The Vital Ingredient in Brighton and Hove

it's the most beautiful place very good food

very good food and very nice pub

I called you for enquiry about availability and if they could send me a menu and I received in a matter of minutes! Beautiful service and fantastic food!

My Valentine and I were keen on dining at this restaurant, so I reached out to them. They promised to send us the menu, but never did, leading us to dine elsewhere. Fortunately, the food was delicious at the alternative location. However, it was still a disappointment. When I expressed my frustration about not receiving the menu, they ignored my message on WhatsApp. This is a clear example of poor customer service, and as a result, I won't be considering this restaurant in the future. Edit: Lying is not a commendable practice. I understand that you mentioned your restaurant is no longer operational, but my concern is that, despite your assurance, I never received the Valentine's Day menu as promised. Upon expressing my disappointment with the perceived lack of professionalism, you chose not to address my concerns directly. Instead, you promptly responded to my Google review, indicating a likely concern for protecting your reputation. The inconsistency and failure to provide the promised menu led to my unsatisfactory experience, reflected in my one-star rating. I believe authentic reviews can be based on customer service alone, irrespective of dining at a restaurant.

Wow 🤩 this food was insane, was not expecting this in the battle of trafalgar pub. We were just walking home from town and I had been told food there was good, but this really exceeded my expectations. The chef was so lovely checking on us several times, and it’s just so nice to be in a pub and get this option of Caribbean food, obviously with a cheeky pint. We will definitely be back soon 🙏🏻 thank you for great food and service.

Got food delivered from Just Eat from Vital Ingredient and it was absolutely incredible! Couldn’t recommend more, will definitely be a repeat customer! We got the jerk pork and lamb (which were so tender and cooked to perfection), along with the rice and peas, plantain and greens which were all so amazing!

Absolutely the best West Indian food I have had in a very long time. 😋 My children were sucking what ever meat was left on their oxtail bones. Great portions of food such value for money. And the hospitality was amazingly friendly. Thanks guys @ the vital ingredient!!!!!!!! What a lovely Sunday afternoon. 😍 Raya

This takeout was a whole different level. Not only did it arrive beautifully packaged, sealed and steaming hot. It was very reasonably priced, the chefs very generous with portions and it was absolutely delicious. We would highly recommend. Ashleigh & Joey ✌️

This is the first time we have used this Caribbean restaurant for takeaway, and I must say it was excellent, the best in Brighton, very generous as well with servings and helpful and very communicative five stars

Lovely Jerk Chicken Roast to take away. Big portions, Lovely flavours and lots variety on the plate. Thanks Guys Zonia

Best jark food I have tasted in brighton

Amazing food amazing people. You can taste all the love and effort that goes into making the meals. Everyone working in the kitchen is passionate about their work and it’s reflected in their food. Honestly the best carribean food in Brighton hands down

The best place,great service good environment the food very delicious a great place for family and friends

Undoubtedly the best Caribbean food in Brighton. Authentic and delicious!

Prefect food, well put together. You can trast the heart and soul of the person that prepared it. Koipinoxia

It was the best food I’ve ever had. I am originally from Las Vegas and we do have plenty of places in the city where they serve Caribbean food. This is by the farthest the most authentic Caribbean food you will ever find. Everything and everyone in there made me feel like family. Great experience!!!

Amazing and authentic Caribbean food cooked by the best chefs EVER. Great portion size and really tasty! I had the veggie tropical bake. Definitely recommend !!!

The FOOD is delicious, the portions are extremely generous and very good value for money!!!!!!!!!!!! i was so happy with the food and the vegan options and would 10000% go back for more!

Para tomar unas cervezas y con música en vivo algunas noches

Nice experience, great food i definilly recomend it !

Slow service it took an hour to serve a starter not very well sign posted on the street I don’t know why people are giving this place 5 stars, have they been paid to ?

Best Caribbean food south of Brixton!!! You can taste the passion that has been put into it from the first mouth fall. Well worth a visit. I shall be returning as much as I can!!

While in Brighton, we experienced a true culinary revelation when we discovered The Vital Ingredient restaurant at The Mesmerist. They offer a menu with a wide range of super tasty authentic Caribbean dishes, cooked with great passion and talent! Even for me, a staunch vegetarian, there were many excellent options! To make a pun, dinner at The Vital Ingredient gave us a real vital boost for the rest of the day! 😊 We highly recommend it!

Lovely place situated inside an old pub. Food was excellent and tasted authentic. The staff were incredibly helpful as both my partner and I have vision impairments and staff offered to sit and read menus for us, which we had never experienced before. Will definitely visit again when in Brighton.

Really had a lovely meal here WHAT A LOVELY TEAM!! So kind smiley the food was so tasty! We had a table of 15 and pre ordered everything came out perfectly and was just amazing thank you guys have already recommend you to a few people!

Not really an "authentic" experience. Rice was overcooked, jerk chicken lacked personality, and dumplings where very plain. It felt like someone reading the recipes online rather than traditional ways of cooking. To make things worse, it was overpriced and the most we paid for a meal during our trip to Brighton.

went here for lunch yesterday. had perfectly cooked curry chicken, rice and peas(with coconut!!!), mac cheese and fried dumplings. 10 out of 10 best caribbean food in town.

Not good! Food was bland !!Tasteless Customer service terrible , not one person came up to us and asked us if the food was ok. We will not be going there again. There online service was much better. Such a disappointment.

Very good Caribbean food, the portions are large and delicious. Update 18/6/22 Went in again recently the food is still excellent at the new location. However I preferred the original place.

seeing as most ppl come here for the alcohol and not the food, I'm not surprised by this but how dare you try and rip off Caribbean people n culture, £4:50 for plantain? you can buy two large ones at taj over the road for £2? lol oh & not one Caribbean staff member was seen. this place a disgrace to my culture.

The most gracious hosts you could wish for in Cinzia & Daniel! The chef (Cinzia)has a true love and respect for caribean cuisine and it shows in her cooking. Properly seasoned and cooked food. You must try her oxtail! Daniel's warm welcome and attentiveness is also what will bring punters back. He also mixes a wicked Zombie cocktail! Please pay them a visit and support this business.

The joy in my friends face says it all.

Przemili właściciele ❤️ i najlepsze jedzenie jakie miałam okazję zjeść w Brighton 😊 Miło było Was odwiedzić .

Amazing experience, we had a bday party nice food, nice drinks thank you very much Cinzia and Daniel ♥️❤️🥰 i loved it

Definitely best Caribbean Restaurant in Brighton! Thank you guys.

Great place, great staff and amazing cocktails. Thank you for always accommodating our requests for big birthday parties. We will be back .

We agreed to be there today (Tuesday) 3rd May for a meal, when we get there they were not open although it says they are online, so this isn't a review on food but the fact I was told you was open and it says it online I was not happy with this at all, I was taking my wife out for a relaxing evening leaving our 11 week old son at home with his grandparents to find ur closed, SORT IT OUT.

The best Caribbean restaurant in BRIGHTON. The food is amazing, the service is to die for, the venue is great. We had an awesome time here.😎 🥣😍❤

After searching Google for good places to eat, my partner and I decided to visit The Vital Ingredient. We were not disappointed! The food was delicious and the staff were friendly and attentive, without hovering. We shall be back to try more of your wonderful dishes!

Just went here on a spontaneous lunch date, the drinks are delicious and I loved the tiki cups they came in! The food was really quick, really hot and really delicious 😋 would 100% recommend and will definitely be coming again!

One of the best restaurant experiences we've had in a while! Friendly staff, amazing food and good prices. Next time I come to the UK and Brighton I will visit again. Thanks for taking care of us so well. I 100% recommend the jerk prawns, chicken and lamb 👌 The chefs homemade spicy sauce you can ask for I would totally eat on its own with rice.

Absolutely BANGIN food tonight. Tony & the team were just fabulous. Great recommendations of food. Great service & fabulous cocktails. Can’t wait to come back. The Jerk Chicken was 👌

We had a mixture of roast, traditional meals and sides. Everything was lovely. Staff were awesome. Highly recommend!!

Best Caribbean in Brighton. I had Curry Mutton and my wife had Oxtail. Both beautiful. Will definitely return.

Easily the best Caribbean food i have ever had! Great service and food, would definitely recommend

You got my 5stars review couple of months ago, but now i am going to write another one to say my yesterday experience. I am not going to tell how delicious is your food, because it is. I am going to tell about your barman. Our bills was 47£ something, we paid in cash 60£, we said 50 is fine. Once barman put the money into the till, he did not come with 10 pounds change. We asked him how much we gave a cash, he did lie straight to our face and said 50. At least no one is interested looking at his breasts during eating. It is coctail bar and kitchen as well, so if he thinks he is in strip bar he should change job. But it definitely does not mean this experience stopped us to come, as your food and coctails are brilliant.

Curry mutton is watery and not of a typical curry consistency. Doesn’t come with rice etc included. Cocktails were watered down a lot too

Nice food, nice service. A good experience.

Amazing food, even better service, cannot recommend enough

My boyfriend and I tried Vital Ingredient, for the first time, last night - and it won't be the last. EVERYTHING about this place ticks all the boxes. Firstly, the food was plentiful, authentic (sometimes with a little twist) and flavoursome. My family are West Indian and I was delighted with the flavours and textures. Gio, our host, was fun, attentive and delightful - everything you could want! He made our night! We absolutely cannot wait to go again. Our chef has Italian roots, and was really charming with us, which just added to the delight. Do yourselves a favour and check this place out. The portions are huge, the ambiance (and music) perfect and everything is really reasonably priced. We cannot wait to go back and will do very soon. Good work guys!!!!!! x

This place is amazing !!!! The food takes me back to the roots of my Dad’s family . The ingredients, the produce , everything is so fresh and this beautiful sea bass on the plate was delicious ! It was baked and the vegetables that came with it were just perfect . The fried dumpling , the salad with the mango dressing was the perfect marriage . You need to check this place out ! Preorder your whole fish to avoid disappointment, because it’s too good to miss it ! The best Caribbean restaurant by far. ❤️

5 star service. 5 star food. The chef is extraordinary. And the host goes above and beyond and then some. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Exceptional food and service! Will come back again and again. Very highly recommend for anyone looking for delicious food and phenomenal service.

absolutely fabulous food and hosts , will be back next date night !!

Veryy gudd food nice food nice place I came again!thank you!

Amazing caribbean food with sweet reggae vibes!!!

Nice place with good food but some of the reviews are way over the top, makes me wonder if some of them are genuine.

I think this place would be great for cocktails and to listen to music. However the music is very loud as mentioned before. The service is excellent and the food is good.

Absolutely incredible! The food was AMAZING! The best Jamaican food we’ve ever had! And we’re from london. Please go check this place out, food was superb, music fantastic, the cocktails are DELICIOUS and the ambience is “IRIE”. Can’t wait to go there again!

Absolutely delicious cooked to perfection. Will definitely be eating here again.

Lovely staff and incredibly tasty food :)

My wedding reception took place here. Wonderful experience, great hoast, amazing service and food. Would absolutely recommend! Many thanks to owners and all the staff !

Myself and my dad visited Brighton and chose this restaurant for our dinner that evening. What an amazing experience, we cannot speak high enough of this establishment. Food was excellent, fresh and came out piping hot just how you want it. To top it off the owners and waiters were excellent hosts and attended to our needs. If you are in Brighton this is a must visit restaurant!!! 10/10

Best restaurant ever! Very nice staff, Best food in Brighton (coming from a picky person)

The most lovely, accomodating staff. Food is absolutely amazing aswell.

Absolutely amazing. Delicious food. If you are in Brighton, go and give it a try. The restaurant is so clean and the staff is super friendly. I highly recommend.. lovely place ❤️😘🥂 And the lovely 🍹🍹💯

One star is generous given the sub standard service to our party of 6. Vital ingredients were Unprofessionism, totally lacking in customer care and singed with scapgoating of the waitress who was left to front customer relations. We stated from the onset that we had a train to catch in under 2hrs and proceeded to order after assurances. With only ever one other table being serviced in the upstairs dining area and 3 of our 6 people party only ordering teas and starters the service proved to be one of the worst I've experienced. Our groups' side order/starters arrived in a reasonable time, later 2 mains arrived then finally most annoyingly the chef came up with my main when we had abt 15mins to catch our train. The group were getting ready to leave. No, I was not even offered complimented with the meal to take away free of charge given I had been deprived of an eating experience with friends. Whilst the manager 'hid' in the background, the chef with my plate of food just above waist level, proceeds to converse over my plate of food to blame the waitress....and no she wasnt wearing a mask!!! No accountability should be the order of the day.. NEVER AGAIN!!!

Excellent cocktails, service and food ✨

Beautiful food, with amazing drinks abs the staff are just so nice and made us feel very special . Would definitely recommend a visit and we will be back .

I had a saltfish main meal and was disappointed as it contained quite a few fish bones, lots of flavour but but should've mentioned that it may have bones on the menu, if it did then I'd not have ordered it... My partner ordered the stake and was also disappointed as it was too spicy after she had told the waitress that she didn't do spicy food, it also didn't say that it was hot on the menu, other than that it was all good... Cocktails we're very good at 2 for 1

Wow. Best food I've had since ages. Realy clean and crisp flavours. The sort of restaurant you need to keep coming back to to taste everything on the menu. Ackee and salt fish was outstanding 👏 staff were amazing too xx

Amazing food and amazing cocktails, I am a huge fan of Carribbean food but rarely find a place that can cook it properly but at the vital ingredient I finally found a new local place for consistent and delicious Caribbean food

I loved everything about this restaurant. The most amazing food, which we’re still talking about days later! So glad to be local as we plan to visit often. Great service, atmosphere and 2for1 cocktails. Not a single negative, perfect 10!

I have visited a few times now, the food has always been perfectly cooked with large portions and enough variety in the menu to keep trying new dishes every time. The staff are always friendly and give great recommendations when stuck between choices - was also impressed with the all day 2 for 1 cocktail menu!

Love this place! Been twice now and cannot fault the food, especially the jerk chicken, great flavour and good portions. The 2 for 1 cocktails are also great, and the staff really friendly and welcoming. Great atmosphere.

I highly recommend this place! A friend recommended it to me and now I feel like it’s only fair that I recommend it to everyone else! I got the jerk chicken wrap; flavours were exceptional, ingredients tasted fresh and good portion sizes. Plus, there is a 2 for 1 cocktail menu, which has your classics on there but with a few twists. Also, staff were very friendly and helpful.

Fantastic food. Mutton is to die for! Amazing cocktails. Rum Tropic and raspberry daiquiris that hit the spot. Fabulous staff. Always going the extra mile. 11/10. Would highly recommended!!!!

Absolutely amazing. Delicious food. If you are in Brighton, go and give it a try. The best jerk chicken i have ever tasted. The restaurant is so clean and the staff is super friendly. I highly recommend 5*****

The cocktails were lovely and 2 for 1 which was great the food was nice but it was a bit dry I expected some sort of sauce with my jerk chicken. The flavours were nice The mac n cheese was lovely but having rice and jerk chicken on a plate with no jerk sauce made it abit boring and dry . Waiters were lovely and attentive but iv had better caribbean food .. ps I did ask for a sauce and I pot a flavoured oil . Not really what I wanted . Not sure if I'd return for the food it lacked a few things

Food was delicious and service was friendly and efficient and 2 for 1 on cocktails is a winner highly recommended !

Amazing food and great service. Had the Jerk prawns starter and Caribbean burger for main 👌 Friendly bunch, cocktails brilliant as well. Thank you so much!

This is surely one of the finest place in the area. Anytime I go there I am extremely satisfied. They keep their high standard service and the topmost level of cooking. I’ll mention as well the Cocktails 🍸 witch are amazing. I’m always happy with this restaurant. Warmly recommended.

Really was impressed with this place , owner is super nice as is all the staff. Never had jerk chicken before until i went to TVI, wow....best kind of chicken i have ever eaten. Also their hot 🔥 sauce is to die for. Would definitely go back with the family , highly recommend the place.

Amaizing food. Very friendly staff and everything is combined with a great relaxing atmosphere. 👌

Incredible food and incredible service. Couldn’t recommend it a better place. Food was just amazing and the service was non-stop helpful, cheerful and just boosted the experience through the roof. Honest Caribbean atmosphere with divine Caribbean dishes. Will definitely be dining here again. A perfect 10.

My partner and I Patrick (who’s Jamaican) found this place on a recent visit to Brighton. It’s a fabulous restaurant on so many levels, Vitali the head chef although Italian, is a wonderfully warm and talented chef she has truly mastered the art of good honest West Indian food (or she’s got Jamaican blood in her somewhere)! Her and her staff are warm, friendly and very welcoming they couldn’t do enough for us. The food is generous and utterly delicious, and if you ask them nicely they’ll even knock up some Guinness punch for you too! We’re definitely going back for her Sunday lunch which looks magnificent. But on a more personal just to say as an observation Vitali is a very special lady she’s very kind and cares about people.. Thank you for making our visit so special!

The food is amazing. Staff are so great and accommodating. Music is just like being in Jamaica. After tracking them in their old venue and could not find the restaurant, we decided to come here only to find them here. So happy to found you again. Thank you for a wonderful service. 5 stars

I love this restaurant. We just googled for a Caribbean restaurant while we were in Brighton and came across The Vital Ingredients. The name sounds great so I thought let's go here. One of the best decisions ever made. Service was great. Food was fantastic. Servers attentive. Complimentary homemade chocolate cake, delicious! I recommend this restaurant to everyone. You won't be disappointed! 😊

We went for dinner, the food was delicious and good prices,the personal was very friendly. Definitely will come back.

The best Caribbean food we have ever tasted! The people who run it are really nice, we cant wait to get food from there again.

Updated.30th May 2021....... Can not recommend this place enough. Love the new location. We were lucky to have a great day for outdoor dining. Food was excellent. Cooked with pride and so much of it. We love the new bar upstairs, great for starting and ending the evening with friends. A well stocked bar, great happy hour cocktails and staff that are fab. Will definitely be returning on our next visit. Thank you to Daniel, Cinzua and Ethan for a great evening. Keep up the amazing work. 5* all the way. ******************* Absolutely amazing Caribbean food, and we've been to Jamaica 4 times! Portion sizes are enormous, and what makes it even more special, the chefs Italian, go figure 🤣 Happy hour drinks are great, and the staff are very welcoming. Well done to Daniel and his wife, I hope your business prospers.

Such a great vibe, really nice staff. Must try the oxtail!

Amazing food with wonderful service. If you want to eat authentic, cooked to perfection Caribbean food, then try these guys. The food is delicious, with generous portions and you'll be made to feel welcome. Can't wait to go back!

I had an amazing time in this restaurant... the first time I went I was with my partner and just yesterday with my friends. The oxtail was delicious 🤤 my partner said the calypso curry was fantastic! All the rest of my mates loved the jerk chicken with rice and peas and the lovely fresh salads (considering they’re all Caribbean) I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE! Ah I forgot to say... 😊 you must try the cocktails as well! 🍹 Well done guys the restaurant-bar looks lovely! I’ll definitely will be back ✌🏽

Absolutely terrible! I ordered the vegan curry and it was so bland, it tasted worse than the Asda ready meal curry. It was a pile of overcooked rice with a load of potatoes and sweet potatoes chucked on top and a thin curry sauce. It was very badly presented and worse of all, I tucked into it and it was cold!!! I had to send it back. I ate most of it because I was hungry but...... My friends' food didn't look that great either. For drinks I had a cocktail which was very very watery, just like the curry sauce. Such a shame really. The service was good and the waiter was super friendly and nice. But the food is absolutely not worth it!! Avoid!!!

AMAZING!! I have been dying for Caribbean food for ages and this was great!! really good value! do yaself a favor and order from here!

Amazing food and really fast delivery, can't wait to order again!

Amazing food. Called ahead to discuss what food could be ordered that excludes the main allergens, was passed onto the lovely chef herself and she was more than accommodating. Delivered right on time for when I had ordered it for and made for a very special birthday feast ☺️ thank you!

Ordered off deliveroo so far one of the better Caribbean meals I've had in Brighton the flavour of the jerk chicken was good but the peas in the rice and peas were hard as bullet's and i had to pick around them

The Curry Goat is my favorite Caribbean food. I used to buy this once or twice every week since i moved to Brighton 4 years ago. Living in Leeds (where there is Maureen's Caribbean Food Takeaways) and having traveled to the Caribbean Island of Trinidad and Tobago i always look for the authenticity of these dishes in a commercial level: Curry Goat, Jerk Chicken, Dumplings, Rice and peas, salt fish with dumplings, Ackee and Saltfish, Plantains, Yam, Patties etc. etc. etc. I must say Vital Ingredients speaks from its Chef's heart and soul delivering the almost authentic taste of its food - although it's delicious i felt like something is missing. Vital Ingredients integrity presented with the values and the principles of the Caribbean taste and the idea that it's food resembled to a homemade and cooked in a Caribbean household but there is yet the matter of convincing the punters and its future clienteles when it opens fully in May. I liked it. Maybe you should try it and tell me if i'm wrong.