The best restaurants in South East

From the outside, the Swan Inn might appear to be a simple village pub, but step inside, and you’re in for an extraordinary experience. Upon entering, we were immediately impressed by the open view of the professional kitchen, where chefs could be seen meticulously preparing dishes. It was clear right away that this was not just another gastro pub. We were warmly welcomed and seated, and our waiter, Joe, guided us through the menu with care and clarity. His thoughtful explanations made choosing our dishes an enjoyable experience. Before our starters arrived, we were treated to freshly baked bread served with two types of butter: honey and malt. The combination was sensational and set the tone for what was to come. For starters, I had the venison, which was incredibly tender – it melted with a single fork stroke. The flavours were perfectly balanced, allowing the venison to truly shine. A delightful surprise was the inclusion of two mini onion rings, lightly battered and utterly delicious. My wife opted for the burrata, complemented by a delicate candied orange peel. It was a brilliant pairing, and we’ve already decided to replicate it at home. For mains, I had the rib-eye steak, cooked to a flawless medium-rare. The quality was outstanding – a well-hung steak that true steak lovers will immediately recognize as exceptional. My wife chose the Thai curry, which was a masterclass in balance. Unlike many other curries, this one wasn’t overwhelmed by cream; instead, the fresh, fragrant ingredients took centre stage. If The Swan Inn were located in a more densely populated area, I have no doubt it would be booked out weeks in advance. It’s a hidden gem that delivers in every way. We loved every second and will absolutely be returning. Five stars, without a doubt.

Another wonderful experience for breakfast. Second visit , yet very pleased with the food and environment. Reasonable prices for coffees and food. Booked our christmas dinner here so hopefully will even more enjoyable .

The staff were great and the food fantastic the ambiance superb. The waitress who served us made us feel we were the only ones there and nothing was ever too much trouble for her. The food selection was varied and exciting will be back soon.

Delicious food really well presented, amazing drinks and lovely staff. It has the most beautiful decor as well. Highly recommend.

Bowley's is truly an outstanding restaurant situated in a lovely country pub, run by a team who clearly love what they do. Locally sourced, fresh ingredients turned into mouth watering dishes which we thoroughly enjoyed. The staff's attention to detail is second to none and they catered for our Dietary requirements with ease and professionalism at short notice. My husband really enjoyed his Birthday here. I can't recommend Bowley's enough and we'll be back sooner than later.

Debbie and the team provided platters for our wake at a nearby pub to celebrate my mums life. She was so friendly and helpful, understanding our order perfectly and giving us the perfect selection of baguettes, even taking them to the pub so we didn’t have to worry about the logistics of getting it there on a difficult day. Thank you so much Debbie. I would highly recommend this company and everyone loved the selection.

Honestly some of the best food I have ever eaten. We had the set menu and there was so much food for 6. They even replaced every meat dish for the sole veggie in our party. I am still dreaming about the cheese and cider pot, and the meatballs and steak were just so delicious. I live on the mainland and was staying with friends, but the food is so good I would be tempted to come back just for a meal and get the ferry home! Also service is top notch - attentive but low - key at the same time - you didn't notice wine being topped up and dishes being cleared - fab fab fab!!

I ate out here with friends and would highly recommend. The food was delicious! I had a seafood risotto which was absolutely delicious and a chocolate pistachio desert that was lovely. The house white Pecorino was also very tasty. The staff were very friendly. We had a lovely meal

After a stroll along the seafront we were ready for something to eat. Chose the mini fish and chip deal as we were planning on going out for dinner that evening! The mini meal was in fact huge- cod, chips and a large curry sauce - all for £8.99 each! Ate it overlooking the sea and it was delicious. Would definitely eat there again if in the area! ( And no, we didn't need dinner that evening!!)

We stopped for lunch and ordered the smash burgers and fries. Service was excellent, friendly and our meals were served quickly. The burgers were delicious and I love the Rosemary fries!

Tasty, very nice service. You feel at home when you enter this restaurant. I recommend to everyone.

Excellent food and service. Know their regulars well. The coffee and breakfast are recommended, as are the wide variety of cakes.

Looking somewhere for lunch came across this tearooms . What a lovely find the staff were lovely and welcoming . I had a jacket potato with coronation chicken and salad it was delicious

We had an early family Xmas bash, 16 adults of which the majority are vegetarians or vegans. The food served up was absolutely first class- there was not one complaint. Everything was just excellent. The service was fast and attentive- just couldn’t be faulted in anyway. On top of that there was a great selection of beers and quite a few 0.0 options for those driving. Thank you to all the staff at the Stanhope.

Had the most amazing meal last night, would 100% recommend excellent food and impeccable service looking forward to our next visit