Semolina - Brighton and Hove

This is a cosy and homely little place which feels a bit like someone's back room in a nice way ! The food was really tasty and interesting, they catered really well to our various dietary needs that we informed them about in advance. The service was friendly but the wait was almost comically long: so go with someone you haven't seen for a long time and with whom you have a lot of catching up to do, and then it will be fine.

After visiting Semolina a couple of years ago for dinner and having a great experience, we were looking forward to returning on another trip to Brighton. However, the ridiculously lengthy service and mostly average food really let the place down and for the price point, there’s much better food and service in Brighton. We had an 8:30am sitting and waited around 50 minutes for a starter, with no explanation from staff other than a couple of reassurances that “it’s on the pass”. The wait staff were lovely and sweet, and it was clearly not their fault that the chefs were struggling to get food on tables (rarely did any food appear from the kitchen). When the starter did arrive, the sauce and pasta was fairly cold. But after waiting 50 minutes, we ravenously ate our starters and didn’t dare complain after such a wait. Next, the mains arrived around 10pm. The cod was beautifully cooked and was a step towards redemption, however the clams were puny and chorizo diced so small my mother didn’t even notice it in the dish. Cheeseboard to finish decent, but could have done with a choice of chutneys and crackers to justify the £3 supplement. I understand eating is an experience and freshly cooked food takes time, but in this instance the taste did not justify the wait.

This place is our favourite restaurant and go to in Brighton. We love the unstuffy atmosphere staff are always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable about the food wine, but without airs and graces. The food is absolutely fantastic, changes seasonally and always balanced with good portion sizes. There's a nice variety of wine drinks and they're not outrageously expensive. Overall it gives you the feel of a really well run family Bistro on the continent. The emphasis is on fantastic food first and they make you feel at home, couldn't recommend more.

I hadn't been several years. I remembered good quality food with interesting ideas and flavours. I think it has got better... the price is higher £45 for three courses but the value is massive.... this is a great little restaurant. They did fine food but left it feeling unpretentious, it was such a relief. I had the squid, the pollock and the cheese board. The squid was particularly nice. The cheeseboard had some lovely cheese choices... Sussex food is great! Service was outstanding. The staff lovely.

The food was delicious with a cozy and non-pretentious atmosphere. The staff were lovely and friendly, making the experience truly welcoming. The restaurant is located in a great spot.