, but without any idea of how truly this would be....but soon the reality went above and beyond any expectation!! Amazing food, amazing service, amazing atmosphere and amazing location. However it's the food that did...

Sargasso was the highlight of the day my wife, son and I spent in Margate. The room is small but seats about 25 comfortably. We were advised to choose up to 8 dishes to share around the group, and the six dishes we chose left...

Had a lovely evening whilst visiting Margate for a short break. Decided to spend our evening at Sargasso as it had been recommended to us - it didn’t fail to please. We sat on stools at the bar area and Angelo (bar manager) helped us...

We enjoyed a carafe of delicious red wine and enjoyed the view. The wine list and the cuisine is first class for fish and seafood lovers. Rather sadly I’m allergic to fish but plan to try the vegetarian options on my next visit. Made to...

Be aware. The restaurant has no toilets. On a cold dark night, when asking for the toilet a female member of our party was given a key and sent outside to walk up the pier to use the public toilet which was covered in urine...

I’ve read much of this restaurant, so while in Margate had to visit. We took our children for dinner. Lots of fish dishes on the menu, we had about 8-10 dishes and was enough between us all very high standard. It was fun to see...

It was a miserable cold wet and windy November day in Margate. This was a super location for lunch. The ambience is very focused on the food. The cooking is in full view behind the bar. Amazing small plates of exquisite taste and quality. We...

Food was very good and watching chefs at work was interesting. Serving staff were great. Desserts very, very limited. My coat was on the floor in front of the stool I was sitting on so nowhere to hang a coat and stools don't suit people...

This was our fourth visit, all previously in a group of four. As staycation this year and live local, thought would have an afternoon luncheon. Reserved via Resy on 2nd July 2022, inside table for 28th July 2022 13:30. In the morning, text from Resy...

We had yet another superb meal here with friends, having last visited in March. The food was amazing, the staff are brilliant and the organic wines were delicious. The menu was slightly different to that online but we enjoyed several strategy and around 7 sharing...

After trying to book online, we gave up and just rocked up as was traditional in ’the old days’. The manager and excellent staff were most accommodating and we sat down to a fantastic tapas lunch with a great view across the bay. Beer was...

10/10 experience. Beautiful place, incredible food. Perfect example of the best ingredients done simply - can't be beaten. We sat inside at the bar with the beautiful view behind us, and the staff were so nice, our waitress was really friendly and chatty, and talked...

Reserved a TABLE for 2 but on the day was told tables are for 3 ppl or more.. advance notification would have been good. Tapas is what they are about but again not stated. The food was lovely but very over priced. £9 for 1...

This was booked for me as a lunchtime birthday treat long before the Jay Rayner Guardian review. It was positively hyped by him and I guess he didn't have to use the loo. We arrived just before 13.00 h for a reserved table for two...

Could be a really cool place but ...Food good, service average. Worst aspect: toilet is a swamp outside & 50 yards up the harbour arm. Def not chic!!

Sorry guys, but you need to get your act back together. Went for lnch last Sunday, gorgeous day, lovely weather and got a table outside with great views over the harbour, but the menu...... No mains, lots of dishes unavailable, very disappointing Ok they are...

We read about this little place in one of the Sunday papers and luckily we booked, as it was really busy and people were being turned away. Open-plan kitchen, so you can see all the food being prepared. Great atmosphere, lovely small dishes for sharing....

Was a beautiful sunny day in Margate so we thought we would eat el-fresco. It was quite busy on the Harbour Arm and in and outside the restaurant but we were very well looked after and were supplied drinks whilst we waited for a free...

This restaurant was recommended to us by our hotel What a find !! We were fortunate to get a booking on the day as online reservations are normally essential. We were a couple and were placed at the bar on high seats--not a problem to...

We went as two friends of 56 years and we were celebrating our 70 again birthdays two years late! It was worth the wait! Service was exemplary ! Nothing was too much bother! We chose the charcuterie , Parmesan fritters ( to die for) ,...

Great little place. Sat at the bar and had a lovely meal with wine. Dishes are more tapas type than a traditional starter and main. Accepted small dogs too. Parmesan fritters were my highlight and would have had for dessert too.

🎵  On a tasty Sunday afternoon 🎵  Sunday week at Sargasso.. I cannot tell how wonderful our meal was.. It was exceptionally tasty. The staff were fabulous the chefs were so friendly they have time for you, if you ask they will  come and tell...

We had dinner here on a Saturday evening at Margate’s newest hot spot and THE place to eat at in Kent following its recent Michelin accolade. The emphasis is on quality seafood with a touch of meat. The restaurant sits beside the harbour wall with...

Right out on the harbour arm from afar this place doesn't look very inviting, but persevere and you're in for a very pleasant surprise. It's quirky inside with most people sitting at the bar, very friendly staff and an unusual menu We had a mixture...

The online booking process was quite a palava – ‘I’m not a robot’, and a 6-digit code sent to a mobile phone. But at least it worked. Finding a ‘toilet disclaimer’ on the website was certainly a first, but having read other reviewers’ comments about...

Delicious. Delicious. Delicious. Plus great friendly efficient service - with a smile. Nice location and vibe. Will defo go back.

Although at first glance I wondered if there was anything in the menu that really appealed to me, we chose dishes from the small plates section and all of the large plates (shared between four of us) and they were all delicious. Real stand outs...

Superb food, especially the Parmesan fritters and the steak tartare. Oh, and the salt cod. Really good table service too. BUT! The toilet situation is appalling and would put us off returning. That really needs sorting out soon.

I booked this restaurant after visiting on previous occasions.. It was booked 4 weeks in advance to go with new friends and potential new customers. I received an email 30 hours before the planned booking to say the restaurant had now got a private party...

We absolutely loved Sargasso. A friend recommended we try this restaurant and we were not disappointed. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere and reasonably priced. The food was incredible - the Parmesan fritters and cuttlefish were phenomenal. Lots of sharing plates and delicious wines to choose...

We chanced upon Sargasso having just been to the Turner. Oh….wow….we are so pleased we did! A small lunch menu of delicious things! I had some super, fresh oysters to start and then we both had the show stopping combo of stracciatella (creamy cheese curds...

Possibly the best food we ate during our week in Margate. Modern, no frills decor but the food was lovely; unfussy but fresh, well cooked and full of flavour, with various excellent wines by the glass. We loved everything we ate: the olives, the Parmesan...

We came here on a Sunday lunchtime and had some fabulous small sharing plates and wine here. Great friendly service. If there is two of you, then you sit at the bar, which is nice. If there are four or more you sit at tables....

I’ve eaten at Sargasso twice since it opened & the food is consistently outstanding. The menu changes every day & is based on what is seasonal & fresh. The flavours are incredible - every single dish we ate (there were many of them!) was outstanding....

We had an incredible dinner at Sargasso last night (25/09/2021) and can’t wait to return. The food was exceptional - our particular favourites were the squid and the sea bass (and the parmesan fritters!) but everything was really delicious. Great value for money and the...

We had an amazing lunch here for birthday treat. I had high hopes for this place as I’d visited Brawn in London and I was not disappointed. Between 3 of us we had a selection of dishes; choosing a favourite was like asking who your...

An absolute gem of a place. Location on Margate harbour wall overlooking the harbour is perfect . The staff and owner were incredibly friendly and helpful . And the food was so good we went back for lunch again the next day !! Over the...

Ideal place if you're not particularly hungry. The meals are very tasty, but don't bank on eating anything very substantial. For example, a 'small plate' of anchovies is just 5 tiny anchovies for £11. Smoked eel is served on what looks like a tea plate,...

Carmen and Zac have made this old fisherman's hut on the Harbour Arm a gastronomical wonderland. Umpteen staff prepare a great range of dishes with Portuguese and Asian influences with seafood caught that day. Loads of choices including vegetarian options. Super friendly staff, excellent wines...

Great position, really lovely food and wine - and reasonably priced too. The service was absolutely outstanding - so friendly and welcoming (I'd like to give it more than five stars but that's not an option!). Would highly recommend.

Superb meal. We could not fault the location, food, drink and service. Additional bonus of staff playing vinyl behind the counter!

Great location, great vibe, great food, BUT oh my, the prices for the size? My husband had the girolle (mushroom) spaghetti. It was delicious but £18 for a portion the size of a starter?! Come on! I had the crab and artichoke salad. Again, delicious...

Visited for Sunday lunch with husband & teenager. Really friendly servers and fascinating to watch the chefs at work in the galley kitchen which forms part of the ambience of the place. The menu is adventurous and revolves around fresh local produce with Mediterranean twist....

We can only assume that we visited on an off day given the other reviews and the numbers of times it was recommended to us. The staff were nice enough but there was definitely an issue with the mechanics of service in terms of timings....

Great food - superbly put together by Julia . How can an aubergine and chickpea fritter roll taste so amazing ? Lovely friendly staff as well.

We used this restaurant for a take out option for a friends 30th. It did not disappoint. The food was creative and delicious! It really felt like we were eating in the restaurant! Would highly recommend.

We were drawn in by the varied menu and local booze, and could not have been happier that we did. The service was impeccable, friendly, and knowledgable. The view is one of our favourites. However, it was the food absolutely stole the show. We had...

Delicious modern cooking in a pared-down quayside space by Turner Comtemporary. It was empty when our party of 4 wandered in during a squall, but by the end of our delicious lunch the sun had come out, and the restaurant was heaving. Next time we...

This place is so awesome, Julia is a such wonderful chef and host, going as far as tweaking the menu on the day to cater for her vegan guests. It’s buzzing and everything ticks all the right boxes. With so many great restaurants to chose...

We stumbled on this place during our one night stay in Margate. How lucky we were. This place is just amazing. Such interesting flavours delivering totally out of this world food. This chef will go places, she's an artist of the highest calibre.

Visited with friends who have a few food intolerances and are not meat eaters however my husband is. The menu takes abit of decoding but the waitress was lovely and helpful. I think they change it daily. We all really enjoyed the meal even my...

Can’t fault this place. Wish the team all the success that ia coming their way. Enjoy your rest and hold on for next year!

Great evening out at Sargasso. Really nice people, bubbly atmosphere. Very strange, almost meat free, menu. Food was okay, the Saltimbocca was actually very good under all the capers, but to be honest they gave us free wine, so they could have s**t on a...