The Suffolk in Suffolk Coastal

Ate at the restaurant. Was very very delicious. Service was lovely. Cocktails were a hit. All gold stars.

We stopped for a light lunch and we chose to sit on the terrace. It is a very pleasant and service was fine. We asked for coffee and was told it wasn’t “possible” on the terrace. When we were asked on paying had we enjoyed our meal we replied we would have liked a coffee at the end of lunch and was told they don’t serve this on the terrace to encourage people to use the local coffee shops. Okay…. But they do serve coffee downstairs in the main restaurant so that reason makes no sense. If it’s their policy not to serve coffee on the terrace just say so. The food was good but the vibe was rather pretentious - if that’s your thing.

Superb service. This is our second visit to The Suffolk in the past month and it's the service that really stands out. Very young but chatty, friendly and enthusiastic staff. We were served by Izzy who was knowledgable and deboned a large brill at our table faultlessly (We found out it was only the third time she had done this- what a pro!) We had to wait for our 8.30pm table and sat upstairs on the outside terrace for a drink. The menu is a little small and isn't cheap- One of us had oysters to start with, we had 3 mains and 2 puddings, 1 bottle of Picpoul and it was around £270. I'm a pescatarian but I think vegetarians would find the menu very limited- but the food is excellent. locally sourced and cooked fresh.

Agree with all the good things about the food, service was fine. Prices nearer to London ones but good value. Would go again, but when it was less frenetic. We went on a Saturday night, place was buzzy but to the point that it was just too noisy, coupled with the tables being crammed in means you are part of your neighbours conversations too! If that wasn’t bad enough then they arrived - 5 girlies already well oiled with alcohol (not sun cream) and they raised the decibel level to an intolerable level. So not a comfortable dining experience. The local lady on the next table also felt it was too much and said just don’t come in the school holidays it’s even worse. Shame, we were looking forward to it, good luck to them they will make money until the punters realise it’s not just worth it given the ambience. Oh and they ran out of oysters by 7pm !

Had an excellent meal here this May 2025. Superb food and ambience. Happy staff as well which is always good.

High expectations dashed! Concerns began with the arrival of three rather than four starters - only with a prompt did the fourth arrive. Then a very long wait between starter and main course - requiring a further prompt! The Moules Marinieres main courses were outrageously small - not even sufficient for a starter but here served as a main. The staff appeared to agree with this judgement but simply explained that they were short on mussels - why offer the dish if this was the case? The cod was lukewarm and the Barnsley chop very lonely with simply a smear of salsa and some watercress to keep it company. At least we had chips! The staff were pleasant enough - and numerous - but overall supervision appeared to be lacking. They did reduce our bill to reflect the poor portion size without pressure from us but really the evening had been ruined by this stage. Jay Rayner, on whose review this restaurant appears to surf, perhaps should revisit and review. We will not be revisiting - this was our fifth night in Aldeburgh and everywhere else has been vastly superior!

This was our 2nd stay at The Suffolk and we really enjoyed it. The Suffolk is a small boutique hotel with 6 rooms, located in the centre of Aldeburgh. The rooms are stylish, contemporary and really comfortable - the bedding is all duck down & feathers, and the toiletries are also very good quality (these things make a massive difference). There is a pantry available to residents which consists of an area where you can make your own drinks and there is also a fridge where you can help yourself to local cheeses & charcuterie - this is a really nice touch! We had cocktails & snacks in the bar for pre-dinner drinks (my sea buckthorn marguerita looked & tasted amazing!), and the dinner was excellent. There is a big focus on local & seasonal food here. We had the whole brill to share for our main course which was delicious and came with all the trimmings. The breakfast was also superb - a simple and small menu of top quality delicious ingredients. The staff were all delightful. Our only regret is that we didn't stay for longer! If you are looking for a special weekend away in Aldeburgh, you won't be disappointed with The Suffolk. Thank you everyone - we only live in Norwich, so we will be back soon I am sure!

We visited The Suffolk after hearing good things, sadly we were left disappointed. On the plus side, the staff were lovely, very friendly, however the food was decidedly average. One side of the restaurant is very cramped & the tables so close you’re virtually sitting with the diners next to you, we asked to move & thankfully there was space on the other side which was better. Our starters were Smoked Trout which was a small amount of Trout with a couple of pieces of Radish & what could well have been Horseradish cream from a jar & Steak Tartare which was fine but nothing special. Mains were a very small piece of Cod with Samphire & a tiny amount of sauce & the Lamb chop which was literally a Lamb Chop on a plate ! & a blob of salsa. That was it ! We ordered a side of new potatoes, we’d asked if one serve when be enough for two & advised yes so we were surprised to be presented with a saucer containing about 6 very small potatoes. There are no vegetables on the sides menu, only salad. Such a shame as we’d heard good things & were looking forward to it. Overall nothing was awful but just ok & we thought expensive for what was an underwhelming meal.

We had a delightful lunch at 'the Suffolk' with its delicious and unpretentious menu. The location is wonderful, overlooking the sea in Aldeburgh while also accessed via the charming main street. Inside it is cosy and comfortable with a log burner for the chillier days - it is both cosy and stylish. The friendly service was a compliment to an extremely well run restaurant. We will be back to savour the rooftop terrace with stunning views out to see and look forward to the BBQ + a cocktail or 2!

Came here for lunch for my mum's birthday, the food was incredible but the service provided by James was so far above and beyond! He really made the experience unforgettable and really couldn't do enough for us! Will definitely be back when we're next in Aldeburgh!

Had a wonderful lunch here with my wife and our two Norfolk Terrier dogs. Sat in the front bar area room which was great with the two dogs, away from the bustle of the main restaurant which was very busy with happy diners. There is a record deck and vinyl LPs in the front room for guests to select music from and use, (volume low of course) creating a superb relaxing atmosphere. The decor is beautiful and the place is spotlessly clean. The staff were friendly and attentive, we couldn’t fault their service and the way we were looked after. Menu choice is good and the seafood chowder was beautiful, as was the scampi main dish. We really enjoyed our relaxing Bank Holiday Easter Sunday lunchtime at this pub/restaurant/hotel. Perfect in every way. Thoroughly recommended. Thank you to all the staff for making it a positive and memorable visit.

Booked an Easter lunch with the family for a special occasion - the food, service and ambiance was excellent. The team were all very accommodating and had great attention to detail. Would recommend!

Had a scrummy dinner with super professional friendly service. Delightful all-round experience

Service was superb and the food was out of this world. Can’t recommend enough

Good for the Sur-Mertini £14. A dirty martini with oyster juice and an oyster...

Excellent birthday meal enjoyed at the Suffolk last weekend & staff were brilliant! thank you very much for squeezing us in at short notice!

Fantastic food, staff and accommodation in a beautiful location. The dinner was unbelievably good - especially the fresh fish we had. Thank you so much for the wonderful hospitality during our recent visit. We couldn’t have asked for more. Will definitely visit again.

From being greeted at the front door to being presented with our food was a joy . The oysters were plump and sweet , mushrooms in a tempura batter so light and a hearty sea food chowder that did not skimp on the fish were the chosen starters. The langoustine scampi with homemade fries were a great hit with our eldest child whilst the 3 of us tucked who tucked into the chilli crab linguine could not believe the amount of crab meat present without evidence of any shell. Hubby had the pork chop which was drizzled in a plum sauce and could not believe how succulent it was (certainly could not replicate this at home ).Sides of tender stem broccoli and creamy mash were ordered as extras were also delicious. We ordered lovely mocktails and beer such that we had no room for puddings. The cost reflected the quality of the ingredients and we would certainly recommend eating here

We were a group of 8, celebrating a birthday dinner during a long weekend trip from London. The service was absolutely fantastic from the moment we arrived. Everyone was so attentive and helpful with suggestions. The food was incredible! We especially loved the seafood chowder, the cod, the ribs, and the spotted dick. Highly recommend!

My husband, our baby and our dog had a fabulous stay. We hadn’t been here in years but it’s one of my parents favorites for the food and it did not disappoint. We’re big foodies and the food here is brilliant. Great menu also. A really nice hotel. I wanted to write to thank all of the staff at the Suffolk hotel. Everyone was exceptionally nice and really went above and beyond to make our stay really nice and comfortable even with a young baby and energetic dog! From the bar tender to the lunch and dinner service to breakfast service and check in, all such nice people. Thank you to Peter at dinner service who went above and beyond. We will be back for beach walks, escargot and oysters!

The best restaurant by a country mile! And then some. George and his team are so on point. We love it here. Excellence for cuisine, service and ambiance. Fresh, fresh, fresh. Taste sensations. Quality, quality, quality and value. Believe me, we have travelled the globe and been lucky enough to sample great things and The Suffolk is top notch - while accessible all the while. Can’t wait for summer. The terrace will open. The bedrooms are so beautifully appointed too. Thank you x 🥂

Wonderful dinners and breakfasts during a 2-night stay. 4 of us shared a brill which was perfectly cooked and we all equally enjoyed the starters and wine. Bedroom was spotless and staff were so friendly and welcoming. Strongly recommend.

A very good seafood restaurant in a lovely setting, we loved walking around Aldeburgh too. The roast cod and monkfish dishes were excellent. I had a delicious steak tartare starter and the choice of menu options was varied. Slightly slow service and overpriced wine list, but overall very good food in a lovely place

Lovely dinner, and much better experience overall than our first visit in 2024. Improved menu, attentive staff, tasty dishes.

Lovely lunch, although neither snails nor lobster. Irritating practice of putting wine out of reach. Otherwise, superb lunch, great cod.

10 members of my family gathered to celebrate the 60th birthday of my son who jhad worked extremely hard organising this. We used a room on the first floor which he was charged £100 for the use of this. Canapes were "served" first viz scollops and dressed crab. The amount delivered (placed on the table and not handed round by the staff) was less than the number of guests I did manage to have a scollop! I was told afterward that one of the staff dropped three of the crab canapes but these were not replaced! The lunch served was a fish dish and was excellent despite that the meals had to be carried up a flight of stairs and as a result were only warm by the time we got them! The dessert that followed was also good but when my son told us that the meal would cost £90 per head we all resolved NOT to visit them again!

Held my wife’s birthday party here, the food was excellent, indeed the scallops were delicious. Just be prepared for a limited menu and top end prices.

Had a most wonderful stay and dinner. The staff were amazing, so welcoming, friendly and helpful. Every course of the dinner was just fabulous, with the freshest lobster, scallops and fish you could ever imagine. Our compliments to all the chefs and front of house. That Michelin star must be in the post….

Appreciated the Managers' knowledge and explanation of cocktails, chirpy staff and thoroughly pleasant anbiance. Will return soon.

Overall we had a lovely experience, the service was good and the food delicious, particularly the scallops and the fillet steak. We did feel however, that the spiced monkfish was a little overcooked, the crème brûlée glaze was overdone and the l’escargot were served out of their shells(?).

Post Christmas evening out at the end of our holiday. Arrived all wearing coats. We put our coats on the wrack as no one offered to. Given the menus. After some time when we’d all decided what to order. We were then advised that oysters, brioche bread for the parfait, sea bass and dauphinoise potato no longer available. The reason given that the restaurant was closing for two weeks….. It’s the most expensive restaurant in Aldeburgh with a limited menu anyway. (For reasons I completely understand) Maybe 5 starters and mains. They said parfait could be served with sour dough instead. We were then advised no bread available…. Because they were closing for 2 weeks. They are actually open today for lunch. The celeriac soup and crab starters were both excellent. Given such a small menu - inexcusable that so many items not available. Disappointing for a a meal that cost £340 - 4 starters 4 mains & drinks. Another gripe - “would ‘we’ like some wine?” asked to individuals. This is our 4th or 5th visit. Not sure we will go again. They could do so much better. Such a shame.

Sunday afternoon lunch. 3pm. Greeting was Luke warm, service poor. Food above average but very poor for the price. 5 mains, one not available and no potatoes!! Serviced by young inexperienced clock watching staff. Missed an experienced presence, especially given the rating and cost. Won’t be rushing back.

I visited in the Christmas period (27th Dec) for a meal my Mothers birthday and was thoroughly disappointed by the food and service received. We had a long wait between starters and mains, roughly 45 minutes, no apology from waiting staff. Fillet steaks served without the menu sauce. Overdone, rubbery curried monkfish. Waiting staff seemed to have no or little experience, attempting to pour one wine over another, nearly ruining a guests drink. Desserts were pedestrian, pre made and not go the standard expected Overall, I'd say the experience was worth 30% of the bill paid which was disheartening since some newspaper reviews had been exceptional. The Xmas period can be a difficult time for staffing however I'd say that if you can't keep your standards where they should be, dont open lower them by opening when you can't deliver to them.

Delicious lunch and fantastic service.

Superb lunch at The Suffolk. Amazing food. We had the sharing Brill. Great, friendly team. The Martinis were knock out.

Great meal! Had the Brill to share between three of us. Top notch oyster martinis too. Really friendly staff. Definitely a must if you’re looking for a solid lunch option

We stayed at The Suffolk last night and dined in with friends for New Year’s Eve. The food was delicious and we had brilliant service all round. Want to do a shout out to Drew, who really looked after our group (for the second time as we also visited back in Feb 2024!). Great/knowledgeable service really makes a difference! Looking forward to visiting again.

terrible, slow service on boxing day, waited 1.5hrs for main course to be served and when it did it was cold. Lots of staff hanging around and not much happening. First and last time here. Pretty amateur for the price.

Reluctant 1 star. Avoid at all costs, below average food at ridiculous prices, rip off. Plenty of other decent restaurants in Aldeburgh to choose from. Do not go there

We dined here on Christmas Eve. Service was good, we were shown to the bar area for drinks and any snacks we might want. It was fine and actually I liked the slower pace of the evening. The bass and fillet steak were very well received, the side of greens a bit uninteresting but welcome. The dessert was most enjoyable with two spoons! We would definitely return here. Loved the ambiance and attention to detail.

Food either bland or over/undercooked, which is disappointing considering the fairly steep price. Best thing we had was the pork belly bites from the bar menu.

Everything was perfect for our Birthday meal. The warm welcome and perfect service. The catch of the day was delicious, chips to die for and best dressed crab 🏆🦀Thanks team!

We've eaten at The Suffolk Sur-Mer 5 times now since they opened permanently (after doing a pop-up season). We had 2 great experience and 3 incredibly disappointing ones. Mainly due to poor service and shockingly small fish portions. High price, high expectation and very poor delivery. The menu is interesting and the food well prepared but I'm afraid we won't come back.

4.5 stars but rounded up to 5… We had a great weekday lunch in the restaurant. Contrary to what others have said, we found the portion sizes to be generous and the quality of the food generally reflected the cost. We were made to feel welcome with our dog - lots of other diners also had dogs with them. Staff were friendly and efficient. Adressing the following niggles would make this a solid 5* for me: - Notwithstanding that this is a fish restaurant, veggie options are very limited - We weren’t asked at any point in our meal how we were finding the food. Thankfully everything was fine, but it is generally a common courtesy for waiting staff to check in - We weren’t offered the Prix Fixe menu despite this being advertised on the restaurant’s social media - £6 for a side of chips felt extortionate when the (very nice) dauphinoise came in at only £7

Just back from a fabulous stay at this wonderful hotel. We stayed in the Butley room which was lovely. The staff are excellent especially Drew on Sunday evening and Oliver on Monday morning at breakfast. Would highly recommend this hotel , lots of nice touches to make your stay even more enjoyable. We will look forward to visiting again. Thank you :-)

We stayed at The Suffolk for a night during half term. The rooms are delightful, we had a sea view and our dog and children were made very welcome! Staff are lovely and the dinner we had was absolutely superb - in fact my 14 yr old daughter said it was the best meal she had ever had! (Would definitely recommend the scallops if they are on the menu and the steak was cooked to perfection! Thank you for a great night!

The hotel is beautifully decorated and there are some really charming touches like a charcuterie board and complimentary cocktails for hotel guests. The breakfast was delicious. Service was really friendly but a little hit and miss. We went to sit on the roof terrace and bar man said he’d be up to take our order… after 10 mins we gave in and came inside. I would stay again as the location was lovely. No free parking until after 6pm so we paid and then moved the car later on.

Superb lunch at the Suffolk today with friends and small unruly children. We had a great space in the conservatory type area which made us less anxious about our noise and mess. The scallop gratin was sublime, as was the halibut. Also a very good selection of wines. Gave us lots of food options for the kids. Really rated our experience.

Incredible food in the centre of Aldeburgh. Simple, elegant, special and service to remember. We recommend to all we know.

Great food, friendly efficient staff. The cheese soufflé was amazing! A fabulous addition to the Aldeburgh food scene.

Service was decent but I was genuinely shocked to pay £34 for Turbot as a main and find it consisted of enough fish for 3 bites. It felt like a kids portion. I explained my disappointment to the Manager and to be fair she agreed and arranged for a second portion. This arrived undercooked. Dinner was £440 for 4 and we left there hungry. There are value better food options in the town with superior menus and food quality.

Had cocktails here in Sunday evening. Really delicious cocktails! and the little seaweed sesame snacks were amazing! Really recommend. But take a coat as they don’t heat it well at all - which spoils the ambience quite a lot.

My wife and I stayed on Saturday night to celebrate our Silver Wedding anniversary. Lovely room and fantastic meals, the vibe and general atmosphere really make it different. But the cherry on the cake, is the truly magnificent service from the entire team, literally nothing is too much trouble. Fantastic, we've already decided to return annually for our anniversary.

Having had several lovely visits for a morning coffee, visited last week to be told that they only do cold drinks? Very disappointed.

An amazing stay at The Suffolk Sur-Mer last May. A great weekend escape from London. And the food... As a French person, it was one of the best dinners I've had in the UK, with excellent value for money. Highly recommended!

We went to this restaurant after finding it on the Michelin site which normally brings together “good restaurants”. What a disappointment... Nice place, well decorated, but super noisy and you eat on your neighbor's lap. The waiters/waitresses are nevertheless attentive and friendly. The decoration of the tables was beautiful. On the other hand, the dishes are not at all refined, too oily especially for the snails, the two small clams served in a shell on a piece of paper... nothing beautiful and all that already for more than £30 combined... too small quantities when it comes to the main course with paid/expensive side dishes to add. And the prices are beyond expensive! A 7cm by 5cm piece of halibut for £38!!! There was only a small handful of samphire underneath. So disappointed that we sent off our meal and went to buy dessert in the COOP next door. In short, we will not come back and we will not recommend.

Have visited twice and each time had to wait 5 to 10 minutes to be shown to the table. When you're booked in my expectation is to be greeted at the door not hang about. At the end of the meal again no 'thanks for visiting, hope to see you again'. The man was firmly stuck on his computer. Food is glorious and service within the restaurant is good but you just get the impression that you're not valued

A wonderful meal in the sunshine on their beautiful terrace. Suffolk Bass cooked to perfection with a glass of Provence Rose, my mood in a glass. Fantastic service, spot on playlist. It doesn’t get better.

Delicious food served by friendly staff in a very comfortable and relaxed environment. Special mention to Ollie who explained the menu and wines so well and made some great recommendations! Can’t wait to go back.

Really, really disappointed with the service on this visit. Regularly visit the rooftop bar, always happy. The service has gone downhill with alarming speed. Such a shame. 😳

We went there for an afternoon drink. The location is perfect, overseeing the beautiful beach. The only issue was the manager? (lady with short hair) who was quite rude and abrupt

What a wonderful evening we had at The Suffolk last night! Visited from London for the weekend. Fantastic service at the bar before hand (we ordered oysters and the olives). Service in the main dining room was personal, attentive and extremely friendly. Food, we ordered the scallop for starter, Brill special (chips in particular were wow) all very delicious and perfect size for two fish lovers. All washed down with a lovely bottle of Sancerre. Retired back in the bar with lots of cocktails. I wish I could remember our servers names but she was absolutely wonderful. The food was generally brilliant. But what makes this place stellar is the service. It was such an enjoyable evening and we could have sat there for hours more. Although we racked up an expensive bill, the value for money was definitely there. A lovely kind bonus was that we didn’t manage to find a taxi and Drew kindly drove us home!!! Cannot wait to come and visit again and it’ll be a staple of every Suffolk visit now.

Brilliant food. Amazing atmosphere. Hottest waiter I’ve ever seen - thanks for the champagne ;)

The perfect weekend retreat - comfy bed, nice soaps, spacious room, big bathrobes for a morning swim which couldn’t be closer. The food was really good, both the breakfast and for dinner. Breakfast service and at reception was really nice and helpful.

An amazing “ foodie “ experience with great service but very pricey restaurant! Muddled seating if you want drinks upstairs you have to eat their barbecue and you can’t order off the A la carte. Mixed messages over terrace seating not explained online.

Amazing food and service. Love the wine list. Sea food at its best. My 7 year old loves the terrace and they manage to get him to eat olives!

Fantastic fish restaurant, we had the special which was a whole Brill done in butter with new potatoes, beautifully cooked and so sweet. The service is excellent and a good selection of wines and beers.

We started having a drink on the lovely Terrace. The view was magnificent, overlooking the North Sea. The actual restaurant is very nice. The food came quickly and freshly grilled from the outside grill. The food was very flavorful and delicious. All the waiters and waitresses were very nice and helpful. If you are in this area then we highly recommend having lunch or dinner at the Suffolk Sur-Mer restaurant. We will try to come back as soon as possible.

Such a shame, the concept is great but the service is always short of good. Basic stuff, like knowing who came in when, is not noted and ultimately customers are let down. Great future if they get a bit more professional.

Limited menu but have always found the food to be good. Service duri g ou4 meal was well below previous standards. Some examples were upon arrival, despite it not being very busy (at 2:30pm) we were sat between 2 other tables. The young waitress then proceeded to advise us of the specials "white fish" (would have been nice to have been told what white fish) and 120 kilos of lobster which she then quickly changed to 120 pounds (weight or cost?). We had a main course (cod) and dessert ( chocolate tart) but had to ask for a spoon to eat the dessert with. The waitresses seemed more bothered about talking to each other than serving the guests. We had to several times call across the restaurant to get their attention. As we left we passed within 3 feet of the manageress and a number of waitresses by the door, not even a "Thank you, goodbye". For a restaurant that charges London prices and is trying to operate as a premium restaurant, this most certainly wasn't our experience. We haven't encountered this lower level of service before so you would hope that it is a blip.

We have just returned (last night) from a wonderful weekend stay at The Suffolk. We would like to thank you and your staff for looking after us so well. Our room "Orford Ness" was magnificent and a joy to wake up to the sea views. The meal we had on Saturday evening was sublime, especially the Whole Brill, which was probably enough to feed four people (though we did manage to eat it all between the two of us). Breakfast on both days was also wonderful. All of your staff members that we met were attentive, professional and made us feel very special. Many thanks once again, and I'm sure that we will return again in the future.

Wonderful! Had fabulous three day visit, room was great, comfortable bed, plenty of storage and super products. Food is excellent, service spot on from a young and enthusiastic team. Good wine list. It really is the only place to go in town.

It was ok. For £220 for two, one could expect better. Positives - 1. Oysters fabulous (local). 2. Smoked prawn bar snack fabulous. 3. Good wine list. 4. Dressed crab was good (albeit not in the shell which is what dressed usually implies.) Issues (and advice to mgmt). 1. Limited menu - only 1 fish dish (very plain cod). Plus 2 crustaceans and Brill for 3 or 4! 2. Inexperienced waitresses - couldn’t explain food well 3. Told cod would come with broad beans - came with soggy samphire and spinach. Despite highlighting the fact, they did not offer a reduction in the bill. Just blamed chef. 5. Coffees were cold - taken off the bill. 6. Sirloin £38! 7. Scallop starter covered in breadcrumbs (croutons). Why? Who thinks that is a good idea for a fresh scallop. Having said all that - it was a good night out albeit expensive for what it was. And did not live up to reviews we had read.

Wonderful spot. Always delicious food and lovely service.

We had a fabulous meal here to celebrate my wife's birthday. We booked advance for lunch as we know the town can get busy at weekends and this appeared a wise decision as the restaurant quickly filled up around up. The service was friendly, attentive and informative, we chose to have a daily special of Brill this was filleted beautiful at the table and demonstrate some great service and interaction from the young lady looking after us. Crab, scallops, brill and chocolate torte were all sublime. Thanks to all the team for a fabulous meal and great experience.

We've had a very pleasant evening here, friendly, attentive staff and excellent food. For us we appreciate the importance of restaurants using local suppliers, a menu that provides enough choice, but isn't too extensive, means quality not quantity. Local asparagus was delicious, and the cod with samphire, broad beans, sea spinach & peas a perfect portion and so tasty, which left enough room for desserts, panacotta with a perfect wobble and pears with sabayon and blackberries. Shame we're going home tomorrow or we would be back!

Appalling welcome by the middle aged woman Maitre D. How people get jobs in the customer service who behave like this is quite unbelievable. I wouldn’t go back because of her unnecessary attitude. Sort out your staff.

The birthday celebration at Suffolk sur-mer was a disappointment, earning a 1/5 star rating. The restaurant failed to respect and understand dietary restrictions despite prior communication and confirmation. The service was lackluster, and sadly, it didn't seem like they liked tourists. The general presentation of the restaurant was rushed and confusing, with the staff suggesting dishes unsuitable for our guests with dietary restrictions. They also informed us that they could not prepare any dish without dairy. The front of house service was also disappointing, with our drinks orders forgotten and our table reservation overlooked. We waited 30 minutes at the bar for a drink and ended up just asking for a table to eat. The main concern was due to the serving staff being unable to accommodate a guest with gluten and dairy allergies and a vegetarian who abstains from eggs. By default they served wholemeal bread and butter to a gluten and dairy-free guest without explanation and then recommended a cheese-heavy dish, assuring it was lactose-free, which once it arrived, was clearly not. The only vegetarian option was a basic side salad that they called a garden salad... it was just iceberg lettuce and some arugula. While the food two starters and one main that we did manage to consume was delicious, it did not make up for the overall experience. The management acknowledged their mistakes and compensated us with free starters and mains. However, we hope they take these criticisms to heart and improve their service and training: it is not safe or okay to present a dish that clearly isn't diary free as lactose-free- lucky that nothing bad happened.

Fantastic dinner. Had the brill. Expensive but super quality and super service. Went to the roof top terrace for drinks after dinner. 👍

A birthday dinner for me that was simply delicious. Perfectly cooked scallops with samphire. Simple but delicious. Followed by Cote de boeuf, chips & bearnaise. Paired with a pinot noir. A real treat and excellent cookery. Thank you Chef Tom & team. This style of cooking does not happen easily. A wonderful birthday treat 😊👩‍🍳

Ate tonight in restaurant excellent food albeit west end prices . But no oysters despite first evening service , excuse supplier runs out, change supplier! Also thick bread and slab of butter and when I suggested to manager nice bread olive oil and balsamic vinegar more in keeping with fine cuisine response was people like it!! Really?

Very nice bar and restaurant with a roof top terrace o erlookingvthe beach - hence the 5 star location. Great service, friendly staff, good wine but very limited selection of beer.

The food was honestly outstanding. Fairly simple sounding set menu but every dish was clearly put together by someone who understands subtle flavours. Beautiful roof terrace with ocean views.

Unfortunately we didn’t have a great experience here. So I can’t recommend. Went for a family members birthday. Despite the food getting rave reviews, the options were limited if you had dietary requirements. One of our party was actually recommended a dish that was falsely claimed to be allergen free. Potentially disastrous ☹️ The service was already very slow and not very attentive… But it felt like after that mistake, we were virtually ignored for the rest of our evening there. Most of our party went home hungry as all that was available was salad. The good news is that they have a decent wine selection, which you can order if you can get the staffs attention ☹️ The hotel looks nice, and it’s got a beautiful view…. But it’s let down by the restaurant. It’s almost like a different restaurant was reviewed in the newspapers and the Michelin guide.

Stayed last weekend for three nights. So much to really like, most especially the food, but certainly areas for improvement. Initially room had a bad smell. We reported this, but it wasn’t passed on. Quickly dealt with (simply dry shower drain) by the manager, but then she ignored us for the next couple of days,rather than checking it was remedied. No mirror for hair drying, make up. Nice bathroom. Only 2 coat hangers per person and when we asked for more we were told to take some from the restaurant rack and take them up ourselves! Rather poor for a £250 a night room. The main problem is that residents are ignored, whereas locals are treated really well. Couldn’t guarantee a pre dinner drink in the bar, but locals had table booked and plenty of attention from the manager. Irritating and mildly offensive. Breakfast restaurant manger really friendly and attentive . Lovely location, but won’t be returning.

The Suffolk was amazing, the staff are friendly you have a family feeling when you walk in there, the food was sublime, delicious and quick to be served, wait staff were efficient, polite and accommodating, nothing was too much trouble. The room we stayed in Abraham bosom was beautiful, clean had everything you need, towels dressing gowns, hand towels and flannels. Shower was to die for, powerful and shower gel, shampoo& conditioner all included..breakfast was simply delish and set us up for a good day of wandering the area...thank you all at The Suffolk for making our 25th wedding anniversary one to remember. The Suffolk also welcomes Dog shown by the owners Jack Russel who is in the building with him at all times, so all in all friendly to humans and dogs alike xx

Agree with those who say there is a problem with front of house staff, waited ages to get served a drink in empty front bar, had to hail someone eventaully, staff were nice but a bit dippy and all worked as if students on a break. Great place in so many ways and it is probably difficult to get staff in tiny seaside towns, so I get that. Had a lovely meal though and staff student dippiness is often charming and well meaning. Since above review, I had meal in the restaurant with lovely food and attentive service

Had a wonderful stay at the Suffolk. Excellent room and service. Dinner in the restaurant was superb well worth a visit. The terrace in warmer weather is great place to spend a few hours relaxing.

Went for a meal for a family birthday. Totally transactional service which detracted from the meal and enjoyment. Fully focused on how quickly they could turn around the table - clearing payses as soon as finished, not noticing water had run out- couldn’t wait to get the next people in. Wrong vibe - not good- recommend going somewhere that cares more about the experience than the number of sittings they can get in

Beautiful meal of lobster and chips, finished with treacle tart. Staff were very friendly and attentive, and the restaurant area was beautiful with a nice ambience. Definitely worth a visit, we will be back again soon.

The service is awful. We’ve been sitting on the terrace for about 35/40 minutes and have just got some drinks. It’s not that busy. My husband had to go downstairs to order drinks about 15 minutes after we’d sat down, only to have the waitress come upstairs and check what we wanted 15 minutes later. When we did get drinks we were randomly given different sizes of wine. No bar snacks served between 3.30 and 5, unless you’re the people sitting next to us who either waited for 50 minutes or so, or were able to order for some reason. We weren’t allowed. Also 20 minutes for someone to come and clear the plates (from the people before) off our table.

Just simply exquisite! Happy staff , locally sourced seafood and meats , oyster flavoured gin from the local distillery Fishers too !

The most delicious food, beautifully fresh. Lovely service too. Would definitely recommend.

We had a wonderful evening here. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food was delicious. Perfect for a special occasion

Severe food poisoning and awful customer service. I don’t usually leave reviews but unfortunately after my husband and I suffered severe food poisoning from this restaurant last month I feel I should inform others. We were poisoned from their rock oysters - presumably the water which they had been prepared in was contaminated. I am aware that there is always a high risk when consuming raw seafood, however what was most disappointing was their customer service following the incident. We emailed them to make them aware we were ill. It took them a week to reply with an initial response. They told us that they were investigating the matter with their suppliers and would get back to us but they never did! No explanation, apology or even an offer to compensate our meal. Very disappointing for a restaurant of this price point and reputation.

Mostly great restaurant experience Arrived and got a friendly greeting. Sat at my table and ordered my food from the menu, which isn't the longest but enough choice. Starter was escargot with the pastis flame, absolutely delicious and helped by more bread for mopping up! Main was a slightly odd skate wing, Indian spiced. The green vegetables were ok, but sadly prep was poor and washing was inadequate so they still had grit in! Dessert was a chocolate mousse, nice flavours, undramatic texture and overall experience. Toilets clean. Staff efficient and organised if small delays clearing plates and serving next course. Minor issue only. Needs tweak to get to next level. Ps nice Kombucha cocktail.

Have just come back from a two night stay and we absolutely loved it. The room was spacious, the bed was comfy, we lived the free snacks and cocktails. But best of all was the staff. All really friendly and super helpful. We ate in the restaurant last night and it was great, as were the breakfasts. Just a super place to stay.

Arrived and got a friendly greeting. Sat at my table and ordered my food from the menu, which isn't the longest but enough choice. Starter was escargot with the pastis flame, absolutely delicious and helped by more bread for mopping up! Main was a slightly odd skate wing, Indian spiced. The green vegetables were ok, but sadly prep was poor and washing was inadequate so they still had grit in! D3ssert was a chocolate mousse, nice flavours, undramatic texture and overall experience. Toilets clean. Staff efficient and organised if small delays clearing plates and serving next course. Minor issue only. Needs tweak to get to next level. Ps nice Kombucha cocktail.

Had a wonderful evening here. Food and service both excellent. I had oysters followed by some sort of fish wellington, which I was a bit dubious about at first sight but was one of the nicest fish dishes I've ever had (much thanks to the waiter for steering me away from steak and chips). Treacle tart for pud finished it all off perfectly.

My husband and I were eagerly anticipating a super lunch especially after reading Jay Rayner’s gushing review in The Guardian. Unfortunately the experience proved to be well below the hype. The service was woefully slow. The tap water provided was tepid and not freshly drawn from the tap. I noticed this was undoubtedly because there were approximately a dozen carafes already filled, standing at room temperature on a sideboard. The tables are so close to the banquette, I was unable to squeeze to my seat without dragging the table out. Then there was a palaver about repositioning it without it wobbling. The sourdough scraps and butter were laughable, and almost inedible, although we eventually felt the need to eat them since the starters arrived 45 mins after we had ordered, and the restaurant was only half full. Soup de Poisson was acceptable, although lukewarm, as were my scallops. They arrived in a tasteless whitish sauce. After a disappointing start, we thought the mains would be an improvement…………..oh dear. After another wait of over 40 mins, our halibut en croute arrived. The green veg although tasty, was tepid. The dauphinoise potato was also tasty, but ironically was so hot, we were cautioned by the waitress that we should be careful when handling. The halibut en croute at £34 per head was pitifully small. The halibut was like a white mush surrounded by a tasteless lobster mousse enveloped in pastry which on investigation turned out to be uncooked on the base. Not just soggy, but actually uncooked! Well by now we were totally deflated. We didn’t feel willing to waste any more money on desserts or coffee, so we asked for the bill, £120 for 2 people, paid and left, never to return. Considering we had one beer and one apple juice, no wine, I feel completely fleeced. It is a pretentious restaurant with underwhelming quality food, which I will not be recommending to others. The staff were friendly enough, but not once did they ask if we were happy with the food.