"Eddie Gilberts - Ramsgate: I visted Eddie Gilbert's in Ramsgate when I was in the area on business after reading about it in The Suday Times.

When an established fish monger in a town with a trawler fleet opens a gourmet restaurant above the shop, you'd expect the fish to be good. And it is. Very.

Eddie Gilbert's scooped a prestigious Taste Of Kent Awards for best fish retailer in 2007 and was runner up in 2008.

Despite the back street location this is a truly remarkable restaurant. Althought the head chef is a local boy, he spent 4 years training in Warwickshire's the Michelin-stared Mallory Court. There's also excellent fish and chips, fried in a choice of beef dripping or vegetable oil in both the restaurant and new downstairs chippie.

I tried the crispy smoked eel soldiers with soft-boiled duck egg, which are a delight at £6.00. The fresh rock oysters were excellent too (£5 for 6.) The brown shrimp croquettes with shallot, white wine with a hint of parmesan and mustard were a hit too.

Whilst most of the fare is local, some more exotic species come from further afield, like the tuna. For meat eaters the daily changing menui may feature 40 day aged rib eye steak and Kent venison. For the veggies the Parmesan polenta with mushroom fricassee and rocket is a real treat.

If there's somewhere serving a better Dover sole, I've yet to find it.

The seafood platter including lobster and dressed crab at £26.50 for two looked good value and there's a fixed lunch menu costs £9.95 for two courses or £12.95 for three, is available Tuesday to Thursday. On Sundays there's either a roast beef, lamb, pork or chicken on the menu.

The restaurant itself is attractive with polished wooden floor and exposed oak beams is tastefully appointed with deft maritime touches and fishy pictures.

I didn't have a puds, but did taste the bay leaf ice cream - a first, and one that works perfectly.

The only negative is the wine list is a bit short, but is expectect to be elongated in the near future. Kent vineyards feature alongside Ramsgate's potent Gadds' beers.

Oh, the service is pretty good too."
Ram Rod who dined at Eddie Gilberts - December 09

"Eddie Gilberts - Ramsgate: Excellent food, excellent service and a very nice environment."
Richard Barron who dined at Eddie Gilberts - February 2010

"On a wet Wednesday afternoon it was full - and has been most days since it opened in October 2009, apparently.

Much of the fish and seafood comes directly from the fishing fleet in Ramsgate.

Depending on the time of year, this can be bass, cod, Dover Sole, Skate, Gurnard, Plaice, Whiting, Brill, Turbot, Crab and Lobster.

Owner Jonny Gilbert also sources from other regions, from contacts he has developed over the last twelve years, whilst running a business supplying Oysters and Shellfish to top restaurants and hotels.

Above his original wet fish shop, Jonny has converted the original flats into a lovely eating area. The ceiling has been taken away to expose the beams, creating a feeling of space. Wooden floors, exposed brickwork, fishing nets, Lobster pots, driftwood framed mirrors and sea-inspired artwork all combine to create a warm, informal atmosphere, where you could easily while away a few hours.

The menu is extensive. There is a ‘casual’ menu, featuring the finest fish (deep fried or grilled) and chips (cooked in a choice of beef dripping or vegetable oil), meat pies, and light bites, such as Oysters, Mussels, Whitebait, Jellied eel, to name a few. These can be taken away or eaten in.

The more formal menu presents modern European food. I indulged in my favourite – fresh, plump, ozone-fumed Oysters – but was also able to taste a few other dishes on the menu. Memorable starters were the crispy smoked Eel soldiers with soft-boiled duck egg and the brown shrimp croquettes. My main course was a deliciously fresh Dover sole that had no doubt been swimming in the sea just a few hours previously, but I also dipped into a heartily tasty Monkfish bourguignon, and a vegetarian choice of pan-fried parmesan polenta with mushroom fricassee and rocket. The food was delicious and it was wonderful to know that everything was as fresh as it could possibly be. The menu changes daily according to the latest catches and the availability of fresh ingredients.

A kitchen garden is planned for the summer."
KC who dined at Eddie Gilberts - February 2010

"This is a great discovery, thought I did have second thoughts as a walked down the cold, dark mean streets of Ramsgate. Upstairs, above the seafood counter and take away fish shop, is a delightfuly place, with exposed beams and bare, scrubbed wooden floor. The food is very ambitious, but the ambitions are surpassed with some great cooking. The seafood platter at £26 for two is great value. Thanet's best fish restaurant by a nautical mile!"
Kieron who dined at Eddie Gilberts - February 2010

"Truly wonderful. Everything was great at Eddie Gilberts, from the service to the food. Great chef, love the take on egg & soldiers. Ramsgate lucky to have you."
Yvonne who dined at Eddie Gilberts - February 2010

"We had superb food with excellent service at Eddie Gilberts and will be returning very soon."
F.P.Romang who dined at Eddie Gilberts - March 2010

"My friend and I visited Eddie Gilberts - Ramsgate for the first time on Sat.20 Mar. for my friends Birthday Lunch. We were surprised to see that there was a Senior Citizens Menu on offer,which we both decided to try-out.

My friend chose the fish dish and I had steak & kidney pudding. We both agreed the meals were delicious,the following desserts still make my mouth water thinking of them.

Anyone wanting a quiet, relaxed meal, be it lunch or evening dining, will find everything they want at Eddie Gilberts. "
Margaret Walker who dined at Eddie Gilberts - March 2010

"We all really enjoyed our meal and will definitely be booking future meals with you."
Roger Head who dined at Eddie Gilberts - April 2010

"My friend and I were both off work on Friday so we decided to take advantage of the great weather and went on a day trip to Ramsgate. After a couple of hours on the beach, we went to find outselves some fish and chips. Being a chowhounder, I had done my research and found that Eddie Gilberts was the place to go. Unfortunately, they'd just closed their upstairs dining room, so we opted for takeway instead. We were informed that it would take a good ten minutes - great sign - freshly cooked just for us! We both chose medium cod and chips (£5) and retired to a nearby square recommended by the lady in the shop which overlooked the sea. The fish and chips were great - fish flaky and perfectly cooked, good chips, not at all greasy.

All in all a very satisfying experience. It takes an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Ramsgate from St Pancras and I'll be doing it again to visit the restaurant bit of Eddie Gilberts. Age & Sons in the same town is also meant to be good. Later in the day, we tried an old-fashioned Italian ice-cream parlour near the seafront, Pelosi's. I had a decent but not outstanding rum and raisin and vanilla, which is always my benchmark for ice cream.
"
GG who dined at Eddie Gilberts in Ramsgate in June 2010

"It was a total suprise. I have lived in Ramsgate all my life and I'm an OAP now. I thought Eddie Gilberts was a fish & chip shop, but once you go upstairs you will find a smashing little restaurant. Our party was four adults and two children. We all said the meal was way above the meals we have had in the area before and as we had a mixture of fish and meat meals what more can you ask for. But be aware you need to book up as the night we went was a Tuesday and it was full. We will be going to Eddie Gilberts again it was that good."
Mr Frank Danton who dined at Eddie Gilberts in June 2010

"It was a Saturday, one we were promised good weather for, yet on the long train journey to Ramsgate it seemed that this was changing between each train stop. Our destination was Eddie Gilberts 'quality fishmonger, a gourmet fish and chip shop and a fine restaurant with a Michelin trained chef '.

We arrived in Ramsgate earlier than expected, an hour and a half before the table was booked for our Saturday lunch. Having never been to Ramsgate before, I have to admit to being less than impressed with the selection of pubs from the station towards the town, and we were concerned with what may await us. However, after a pleasant pint at a pub near the harbour (Port & Anchor) and the landlady of said pub advising us that we were in for a treat, we followed the directions and headed to the restaurant.

We needn't have worried. Nestled in one of the busier streets of the town is Eddie Gilberts, enticing you straight in with the downstairs fishmongers displaying a vast array of fine seafood in the window. You actually walk through the fishmongers to get into the restaurant upstairs, a cunning ploy perhaps, as the shop downstairs was truly impressive.

We were greeted very warmly by Nick, who was to serve us for the duration of the meal and were sat down at a table by a window. The interior is really nice, very comfortable, with exposed brickwork and a really pleasant airy feel about the place. Various artifacts nodding towards the nautical and marine theme to the restaurant. It was nicely busy too for a Saturday and, in fact, we had to come for lunch as they were fully booked in the evening!

The menu was really quite impressive, in fact, so much so, that both Mrs La and I had to ask Nick for his reccomendations. It was refreshing to see a member of waiting staff so enthusiastic about their menu. It was quite obvious by how he was talking that he knew the menu inside out. Mrs La went for the Brochette of scallops with red pepper and serrano ham crisps, whilst I went for the Crispy smoked eel soldiers & soft boiled duck egg. We had eyed up the seafood platter (lobster, scallop, crevette, praw, shrimps and crab) for main which was unbelievably good value at £30, but I felt to do a proper review it was only right to test the chefs skills. For mains, Mrs La ordered Darne of wild sea trout with almond and rosemary crust, green beans and cous cous whilst I went for Whole grilled local Dover sole, local samphire, caper, lemon & parsley butter. All this to be washed down by a nice bottle of Valpolicella.

The starters came out in good time, both with excellent presentation. Mrs La's scallops were huge meaty affairs served with the lovely ham crispy wafers. My duck egg served to one side in an egg cup with the eel soldiers wrapped in a cone and tastefully presented in a glass. Both starters were exquisite, full of flavour and fresh as you like.

The mains were even better! Again, both presented in a fine manner and the portions were certainly not skimpy. Mrs La's trout was cooked to perfection, was complimented perfectly by the crust and melted in the mouth. My Dover sole was probably one of the best pieces of fish I have had, again cooked to perfection, each mouthful a delight and the local samphire really bringing the best out of the whole dish.

We had noted from the back of the menu that you could choose certain elements from the fish and chip shop downstairs as well as an imprssive array of home made pies. A couple next to us had what looked like outstanding fish and chips, although I must admit to be very pleased with our own orders. To finish, Mrs La went for banana creme brule with white chocolate ice cream. I went for my usual cheese plate.

The Creme Brule was certainly very impressive, served in a large cappucino mug with a rock hard caramel top, delicate in the centre and i'm told that the white chocolate ice cream complimented it perfectly. The cheese selection was fantastic, served attractively on a slate and included a local blue cheese from Staplehurst. The portions were just right and the quality excellent.

After the meal Mrs La and I stumbled accross the harbour and managed to find some very pleasant bars. Initially we had not been sure whether we would be returning to Ramsgate. But after what was an extremely impressive meal, made up of gorgeous fresh food, a lovely atmosphere and excellent professional service. I've no doubt we will be making the trip again.

The total for lunch? 3 courses with wine, water and coffee came to £71, which I think for the quality of the food and service, was an absolute steal. Whether you are local, or thinking of a trip to the coast, I can't recommend this place enough. "
LA who dined at Eddie Gilberts of Ramsgate in July 2010

"Managed to book Monday lunchtime from an enquiry the week before! Well worth the wait, fantastic fayre and very good service, altogether a great eating experience!"
Terence who dined @ Eddie Gilberts in July 2010