Porters - Hastings

The food was good, but the service was lacking and the prices for food and drinks were high. Thankfully, the great live music added some enjoyment to an otherwise disappointing experience.

I had a delightful lunch at Porters. The staff was lovely, and the food was consistently excellent. Both vegans and meat-eaters were satisfied. I only wish we had room for dessert. The house wine was fantastic, although a bit strong for a midday meal. However, the beautiful atmosphere and the opportunity to dine outside, after being indoors for so long, made it a wonderful experience.

My wife often dines with friends at this restaurant and always praises the food, but I have avoided going because of the limited beer selection. However, we decided to book a table for my birthday and were pleasantly surprised to find a better variety of beers, including some from Longman. I ordered the rump steak cooked on a hot stone, while my wife opted for the sirloin. The quality of the steaks was exceptional for the price, arguably the best I've had in a long time. Although the atmosphere was quiet, the lack of table service for drinks was noticeable and resulted in missed sales opportunities. Despite this, we had a very enjoyable evening and will definitely be returning now that they offer a more diverse selection of beers.

After we finished our meal, no one came to clear our table or ask if we wanted dessert or coffee. When we got up to leave, someone finally came to clear the table, but didn't interrupt her conversation with other staff members at the bar. In the past, Porters used to be a popular dining spot with a good atmosphere on weekends. However, the current level of service has greatly declined, negatively impacting the overall atmosphere. It is no surprise that the restaurant is no longer as busy as it once was.

One of several perfectly adequate wine bar restaurants in Hastings, the food here is perfectly ok, but the manager was extremely unhelpful to me and my two friends. Also the two drinks I’d usually choose on tap both ran out. Overall a negative experience. They do book a load of excellent musicians, though, usually solo or duo — worth checking out.