Places to eat on Isle of Wight

[dlg04]

Off to Isle of Wight for holidays in 3 weeks. Any recommended places to eat, good pubs etc. DH's 40th while we are away so it would be good to treat him if possible.

The Hambrugh, Ventnor. Michelin-starred cooking at London pub prices. Service was a bit slow to start but picked up and got really friendly, chatting to other diners over flambeed desserts.

Also in Ventnor there's the fish hut on the pier - the best prepared seafood plus raw seafood and fish I've had for years, and then in the evening they do fish and chips which are fantastic (and I usually hate fish and chips!). And the Spyglass Inn for fishy pub meals and sea views (gets crowded, get there early)

Shanklin - not much. Found a nice deli near the station, and actually a great Chinese (Dragon Pearl) for takeaway but you can eat in, and the teas in Shanklin Chine were huge and excellent, but that was it.

this place is nice

Doesn't llok like much, a bit like a small cafe - but the seafood was amazing and it's right on the beach (as the weird name suggests!) so lovely to go on a summers evening.

I personally don't like baywatch over priced and up themselves. We love The Old Fort Cafe in Seaview (Sunday lunch fab), The Dell Cafe between Ryde and Springvale (great seafood), The Boathouse in Springvale, Liberty's in Ryde, The New Inn in Shalfleet, The Crab and Lobster in Bembridge, The Spyglass Inn in Ventor, Michelangelos in Ryde (you need to book). The Hamburgh also has a bistro The Pond Cafe.
[www.mattandcat.co.uk] is a great website Matt and Cat are locals with kids and just review everywhere they visit be it Tescos or a posh place.

www.mattandcat.co.uk is your friend!

Baywatch is shockingly bad for service as you will find out on the above website. Don't trust newspaper articles that tell you somewhere is amazing because they may have visited once on a good day. This website is full of info from the people that eat at these establishments all the time.

There are loads of great places to eat on the island.

Omg! just read the above post properly and seen the heads up for Mattand cat! I guess you can say that's a trusted site then!!

The Rex in Ventnor is really nice.
The Oyster at Priory Bay Hotel (if its good enough for William and Kate's honeymoon...)
Lakeside Park Hotel is supposed to be nice - although I've not been there yet.
I've also heard the Pond in Bonchurch is good.

There used to be loads of really nice places, but they are starting to dwindle a bit as owners keep changing. What kind of food do you like?

The garlic farm cafe is nice
www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/farmcafe.aspx

Also the boathouse pub at Seaview Beach
www.theboathouseiow.co.uk/

Crab and lobster also good to sit outside in the sun above the sea
www.crabandlobsterinn.co.uk/