Squisito in Lewes

The first thing to say is that the food is 'quality' and the dishes are original and cooked to order. Waiting staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Ambience is good. As a very cold person I should have layered up a bit more especially as it's December! Anyway thoroughly enjoyable, will go again, thanks.

Food was absolutely delicious 😋 I had rigatoni with ox cheek and my husband had bucatini with clams, sidedish purple sprouting broccoli. A fantastic dining experience.. our first visit and will definitely book again when in Lewes.

Sadly not exquisite. We booked on line for a table in the 'Barn', which was freezing cold and zero atmosphere. The table owners should not be using this space if they can't heat it. Shocking really and shows no concern for the customer. Focaccia was not good too doughy and not at all like a traditional Italian Focaccia. The cured meat did not have the string removed. My cod was very and too salty and no sign of the salami. Grilled pork chop was ok but the confit potato seemed to have been cooked it pork fat but not fully, hence a smelly and slightly rancid taste. No one seemed to be in charge of service, just inexperienced waiting staff. We really wanted to love this place but £147 for poor food sitting and a bottle of wine in the cold is not the on. I doubt they will get many repeat customers and once they hype is over will struggle. A big disappointment.

Came for Sunday lunch with family (8 adults). The food was really good, highly recommend the lasagna. The staff were attentive and refilled bread (the oil was delicious!!). It’s a cute location in the town. Will be back

My new favourite place for lunch in Lewes. Really great little restaurant with excellent limited set menu at a reasonable price. Nice to have chilled filtered water for free. Fresh bread straight out of the oven and free! Excellent starter of brocolli and stilton soup, (not too hot- which was great) and then a tasty pasta dish.

£19 for a pasta dish that was served on a side plate, and barely a hint of meat in the sauce. Such a shame, lovely venue, great staff just really let down by the mean portion size!!!!!

Nothing quite beats a warm welcome, a unique venue and great passionate staff, and of corse not forgetting the best pasta I have ever tasted! The purest and highest ingredients sourced locally and all handmade in house. A real hidden gem that makes for a romantic and unforgettable night.

We popped in for lunch randomly and were pleasantly surprised. The best pasta I’ve had for years. Really hearty portions. Freshly baked foccacia on the side. We will definitely be going again.

Everything we had was cooked perfectly the freshness was like jumping through a summers meadow as a newly born bunny rabbit. Great service as well can highly recommend.

Incredible! The food was INSANE. They have a relatively small menu but we tried all the dishes between two couples and were blown away by how good they were. Could not recommend this more highly. The chef/ owner came to our table and he was the nicest guy.

My first visit and was very impressed. Great atmosphere, lighting and vibe. House white and red wines were excellent. My wife’s pasta was very good and my Scottish rib eye steak was sensational. Lovely staff and a visit at the end from chef to discuss how great our food had been. A definite return!

I am thrilled that this great place has opened in Lewes. It is just what we needed! Understated, locally sourced food, cooked simply, with care and really delicious. Coupled with a concise but good value wine list, easy going service and casual setting. I love it! Oh and also try their breakfast offering it is also ingredient lead, fuss free and delicious!

We had a wonderful meal at Squisito, every single thing was delicious and the service was great too.

Nice atmosphere and friendly service, but very slow. Pasta and grilled salmon shouldn't have taken 45 minutes to arrive.

It is rare to find an Italian restaurant of this level outside of Italy. The food is wonderful, the servers have attention to detail and the ambiance makes you want to stay forever. One of those restaurants where you eat pasta with a smile. Go for it !

Quite the best fresh pasta I've eaten for ages!

Visited on a Saturday evening to celebrate my husband’s. birthday. We were warmly welcomed and made to feel special. We ordered a selection of starters and pasta dishes, all were fresh, interesting, seasonal and delicious. Service was relaxed and attentive. We loved it so much we returned for breakfast the next morning and once again we were blown away by the incredible service, wonderful menu and delicious ingredients. It was heartwarming to find a restaurant that has just got everything so right and we can’t wait to return.

Such a hidden gem! Delicious food, excellent service, very friendly chef. The type of food and atmosphere that can only make you happy :) Nothing I would change, only wish there was one in London so I could go more often!

Probably the best breakfast I've ever had. Fresh ingredients, cooked to perfection, served by friendly staff. Couldn't fault this place - loved it!

Visited Squisito for our anniversary dinner and opted for the Chefs Menu. We felt very welcome from the moment we walked in, Isaac and the front of house team were great at recommending wines and service was fabulous throughout the night. Chef Harry gave us an absolutely delightful selection of food to enjoy. My personal favourite was the Jerusalem artichoke ravioli and the cured trout was my other half’s highlight but genuinely every single dish was delicious. Loved every minute, highly recommend and can’t wait to go back.

Had a fantastic breakfast. The vibe of the restaurant is rustic and friendly. The food was amazing and the staff were all on point!

Lovely lunchtime menu today. We'll worth a long overdue visit. Food was cooked to order, served by friendly staff.

What a total gem of a place this is! Within a minute of entering the restaurant, we were greeted with big smiles, a friendly welcome, our table, water and menus. A great start to what became a lovely dining experience. The atmosphere with the open kitchen is interesting, buzzy and creative. The food really was delicious - The focaccia was lightly, oily and fluffy, the pasta, the chop, the kale - literally everything we ate was gone, devoured by us and the two kids. Good wines and interesting soft drinks. I would highly recommend a visit for the food and the service to anyone. Not sure I took any photos to add, it all went so quickly,

We really enjoyed the experience. The vibe is lovely in the restaurant and the setting is great with the kitchen visible. All the team were friendly and helpful. The food was really authentic and very well cooked. The wine list has to be seen, really something. A welcome addition to the town for sure!

This is a beautiful restaurant situated in one of the best spots in Lewes. Every aspect of the meal was perfect. From the warm foccacia with oil and balsamic, anchovies with mint oil and wholegrain mustard and the duck ragu. All the staff are so polite and friendly which makes squisito a place I want to come to again for a brilliant experience. Highly recommend

Really fantastic atmosphere and location! We both had fantastic pasta dishes and the focaccia bread was incredible too! Really loved how accommodating the team were for dietary requirements as well, would love to go back in the future!

Really was excellent - highly recommend, completely delivers in all ways.

Impeccable food and fantastic service. Thank you so much!

This is the kind of place you want to keep secret because it's so good. There is a passion for quality and flavour here, which seeps out of everything they serve. The menu is deceptively simple, but the food is incredibly well thought through. Everything I've had here, including the coffee, has been second to none. Its almost worth going to Lewes just to get coffee or lunch here, but Lewes is in itself worth the visit. Please go here. You will not be disappointed!

A lovely birthday lunch at Squisito for four of us. The wild garlic soup and tiramisu both outstanding choices and nice to have the open kitchen and chat with the chefs.

great food, amazing service, super worth it! honestly one of the best meals i’ve had in a while

Stunning breakfast. Friendly staff. Great vibes. V good coffee, made as I wanted it. Definitely going back.

Amazing breakfast, food was so delicious and really good quality ingredients - would definitely recommend

Absolutely fantastic Italian food! The best fresh focaccia and they are extremely generous with it. We had the chefs menu at £45 per head and it was a very memorable - couldn’t fault it.

This is a 5 star place. Cook talks to you and can watch. Mostly excellent incl service, bread, Lavi wine and mussels. Few lapses. Papardelle with cockrel not great 4/10. Homemade pasta goid. But tasteless chewy meat in thin soup. Tiramisu 6/10. Both need a rethink. Too much creme, little form, coffee or alcohol. But overall it's brill

Loved this place - the food was great and service was excellent. Warm and friendly staff. Recommend the ragu pappardelle and pork chop. Bonus point goes to the free bread and chocolate!

Wonderful restaurant, best cannolo I have EVER eaten anywhere

Just incredible, food was sublime, pasta perfectly cooked and service was friendly and very efficient. Having been recommended by friends, we were not disappointed. We will be back.

I wanted to like Squisito having heard lovely things. My pasta was overcooked and the sauce under-flavoured. I felt rushed: the table was cleared before we’d all finished and there was an awkward vibe. Wine excellent though.

Sadly the pasta was overcooked and the sauce a little bland. More vegan options would be great too.

Watch the chefs prepare your delicious meal. Delicious veggies. I had an exquisite risotto with mushrooms and truffles, with sides of crunchy radicchio and broccoli. Fantastic!!! Felt a bit rustic. Relaxed atmosphere. Just great. Loved it. Will definitely go again.

This should be a foodie destination - a pleasure to visit an independent restaurant providing seasonal food at a reasonable price. Try the tasting menu. Well done

First time visit. Delicious food and cocktails. Polite,attentive service. Will definitely return and next time will have both pasta and main. Pannacotta best I've ever tasted

A gem of a place. Food was unreal.

Fabulous cafe with great coffee and great food. The staff are very friendly and super efficient. The best bacon sandwiches on the planet - home made pancetta in home made focaccia. Just brilliant. Maybe the second best sandwiches - after the ones I make!!

We booked Squisito Christmas Eve for a large party, including two babies under two ( potential for mayhem). The staff were all so accommodating , patient and relaxed and we were allowed to bring things like Christmas crackers etc. the food was, as usual, absolutely delicious and we all ended up ordering the tiramisu because it’s just one of the best we have ever tasted!

Really an excellent meal - some of the best pasta we've had in a long time, and super service... there when needed, but not hovering. We really enjoyed eating here!

Super cute little spot we stumbled across, perfect for our little lunch date and the lady taking care of us was really friendly (thank you for our extra bread!) The bread!!!! 🤩 We were given some lovely fresh focaccia bread that was still warm and for our mains we had the pumpkin soup and the gnocchi. It was all absolutely delicious that we ended up sitting in silence for our date because we were too busy enjoying the food!! Wish I had taken better pictures but I ate it all too quick 😂 will definitely return next time we are in Lewes!

Amazing lunch. Thanks so much! Literally the best focaccia I’ve ever eaten and the waitress told me I could have as much as I wanted. I’m so happy. The bearded chef in the stripey apron was super lovely as well. Good looking and good cooking!!! Will defo be recommending, and coming back x

Lovely pasta, starters were great especially beetroot and ricotta bruschetta- and my big piece of beef was banging. Cocktails on point

Wow! Had a truly lovely meal here with a friend. Everything was very thoughtfully prepared and presented. Lots of wonderful flavours and delicious dishes. Warm service and lots of little extras to make it special. Perfect for food lovers and romantics.

Novel menus and venue. Impressive cooking, presentation and food. Managed well with friendly staff and chance to chat to the team and head chef. Have been before and will book again.

We came across Squisito by chance and were so lucky to do so. The food was amazing, the service exceptional and the ambiance brilliant. Would have returned for dinner if we could - completely loved it.

Buzzy little lunch place, Italian food. Freshly made pasta dishes, great cooking and reasonable value.

Never write reviews but feel like this place deserves one! Been quite a few time since they opened a year ago and had amazing meals every single time! Menus always changing which keeps me coming back to try new things, and staff are v friendly.

What a lovely lunch experience I had here. The food and drink were fabulous, the service exceptional and the atmosphere was positive and enjoyable. The young man serving me was a credit to the place - he was efficient, pleasant and knowledgeable. Well done to you all.

Such good service here! And amazing food too

I purchased the 2 course meal and chose orichiette pasta with the garden leaves Received quite a lot of leaves and a tiny amount of quite bland pasta. Overpriced and underwhelming experience, a shame.

What an amazing place, food fantastic, staff friendly, polite and helpful. Can't recommend Squisito highly enough. Only wish I lived nearer than 250 miles!

A lovely evening out. I feel like I was genuinely 'cooked for'. Such a rare thingvwhen youve got dietry requirements. From the yummy little piece of roasted garlic in the dipping oil to the calendula petal liqueur , the food was a delight. I would thoroughly recommend this place to anyone.

Went for lunch with friends and had a lovely lunch of pasta with Roast cauliflower, chilli & almond oil. Delicious sides and focciacia. Staff were attentive and recommended a lovely Puglian white wine. Would go back

An absolutely wonderful place with a great team. We had a fantastic time at Squisito. All the added little touches were so special and greatly appreciated. The team were efficient and attentive. My favourite dish was the King Prawn Pasta with Nduja and the tiramisu was just perfect.

I organised a lunch for me, and 15 friends visiting from as far as Australia. We were made to feel so welcome, and everyone was just raving about the food, and space. Thank you team Squisito!! It was great to show you off, and a brilliant lunch was had by all ☺️☺️

This was our first evening meal in this lovely restaurant having previously visited the cafe. This place is a gem and we thoroughly recommend it. The atmosphere is relaxed and the food is superb. However, the service topped the experience. The young staff team were highly competent, enthusiastic and so very pleasant. Very impressed and plan to return soon.

Having enjoyed breakfast and lunch here it was time to give dinner a go. I’m so glad a did! A warm welcome into the cosy brick space which somehow felt very different to how it does in the day. All down to the lighting I guess. Complimentary focaccia with oil and balsamic was pillowy soft while we close from the small but interesting menu. We shared some olives and mozzarella with more of the focaccia. The mozzarella was so creamy I thought it was burrata. It went well with the light and fruity Italian Cabernet Franc. For mains I had pasta with prawns and n’duja. Lots of prawn meat cut into chunks so every mouthful had a tender fishy hit. My partner ate a beetroot risotto with pecorino and chilli honey. Both were absolutely delicious, memorable dishes. There followed a palate cleansing granita, fortified with a marigold liqueur. Heavily fortified! My semifreddo could have been slightly softer - that’s pretty much the only criticism I have! My partner loved her panna cotta - proper wobbly! I had a glass of the amoro vecchio, nicely herbal with a bitter aftertaste. All in all a great evening, super service and marvellous food.

Absolutely the best brunch in Lewes, with the most fantastic friendly service anywhere.

Bank holiday Monday, it was very busy but the team were all so friendly and happy. We had the Aubergine Sandwich and Mac and Cheese. The crispy aubergine with the red pesto on the most delicious fresh focaccia was to die for. And the Max and cheese, just wow! Great coffee too.

Reading the reviews we had high expectations. Sadly the chef must have been away on Bank Holiday Monday... lunch was not good... and expensive: £10 for an untoasted ciabatta, filled with deepfried aubergine and red pesto, dripping with oil... and nothing else?

A wonderful, independent, contemporary restaurant with a relaxed vibe, stylish setting and passionate young team. Highly recommend

Loved our spontaneous breakfast while our train was delayed and we were very happy it was! Our breakfast was divine… freshly baked warm focaccia with a dirty chai which I Havnt seen here in the UK until now! Lovely service will definitely be back if we are ever in the neighbourhood ☺️

Honestly such incredible food, outstanding service and amazing atmosphere. The staff are so tentative and knowledgable about their magnificent menu. The Ragu was fantastic with very tender veal. Cheese related started were unreal too. Huge thanks to them all! Couldn’t recommend more!

Lovely scrambled eggs and Tuscan beans cooked by Chris, great coffee and friendly atmosphere. Highly recommend if you're in Lewes. We will be back.

Fantastic food and service and a good amount of vegetarian options too. Great vibes and there are cute shops in the neighbouring The Needlemakers to see before/after your meal.

It was very nice to eat very good Italian inspired food in Lewes. If you are fortunate enough to have enjoyed fresh authentic antipasto and pasta in Italy, you will love this place. The team are great, we really enjoyed the service, and seeing the chefs work in the open kitchen is always a good spectacle. Do go…. I will return! Thank you Squisito for a lovely evening.

Excellent all round. Great chilled, non pretentious atmosphere, great service and amazing food. The passion and commitment of the owners, chefs and staff, are truly shown and come through in the food and whole experience. We will be back… thanks

Wow, wow, wow! The team at Squisito are the best. My wife and I hosted our wedding reception here and the team produced a work of art. From the very beginning Sally worked closely to establish our needs and create a bespoke occasion for our special day. The setting was amazing (the gorgeous courtyard), the service impeccable and the food simply incredible with the menu created just for us. Please check this place out whether for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even just a drink in the sun. I guarantee you will be back again and again. These lovely people are putting their passion into this beautiful place and deserve every success they have coming to them. To each and everyone at Squisito, thank you

Popped in on spec as we walked past and it looked great. I managed to spill my orange juice all over the table and the floor. They were very kind about it. We had a mini meats platter to share. It totally surpassed our expectations. Good quality thinly sliced Italian meats and some little nibbly Bready type things. The whole thing was great. The two guys in there were very welcoming. I highly recommend and we will be going again. I'll try not to spill my drink, I promise.

Gorgeous little restaurant! The food was superb and the service impeccable! I visited with friends and the staff were all so welcoming and very knowledgeable of the food and wine (loved the wine suggestion!). They also provided little extras throughout the evening which made it very special. Thank you for a great evening out, can’t wait to come back!

Gorgeous little restaurant! The food was superb and the service impeccable! I visited with friends and the staff were all so welcoming and very knowledgeable of the food and wine (loved the wine suggestion!). They also provided little extras throughout the evening which made it very special. Thank you for a great evening out, can’t wait to come back!

Great service and we had a wonderful family lunch here. The roast lamb was perfect - several notches above the usual Sunday roast. They had a fantastically good platter of cured meats including a ham to die for cured by the Chef. Can't fault it. If you're eating out in Lewes and haven't tried this restaurant you're missing out.

Amazing place!!! Family run business, staff, food and service was excellent. Had 2 x Full English Breakfasts, food was hot, delicious and fairly priced. Also recommend the latte and hot chocolate. Very clean and nice atmosphere Returned for a hot drink on the way back to the car.

Wonderful laid back vibes with lazer focus finishing in the kitchen. Cant recommend highly enough. Wonderful!

A smart new (ish) restaurant at Needlemakers, taking over from the vegan restaurant that used to be here. Good pasta, with delicious sauces! + very friendly and helpful staff

Lovely meal in Squisito. Wonderful wine selection. Happy team who were so friendly and helpful. Can’t wait to visit for dinner.

Wonderful service, fantastic coffee and cake! Nice seating area, a real hidden gem! Definitely worth stepping away from the high street.

Great coffee and cake Staff very friendly and hospitable Sat in the shady cobbled area which was lovely Definitely worth a visit ! X

Wow a price of heaven in good form has arrived. I have eaten breakfast which was a taste sensation and a cleaver Italian twist to classic breakfast. I also ate a week later the 20 course tasting menu for dinner with 6 friends and it was outstanding and worth the treat. Highly recommend and hope these talented owners stay at the Needlemakers Lewes for a long time as it is a wonderful experience.

Exceptional food . Good menu . Delightful attentive staff and pleasant smiley kitchen . A real treat to visit in an attractive space . Really glad we found this .

Had an absolutely fantastic time at Squisito. Thank you very much. If you haven’t visited yet. Go.

Amazing little place. All of the food was delicious, handmade Gnocchi was particularly good (we watched the chef make it on a previous visit) The team all seem to genuinely love what they do and it shines through in the food. Can’t wait to go back and try the evening menu.

Really disappointed. Loved the cafe that was here before and would always come after a walk. Squisito really doesn't compare. Very over priced, service charge was sneakily added (especially as there was no service!!). A friend and I had the asparagus, pesto and poached egg gnocchi. The plate had around 6 pieces of gnocchi which was not cooked well and the texture was awful. The poached egg was overdone. The whole experience was incredibly dissatisfying to be honest and we ended up having a second lunch to make up for the lack of food!

Had the nicest sandwich ever here, made a fuss of my dog too, 10/10.

Great brunch - very friendly and attentive service - definitely try the all day English Breakfast!

Quite frankly our opinion of Squisito is that they have ruined a perfectly good cafe venue in the heart of the Old Neddlemakers building, by turning it into a pretentious, over-priced and very poor value restaurant. The was food was presented as high quality cuisine but was actually tasteless and bland. I had watery soup, a very small serving, with a few uncooked peas, three peanuts, some stringy green weeds and inedible dumplings. My wife had a plate of sliced uncooked tomatoes with a coating of fried breadcrumbs and a little pesto. She said it was extremely unsatisfying. Bring back the warm, friendly, good quality and good value Cafe it once was.

Point by point, the rustic atmosphere was pleasant with tables spaced well enough, non-intrusive music, nicely judged lighting and decoration, and a comfortable ambient temperature. Service was attentive, efficient and charming - on a fully-booked evening. Our menu offered three starters; then a fish course, a chicken course and a vegetarian course for mains, and three puddings. The wine list was very limited - we were choosing red and there was a chilled Portuguese red, an Italian Cabernet Franc and a Languedocian Syrah as the "house wine". Knowing the Languedoc wines from once living near St. Chinian, I ordered the Syrah (500ml carafe) - £17) expecting the usual robust, earthy wine they produce. Sadly, it was utterly featureless, the kind of wine you might get served in an insouciant French bar for a couple of Euros. I tried the Cabernet Franc - it was only marginally better. A big disappointment. The soft bread with garlic and balsamic oil was lovely. The following Agnolotti starter was delicious - little stuffed pasta parcels, perfectly cooked. The stuffed rolled and sliced chicken dish was also very good - we neglected to order sides with it but our appetites weren't huge. A little palate-cleanser of crushed summer fruit balls drizzled with orange liqueur was delightfully unexpected and we shared a semi-freddo with a rhubarb coulis. A couple of cute little pastries came with the bill for £90+ including an "automatic service charge". Food of this standard and at these prices deserves decent wine. I don't understand other reviews extolling the "great wine choice". There's clearly a huge mark-up on these bottom shelf offerings which one is tempted to regard as lazy and/or opportunistic, particularly given that there's a Plumpton College degree-holder on the management side. My palate was crying out for a decent glass of red throughout the meal and even Aldi now have some very drinkable Languedocian reds at under a tenner (which would offer £20 profit if Squisito sold them at the same price as 75cl of their vin (very) ordinaire). It's really indefensible and self-defeating and mars an otherwise good dining experience. A BYO policy with a corkage charge would be the answer if they insist on their current choice of reds. Only then might this encourage a return visit.

Delisious soup, very friendly and helpful staff

Delicious breakfast, great coffee, great service at great value. Highly recommend the Tuscan beans! No skimping on the bread either!

Went for dinner, fabulous food and service. Would definitely recommend and will definitely be back. Soon.

We just went in for a drink but the food looked so good we ended up staying for lunch! Incredible food and great service, shall have to go back to try the rest of the menu!

Our first visit to the restaurant, and it certainly won’t be our last, lovely evening, friendly staff, excellent food and great wine selection. We had the set menu, fantastic value for money. Highly recommend.