Reviews Terre A Terre

Brighton you are continuing to astound me. I still can’t get over just how much dining in this city has changed over the last few years and I can’t wait to explore even more of it. Oddly as part of our journey of discovery in Brighton we ended up in a vegetarian restaurant (odd because it’s me) ordering a huge four tier afternoon tea. Terre à Terre started life in 1993 by Amanda Powley and Philip Taylor. Both classically trained chefs have created a truly unique and wonderful meat-free cooking environment, serving food as ethical and sustainable as possible. Honestly If I’d had my eyes closed throughout the meal I couldn’t have always guessed it was vegetarian, even sometimes I still couldn’t get over the richness, “meatiness” and overall depth. This is afternoon tea with attitude and goes down a treat with a glass of fizz or two (or three).

A vegetarian restaurant that has existed in Brighton for at least twenty years. I remember going maybe 15 years ago when we last visited the city and its amazing pavilion. On Sunday we returned to brighton and, after exploring the lanes, we discovered the restaurant again - much changed - and decided to give it a go for lunch.

There are three dining spaces - one at the front of the restaurant, another at rear alongside the kitchen, and another outside in a small courtyard area.

The walls are in shades of red, the floor and tables are pale pine and the seats are bent ply modern - we disagreed as to whether they were comfortable. Slightly dimmed halogen down lights gave the spaces a warm cosy feel.

At lunch the place was buzzing yet the service was excellent, extremely friendly and attentive.

Two glasses of prosecco later we opted for a shared tasting plate and the "bread of the day" with a couple of accompaniments. The latter was a delicious briochey sort of bread with a hint of orange peel maybe - the three dips were a chive cream cheese, a mildly hot red pepper sauce and the oil/balsamic standard. This was an excellent nibble before the main,

The sharing plate was complex, beautiful, delicious, surprising and a complete antidote to any suggestion that vegetarian food is boring. I was blown away by the variety of flavours and, just as important, by the variety of textures that emerged. Essentially there are about seven different little portions, each doubled up which makes it perfect for two.

The plate included:
Polenta chips
Haloumi in a batter
Fondue with pickled vegetables
Lentil risotto with wasabi
Roasted tomato
Hoisin braised tofu with sesame seeds
A carrot salad with fine noodles.

The seasoning was perfect for each of the tastes - I often find many vegetarian cafes and restaurants back off salt because of "health" and as a consequence present drably dull flavours from otherwise well made dishes.

Anyway we were more than impressed - so before leaving we booked a table for dinner that same evening - apparently we were not the only ones to do that on that evening.

On the Sunday evening the place was full - lots of groups of 4-6, and what looked to be a middle aged demographic.

We shared two main dishes and two sides:

Mains
An Aubergine and tahini layered stack topped with sesame seeds and served with the carrot/noodle salad with a seaweed rice cracker. Delicious.

A salad comprising the hot, smokey pepper sauce as a base on which was layered a potato Rosti, then artichoke, then beetroot, yoghurt and finally rocket. A good combination of fried/fresh, dry/moist, varied texture and colour contrasts- excellent.

Sides
Peas - what seemed to be a mixture of crushed garden peas with mushy marrowfats topped by a pea tendril. Perfect with the rosti.

Puréed spinach with the odd crunch that might have come from toasted lentils,

For dessert we ordered two plates:

I ordered "Kulfi" - a take on a couple of indian street foods mixed together. Essentially something like a base of puffed wheat, pomegranate, yoghurt, petals and pistachios (all with a ? before them). On top of this was a caramel and black sesame cone filled with an ice cream that was unidentified but delicious. The cone I thought was too thick walled but otherwise it was brilliant.

My partner ordered something that she described as "a chocolate ball of deliciousness that had a gooey caramel oozing from it" - I was too full by then to have more than a taste and to agree with her description.

Acoustics were ok but there is an area where dirty plates are returned and this created a din like a bottle recycling truck being emptied occasionally. At one point I got such a fright that I almost lost a forkful of something delicious.

Child friendly yes
Would I take my grandmother? - if she was alive yes.
First or last date - yes

Would I go back - I will not would!
Would I drive across town - most definitely

Suggestion: have the tasting plate and a prosecco - I promise you will not be disappointed. This restaurant is a gem and certainly one of the very best vegetarians that I've had - a superb, clever and delicious menu - well done.

The Kraken Kodachi Churros and Peeking Buns were also excellent. For me the ‘Appetisers and Companion Dishes’ section of the menu was definitely more interesting than the mains. When I return (and I’m keen to go back), I’ll probably skip the main and make myself a ‘Tasting Menu’ of the smaller dishes.

It was an impossible mission to determine what the dish will be!

I came here for Valentine’s Day and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Beautiful and intimate atmosphere, even though it was busy. We had the Valentine’s set menu for 2 and it was out of this world, three courses all so beautifully displayed and full of so many different flavours. I’ve never dined with a set menu so I was very excited to see what it would be like, my partner too is a little apprehensive with new foods so it was a food adventure for us both. I’ve never been to a restaurant where the waiter has to explain the intricacies of what’s on the plate when it arrives! The food just left us speechless, it was too good to be true. As a vegan diner, I’m used to only having three options to pick from, so it was amazing to have so much eccentric food to dig into - as well as a long vegan wine list; I find it so hard to find a certified vegan red wine, let alone a tasty one! All the staff were so attentive; they brought our next plates the moment we finished ours and asked us if we wanted refills when they noticed our glasses were empty - we didn’t have to usher them over once. Each one who served us was so lovely, but I only got the name of one - a lovely chap called Dirk! He was so great in helping me navigate the extensive menu and gave wonderful recommendations, he had a generally wonderful bubbly energy and was very funny too. Thank you Dirk!! I am already so excited to go back, but I feel like this night was so special and sacred that I’m going to have to do my best to keep away… for at least a week or two. This place is perfect for a vegan, romantic, fine-dining experience, and I’ll remember it always.

Always a lovely dining experience in this vegetarian fine dining. It is a must to see the frontiers of vegetarian cooking that is done in Brighton. Atmosphere is lovely and service is extremely attentive. We got these and was full and satisfied: Tapas Platter for Two Combination of a few different tasty odysseys. A bed of fresh seaweed salad with wasabi nuts, really lovely crispy lavash breads with a creamy zhuganoosh, smoked tofu with crispy seaweed with a creamy sweet potato puree, fluffy polenta cakes, an umami mushroom sushi, and a lovely battered halloumi Peking Steamers Pillowy buns filled with one of the best marinated tofu you will ever taste. Complemented greatly with the tangy pickles and kimchi. The spicy miso sauce adds a depth that makes the dish just so comforting. Churros Crispy churros that is topped with a selection of dreamy sauces (so dreamy I actually finished them all) - tangy berry sauce, warm dark chocolate sauce, and velvety salted caramel. Always recommending everyone who goes to Brighton to try this place. Thank you.

We celebrated my boyfriend's 40th birthday here last night and were served by Dirk. It was such a pleasant experience, and the food was incredible. It was full of complex, rich flavours, and presented beautifully. Dirk's recommendations were spot on to our tastes and we really enjoyed our overall experience. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone, whether it's a special occasion or you just love excellent food.

Amazing place. Fabulous food and service, great ambience. Highly recommend it. Nobody at the table is a vegetarian and we were all blown away by the flavors.

I have been several times to Terre a Terre and have never been disappointed. I love the subtlety of flavours and quirky menu. It is the best vegetarian food I have ever tasted and the ingredients are locally produced.

An amazing place for vegetarians and for everyone who just wants to spend time in nice and cozy atmosphere enjoying tasty, unusual and beautifully done dishes.

Lovely food. Excellent service. My wife and I were treated so well. Will return again and again.

Every single piece of food we had here was absolutely delicious. Loved the wide-ranging origins of the dishes and the amount of vegan options. The pear and almond tart was exquisite.

Definitely some of the best food in Brighton. I can’t tell you how good this food is, go in there and you won’t be disappointed. It’s just a fabulous vegetarian restaurant. With amazing food.