The Pilot Inn in Shepway

We have been regular visitors here for some time —more recently with friends and family in tow…We live in the county - an hour or so away. The food is consistently excellent - as is the service even when they are very busy. The area has a unique, bleak charm all of its own (to coin a phrase: a bit of a ‘marmite’ choice — ie you either love the pebble desert or you don’t)….. Dungeness (which was an island of sorts only 600 years’ ago) and the surrounding area has a fascinating history. If descriptions of Hovellers, pirates and smugglers, Lady Launchers, Holey Stones, unique forms of transport, war time secrets and lost villages interest you, you will find the co-owner Nico Miaoulis’s book ‘Life On Marsh’ compelling reading…. P.S. bizarrely, I don’t eat fish or seafood - but the alternatives are good. I recommend the steak & kidney pudding. My wife never eats anything but fish here and thoroughly recommends it.

This was our second visit despite me being not overly fond of fish food but had heard the fish pie was special so I was curious to try...with trepidation I took my first mouthful...absolutely delicious, the mix of fish used with a cheese topping was exceptional and would definitely have again. I like my dessert but the fish pie was of a generous size and just couldn't manage to have a pud as well. We started with squid and that was exceptional too. I'm a bit of a food buff and have been known to be critical but I could not fault the food served here at all

Popped in whilst nearby. Glad we did. Easy to get a seat, beautiful food. We both had cod and chips, good value and really well cooked. Their own tartare sauce is lovely!

We have been here many times and always enjoy going here, the food was excellent and the staff friendly, we loved the Banoffiee Pie.All of the food here is excellent!

Wonderful food and drink and service was fantastic And lovely view of beach Free car park right outside I always go here when I'm in the area

Cod excellent as usual but the chips were poor - seemed to be oven chips which were badly cooked. Why can’t they serve proper chips to match the cod? Won’t be rushing back.

I ordered a "medium" skate (£16.95), to say it was huge was an understatement and not only that it was the best I have tasted for a few years. My husbands meal of haddock was very large too and tasty. The service was very quick in spite of the restaurant being very busy and the staff charming. No way did we have room for desert!! We had our dog with us as it is dog friendly on one side of the restaurant, "well behaved dogs welcome". Highly recommend.

This was the best meal I have ever had well worth the money . Lovely staff . Wish I had room for desserts that looked awesome

Had the special of monkfish with lemon and garlic mash.. best meal I’ve eaten for a long time, great sevice and will be back soon.

Had a fab lunch. Whale and chips. The batter was sooo crispy. Hubby had the mussels small but really succulent. We would come back again and recommend. Service very slick, well run .

Called after a Trip on "THE TRAIN"It was extremely busy and were impressed with the menu.Can not comment on the main meals but judging by what we observed the portions were generous in the extreme,the fish and chips looked huge.We had a selection of starters etc and some excellent draught beer.Judging by some reviews as usual "you can not please everybody"The staff and the ambience were first class.

This place has got to busy and its a shame ,because now the standard has dropped, my fish was swimming in water, batter all soggy, may be the fish was still frozen , and then the water melted out into to the batter,Did say but was just brushed off, SO WE LEFT.

Amazing as usual, fish and chips are simply the best in the south east!! It may be a little of the beaten track but we'll worth it

Great, friendly, efficient service and super idea to have half the pub dog free as husband has allergies. Food was plentiful, hot and tasty. Fish and chips were delicious, fish pie was tasty and full of different fish. My son had the chicken burger and commented that it was juicy and tasty. I had the veggie option of mushroom, cranberry and brie wellington which was delicious. Lovely and plentiful selection of fresh vegetables. They were busy but food arrived in a timely manner.

Amazing food, friendly staff medium size group all the food turned up together hot and delicious! Rate rate rate the battered Brie starter with cranberry incredible!

My family went there for Sunday lunch, the fish and chips was was really good, and nice and hot. The fish was nice and white and the batter was really crispy and light.

We visited this establishment after a nice long walk along the beach (working up a appetite) We have been recommended many times by people who have been here many times over. We had fish and chips with mushy peas and I really don’t understand why people would rate it so highly. the portions are extremely generous the fish was tasty but the texture of the chips was really not as good as we were expecting (overly hard and crunchy). Would we return maybe one day in the future to see what all the fuss is about.

Dessert was zeer lekker en meer dan voldoende. De lunch de dag erna vonden we iets minder. De frieten waren niet zo lekker, de hoeveelheid eten daarentegen was overweldigend. Een heel mooi en gezellig restaurant met zicht op zee en veel lichtinval.

My friend and I ordered at the same time and I got to enjoy him eat his meal whilst I waited for a chicken burger. My friend had finished and we needed to be somewhere else. I enquired if my meal would be ready and was told it’s only. Minute away so I said I need it to take out, as my friend has prior appointments. Arrived home to have a fillet of chicken that was dryer than the sand on the beach. Can’t return it as I only live in Greatstone but to return the item, I would have to catch a bus. I have enjoyed the pilot many, many times over the past thirty odd years just a shame this wasn’t one of those times. 🙁

Food took quite a while to come . My chicken burger was not nice ! Dry chicken with a funny taste ! The bun was stale and crumbling apart. Husband had the fish pie which smelt weird and just wasn’t nice ! Only nice thing was the chips !

The food is OK. Our fish and burgers were nice, chips were pretty average - not crisp and mine weren't very hot, but we'd waited a long time so didn't send them back. The staff are very friendly really welcoming. We all found the portion sizes overwhelming to be honest, and we're always up for a good feed. Result is no deserts or coffee purchased, so I guess they saved us some money.

Food was excellent and nice went on a Sunday it was very busy lovely food nice staff only thing I did not like was the dogs should not have dogs in a pub where people are eating

My 100 year old dad was so excited to be going to The Pilot with us but we were all so disappointed with the food. Dad’s skate was covered in such thick, greasy batter and the fish itself was very dry and overcooked. My husband’s cod was ok but mine was very dry. The chips were all very thin, again overcooked. The lady on the next table to us had a long hair in her fish pie. Never again! The best fish and chip shop in Kent is still the Blue Harbour in Swanley.

We were very hungry and the Pilot was very busy. We easily found a table outdoors though. Lots of children playing on a big outdoor "dinosaur" right beside our table was a bit irritating, but hey ho! We ordered cod and chips and huss and chips. The cod was nice, white, flakey and jus the right amount of batter. My huss was paper thin and scraggy with hardly and visible fish coated in massive amounts of greasy batter, which I could not eat. Huss is supposed to be a chunky fish, full of flavour - I doubt this poor thing had ever seen the sea!! So very disappointing

Both my partner and I had read the reviews and thought the 2.5 star rating was harsh, it was 5pm on a Friday and it was quite busy, so couldn’t be that bad. We both ordered cod and chips. We suspect my partner’s cod was off as it was very fishy. Mine was okay, bit bland. Within an hour of eating the meal we started to get stomach pains and needless to say the meal exited our bodies far quicker than it went in (without being too graphic). I’m afraid the rating is fair. Will not return.

Another fantastic meal at the Pilot. The fish is delicious and the portions are very generous. The staff are very friendly and attentive and all work so hard.

Been several times and it is still the best we have had especially when it's so tough for hospitality. Lovely staff even when busy nothing is too much trouble.

Have been here a couple of times before and food was fine. Today my cod was good but some chips were hard. My husbands huss was a thin piece of fish in very hard batter, and a lot of his chips were hard or dry. Waitress didn't really seem interested, just said she would mention it. Probably won't go back....

Second time we’ve been and it’s amazing how busy it is on an average midweek lunchtime in September. The first time we both enjoyed it but this time I’d only say 3 stars. The chips really weren’t great and a real bugbear of mine is the cutlery. There must have been 40+ couples in there, most of whom I’d doubt were the type to steal the knives and forks, so why give customers the cheapest, blunt cutlery?

If you want a place to visit again and again this is definitely the place to go to. Great food, generous portions, friendly staff, and prices are very fair. The manager Megan is brilliant and very hands on which makes a refreshing change as most mangers like to hide away in their office. Totally recommend.

Where can you find somewhere warm, welcoming and spotlessly clean to eat at 4.30 on a December afternoon?!The Pilot - DungenessAs a local Airbnb Host and Ambassador I cannot praise and recommend more highly.The reviews below should be read with caution.Excellent cleanliness and hygiene. Owners with dogs clearly directed to a designated area (ignore comment below)Prices fair for the generous portions of superbly cooked fish & chips.It is a shame it was not mentioned below that the quality of all food surpasses expectations.All my guests have never been disappointed.I’ve included a (covert) photo of the thorough attention to detail of how seriously The Pilot adhere to hygiene and cleanliness.

Service was very efficient and quick. Starters were large and slightly greasy but perfectly acceptable. The main courses were good - cod and chips and fish pie. Seemed a bit expensive but not overly so. All in all a good experience

Lovely Food good service One complaint DOGS in where food being served Not very hygienic . Might go again ?

Very disappointing lunch. Food was well cooked and generous portions but the haddock(was it even haddock) had absolutely zero taste. Never had a fish and chips with less taste.

A visit to Dungeness would be the same without sampling some of the local fish & chips. Having eaten here before, I knew not to order the large portion. No coach parties this time but the pub was still full. Considering how busy it was, our food, which had been freshly cooked, came reasonably quickly and the medium Rock/Huss was plentiful and meaty. A couple of beers were available, brewed especially for the pub, from the local Romney Marsh Brewery.

We went on spec and despite the fact the pub was very busy we’re seated quickly. We had the medium fish and chips which came quickly and were huge. Very fresh batter and fish. Chips were also nice. We were too full for pudding. The beer was nice too. Staff were friendly, so enjoyed our lunch very much.

Was recommended by a friend, and I was glad she had. We hadn’t booked and it was very busy, being lunchtime. However the staff were friendly and the restaurant and tables were clean, but the best thing was the food. Despite them being busy, we did not have to wait long for our meal. We both had senior cod and chips and it was just delicious. My husbands fish did have some bones, but that is a chance one takes with fish obviously! And he still ate it with gusto! Mine had no bones and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although we had the senior (slightly smaller) meal, there was more than enough

Seated quickly but not told there was a wait on food. We waited an hour for fish and chips, when our food came my husband's order was wrong. As it was busy we were seated in the bar area it was very loud and was unpleasant to be sat at a table next to the bar with loud drunk people shouting and swearing. They were busy but the table behind us arrived 15 mins later than us and their food arrived before ours did. My husband had to complain twice before our food came, it was obvious they can't cope when it's busy. If we were told when we came in there was a wait we could have made the decision to go elsewhere. An hours wait for fish and chips with no apology or warning is not acceptable and ruined our evening, not impressed at all.

Went today with my 14 yr old son for lunch having not been for a few years… the cod and chips were great and the medium size fish was actually quite large my son had no room for ice cream … lovely ambience and great service

After a long walk we all had the most wonderful fish and chips here. The best we have eaten all year. Great fish and delicious batter. Both the haddock and cod were excellent. Highly recommend a visit! Service very good too!

The best fish and chips! This was our second visit with o the area this year and on both visits to this restaurant the food and service did not disappoint. I would definitely recommend if your in the area as there is a good variety of food on the menu and the portion sizes are very generous but my favourite is the cod and chips, with mushy peas of course!

Visited after walking our dogs, first time here and after hearing lots of nice things decided to try you out!We were initially coming in for a light bite but after seeing how good the fish and chips were we ordered some for ourselves, food was 10/10! Generous portions and everything cooked beautifully.We shall be visiting again.

We went last week for lunch. We had the medium fish and chips.The batter was light and the fish was good. Chips although not s huge amount were fine.I don't eat the batter at the bottom as everywhere I have ever had fried fish in batter it tends to be oily. Next time I will see about the gluten free batterless fish.

Visited after a sporting event nearby. Very busy carpark so we weren't hopeful of a table but we were lucky and got seated right away. We ordered Ham, Egg & chips and Cod & Chips. Both portions were huge, way too much for each person. The food was piping hot and really delicious. Service were friendly and speedy. The price was a little pricey, maybe they could reduce the portion sizes and reduce the price? My only disappointment was the toilets, they were not very clean at all, so bad I wouldn't use them, with the footfall the restaurant gets they must be a nightmare to keep cleaning. Despite this we would highly recommend and will definitely visit again if ever in the area.

This place was recommended to us (visitors to the area) by someone on Romney Sands holiday park as “the best fish and chips they have had”, so needless to say our expectations and excitement at eating there was high.We were I’m afraid very disappointed as whilst the F&C was nice it wasn’t exceptional, there was a lot of batter hiding a smallish bit of fish, the chips were Luke warm and again unremarkable, nothing special.The price we paid was in our opinion extremely high and so poor value for money. On visits to subsequent restaurants we checked out their F&C prices and appearances further cementing our rating of it being over priced here and of average quality.The premises is tidy and clean.

Before we arrived we weren't sure if we could take the dogs inside the building, and due to the very windy weather we didnt want to sit outside. I popped in an asked if dogs were welcome and was advise they were in a selected area. This was lovely and clear and lots of space between tables (always helpful when having the dogs!We ordered the Steak and ale pic, scampi and chips and the vegan stew. All of which were lovely, good quality and fresh.The staff were great with the dogs (we arrived mid afternoon so it was quite).Food was served quickly and the staff were friendly.Loved it that much we went back to the following evening for another meal. Good selection of beers avaialbel including one made for them!Would recommend, and will return.

The Pilot Inn is the perfect place for fish and chips (and other meals). The staff are welcoming, friendly and helpful. The service is efficient. The food is well presented and tasty. The portion sizes are more than ample. I had medium cod and chips and you should have seen the size of that one. Goodness knows what a large cod would look like. For those with a lesser appetite, there is a smallish seniors' option. Diets do not cause any problem either. My wife is Gluten Free and cannot eat batter. No problem, they pan fry the fish. There's plenty of seating, both inside and outside, and an added bonus is that the Pilot Inn is also dog friendly. The Capitain's Cabin part of the restaurant welcomes well behaved dogs.

Lovely returning visit!! We started by calling ahead to let them know we were a party of 9, and they were more than happy to accommodate us, we were informed that they do not take booking however they had definitely reserved an area which was highly appreciated! Wonderful friendly greeting to begin, bar ladies very friendly too! Great choice of beer and soft drinks to start… Menu is vast and everything sounded delicious! As a party we had a mix of Cod, Haddock, Plaice, Lasagne and kids meal and everything was delicious and beautiful presented :) a fair warning that portion sizes are huge, (definitely not complaining ). Crispy batter, fluffy chip shop chips and a great range of food! However, we definitely saved the best till last with dessert - the BEST banoffe pie and brownie we’ve ever tasted We visit the caravan park close by yearly, and yearly we make the trip to The Pilot Inn as it is simply the best around - always a friendly and delicious service… if you are ever wondering whether to eat here or not, just do it you will not regret it!!

Huge thanks to everyone at The Pilot for once again giving us such a lovely dinner indoors on our first night of our holiday and then again on our last day with our daughter and her family outside enjoying the lovely blue skies and sunshine. It is such an iconic place to be in every way with so much to observe enjoying delicious fish and chips. So again huge thanks and we will look forward to our next visit

Great food served here! Huge fish & chips portions, cooked really well and tasty. Order at the bar, which someone else in our party did so can't really comment on the service. The plates all arrived together which was great as there were 8 of us. Dessert was also amazing! Chocolate brownie sundae recommended

Slow service, over battered food,batter seemed oven baked specials board only had soup. Over priced for what you got. Nothing to write home about a d do not take criticism.

Waitress was rude, totally uncalled for... we were seated by the toilets so we moved tables. When I asked if that was OK she grunted and turned her back on me. I felt uncomfortable and anxious so we left.

On a recent visit to my place of birth with the PA, he commented on how much he’d like to visit a desert; so an excursion to Dungeness was in order. Upon arrival there was a lot of commotion in the car park as people were trying to arrive in ghastly camper vans, and rightfully so they were being turned away. The PA led the way into the pub and we found ourselves in what can only be described as gods waiting room; the average age couldn’t have been less than 75. This made me anxious and I was feeling rather agitated, however the PA reassured me it was fine while ushering me to table. We sat waiting for a server but none appeared, the PA noticed we had to “self order” at the bar (a new concept to me), so I sent him up to do just that. I felt somewhat uncomfortable on my own as people kept looking at me, thankfully the PA returned quickly enough. The food arrived and the portions were very generous, even the PA’s child’s portion was quite large; however not being from Dungeness I knew I was not going to be able to finish it all. The food was exquisite and absolutely hit the spot, which I was thankful for after an evening at Rick Steins in Padstow which dissatisfied me. Upon exiting the pub my fear of dogs was put to the test as we had to pass 3 before getting outside, the PA did a wonderful job of providing me with the protection I pay and I got to the car unscathed. Overall I enjoyed my meal here and the PA had a good time in the desert, definitely somewhere I’d come back to once I reach the average age of the clientele.

We used to go to The Pilot regularly when we lived in the area. We now live in Norfolk. The last time we went to The Pilot was four years ago and the food had definately gone downhill since our previous regular visits. During our visit to the area again last week we thought we would give them another chance. BIG mistake! It was appalling and if anything worse than our previous disappointment. They definately won't be getting a third chance.I had skate which was underwhelming to say the least. My husband had steak and ale pie. The meat was tepid grey and stringy - i wouldn't have fed it to my dog. It was totally inedible. Both meals came with tepid garden peas and soggy eye ridden chips.

A friendly, comfortably priced pub / restaurant that captures the whole atmosphere of Dungeness. Shingle / beach beer garden and sympathetically decorated indoor area. The food was generous and of the highest quality whether it's a hot sausage and caramelised red onion sandwich, warm brie, bacon and cranberry sandwich or the enticing fish and chips. The fish portions come in the portion sizes, the smallest being 'senior' which is still an ample plate full. Excellent service. I would come again if in the area.

Very attractive looking pub, staff really friendly and helpful. Good extensive menu & quality is second to none, lamb pie was amazing, portions very generous. Highly recommend.

We only popped in for a drink while on holiday. My cranberry juice tasted oily and stale, but staff were friendly and served us quickly. Good views from the beer garden.

Visited a nearby campsite for four nights. Eat here 3 times. Excellent food, service and very friendly staff. My large wing of skate was amazing. Really food atmosphere and decor as well.

I had read about the Pilot Inn before visiting the area so we made an effort to get there on our travels. We were not disappointed. My husband had the medium fish and chips, which over hung the plate and I had the senior citizens portion. Excellent fish, probably the best I have ever had. We had no room for desserts but they did look good.The Inn sits on the edge of the shingle beach next to the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and it was built from the wreck of a ship.

Lovely evening meal at The Pilot Inn. Friendly, attentive staff, generous and delicious food - the battered cod was one of the best I’ve ever had 😊. Great puddings too, all reasonably priced. Would thoroughly recommend a visit.

We attempted to visit the pilot to have an afternoon drink, after a day on the dungeness railway. However as we pulled into the car park we were turned away by a security guard who explained we couldn’t park and come in for a drink as we drive a camper van. We are two mums out camping with our 2 kids, and explained we have a pitch nearby at herons park. We offered to show our booking conformation but the man wasn’t interested, telling us they’ve had lots of trouble from you types in campers.So, no matter how good the food, or beautiful the view it’s been completely tarnished by the narrow minded discrimination we have faced simply for our choice of vehicle. It’s exceptionally sad that in this day and age we have been judged for our daily ride!

During my recent holiday staying at Lydd on Sea I used The Pilot most evenings for my meal. It has a fantastic setting, the staff are all friendly and efficient. The food is amazing and there is a great choice of local ale too. I can thoroughly recommend the fish and chips whether it be cod, haddock, plaice or skate (other dishes are available)! Walking to the Pilot each evening was one of the enjoyable times of the day. I look forward to visiting again soon. Thanks.

Gorgeous food really nice atmosphere plenty of choice enjoyed it that much we went twice great service nice tables and views of the sea

Aparently the VW Campervan type are not allowed to be patrons of this restaurant. We were asked to leave by a security woman patrolling the car park. They obviously do not need the business from a family of 5 who were hungry.Ironically 2 hours later we drove back past the restaurant and a white VW camper was parked in the car park.I would not recommend this restaurant, there are plenty of better places to eat in and around Dungeness.

Came in to the Pilot today and was welcomed by a very polite female security staff, that went above and beyond her job role as we accidentally clipped the kerb and clipped our car on the exit, without her knowledge and advice our journey would have been cut short. The overall experience of the pilot has been fantastic and the food/ staff and atmosphere was excellent.Would highly recommend a visit here to anybody that wants a great tasty meal and to feel completely at ease as nothing is too much trouble for any of them. They all work above and beyond their duties.

Great wholesome pub food. Good portions, reasonably priced. Was able to sit inside with the dog when outside got chilly and even though very busy, service was excellent and speedy. Visited twice and will visit again.

If you want to be threatened by Phil the security guard and rude stuff then this is the place to come. Three of us were threatened with £100 fine for going in the car park and thinking we might have a 10 minute walk before we had our meal. We didn’t have time to explain before they started the threats and we were told to go elsewhere.I’ve always ignored the overly expensivePrices and the way they cram you into the restaurant and the dubious hygiene standards For a decent fish and chips but I would never visit that again on principle.

I've been going to the Pilot for many years and it never disappoints!It was a lovely day when we visited on a Monday lunchtime and we were able to sit outside.The food was excellent as always, good quality and really fresh.The welcome and service were also good.The Pilot enjoys a great reputation that is totally justified. If you're in the area you really must pay it a visit!

We ate here when we stayed in Dungeness in May and ended up returning every night of our stay!The food was excellent - best fish and chips ever (so much better than The Ivy!) and all other meals , desserts and lunches also great.They were also really welcoming with the dogs and brought them treats.Cannot recommend highly enough.

Not impressed with menu description- after carefully reading it and noting the prawns stated "Panko" coating I opted for salt & pepper squid - wrongly assuming it would be squid in its original state with salt & pepper, however when it arrived at table it was clearly in some sort of coating other than salt & pepper, took a good couple of attempts to discover what the coating was, despite the menu NOT referring to a coating other than salt & pepper, at first was told "batter" had to then wait for chef to be asked again what was the batter ingredients were. Finally got there that it was a gluten batter! So just salad for me, no offer to refund or replace, no apology for having a menu that clearly didn't state allergen ! Won't be visiting again - perhaps look at re-doing your menus to show what allergens are present :-(

Lost count of the times I've eaten here. Cod and chips was large and fresh. Batter getting a bit heavy for me these days. Steak and kidney pudding was very large and delicious though. I did eye up the huge half pound burger and the whole chicken breast burger on the next table. It's a nice place to sit with a drink on a very wet and bleak day like today. The extension and landscaping to the garden was great and it's a real paradise in the sun I imagine. Loved the engine in the garden and memorial. Very moving.

Skate and chips £12.80 (Med) was the smallest portion I have ever had anywhere! The pilot used to be the biggest! Disappointed but it was delicious not enough of it! See photo tiny, order large for decent portion £14.40+Torbay in Hythe better in my opinion!

About my 10th time here always gets better. Got the fish and chips and it was perfect. Lovely views. Dungeness round the corner. All the people leaving one star reviews probably clap when the plane lands so don’t listen to them

3 of us visited the Pilot as we were in the area for the Open Golf. We've been here many times over the years. Nothing fancy but usually very nice food. Got to be honest, this is the 1st time we were not over pleased. I had the 'large' plaice & chips which was basically 2 pieces of fish. A lot of batter on this occasion. Chips have been better. My friend had the smoked salmon & prawn salad which was huge and he said was very nice. I wish i had that. Probably be back next year having said that.

I've eaten a lot of fish and chips in my time and the fish and chips at the pilot inn are without a doubt the best - and they come highly recommended by Derek Jarman who once said they were the best in Engand.That aside though the whole experience was great. Reasonably priced, good for kids, and lovely staff.Can't praise it enough. also try the fish pie. its out of this world.

We've just had lunch at the Pilot and it was amazing. I love fish and chips but this was something else. The fish just melted in my mouth - I've never had fish and chips like it. Would definitely recommend and we will be back

We visited as the restaurant was recommended. We weren’t disappointed!! Child and adult chose cod n chips. Other child chose chicken bites. I went fir moules frites. All three fish eaters said it was the best ever (chicken bites were good - but (she said) mashed potato was gorgeous!!). Wind was howling snd rain was lashing down so can’t comment in views but service was impeccable and friendly - so would highly recommend!! We weren’t able to book in advance and tables for lunch were filled quickly!!

Visited on a Sunday, after originally planning to head into Rye from where we were staying in Camber, we decided instead to visit the Pilot Inn on the recommendation of a friend (mainly based on his adoration of the lamb pie). Having found that the local area does not appear to have any taxi service that bothers to answer phone we instead drove ourselves to Dungeness to experience this gem. The pub is set in stunning scenery on the Dungeness coast. Plentiful parking and lots of seating inside and out. We were greeted and seated almost immediately. First observations were that none of the staff that we saw were wearing masks. The menus on the table were greasy with bits of food on so obviously weren’t sanitised in any way. The covid precautions mentioned in other reviews appear to have been largely dropped which didn’t make us feel particularly comfortable. My friend ordered the lamb pie with mash and I had the butternut, goats cheese and beetroot burger with chips. Food and drinks are ordered at the bar and were delivered to the table in good time. The pie was indeed very good. Crisp and light pastry lid with a generous lamb filling. My burger however was disappointing, bland and stodgy. The chips were a similar letdown. They appeared to have been cooked in advance and had a peculiar chewiness. Despite the scenery we found the atmosphere inside to be somewhat lacking, we didn’t bother staying for another drink after our meal and frankly wished we had headed into Rye for dinner as we had originally planned.

Have been here twice during our week in Dungeness and both times have sat inside the “Captains Cabin” with our dog. Food has been fantastic, huge portions and well cooked. Not many locals are wearing masks anymore, and neither are staff.

We had a delicious fish 'n chips lunch at The Pilot. It was a lovely day, so we sat in the garden and enjoyed watching the RHDR trains go by. The food was cooked to perfection: light, crispy batter and moist, flaky fish with a generous portion of chips and peas. We had no room for dessert, so I can't comment on those but I've no doubt that they were good too!

We visited here today for a meal . We followed the signs and the sign said wait here to be seated. We waited and waited for over twenty minutes so then we decided to queue which we did. When we eventually got served we were told we should have waited to be seated. We explained we had...that fell on deaf ears...the young lady said I will show you to a table then when you have chosen your meal, queue again to order. We did this although I think we shouldn't have even given priority as it was lack of staff at front of house caused the problem. My husband ordered ham, egg and chips and I ordered lamb pie with mash. My husband wasn't happy the chips wasn't tripled cooked. The egg was small and no crusty bread was served with it! My pie was okay, nothing special. Too much gravy in pie. I would say less gravy in pie but serve with a small jug of gravy. The mash tasty horrid. I left most of my dinner. The table we sat at was very sticky and had smear arks on it. I watched a chap clean the empty table next to us. He covered in loads of spray but hardly wiped so it to was left sticky. The menu he gave a quick spray one side only and again a quick spray. We definitely won't be going back....

Fish and chips were amazing- light batter and the fish was really well cooked. Medium size was more than enough, large would be huge! Good prices too. We'd definitely come back here for food.

Dropped in, as we have in the past. Lovely cod and chips & the table had been sanitised. Order from the bar, but no complaints from me, as it gives the hard working staff more time to sanitise and serve customers. We’ll definitely be back, as we love the place

Went for Tuesday night meal. Quite busy. A little disappointed having read the reviews. The food was large portions and reasonable quality, service OK but table not cleaned or sanitised before our use. Had to go and order food when it should have been table service under COVID regs.

Found by chance today. Very good meal with high quality fish. We had a late lunch and it was still very busy on a wet Saturday, so clearly a popular destination. They need to invest in some new, clean menu cards. Service is good but a bit slow.

This place never fails to deliver the best haddock and chips we have ever had. The fish is enormous ! Beautiful white fish with the most crisp dry batter you could ask for. None of that fatty soggy bottom layer here! Portions of chips and sides are generous. Service is fast and efficient , friendly staff polite and helpful. We love this place and will not have fish and chips from anywhere else. An absolute must visit if you are in Kent .

We were offered a small table (for six) and asked to be moved to something bigger which was available so not sure why they tried to put us on a tiny table. Service quick, staff friendly. Reasonable prices. Portions are very large indeed. Fish has a substantial amount of excess batter on it but fish really good despite this. Steak was okay. Very large venue with plenty of parking as well. No booking system just turn up, okay in June but not sure would be the same in August, but, lots of outdoor seating as well I supposed.

We took a trip down to Dungeness and, after recommendations, came here for lunch. Couldn't fault the place and the service by the staff was friendly and helpful. There is an area that handles coach parties, but don't let that put you off going in as the pub is geared up to handle large groups, which doesn't impact all the other customers.

lovely food seemed pricey on the menu but it really is not at all the portions are massive its good value for money and beutiful

We had a really relaxing meal outdoors here while visiting dungeness. My haddock was huge, and a beautiful fresh fish. Staff friendly, helpful and covid safe measures all there, but not obtrusive. Coffee just OK.

It is rare to find a restaurant that gets it just right these days so our first visit to The Pilot was a great find. The area is of course iconic and unique and there are a few dining choices what sets this one apart is it is much more than a bar/restaurant it is a bit of an education with lots of fascinating artefacts on display from the Flying Fortress engine to the portholes at the entrance there is a lot to see here. The food is superb quality and as a big fish fan I can say that the cod served here was perfect and cooked just right. The varied menu caters for all tastes and is tremendous value with generous portions. Do not forget the garden area and for kids there is an elephant slide which was very popular and not just with the kids.

A friendly pub in a unique location. Extremely well organised service and COVID safe. Lots of choice on the menu with good range of beers and wine - all at very fair prices. I suspect that most people come for the generous portions of fish and chips. Excellent chips ( and batter and peas) - only let down by fish even mushier than the peas, which tends to happen with frozen fish. Get the fish spot on, and this could be brilliant seafood experience.

We had an enjoyable meal at the Pilot Inn shortly after the indoor seating reopened in May 2021. We did not book but there was plenty of room there when we arrived for a late lunch. We were able to get a seat in the front area overlooking the car park and on towards the sea across the stones. Service was quick and helpful, the fish and chips were of reasonable quality although chips were a bit hard and dry and the fish, conversely, was quite mushy - the portion was huge though and that was just a standard plate. Also a selection of real ales from local breweries which was a nice feature. We would certainly visit here again, good portions and a nice atmosphere, fingers crossed the food will be just that one extra notch higher when we come again.

We called on spec asked if they had a table for 2. We were told no problem and escorted to a cleaned table and told the process for ordering food. We both had the Brie, Bacon and Cranberry Sandwich, which was well presented and absolutely gorgeous. The staff were friendly and helpful. We watched the staff clean the tables, chairs and the floor where food had been dropped, by children I hasten to add.Interesting fact, it was built from the wreck of the Spanish ship Alfresia in 1633

After a lovely train ride (and disappointing sandwiches!) on the Rhdr. We stopped by here in the evening for our meal. Well, we were extremely impressed. VThe service was excellent - these guys really have it sorted and know what they are doing, very swift service - which was just what hungry grandchildren needed. Food was delicious and we thought very good value for money. I would definitely recommend and would make the trip especially in the future on a pleasant summers evening. Exceptional.

We visited The Piolet on the 12th of June 2021. We were in the area as a family (mum, dad, 2 sisters (28 + 30yr old) and one partner. We were visiting for my sisters 30th birthday. She actually ended up getting engaged down on the beach front by the pub. Because of this, me and my mum ordered some prosecco for the table. The bar man graciously upgraded that to a bottle of Moet and gave it to us free on the house. It was more than generous & very kind. And I personally find there is nothing better than a pub with good food and drink that also runs a community spirit feel as well. It definitely has that aura. Thank you.

Delicious food and great service. Shame that Covid restrictions dominated the experience with one way systems and a buzzer and collect service; especially as having collected our food from the pick up point the waitress followed us to the table bringing the condiment box ??!! Why could the food not be delivered to the table ?

Great food! Excellent quality and good value for money. Whenever we come to new Romney we always visit the Pilot and it never disappoints. The kids packs were great at keeping the kids entertained.

Took a wrong turn and found this haven. Lovely setting and very friendly staff. Food was delicious. My notoriously fussy eating son said it was the best meal of holiday.

Delicious food in a Covid safe establishment. Masks must be worn when you are walking around, hand sanitiser is available as soon as you enter you are shown to your table (which is socially distanced). Although you order your food and drinks at the counter, these are brought to you at your table (along with the individually wrapped knife and fork) by the very friendly, helpful staff. The food is delicious, especially the fish, and the portion sizes are more than ample. Very good value for money. Once you have finished, you have to follow the clearly marked one way system to the exit. You cannot make a reservation, unfortunately, and it can get very busy.