My wife and I are regular visitors to the Island, and never miss the August bank holiday with the highlight watching the thousands of Lambrettas at the international scooter rally. Now we have another highlight as we have found a superb family run restaurant we would like to recommend called Ganders in St Helens, the restaurant itself is small with a homely / romantic atmosphere, the staff are all very pleasant and informative, the menu has a good selection with the seasonal specials chalked on the wall.
We had pan fried fillet of local sea bass with Isle of Wight crab mash, followed by a large portion of home made raspberry pavlova with clotted cream. ( heaven )
I hope that my wife and I become regulars at Ganders and hope they maintain their high standards and excellent food unlike the Crab and Lobster ( Bembridge ).

There are a couple of "fine dining" Restaurants where I would appreciate your ideas
The Hambrough Ventnor and The Pond by the same time rarely left me disappointed, same goes for the upmarket pup The Red Lion in Freshwater, some of my friends commend Mozarts in Cowes and I certainly had pleasant food in Both Lugleys Retaurants... Burrs in Newport and D@Bs in Cowes certainly would deserve Reviewing...
Looking for breakfast I think the Waterside in Gurnards stands out, for food and drink later the day The Woodvale....
Very happy that same ISlanders take up this task
Btw- it would probably be worth to add good quality suppliers of Local Produce to the Recommendations for these days you want to cook yourself
Thank You

Oh!!you have to visit Kimbos in lake!it's really good! but I wouldn't go on saturday it's jam packed then! and on Sundays they're closed!It's brilliant!
BTW-It's a chinese take-away!

I have great difficulty finding places to eat that serve fresh cooked food in an accessible venue with level access and room to move around between tables that is also non smoking.

It would idealy have an accessible toilet too.

I would love to find somewhere on the Island that serves cooked meals of fresh organic veg and meat dishes eg; roasts etc. there doesnt seem to be one place that serves organic food on the Island.

Its bad enough getting up and down kerbs but getting in and out of eating places is awful.
Take a look at this website to see how hard it is just to find an accessible venue to eat etc.
www.wight2access.co.uk

After trying several places that were not suitable in Newport I found Hong Kong Express to have level access and totally non smoking too.
Other wheelchair users were using this venue and the food was lovely but far to large portions for me, the staff were so friendly clean and helpful and the lovely fresh food was quickly served with a smile.

West Wight Sports Centre Cafe Moa is good too and very accessible.
The End of the Line in Freshwater is another good venue but not very accessible hard to get in with a small power chair without an assistant.

The Bear Cafe at Lake is good too not always a great choice but freshly cooked food.
The Toilet is good but the door access is a bit difficult without assistance.


MATT & CAT RESPOND: Thanks for your thoughts, Carmelle. We are very aware that accessibility is an issue in pubs and restaurants, and welcome your comments and suggestions. We hope that Wight2access becomes a big success!

Hi

Have noticed a restaurant in Blackgang (on the roundabout by Blackgang Chine) called Merlins Bistro. Can't find a website for them, only contact details. We'd love to know what it's like and whether it's any good.

Think it might be an Indian Restaurant.

Thanks!

Matt and Cat respond: we went to have a look. No sign of life at all. It's derelict and appears to be about to fall into the sea. Not recommended.

Recently in the County Press I read an article on JUDES FISH BAR in Carisbrooke. It apparently came 2nd in Chip Shop of the Year? I would be very interrested to see what you think about this chippie. I only visited it once when I heard it was in new hands and maybe it was an off day but for the goodness of my health I darent go back until someone else is brave enough to eat there! I would be grateful if you could try it out.

Matt and Cat respond: thanks, Bob, you've really sold it to us. We'll be along there... really... soon...

Hello
Brilliant website - are you guys really fat??!!
I was told to try The Essex at Godshill by some visiting London friends who thought it was excellent. You should go there - we tried it out and had an experience!
Pretentious, over ambitious, staff who try too hard, bland decor etc etc. Im sure it was a lovely place before the current owners stripped the charachter out of it and tried to run a 'foodie restaurant' which frankly doesnt work. 2/10

I visited Lugley's in Cowes over the weekend and much to my disappointment is wasn't a patch on their Newport restaurant. I ordered pheasant with braised cabbage, and I could probably say it's the worst thing I've ever eaten out. My wifes meal of Rump of Lamb was overcooked and dry, the service was sloppy (I was asked if I wanted to see the desert menu 3 times?).

Lugleys in Newport is still once of the best on the Isle of Wight, but don't get it confused with the one in Cowes.

As a suggestion to visit, I recommend the Fat Cat at Freshwater Bay, their latest menu is fantastic and at great value.

Would love for you to review The Small Talk Tea Rooms in Shanklin, i had a lovely home made meal there, beef in red wine casserole with crusty rolls, my children enjoyed enormous sandwiches which were packed with salad and came with a huge side salad as well.

I really think you should visit the Four Seasons restaurant in Wroxall. My family visit the island every year and always eat there two or three times during our stay. We have always received very good value for money there and the staff are friendly too.

Pauline, re vegan food suggestions: the Quay Arts Cafe, Quay Street, Newport, has really nice vegan as well as vegetarian food. And I think the menu at Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater includes some vegan, as well as vegetarian options. A lunchtime snack I had at the Orrery (Union Street, Ryde) - falafel - was vegan. Also, I think Pizza Express in Newport marks its vegan dishes. I'd be interested to see what anyone else comes up with.

Caulkheads Sandown IF you like good food served hot your wine chilled dont mind a little wait then this is well worth a vist there are many places to eat on the island every year we find a good place. only to find it has changed the next. But the Caulkheads has remained the same good value honest cooking. Try their two steak meals plus a bottle of wine for £21 this was a excellent meal All meals are large portions so dont have the starter or you wont have room for one of their deserts

Grand View Te Gardens near to rylstone Gardens Shanklin. Terrifiv views over Sandown Bay,well tended gardens good service,lovely sandwiches all served with unusually good sidesalads.
Reasonable prices. Excellent on a nice day!

Don't worry this won't be long! Saltys in Yarmouth was a huge surprise - Cuban music, lively atmosphere, lots of lovely seafood choices ( I had the burger - sorry Saltys) but it was lovely, clearly homemade with proper unprocessed beef. Far too many chips though.
Also Pendletons in Shanklin. Could give Morgans a run for it's money. Very good imaginative food, good wine, friendly staff. Very family run. Definately worth a shot. The Crab and Lobster in Bembridge. Good wholesome seafood. Crab cakes - more like Maryland cakes, good lobster. Shame about the vegetables.
IOW food has improved so much since my last visit and I will definately be back next year. There is so much to try. I will be very interested in the Hambrough reviews, as we were told by too many people not to go, but I really was to!

Hi have you thought about doing a review on Pearly Boise ice cream parlour? it opens april-oct and does the best home made italian style ice cream with over 27 flavours, you really have to try it, they also have a cafe section serving fresh paninis and proper coffee, but you have to see the ice cream! i recommend watermelon sorbet.

Matt & Cat respond: remind us again in April, eh?

Dalverton garden centre (Honnor and Jeffrey), Newport Road Sandown is well worth a visit for a coffee break.Their cheese scones are to die for!!

after reading the comments from bob about judes fish bar, i would like to say how pleased i have been every time i have visited. not only do they sell fish and chips it also has a good range of other meals including vegetarian,burgers(which are 100% beef)chicken nuggets(which are 100% chicken),also they always have a good range of special deals. so please pop along and sample the food for yourselves. i am sure you will enjoy it.

Try the Bowsprit on Gurnard seafront, great starters, amazing main courses and wonderful puddings. Friendly service and warm atmosphere...always booked up!

A fantasitic web site found it whilst looking for something else. As someone who enjoys a good evening out for a dinner and entertaining a guest. I would like to put forward a few that I have found but not on here. White Horse - Whitwell, Lugleys - Newport and Valentinos - Carisbrooke as I have been to these locations a few times by and had nothing but good service at each of them as well as some excellent choices of food.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your feedback Andrew. We had some lovely food at the White Horse, Whitwell. Read our review here.

Please go to Oggies fish and chip restaurant in St Thomas Square, Newport. Good food - plenty and not greasy (lovely batter) but the star of your visit must be the spelling mistakes on the menu! Pinnapple, Sayaloy, vegtables and many more! Well worth a visit.

Try Tilley's Family run Cafe Bistro in Ventnor. Excellent food and very friendly staff. Good value for money and if you've got a young family, they do half portions of almost everything on the menu. Kids don't always want burger and chips or chicken nuggets and chips.

If you get the opportunity. I would strongly recommend you give the Three Bishops another visit. They have finished their long awaited refurbishment and wow, what a difference. Spacious and homely with stone floors and real fires. It feels like a proper old fashioned real pub, not one of these mock ye olde pubs. As for the food, very tasty, incredibly good value and obviously home made. By the way, love the website. Keep up the good work. It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it.

We've just had an excellent impromptu meal at Barnabys in Sandown. It's in Pier Street, about 50 yards up the hill from the, er, pier. It's unpretentious and, not surprisingly, a bit seasidey, but they have a menu to suit all tastes, without over-reaching itself. I had a simple 'breakfast in a bun' which was just bacon and fried egg in a bread roll, but it was very well done, with the egg cooked to perfection. We could have had anything from a cream tea to a roast dinner, and there was a tempting range of puddings. I'd be interested to know what you think...

have you tried judes fish bar at carisbrooke yet.the foods delicious

Has anyone tried the carvery at Holliers in the old village in shanklin?
I can really recommend it; choice of three
meats around 6 different fresh vegetables
(not soggy) stuffing etc. Probably the best carvery on the Island. Very friendly staff
& nice setting on the patio outside watching the world go buy with a bottle of wine after
lunch

Hello Cat and Matt

Fine site - keep up the good work.

Have you ever tried out Ganders in St Helens? First impressions aren't that promising - the decor is a bit ye olde tea shoppe and somehow the descriptions of the food on the menus aren't that inspiring. However: the food is great. I had a risotto the last time I went, which is not something I would normally go for, but it was superb. Mark, the chef/owner over at the St Helens Restaurant on the other side of the green, rightly gets a lot of plaudits for his food, but I think it would be nice to 'big up' Ganders as they seem to get overlooked. And if they get a bit busier, perhaps they'll be able to afford to replace those nasty pub chairs...

I recently visited The Bistro at Island Harbour, Binfield and i highly recommend it. The Food was all freshly made from local produce, and my boyfriend ate some bass that was caught that day. I found that there were plenty of choices for vegetarians, and had a delicious bowl of homemade chunky vegetable soup and fresh bread.
Apart from the gorgous homemade food, the atmosphere was very friendly and relaxed.
We sat outside and could of spent all afteernoon looking over the harbour and at the beatuiful surrounding counrtyside.

I just noticed in your review of The Square that you've run out of places to review in Newport! You put me to shame. I always tend to play safe and opt for old favourites; you've even reviewed more eateries in my own area (SW Wight) than I've been to myself.

But back to Newport: have you tried that little coffee shop in Gray's Walk (opposite the back of BHS) with the Italian sounding name? Looks like it might be alright for a light lunch, though so far I've only popped in for a drink - the service was friendly.

Matt & Cat respond: thanks Wendy, we'll give that a go. Actually, we've only run out of places that appear in the yellow pages - and we think there's one more there yet. There are quite a few others that are not in the book - and new ones opening now and again! So we don't think we'll ever catch up...

Hi Matt and Cat,
Great site well done, we recently went to the Hermitage restuarant at Bourne Hall Country House Hotel Shanklin,now under new ownership and it was wonderful. The 4 course table d' Hote menu was the best we have had in over 30 years on the Island.
enhanced by the tranquil setting of the Hotel & the more than courteous staff.
I am sure you are going to get lots of reviews about the Hermitage,you should give them a try they deserve it.

lin

Why not have a shufti into Flanagans, on Pier street in Sandown. This year seems to be the best yet, it's local to me and have had good honest pub meals there before. But sat outside a few weeks ago, on a warm(ish!) summer evening I had a the greatest chicken breast stuffed with stilton and celery, in sauce with saute spuds and decently cooked veggies. I recommend! We were a party of four,all with nice clean plates at the end. They've got couple of tellies for the footie and loos that need a slap of paint, but if you like a tasty and reasonably priced meal, ignore the plastic Elvis and this could be a winner.

Hi matt and cat

As a regular visitor to the Island I find you reviews most useful. Have thought of expanding to food shops, I was over this weekend I had the misfortune to visit Ratseys deli in gurnard - very poor selection, overpriced and too much washing liquid and far too many christmas puddings than a shop should have in June!

I think one of reviews would have kept me safely away!

Keep up the good work :)

Hi Matt and Cat

Recently visited the cafe at Newport Nursery, Aquatics & Pets in Watergate Road and thought you might be interested in the experience. My own comments are in the form of a poem.

Matt and Cat respond: thanks for that, what an entertaining medium for a review. Perhaps we'll try it... the poetry, that is, possibly not the cafe!

The Beach Cafe at Steephill Cove - excellent "Crab Tea" consisting of Crab Sarnie,
& Salad (no raw onion!) decorated with shell-on prawns, tea/coffee, and stawberry and
raspberry Pavlova to follow, all for under a tenner. It was high-tide, but we were not charged extra for the wave which showered our table with sea - great fun!.

Hi Matt & Cat,

Firstly, what a great site! We always refer to it when wanting to try out somewhere new and have added a link to our website.

We've just come back from the Island Harbour Bistro and have to say we were quite disappointed. The menu was quite limited, with nothing for vegetarians, and having vegetables included amongst the side orders at extra cost seems a cheek. My partner had the fish and chips and although it said the chips were homemade, they certainly didn't look or taste like it. They looked distinctly like frozen chips and were apparently on the hard side. I had a chicken schnitzel which came on its own so I'd ordered some new potatoes and vegetables. Prior to our meals being served, and about after 20 mins of us having ordered, we were told that as the potatoes were only just being put on, did we want to wait 15 mins for them or just have chips. As I didn't want chips we decided to wait.

My "vegetables" actually turned out to be a dishful of brocolli so no variety there. Desserts were actually quite nice, although my partner felt his chocolate fudge cake was bought in and not homemade.

We both felt that for the prices they charge and the fact they call themselves a Bistro, they really need to try harder. A shame really, because the setting is lovely.

We loved the bistro. We skipped along the river path with our Golden Retriever and enjoyed the best seafood pasta and gorgeous salads. And then they lost their chef. We had such lovely meals there and it went from beautiful to dire in a nanosecond. We contacted the manager and she denied that the chef had left but sadly, this was not true and his name is now gone from the website and now no-one wants to take credit for the horrible cuisine. Our inedible meals were prepared by a couple of teenagers with dirty aprons. It's so sad.

Matt and Cat respond:Thanks for your comment Dave. We assume that you are referring to the Island Harbour Bistro. Looks like we'll have to see if it's as bad as you say it is...

We completely agree with the comments re the Island Harbour Bistro. The chef HAS changed because I saw the advertisement in the paper for a new one! We had lunch there under the old chef and it was gorgeous so went there again a few weeks ago for a repeat. However we were told that we could only order sandwiches as the chef was "cleaning the kitchen". We both ordered sandwiches which were advertised as being served with salad and chips. Payment was taken at time of order. We were then told that there were no chips because of the kitchen cleaning. I asked for a refund of part of the cost and was refused, being given an additional drink instead (which we did not want). However we thought it was an off day and went there again last night for our wedding anniversary. Starters were all but one fish, we were told that the fish and chips and steaks were off the menu, however we both ordered the special, Beef Wellington. We waited over an hour for our meal, two people came in and sat at the next table to us and had their main courses and puddings and were paying their bill as our food arrived! Like the other reviewer, veg consisted of broccoli only (have they bought a job lot!) although the Wellington itself was very nice. If we had not had to pay at time of order again we would have left. Pudding a real disappointment, crumble and custard which was far too tart and microwaved until the custard bubbled and dried out, yuk! We will NOT be going there again.

One of our favourite places for tea & coffee is:-

http://www.luccombemanor.co.uk/index.php/95

very nice location as well.

Just returned home after a week on the Isle of Wight and as is now our ritual on the last night we ate at Ganders, St Helens's. We have been coming here for around 7 years now and we have never had a bad meal. This year took my brother & wife, there were 6 of us in total all had starters, mains and deserts. My main was the duck breast and it was cooked to perfection, how I wish we had a restaurant as good as this at home (actually probably not a good idea , my waistline would grow and grow!!!).
The bill came in at a tad under £190, and that included the 2 bottles of wine, me and my sister-in-law had so I think it is very reasonable.
In the same week we ate out most nights , Blacksmiths Arms (forgot how large the portions were......phew), White Lion, Arreton, I think it may have changed hands since last summer but just as nice.
Only places not too great were Wishing Well. Seaview and Sloop Inn, Wootton Bridge, but I understand bothwere in the process of undergoing a refurb which may explain that, won't put me off trying them next year.

So keep up the good work Matt & Cat, I regularly check to see what's new for us on our next visit, might see you next year.

You might care to try the cafe at Oasis, just off the Brading Road.

The lunch /snack menu provides good quality and quantity home cooking.

Whilst the pastries look delicious, the lunch specials have always been excellent. The Lasagne accompanied by delightful garlic bread and fresh salad is always good as are the jacket potatoes and soups.

Please try the food at Melville Hall Hotel. The website has a
sample menu, have a look.
Food and service was excellent. Great value for money.

THE WATERSEDGE, GURNARD

This is a great cafe. The menu is good, and food is freshly cooked and plentiful, with wicked cakes to tempt you from your diet. Breakfasts are filling and the veggie breakfast is one of the best I've tasted.

Also, it is licensed.

It can get very crowded at the weekend and it is wise to book a table.

Give it a try...........

I recently tried the breakfast at Fakenham Farm which is between Nettlestone and St Helens, probably the worst breakfast i have ever eaten , cheap tasteless sausages , anaemic eggs , so not what you would expect to be served in a farm cafe.

Try Tilleys Cafe on the High Street in Ventnor. Great Food,
Great Service, Value For Money.

We had a short holiday in Colwell Bay with our young grand-daughter a few weeks back and most evenings we walked along the sea-wall to the small cafe at Totland Pier for an early supper. A good basic menu, well cooked, fresh food at reasonable prices. The extremely pleasant and friendly people running the place made us and our three year old feel very welcome....what a contrast to the cafe at Amazon World, never going there again.

Any chance of a night out at the Swan's Nest (Salvatores)in Ryde?

This establishment was recommended by some ex-pats in Portugal.

I was invited to Valentino's in Carisbrooke High Street for a relative's birthday do yesterday. Several years since I last ate there and I had a memory of leaving there over-full from an excess of carbs and cream. Top marks for consistency as everything appeared exactly the same: friendly waiters, kitschy decor and creamy menu. Plus cheesy Italian music ("That's Amoré" etc). One of our party was surprised that not all Italian restaurants serve pizza; my son was surprised that not all Italian restaurants serve pesto sauce. But everyone was pretty happy with their food.

I tried the lighter sounding options: a delicious thick vegetable soup; salmon with, yep, a creamy dill sauce plus very nice vegetables served to the table from a big platter; and the fruitiest-looking of the vast desserts on the trolley - the Italian trifle (so not that light, really!). Another lady in our party wondered how topping off the festive period with a vast plate of tagliatelle with creamy salmon was going to impact on her Rosemary Conley weigh-in on Monday.

The restaurant was busy and bustling, with a good atmosphere.

Oh, and the birthday girl got a full-volume restaurant-stopping Italian rendition of happy birthday played as her candle-lit pudding was brought out. Not for the bashful!

we recently visited the island and went out for our evening meals every night and the two top places we ate at were MAMMA MIA in shanklin its the italian and the DRAGON PEARL chinese also in shanklin both served great food and service.

really enjoyed it and hope to visit again.

Hi I wonder if you have been to the 8 bells yet in Newport.I think its owned by the same peopel who pwn the Gperge who you rentlly did a review on.
If I've missed it my apologies.

Matt and Cat respond: we're sorry to hear The George is pwned. And we have indeed been to the Eight Bells.

Ha!that'll teach me to type without my specs'I'll interpret that;The Goerge is,I think,owned by the same people who own the 8 Bells.Sorry I missed that review,am now going for a brain transplant.

Not 'way above the bar' - 'way above the beach'.

I must start adding more water to it.

Hi Matt and Cat
Have you visited the Watersedge Cafe on the front at Gurnard? We always have great food in there after a walk along the seafront. Does get busy in summer and on the weekends but lovely staff and reasonably priced.

I stayed at Horseshoe Bay House, Shore Road, Bonchurch, last year for B&B which was really good. Do try their licenced cafe on a sunny afternoon when it is especially lovely to sit outside on a sunny day overlooking the sea and the food is excellent. You will have to book at peak summer periods as it is very popular!

Dear Matt & Cat,

I'm a fellow Isle of Wight-based food-fan who's just found your website & I've spent the past couple of days reading your many informative reviews with great interest.

Anyway, I'd really like to 'bump up' Cranny.Faddock's suggestion (above) of a visit to Salvatore's as I'd be keen to know what you think.

I think The Swan's Nest is one of the few remaining Island pubs/restaurants with a genuine friendly local atmosphere (In my experience some of the Island's out-of-town or rural pubs can have a 'The Slaughtered Lamb'/'American Werewolf In London' quality to them). But I eat there regularly & always enjoy it. If Salvatore himself is cooking then you're definitely on to a winner - I tasted my first lobster there a fortnight ago which was marvellous. I like the fact that he regularly patronises other establishments too - I've recently seen him in Wetherspoon's & only last night he was spotted dining in Union Street's Yan Woo. Never seen him in Michelangelo's though (another of my favourite haunts), but that's another story.

(P.S. Although I would probably offer a friendly nod to him in the street, I don't know Salvatore or anything, I just like going there...)

I like my Full English brekkies (ok I know they're unhealthy) and I have sampled many ( as my waistline proves).
The best value for money is,in my opinion,Merlins in Ventnor, the worst a cafe in Shanklins Regent Street (no anme to save embarrasement) It was truly awful. So perhaps a visit to Merlins to see what you think?

Mike

I think the site is a great idea and despite disagreeing with you on my last two reviews, I hope you keep up your efforts. It would be boring if everyone thought the same way!

One of my personal favs is Valentinos in Carisbrooke. It is old fashioned, there is lots of cream and carbs (as mentioned above) and it looks unchanged for a long-time. HOWEVER, it is very freindly, the food is big and nourishing and the sweet trolley is direct from heaven. Judging by the fact it is almost always busy, lots of people seem to like it just the way it is!

I'm not suggesting M&C make a special trip to La Cantina at Blackgang Chine, to eat fast food surrounded by junior cowboys and cowgirls grinning as they shoot you at point blank range with toy guns, but having got stuck there at lunchtime with my sister and three hungry kids the other day, I can't resist commenting. My key observations are that, as someone who likes what Jamie Oliver has done for school dinners, I wish he'd turn his attention to theme parks. While the café by Blackgang Chine's main entrance does at least have a smidge of variety and some hot food that doesn't involve the deep fat frier, at La Cantina you get a limited choice of basic fast, fried food.

But given those constraints, and choosing the sole veggie option - the vegeburger - it actually was not bad. The bun was fresh, the burger moist (given that vegeburgers are often hard as hockey-pucks that in itself was a bonus), and with onions, ketchup and a slice of processed cheese, it was pretty tasty. The side order of chips was fine, too: chunky and nicely cooked. My son had the same, and also approved.

So okay as it goes. But I'd still really appreciate more variety.

Found your site really useful when researching restaurants/cafes/pubs to try on our recent visit. Noticed you don't have a 'Vegetarian' section - do you know of any veggie places on the island. If so we'd be really interested in hearing about them.

Just noticing Carolyn's comments about veggie food, I tend to seek out veggie options myself, and while I'm not aware of any purely vegetarian restaurants on the island (someone correct me if I'm wrong), my own favourite places that cater well and imaginatively for veggies are: Quay Arts Café, Olivo's, Burrs (all in Newport), and Chale Green Stores Café. I also really like the Nabab (Indian) in Newport. Matt and Cat have reviewed them all. I'm sure there are more, but those are my current top five. They seem to put as much thought into their veggie meals as they do their meat or fish options. I've heard good things about The Taverners' veggie options (Godshill), but I haven't eaten there yet myself.

M &C respond: there's also the New Vegetarian which is a pure veggie place - is that still open?

You're right, Bushy. You don't get the impression that The Hambrough does much for vegetarians looking at the general menu, but when I ate there the veggie courses were wonderful (I do eat some fish, so it was mixed) . Couldn't stretch to the full tasting menu (either purse or waistband!). Maybe next time. But then I noticed that my other half's starter of eel involved foie gras. That would put some vegetarians off a restaurant entirely.

Off-island tip for Bushy's foodie son or his friends: best vegetarian food I've ever eaten was in Umbria, Italy, at the vegetarian hotel Country House Montali. Just amazing. http://www.montalionline.com/

Re the New Vegetarian, had forgotten about that one. Must see if it's still open. Confess haven't tried it myself as it seemed to be essentially a sandwich shop.

Brighstone Tea Rooms has rebranded itself Seven (apparently because it's exactly seven miles from Newport). Same management I think, but as they've gradually expanded what they do to be more of a bistro, the old name no longer fitted.

Having heard the ads on IW Radio we popped along at 6pm on Tuesday, expecting evening meals to be available, but the main chef was having a night off and the (very polite and friendly) staff were offering the daytime menu instead. There was enough variety there to suit us. I had polenta and roast vegetable tart with salad, though I couldn't discern anything actually tart-like about it. Not bad, but a slightly plainer option than I'd expected (polenta needs plenty of flavour with it). The pear and chocolate cheesecake was pretty good, and it was a generous portion.

I'll go back, as the evening menu looked very promising (another venue that flags up use of local produce). But I was surprised that, given the advertising push, the place wasn't fully geared up for the evening custom. A party of six arrived as we were leaving, but on hearing that only the daytime menu was available, they left again.

The next day as I was passing, it looked busy in the evening, so I presume the head chef was there. Seven is open all day, and seems generally busy; I'd just phone first if you want a more substantial evening meal to make sure the full menu is available.

I couldn't find a review of Ganders in St Helens here. We're DFLs and have been visiting Ganders for years and never had a bad meal. Fish and seafood are particularly good here, and the pavlovas are a must. It's a small family run restaurant and the quality is consistently good. The waiting staff always friendly and helpful. Smashing little restaurant!

Can you review Forresters Restaurant in Yarmouth - more or less oppsite the Blue Crab in the High Street. Thanks

We run a one room B and B in Cowes...but food features heavily in our lives and so we offer our guests high(ish)-end evening meals.
We like your site (and all our restaurant recommendations carry a link to your reviews of them!) and would love the challenge of entertaining you both to a meal one evening and seeing what you think!
You never know...you might say someting nice about us!

Try Totland Pier Cafe.
Food is great. Prices reasonable, portions large!.
Top that off with outstanding views from your seat on the pier whilst dining.
One of the pleasures of island living.

Driftwood - Sandown - did I miss your visit ?

Matt replies: We were considering a visit to the Driftwood Beach Bar and Grill on our next Sandown voyage. But we were so incensed by the sudden rash of tacky stickers advertising the place that defaced lampposts, street furniture and even cars all along the esplanade in our home town that we didn't really feel it appropriate to go. We wouldn't have been able to give a fair review. When we've cooled down a bit and chilled out doubtless we'll be along.

Could you review The Four Seasons in Wroxhall.

Stayed at The Wight Mouse Inn last August & got chatting to one of the managers who was leaving to take over The Four Seasons (www.the-fourseasons-inn.co.uk)

Will be back to visit the Island soon & will definitely give this place a bash especially as the new owner really looked after us when she was at the Wight Mouse.

Thanks.

I think ming garden should be re-evaluated personally. I have been in their since their opening in february and they have greatly improved their cooking since that time. I believe it has been well under rated

Any suggestions as to where find a tasty pizza on the Isle of Wight? Not fussed whether it is take out/delivery/restaurant.

Please recommend the cheap American type places as well as the posher Italian ones! Sinfully my fave topping is the hot and spicy Mexican.

Mr.T's in Shanklin does, I have been informed by guests, the best pizzas in the south of England !!!!!

I shall echo everyone else and say what and excellent site you have- I especially love the twitter too.

I do have 2 suggestions.

Monsoon in Ryde & Under The Umbrella Tree

Monsoon is a fantastic Indian at the Top of Ryde High Streert. nicely decorated and the food is superb (although I've only ever had the takeaway). I much prefer it to Hong Kong Express (which used to be my favourite).

Under The Umbrella Tree is a wonderful sandwich bar in East Cowes with cheap, good quality lunchtime treats! Good location and an excellent menu, it was a life saver when I found myself working in East Cowes for a week!

Just had a great breakfast at the Niton Cafe located in the Post Office. Wonderful tea garden at the back. Got to be worth a review!

I had the misfortune to have to go to Brighton to do some research and while there sampled some of there so called finest eateries. Even the Spyglass looks inviting comapared toBrightons establishments.The Island has nothing to worry about.

Had lunch at the Priory Bay Hotel the other day. You really should review it - its combination of stunning surroundings, very good food and well-meaning but shambolic service would, I'm sure, inspire you to new literary heights!

One thing they do need to sort out is portion control. While our main courses (three lamb shops and a whole sea bream, respectively, were ample and good value, the cheese platter consisted of a bite-sized morsel of each of the three local cheeses and a couple of tiny slices of lightly toasted (or stale!) bread - all at a staggering £7.50!

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comments, Bushy. The Priory Bay is certainly on our extensive list of places to visit. By the way, Matt has a capacious appetite but even he couldn't eat three lamb shops! ;)

Hi just spent a week on the island, took my laptop with me and used your site, to plan our eating out. Anyway went to the "end of the line tea room" in Freshwater and despite my protests that it wasnt on your site my husband dragged me in. I found it to be really pleasant and had a lovely homely feel to it, the food and service weren't bad either. Maybe worth a review??

I have Just returned From the IOW And would like to comment on What we grockels like My wife and I have a light lunch in the small talk cafe Shanklin It was clean with good service We only had the jacket potatoes and a pot of tea But the tea was excellent top quality tea and bone china cups and we got 6 cups from the one pot which made it a very cheap cup of tea at £2.40 for the pot.The jacket potatoes I had beans and cheese my wife had coleslaw was a meal in its self with a good sized fresh salad not just a few limp leaves as we found in other places.

The Best place we found to eat in the evening was the Fighting cocks near amozon world. We had to book as it is so popular.Again it is clean the service is first class and the menu is quite large.This really is the jewel in the crown.

As per my previous comment (06/06/09,) finally got round to trying the Four Seasons at Wroxhall (www.the-fourseasons-inn.co.uk) last Saturday.

The food was really good, simple home made pub fare cooked by a chef who clearly knows what hes doing.

I had the chicken & mushroom pie (£7.95) served with new potatoes & fresh vegetables. The pie was stuffed with moist chunks of chicken breast in a delicious creamy sauce – very yummy!

The wifes steak (about £10.00) was well cooked & tender. The chips that accompanied her meal were hand cut from a fresh spud – not the normal frozen rubbish that most pubs seem to serve up.

My two boys (13 & 9 years) ordered pizzas & burgers served with chips & beans (£4.95 each - under 10s eat free if an adult orders a main meal!!). Cleans plates suggest they enjoyed their meal!


In short, a real pub with friendly staff, excellent food & keen prices make this place my favourite Island family eatery!


Time for Matt & Cat to give this place a go!

During an evening stroll along the beach at Ventnor, my boys suddenly demanded food – despite being fed & watered only an hour or so before!.

The only fast food outlet open seemed to be the GOLDEN SANDS CAFE located close to the infamous Spyglass Inn (which is now looking very tatty).

This place was a real find, quick efficient service, cheap, very clean (5 star certificate displayed in the window) open late & serving the usual greasy spoon staples. My eldest opted for sausage & chips (£2.00), the youngest devoured a fish burger (£2.25).

The Whippy ice creams were also good - very creamy & tasty – best on the Island!

Nice to be able to eat in clean comfortable surrounding in the evening, with a good sea view for just a few pounds.

Was out and about the other day and came across a new Burger Van, on Nicholson Road in Ryde. Staff were friendly and the food was lovely - had a All Day Breakfast for £3.50 which certainly did the trick

Well worth a visit if your passing

How about the coffee shop that sits next to St Mildreds church in Whippingham? The location is nice, it's open monday to thursday, 10-4pm. I'd be especially interested to see if any cakes etc are home made. I don't know why, but since we've got the bike, I've developed a liking for cream teas at pretty cafes!

Thanks

A series of lovely little eateries open up at Steephill Cove in the summer months, specialising in local freshly caught crab and lobster, but there's other stuff too. Yesterday we had delicious home-made apple cake, and carrot cake at Cove (with coffees and teas), and sat looking out to sea while the kids clambered about on the shore and rocks. Not sure if you've reviewed any of the little cafés down there yet? Such a perfect spot - walk down from the Botanic Gardens or along the coastal paths from Ventnor.

We like Wights fish and chip shop in Ryde, the restaurant is always spotlessly clean, the staff are friendly and the food is superb. The fish is cooked in a light batter and the chips are cooked perfectly, no annoying bits and pieces.

We can only speak for the restaurant as after travelling from Freshwater we feel we deserve it. We would imagine the takeaway is as perfect as the restaurant.

Went to The Propellor Inn for Sunday lunch.....Excellent!!!!! i had sirloin steak,my partner had a veggie roast with a super vegetable gravy.....beautiful apple and cinammon sponge with very tasty custard afterwards.All cooked to perfection(the roast spuds....WOW!!! the steak....mmmmmmmmm!!!!!!) the look on my partners face when she ate that sponge.....just like that famous scene in "Harry met Sally"!!!!!!!! congratulations to Helen and Hobbit,the proprietors!!great service,great atmosphere,very friendly.Matt and Cat,give them a try?????

Have visited the new restaurant at Brading Haven Yacht Club - called Linger Longer - twice in the last few days. Saturday for a fund raising banquet on behalf of the RNLI and the food was so good we returned for lunch on Sunday with the children in tow. The food and service were excellent on both occasions and the menu offered a good varied selection. The staff couldn't help enough and we left a good tip to show our appreciation. Would thoroughly recommend.

We tnoo were at the fund-raising dinner at Brading Haven on Friday, and the food was really high class. We'll definitely be back to sample the everyday fare.

Can I also suggest Wight's fish and chip shop in High Street Ryde. Although I think the food on offer is good, I find it strange they don't do chicken!

Hello Cat & Matt - How r u? Recently read a blurb in Wightlife mag about Isle of Wight Pearl and thought about trying it. Fancy trying it first, so I don't have to??!
If I do go B4 you, I'll let u know what I think. BTW... for anyone interested, Watersedge, Gurnard best (so far!) for cream tea. 2 large scones, butter, Bonne Maman jam, lashings of clotted cream AND fresh strawberry! (And pot of tea, of course). Asked for one cream tea and an extra cup of tea & the waitress brought us 2 plates without being asked. Brilliant! WORST RIP-OFF CRM TEA (in my opinion and also that of anyone I mention it to who has tried it too) has to be at Gatcombe Tea Rooms. One scone microwaved to within an inch of its life sitting on a butter pat that consequently had to be POURED on, + little plastic thing of jam & of cream, tea bag in a cup with a chipped jug of hot water for you to make it yourself, for the same price (all but 20p) of the fab Watersedge. No Contest - AVOID!! Lots of Love X: )

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Mandy, thanks for your comment. Cat's very partial to cream tea although she has yet to try the offerings at Watersedge and Gatcombe Tea Rooms. The Island's own Warren Farm was recently voted number two in the Guardian's top ten cream teas. What an accolade! Have you been? As for Isle of Wight Pearl, we're sure we'll make a visit one day...

Wonderful review of the Northbank Hotel in Seaview in the Sunday Telegraph. Please see here. Sadly they are not normally open to non-residents, apart from Sunday lunch in the winter - very popular with the locals.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comment, Bushy. The Northbank Hotel looks like a great place. It's interesting to note that what used to be referred to as old-fashioned and dated is now anachronistic and charming. There's hope for Cat's 1970s feather-cut hairstyle yet!

I can second the post from Mark regarding the Colwell Bay Inn
we ate there whilst on holiday from the wilds of Lancashire and the food was superb you must review it soon .........

Hi just been looking through your website, how fantastic!! I recently ate at brading haven yacht club although well tucked away and not very inviting from the front the food and service more than made up for it I had a delightful beef in ale pie and bread and butter pud taste sensation!! will definatly go back for more... wish both matt and cat all the best with this website again great work!!

the ambassador snooker club in gunville do the best fry-up i've ever found and it costs peanuts for a massive plate of food. The roasts looked gorgeous and massive too - worth checking out

Hi We're Craig & Marie Harris and we'll be taking over the Wheatsheaf in Brading on the 22nd October. We'll be holding a welcome/Halloween party on the 31st with buffet.

As well as serving real ales, I'll be cooking with fresh, locally reared and grown produce. Some sample menus are on our website and we hope you'll be able to get along and review us as we value your opinion greatly.

New people at the Wheatsheaf, the Fox/Snotty Fox, now the Dark Horse...a bit of a facelift for Brading. Shame about the waxworks though

Hi Matt and Cat

Is there any restaurants you'd recommend in Yarmouth?

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Dilweed. Thanks for your question. There are quite a few places in Yarmouth that have been recommended to us including 'On the Rocks' and 'The George'. However, we haven't tried either of them yet! Perhaps you could visit them and let us know what you think? If you'd prefer to eat somewhere that we've reviewed we recommend the Blue Crab. Bon appetit!

Rawlings Hotel, Cowes, We Went there for a meal on Sunday what a super sunday roast dinner. It was excellent, it was lovely to see a restaurant which served local produce all home cooked . There was roast beef or roast chicken for £6.95 which included stuffing, yorkshire pudding, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower cheese and roast potatoes. The roast was served on a warm plate with either yorkshire pudding or stuffing and gravy then you had a dish for potatoes, veg and another for cauliflower cheese. The staff was very friendly and there was no problem if you ask for more veg or gravy and you could even have both yorkshire pudding and stuffing if you wish . superb food excellent value for money. After dinner you can sit in the bar where they have a lovely log fire. I truely think you should try this place , ill be back again and i am also going to try out there xmas menu .

The Copper Kettle in Shanklin sounds like a twee tea room but does very reasonable cafe food and more substantial fare like chicken casserole. Friendly venue and very good value for money.

You should try the Hillside in Ventnor - it has been beautifully refurbished and I supplied the bathrooms and heating so if nothing else I can guarantee you it will be warm and the loo's will be nice! Gert and Anna the owners are after a Michelin star for the Island so I know they're taking it serviously - Gert's a real character too - get down there! http://www.hillsideventnor.co.uk/contact.aspx

Perks Bar Ventnor.I tried this new addition to Ventnors ever growing "cafe" society recently.The food is as good as when Graham Perks ran the Winter Gardens franchise and the bar is warm and comfortable although it can feel as if you are in a goldfish bowl owing to its proximity to the High Street and inquistive passers by.The only downside for me is that some of the,what one poster on this site described as the Winter Gardens "living dead" appear to have followed Mr Perks to this bar.

Still worth a visit though.

A couple of places to suggest in Newport: Take 5 (formerly Monroe's in Scarrots Lane), I ate there last week and thought the food was frankly terrible. They've priced themselves to compete with McDonalds (which means they're making about 10p profit per customer and so I reckon they have had to resort to the lowest quality raw materials to allow for this) or maybe I'm just being unduly unpleasant! It needs a professional eye cast over it!
By contrast, I ate at the Crispin yesterday and thought it was really really good. It changed hands about six months ago and I really feel they've made an effort, opened the place up a bit and improved the food etc (no, I've no vested interest I promise!)

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Andy, thanks for your comment. We went to the cafe in Scarrots Lane when it was Munroe's. You're not making it sound like a good place to eat now but it may be an excellent place to write about! We'll put the Crispin on the list too. BTW, our collective eye is by no means professional; our interest is purely amateur.

Howsabout you give Ganders in St Helens a whirl? Unassuming little place - looks a bit like a tearoom and the menu reads a bit oddly but the food when we've been there has been lovely. I recommend Sunday lunch followed by a bracing stroll down to the Duver.

Why not try the Village Inn, Bembridge? I have not tried it recently, but others have and say it's OK.

It's on your patch so I expect it's only a matter of time till you review the Bombay Palace. I ate there with Ryde friends a week or so ago when it had only been open a few days. Still got the sense that they were settling down, with the over-sensitive smoke alarm going off once, and the main course taking longer to arrive than I'd have expected (we were first in). But we enjoyed the meal, they were happy to customise a couple of the vegetarian dishes for us, and it was good to see it quickly got busy.

I'm not familiar enough with the other Indian restaurants in Ryde to know what will distinguish it from the rest, so it would be good to see what you think. Some customers came in expecting it to have been resurrected as a quality Chinese restaurant (which it was pre-fire). And whereas there are plenty of Indian restaurants in Ryde it seems to us it does now lack a really good Chinese.

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Wendy, thanks for your comment. You're right, the Bombay Palace is in our manor and we were there on the day it opened but alas didn't eat. We have been back since but have been a bit tardy about writing about our experience. You've spurred us into action. Expect our review real soon...

Please try The Driftwood on Sandown seafront. Great meals but would love to know what you think. Great website you have.

Try the Colwell Bay Inn.
The new owners have realy changed the atmosphere of the place, the dartboard and pool table have gone. Its had a complete repaint in and out.
Now to the important part the food, one word FANTASTIC.
Specials board has only a few choices, and when you fancy sea bass without all the bones, they will even fillet it for you. The steak and kidney pie is also very good. and the deserts they are also very good.

All in, very well worth a visit, they dont do food sunday evening and monday lunch from what i recall.

Went to Cask and Crispin, Newport last night. Great food. Had steak which can be tough if not cooked propery, but this was delicious. Rest of the party commented on a great Steak and Ale pie, fish and pasta. Varietry of specials. Reasonably priced both food and wine.

Very impressed by the waitress. So fiendly and helpful. Could not do enough for us. Will visit again and will recommend it. Try it soon

I can recommend The Shanklin Hotel. I had Pork Belly in Madeira Sauce there at Christmas, even though I prefer spicy food, and it was quite possibly the nicest thing I ever ate, much to my own surprise! I liked it so much, I am taking my wife there for a special dinner on wednesday and apparently there is a world renowned jazz band on. If you guys are free, why not go the same night. It's a £25 per head meal, but again, sounds very nice.
I know I sound like I work there, but I don't,I just loved their christmas meals; the school I work at go every year. I would like your take on the place.
Eric

Over the weekend we had a great meal at the New Holmwood Hotel on Cowes Esplanade. At £20 for 3 courses I would say the meal was reasonably priced, and the ingredients were fresh, well prepared and the taste was fantastic. Recommended by the very nice waiter was the soup of the day, I cannot remember having Oxtail soup since being a child (and I am not sure even then if it was not just out of a can) but I would honestly say it was the nicest soup I have tasted in a long time, and accompanying was a choice of homemade breads, I went for ‘sun dried tomato’ and again it was excellent. This quality sustained throughout our meal. We would like your thoughts if you’re in the Cowes area, and the view from the restaurant over the sea is fantastic, so try and make it on a nice day!

I'd love to know which island pubs do a really good veggie Sunday Roast. Whilst the veggie selections generally are improving they so often seem to comprise largely pasta, rice or bread.

I'm sure I'm not the only non meat eater who loves their veg and roast spuds/parsnips (provided they are done in oil!), but so often the choice is the carvery without the meat or a yorkshire pud with a few bits of veg inside. A nut roast or stuffing type concoction would work, wouldn't be too difficult to make, and could always be used as an accompaniment to the meat dishes if it was felt there werent enough veggies about!

And while I'm at it, there's nothing wrong with carrot, cauli and brocolli, but there are soooo many other decent vegetables out there so how about a bit more variety?

Oggies Fish and Chip Take Away,St Thomases Square ,Newport
- Fish and Chips the north country way -
always a smile and witty banter - Try it.

I noticed when I was at Godshill Organics yesterday that they've opened a little café in the summerhouse outside the shop, showcasing their produce (including meat from the on-site butcher's) in a good selection of sandwiches, jackets, deli platters and hot meals. I was tempted by the hand-made vegeburger with hand-cut chips (£6.50), but opted for the freshly-made mushroom soup, which was superb: fantastic flavour, and not too salty, with a generous hunk of bread on the side, and ready-softened butter in a little dish. Good value at £3.50.

Apparently the quirky building is a half-way house, as they're hoping to eventually add a larger café on to the shop. Slightly odd set-up at present, with food having to be brought over the courtyard from the kitchen, but there are nice touches like newspapers to read, and a little play table to keep young children occupied. The staff are very welcoming, and clearly care about what they're doing. I hope it's a success. Suggest you try it, M&C.

It's not a cafe per se, but Chocolat 'ere in Yarmouth does fab hot chocolates made from real chocolate and cream. Now they're also doing Lavazza coffee and Tea Pig teas. Definitely worth a visit!

We would like to add some lovely comments about the Reef but cant find in on the site. Anyway, they have just finished a massive exrtension so well worth another visit. Also, look out for the new restaurant opening upstairs above the cafe on the beach near to Ryde Lifeboat Station. Simple Fresh seafood I am told.

Matt & Cat respond: No, not been to the Reef before. We'll put it on the (very long) list. We are aware of the proposals for the Appley cafe, and are looking forward with great interest to seeing what happens there, as we very much enjoyed the chef's last venture.

One to try is the NEW "SPLASH" Bar & Grill that was once the village taverna in Sandown. The menu has a great selection of steaks,chicken,pastas and was surprised at the salads and veggie meals.
My husband said he had the best garlic mushrooms he had ever tasted followed by a perfectly cooked blue ribeye steak with a stilton sauce.
Me I started with chicken fajita nachos (a meal on its own) followed by the homemade lasagne and garlic bread.
Dont be put off by the lack of paint on the windows as we were told they should be done by Easter. The inside is clean and welcoming with pleasent staff. Yes they do have sports and music but you can go into a seperate area to eat. Will be going back but next time will take the kids.
Marks out of 10...12

One wonders that the owner of the "splash" seems to be called Beckie as well...
however let's wait for M and C's review and wish them good luck with the new venue... may they be luckier than the last proprietor)

Like Matt & Cat, we are always looking for good places to eat, and today we found a new one, Splash Bar & Grill, in Sandown High Street, opposite Nat West Bank. We were not feeling too hungry, so we both chose the BBQ Chicken Salad. It was very well presented, with plenty of chicken, and they certainly do not skimp on the portions. Unfortunately, we were both full after that, so we could not manage a desert, but we were pleasantly surprised by the extensive menu available.
The staff were very friendly and helpful, and we will certainly be visiting again. We will make sure that we are hungry next time, as the menu looks very inviting, and there are lots of things that I would like to try. The prices are also very reasonable. One thing to bear in mind is that because they are new, they are unable to accept credit or debit cards a the moment, but there are cash-point machines close by.
This place is certainly worth a visit, so I look forward to seeing what others think.

Hi please could you retry the Ming Garden we have had several positive experiences there and I think you should update your verdict (as well as enjoy a really good meal) Thanks!

I always have fab meals at both Lugleys Restaurants,although I decided to try some where differentlast time and was pleasantly suprised it didn't quite seem the same! well done Lugleys you haven't let us down yet.

Just spotted that a new deli has opened on Regent Street in Shanklin - Delissimo. Might be worth checking out!

what/where/... missed that completely..will be down ther tomorrow

Delissimo - 17 Regent Street.
Also old Sinclair Youngs shop is now an MS charity shop - with what with what appears to be a little cafe included. Now we just need to fill the old Woolies!

While staying in Totland we tried the Sunbo Chinese Takeaway in The Broadway, excellent service, delicious well cooked food...perhaps you can add it to your list for a review sometime in the future?

Somebody posted about ordering Takeaway food online

I use this website for the Royal China in Sandown. It is very simple, has the menus online and keeps you informed of the progress all along the way.

Matt and Cat respond: Hi KJ, thanks for your comment. We've had a look at 'Eat It Now' and it looks promising although more takeaways need to register. Our nearest takeaway is shown as in Gosport. Wonder if they'll deliver across the Solent? Lol!

I wonder if you can review drifters, between sandown and shanklin on the cliff path - weekend tea shop (weather permitting) it's a good pit stop if you cycle the sunshine trail

We haven't eaten there in a while but the food coming out of the Fisherman's Cottage, Shanklin looks suberb. See what you think before it gets too busy.

We came over for the day from Southampton today and walked along from Cowes to Gurnard.
Lunch was taken in the Wateredges Restaurant..highly recommended, one of the best we have experienced on the Island...in nearly half a century of visiting the Island.

Good, fresh food, well cooked and friendly service.

I think it may be time for Matt & Cat to re-visit The Blue Crab in Yarmouth.

We visited for lunch last Friday and had what is probably the worse meal I have even eaten in a restaurant. Add to this the poor and old fashioned decor and the appalling ( and I would suggest hazardous to health) conditions of the toilets and it all made for a thoroughly unpleasant experience.

You must, Must, MUST visit the Little Gloster on Gurnard Marsh - a blue print for any seaside establishment. Excellent food, wine, service and venue. Why can the rest of the IOW not follow suit????

Shenanigans, Quay Street, Yarmouth.

This place has to be seen to be believed. It's run by three scousers, who told us they'd been there five days and had to throw a lot of food out due to it going rotten. It was about 20 minutes before we could place an order. When our food arrived, the chef proudly told us we were being served prime steak and "ohm mayde cheeps." The steak was dry and almost incinerated, the 'cheeps' were overcooked, disgustingly brown and soggy. The meal quickly went cool, due to being presented on unwarmed plates. Worst of all, were the toilets. The ladies, featured a receptacle for Tampons, (which had been used), and was missing the lid. The gents, was like something from Grimefighters, and had a busted hand dryer. We paid our bill in cash, as we belatedly discovered the business does not accept cards. Happily, we elected to leave without sampling the puddings.

Hi have you been to the fish and chip bar at the top of newport opposite the phils diner ?
i went in at 6.00 on monday there were 2 people serving behind the counter one was putting a new till roll in and the other kept busy enough doing nothing so she didnt have to make eye contact with me. I stood there for 5 minutes waiting to be served and was completly ignored the whole time not even a "we will be with you in a minute" or anything eventually i turned round and walked out ive not been to this fish and chip shop before but i wont return. went to stotesburys was very good.

Hi Matt. Nope, haven't been to that chippie, and will now avoid the place. Best chip shop we have - so far - found on the IOW, is Alexander's in Ryde town center. Straightforward, clean, fast and reliable service, and most importantly great tasting nosh.

Dear Matt and Cat,

You simply have to endure the unpleasantness of this cafe to believe that it even exists. I ate here in good faith and was mortified by the lack of anything resembling either good food or good service. For 'gourmet' read 'gromit'. For 'burger' read 'buggered'. For 'cuisine' read 'car-crash'. The food is terrible, there is no gentler phrase for it. But it still beats the service. There are many places to eat in Newport that are either good or very good. This pointless abomination is so appalling that one could be forgiven for giving it a good review out of sheer bloody-mindedness but trust me, it is worse than you could ever envisage. Cheap, nasty; it epitomises why the reason for the massive worldwide domination of MacDonalds et al. Dear Take 5 - go away!

There's a new steak place opened across from the Kasbah in Ryde (used to be some 007-themed place I think).

Looks worth a review....

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Anthony, thanks for your comment. We tweeted this about 24 hours before you! Well spotted, though. Steak? Nom!

A colleague says he went to the Alamo in Castle St in Ryde on Sat night, I think where the 007 place was as mentioned above. Good feedback on the steak and ribs, and value for money…we shall give it a try soon.

Hi matt and Cat wonted to drop you a line.
I am Nathan formaly of the Pointer Inn and wonted to let you know that we have now moved in to The Essex in Godshill. We are still serving all of our well loved food and more...
Hoping that we will see you and your readers soon. Keep up the good work all the best Nathan. p/s Take a look at this months Island Life mag for all the new photos

if you ever get the chance, you should eat at The Boasthouse at Steephill Cove, Ventnor. Its just the most amazing place to go for Shellfish. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. I have been twice now and was lucky to pick lovely sunny days. went on Thursday when it was lovely and hot. Sat outside overlooking the beach. Had the Captains Platter for 2, Lobster, Crab, Crevettes, Shell on Prawns etc etc etc. loads of salad and breads and a bottle of rose to wash it down.
you have to be quick to get in, Fully booked for this year i'm afraid but I did manage a table for my birthday in August, Whoopee!!

I have just had a most enjoyable toasted meatball sub from Pizza First in St James St, Newport. A good filling of meatballs, mozarella and crisp salad all for a bargain £2.50. I will be definitely be returning to sample some of the other options.

Have just tried The Little Gloster in Gurnard Marsh. V good. Fab Solent views from lawned waterfront garden (complete with acoustic music this Sunday lunchtime). But equally good views from inside if weather inclement.

Food is modern with a Scandanavian theme (apparently). They are too new to have a website yet - you'll have to take my word for it.

hey guys, talking on behalf of images cafe deli in newport, we feel as though lunch time business we have tackled and is sorted for our very busy times,

we are now open friday and saturday evenings from 6 and last orders at 9. we would love you and your followers to come and give us a go.

we are serving a table d'hote menu changing weekly using the besy quality produce from the island.

there is a selection of 5 starters at £4.95 main courses at £9.95 and desserts at £4.95...
thats a 3 course meal for £20 where can you go wrong???

not to mention there are comlimentary home made bread rolls delivered to your table and complimentary tea or coffe at the end of your meal!

please come down and see what you think!

the word is already going around and hopefully as far as we can see its all posotive!

hopefully see matt and cat plus followers soon.

many thanks

craig

THE ESSEX IN GODSHILL

The previous Pointer Inn owners now run this. Went for lunch there yesterday - looks really nice and welcoming inside although we sat out as it was a nice day. Food is still excellent, just as delish as before. They now also do cream teas in the afternoon, and coffee and a danish. Although we resisted the cream tea we did have dessert which was lovely.

It was a bit empty when we first arrived although a few more people turned up but think perhaps they need to advertise it more - perhaps an ad in the County Press?

Think it deserves a Matt & Cat visit!

Hi there,

I wondered if you had considered trying the little Gloster down on the Marsh at Gurnard, I have not been yet but I understand that it is very nice and it would be great to see a review

many thanks

We tried Giovannis Pizza in Cowes over weekend, and were impressed. The menu which appeared through the door stated the pizza sauce was homemade! It was one of the nicest pizza’s I have had, and the homemade onion rings were excellent as well. They said delivery would be 30 mins and they were spot on. If your Cowes way give it a try.

I know you don't really have a category for food shops, but I feel I have to put in a good word for the new 'Farmer Jacks' farm shop at Arreton Barns.

An amazing selection including one of the best butchers' counters ever, featuring produce from many of the Island's well known farms: Briddlesford, Brownrigg etc.

Plus veg, relishes, cakes, bread, puddings etc. - all under the one roof. A foodie Heaven!

Having just had lunch for the third time at THE BLACK HORSE in Brading I would highly recommend for service, value and good food.

Matt ad Cat respond: Thanks for your comment, patti. We assume you mean the Dark Horse.

After having an excellent relaxed SundayLunch with Friends in the Little Gloster (ex Outlook Cafe) if have to second all the people here commeding it
Please try
good Food
Relaxed atmosphere
Sun (for a while)
Fairly priced, too
Great!

We recently visited The Essex in Godshill as well but in the evening, & can agree with Tina & Alan. The food was presented on the plate well & tasted superb. Our desserts were heavenly!

Well worth a review as we had a superb meal & when we are back on the Island on holiday again we would definitely rebook.

I wonder if you have tried eating and reviewing Vernon Cottage in Shanklin Old Village lately - it changed hands earlier this year and has a fantastic home-cooked menu and is in such a pretty location with the lovely gardens to sit in.

Matt & Cat respond: yes we have, thanks.

Have you ever or recently reviewed dining at The George Hotel, Yarmouth?

Have you visited the Prince of Wales East Cowes? Had a new chef this season and it's actually very nice there (I think). 2 main courses for a tenner and roasts on Sunday (same price).

The Prince of Wales in East Cowes is really fantastic value for money as the quality and size of portions are superb. We have regularly used this pub over the years and currently the food is well worth a try, very good for family dining too! We went last Christmas as a large family with kids and they really looked after us all. The chef and menu has changed since but it is still great.

Hi, Im the Manager at LA Bowl/Pavilion Cafe in Ryde.
We have recently invested a lot of time and thought into our bar, inside and out,as a family orientated restaurant/bar.
Our main concept is our Two meals for £8.95 with all our meals being freshly prepared and cooked to order as well as our breakfast and light bites menu's. We also run a Sunday Carvery. All our meat is sourced from a local butchery.

We pride ourselves in good customer service and great hearty food.

Would be great if you could give us a try.

Neil Bradley

Hi Matt and Cat,

Keeping up the good work I see! This is my few montly visit to the site so I thought I'd reinforce a few other people's suggestions higher up the list.
As it's summer, or supposedly so, my partner and I have been frequenting a lot of tea rooms, have you reviewd Grand view Tea rooms in Rylstone gardens or Gatcombe tea rooms?
I saw a comment further up that it was the worst rip off cream tea they'd ever had...dont know where that came from, it was simply gorgeous when we went, well worth a look for the vines growing on the ceiling if nothing else, a staggering range of herbal teas, and the tiramisu cake I had was DIVINE. Am thinking of going back to get the recipe! Grand view was equally lovely, really good portions for their sandwiches with salad and tortilla chips, proper sized pots of tea with extra hot water and a lovely cream tea with proper strawberry jam.
Plus the Pearly Boise ice cream parlour has always done ridiculously nice sorbets and ice creams which I keep popping into.
Now I'm off to go for a run as I discover how many calories I've actually eaten in these few months...oops.

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Natalie, thanks for your comment. Cat's a sucker for a cream tea and you've made the tea rooms sound fantastic! Tiramisu cake? Sign us up!

We have been going here on and off over the last 15 years and I think it has been there forever, so no hot news on a new place, but I do not think you have reviewed Dragon Pearl in Shanklin. This Chinese Restaurant has never let us down and this weekend we had a birthday meal and were so very impressed again, with the food and wine and service. Fantastic value, also the young waiter remembered the drinks, starters and mains and sides without writing them down…much to our amazement, a very good memory indeed!

Hi Matt and Cat, I thought i should let you know about a great little eatery in Cowes. After a bike ride from Ryde to Cowes, I was i need of refueling. Upon entering the high street, theres a new resturant called The Coast. Formerly Morgans and Slate (back in the day). During cowes week the place was heaving, but mid day on a Monday was just right. I had a latte which was well done. Slight bit of foam but tasted great. Secondly, I moved onto a salad with torn chicken, chirizo, peepers in a honey mustard sauce. It was great. Came on a massive sized plate to. :) Overall the latte and salad came to £10.20. Similar price to Liberties, I guess. The Coast had a great atmosphere, with laid back music in the foreground. It has an amazing sun trap out back to. I think it would be great if you folks could visit to give it a real review. Will definately visit again with family.

Callum

If you're looking for a generous, tasty Sunday Roast, a fantastic steak with live entertainment on a Friday night or an outstanding meal off the Specials Board any other day of the week, why not visit Flanagans at 7 Pier St, Sandown.
The view from the terrace of Sandown Bay is spectacular, the atmosphere is always friendly and everyone is welcome; families with children, sports fans and individuals with well-behaved dogs.

Please come and see the new Flanagans and give us a try.

hi guys,

just a quick question,

so when will you guys be coming to try images cafe deli evenings?

would be great to hear and read your comments.

hope to see you soon.

craig.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comment, Craig. We quite often pop into Images during the day and we tweeted about the new deli evenings. Your latest venture is on the (very long) list of places to visit but of course we won't be letting you know when we're coming!

well of course you wouldnt let us know! and that would be the great part of it! i have no doubt that we would even dream of having you guys book a table and of course "walk ins" are the best part of doing this!

like i said previously the menu is a completey different style to our weekday menu and is cahnging weekly so just have a peek each week at the menu on the front door and when you like the sound of one just come in and give it a go!

would love to read your views!

hopefully see you soon.

regards, craig.

The Ladies Wot lunch have today eaten another wonderful lunch at the New Holmwood Hotel, Cowes. The unanimous verdict is that we award the hotel 10 out of 10 for service and a 10* for food.
On Sundays, there are 3 courses plus coffee/tea for £14.50p. Today, there were three or four choices in each course. I had a starter of stuffed mushroom, my main course from the Carvery was beef but there was were other meats including Turkey.This was served with fresh vegetables and proper roast potatoes and Yorkshire pudding. My sweet was Summer Berry Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. What is so impressive about this hotel is that because one of our ladies is a vegetarian and she didn't want two courses of fish, the chef made her a special Brie Tart and another lady who doesn't eat ice cream, they served her fresh cream with her Summer Pudding instead.
Together with the linen tablecloths & serviettes, the beautiful views across the Solent (we watched the Power Boat Race) and the charming staff who are so kind and helpful, we can't recommend this hotel & restaurant highly enough.

The Fountain pub in Sandown needs to be reviewed. We walked in in August (family of four) and noticed there were only two tables occupied. After continuous dissapointments eating out across the island I asked a lady at one of the tables if she had been waiting long for food. She told me that their starters came out in just a few minutes but were still waiting for their main meals after 20 minutes even though the place was almost empty. We were hungry and after wandering around looking for somewhere decent to eat still decided to give it a try. I ordered drinks and was halfway through ordering food when a child from the other occupied table came to the bar to ask how long their food would be. I asked him how long they had waited and he told me about an hour. At the same time the barmaid then went into the back to get their food and served them the wrong meals. Another poor standard eating establishment crossed of our dissapointed eating out list. We walked out and left the poured out drinks on the bar luckily before we had handed over any money.

maybe its been suggested alerady but you should review the cafe at Steephill cove. had a lovely prawn sandwich there last summer.
Also have you reviewed the little woodeen restaurant there (cant remember the name) id like to know what its like.

The New Holmwood Hotel & Restaurant has for years received outstanding compliments from the diners that stay or just come for the spinnaker restaurant, with a wide choice in menus and spectacular views of the Solent. I think it would be a great place for you try. Please take a look at our site and sample menus.

There is a window at the side of Ventnor Haven Fishery, lovely fresh fish and chips are served there most days. The Rock Salmon is particularly delicious!

3 IOW Curry Houses are taking part in the buy 1 get 1 free offer on packs of Mcoys crisps, You just cut the voucher off the pack and take to Maharajah Shanklin, Saffrons in Cowes or Fatimas in Freshwater for a free main for every main you buy!

Hi M&C - me and my husband are planning on going out for dinner for our 2nd wedding anniversary on Monday (20th Sep) - we were thinking about Valentinos in Carisbrooke but have never been and you guys have not reviewed it....any comments or recommendations? thanks, jo xx

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Jo. Thanks for taking the trouble to solicit our recommendation personally. As you've spotted, we haven't been to Valentino's yet but if you go, please feel free to add a comment here. If you want to try somewhere that we recommend (and presumably you're in the Newport area) Burrs would be our first choice. In our review we described it as "an intimate restaurant; the perfect place for a romantic meal.". Not far from Burrs is Lugley's, an equally charming restaurant, ideal for an anniversary supper. For a more modest budget you could try Olivo. It's got great food and a lively atmosphere. If you and your husband fancy something a bit unconventional try Volcanic Steakhouse. If you've run out of conversation after your two years of marriage, this place will give you something to talk about!
Please let us know how you get on, and congratulations!

Thanks for your recomendations - we went to Burrs for our first anniversary and I agree, it was lovely!! We go to Olivos regularly in Newport in love it! We also went to Lugleys before we were married for our 5th anniversary of being together. We have not tried the volcanic steakhouse though so it is between that and valentinos - im thinking valentinos as you have not tried it then we can give you some feedback! My husband is a chef so he is always keen to try something new!!

Thanks again for your comments and congratulations, we will let you know what it is like.

Jo x

I see you review fish and chip shops as well, can I suggest samels in east cowes. Its the best one I have tried from wooton to cowes.

Hi M&C

We went for dinner at Valentino's last night and here is our thoughts:...

It is a lovely venue, if a little bit like someones front room, plenty of things on the shelves and pictures on the walls to look at. We were greeted by theowner and given a choice of tables as we were the first people in the restaraunt, closely followed by a few other tables, albeit it was still very quiet. We were given the menus which offered a wide variety of food, not only Italian. We decided to go for a bottle of merlot and the set menu 2 course meal and both had the steak forestierewhich came out with a very large plate of veg to share!! The steaks were cooked perfectly and the sauce was delicious....only thing we didnt eat was the leeks,,,they were abit watery! We then ordered desserts, I had the cremem brulee and my hubby had the meringue nest with raspberrys, strawberrys and kiwis - both were delicious! Overall it was a really nice evening and I would reccommend it to others and think you guys should definitly give it a try!

Jo x

Hi M&C
can you, or anyone advise on the riversdie centre at newport for a charlty evening with a dinner, i can not find any reviews anywhere
thanks donna

Just back from the Little Gloster in Gurnard. Delectable from start to finish! Lovely light dining room with sea views; friendly and careful service, without being fussy.
My starter of apple and pecan salad served with a soft boiled egg, parmesan and caesar dressing (£6.95) was beautifully presented and a real treat of sweet and savoury flavours, the pecans having been caramelised.
Seared sea bream fillet with lemon risotto, fine beans and pesto (£15.95) was equally scrumptious. And whereas some restaurants do well on the savouries but fall down on desserts, here the standard was kept high. Hazelnut caramel parfait with slow poached stone fruit (£4.95) was heavenly (and again, looked beautiful).
There were six of us, all choosing different meals, and we all came away impressed, including my son, who chose the pasta dish from the children's menu, and an impressive chocolate ice cream sundae that just about defeated him.
Details were good, such as the delicious warm fresh bread served while we were waiting for our starters, and the mini covered butter dishes. And the sight of the chef picking fresh herbs from the garden gave a clue as to the quality of the meal.
My sister-in-law (it was a treat for her) was worried it might be "a bit posh", but the atmosphere was relaxed and she felt at ease. I'll happily return.

The website is here:
http://www.thelittlegloster.com/home/

The IOW College invited Parents to come and try food prepared and served by the new students last night, my wife and I were very impressed, even if totally biased!

We think you should try the College which opens 5th Oct on Tues, Weds and Thurs lunchtimes and Thurs Eve for Dinner, the set menu for the dinner is £14.95 for 4 courses and a coffee is included after.

They are having both classic evenings of Bistro style food and themed Country evenings which begins on the 14th Oct with Thai. On the strength of what we sampled we booked for 3 evening from now until Xmas, not just to show support but because it was so tasty!

If you are ever stranded in Shanklin and looking for a taste of The Orient I would heartily recommend Dragon Pearl in Shanklin. We have eaten in, and had take-aways on more than one occasion and never once has the food or service left anything to be desired. Highly recommended! (At least by us!).

I'm amazed there is no mention here of the Four Seasons in Wroxall.
Fantastic meal last night. 12oz rump with all the trimmings with delicious home-made chips for less than a tenner.
My wife's strogonoff was equally nice. Incredible value. Friendly, intimate atmosphere.
Well worth a visit.

We went with happy expectations to the Essex for lunch. The Italian Lamb meatballs with fresh tomato sauce and tagliatelle was just some minced beef in a canned tomato sauce. The only spice was parsley. There was nothing Italian or lamb about it. Very disappointing. The service was distant and perfunctory and we felt we, like most of their clientèle, were a nuisance rather than valued customers. We won't be back.

Check out Cafe Number 44 on Carisbrooke High Street! As part of my best-manly duties I recently took my groom along for a slap-up breakfast there on the wedding day (because we knew we wouldn't get to eat for hours and hours and hours after the ceremony). The premises are clean and modern and the staff really enthusiastic and friendly. Fantastic quality food - the toast is made with REAL bread for a start - and great value.

To Dave
Sorry that your dinning experience was not to your satisfaction at the Essex. We strive to improve all the time. We do value comments from our customers and if you had mentioned the matter to a member of staff we would only be happy to sort out any problems you might of had.
The Italian meat balls are made from locally sourced lamb and the tomato sauce is made fresh every day (and not out of a Can). I am sorry that you have decided not to come back after only one visit because I am sure that you would have a totally different experience next time.

Funny how for a man who runs a restaurant he cannot spell dining! Is there any hope?

Matt and Cat respond: we've occasionally had some pretty fine food presaged by the most illiterate menus. So take heart, one slip of the keyboard isn't really sufficient to inspire despair. Goodness knows we'd be in trouble if it wre.

What a delight the Essex in Godshill. Haven't been in since new management taken over until last night. Staff friendly,efficient and knowledgable. Food was very well cooked and presented, all in all good value for money. this was the first of many visits. Well done the Essex staff. Chris

I recently went to lugleys restaurant, I found it utterly charming and beutiful food also, I am going to try the Cowes restaurant next time as i hear they have a wonderful view and a new head chef. any feed back would be good?

On our stroll round Ventnor prior to lunch at the Royal, we stumbled across Perks: a relatively new venture that occupies the site of what used to be haberdashery shop.

What a find - a 'shop front' room that manages to combine the best features of a pub, wine bar, cafe and restaurant. Warm and friendly service and splendidly quirky decor with lots of old showbiz/Hollywood memorabilia.

We only stopped for a drink, but the food looked excellent in a hearty/home-cooked style.

We'll be back!

I would like to suggest The Mill Bay Inn, Ventnor.

My wife and I had an excellent meal, Cajun Chicken from their specials board and a Cesar Salad, in fact my wife said it was one of the best salads she had ever had.

Small complaint, allowing people to smoke outside in the Dining area but this is coming from an ex smoker. Inside, very clean, no problems.

First time we have had a meal in The Mill Bay, we will definitely be going back.

The Solent Inn in Ryde has started doing meals on a regular basis so I took my 6yr old in yesterday to give it a whirl. I had the 8oz steak he had chicken nuggetts with chpis and beans. My steak was cooked to perfection and nipper ate all his and said he enjoyed it (must of been good then!) and all for £8.75! Don't know how they do it but must be worth a visit!

As much as I like to read all the reviews on this wonderful website, the Isle of Wight Council Food Hygiene Ratings in conjunction with all the reviews, adds further food for thought.

Matt and Cat reply: we have a link to that council website on every review, Tony, as we agree with you. We do not comment on food hygiene in our reviews (unless its obvious) because it's not possible to know what goes on in the kitchen unless, like the council, you have the power to go and see. We did ask the council whether we could link directly to the star page for each establishment, but apparently this isn't possible/allowed.

Hi all,
firstly i would like to ask what gives you the rite to go around and leaving these reviews and opinions when really you just seem to be a couple who must be really bored and have nothing better to do!
I can honestly say that every place i have ever seen one of your pathetic stickers of your recomendation on the door to turn out to be total ****.
Every review on your site that you "like" seems to have dozens of bad reviews by paying customers!!
i wonder if you just try to obtain free meals by doing this??
Also you hide your identity??? are you worried that maybe you would get a slap one day by the traders who you put down on your site? Really just to sum it up, you need to leave this sort of business to people who know what they are talking about and go ahead eating your birds eye microwave meals in your home im sure you would "like" that.
Im sure im not the only person to think this.



Matt and Cat respond: well done Phil, and thanks for being so honest with us. It's been over five years and you're the first one to explain it in such frank terms. It really is true, we actually don't know what we're talking about, and basically make it up as we go along. Sadly, and just to make the spectacle even more pitiable, we hardly ever even get free meals. We actually pay for them. It's a kind of freak show, really, with up to seventeen thousand page views every day from viewers simply coming to watch us humiliate ourselves. They're mostly too well-mannered to tell us, and we'd hate to spoil their fun. So if you don't mind, we'll just carry on.

Pizza First - Upper St James Street, Newport


Always enjoyed going here for a good pizza. Local flour used, very friendly service, order can be tailored to you and its made fresh in front of you. Definitely worth a visit.

IOW Phil said....'and go ahead eating your birds eye microwave meals in your home im sure you would "like" that'

Phil, you obviously do not read their Tweets, one damn day i'm gonna invite myself to their dining table!

Matt and Cat, please carry on with 'your' reviews, I certainly do not agree with them all, because we all have different opinions, but i appreciate your reviews and most articulate writings....rite!

Aneke Spacie's POP UP restaurant.. Guys you MUST get into one of her pop ups.. next one is 20th Nov at Landguard. The food is to die for - have eaten at many many Michelin restaurants and the food at the last one blew my mind and any competition away. SERIOUSLY talented chef - and probably a bit mad.. Wasabi parfait ?? If she keeps this standard up she will reposition the Island as a definite gourmet destination. I was so impressed that I even wrote to the Michelin Guide !

I suggest you try the Waterfront Inn in Shanklin. Previously we've only had a drink there but yesterday had a very enjoyable meal there. Lovely weather, lovely view out to sea, nice clean and tidy inside restaurant and food very good. Their website is

http://www.waterfrontinnshanklin.co.uk/

Hi Matt and Cat
Decided to try the Essex in Godshill the other weekend following your recent review.
As we live locally my wife popped past the place during the day in the hope of booking a table for four that night.
Unfortunately this proved harder than imagined!
Initially she asked if it would be possible to book a table for around eight o'clock.
However she was surprised to be told that wouldnt be possible as apparently the overworked kitchen would be closing early.
She then asked if 7.30 might be more suitable and after much huffing and puffing was informed that as long as we were in the restaurant, sat down and ordered by then they could accommodate us.
However if we happened to peruse the menu for a fraction of a second over the alloted time we would be going hungry!
It seems that despite it being a chilly Sunday at the beginning of November the poor staff had been rushed off their feet during the day and were desperate for an early night.
Always good to know that a recently opened local business is thriving to the point that it doesnt need to bend a little to help four parents who like to follow a regular bedtime routine and read their little cherubs a story and ensure they are tucked up safely before going for a meal.
Not surprisingly we decided to head elsewhere and found a restaurant in Shanklin more than happy to reserve us a table for the time we asked - and happily remain open when others were heading home.
Oh and thanks to the excellent customer service we received we also booked our Christmas night out for 16 at the same time.

Breeezes at Island Harbour (formerly the bistro)does a very generous Sunday lunch inc large bowls of hot thick soup. All at reasonable cost. A great surprise. This could have been all snooty service with poncy portions. It wasn't.

After reading John’s review of the PondaRosa thought I would say I went to a works long service awards at Osborne House on Friday night in the restaurant. Catering for about 70 people the food was fantastic, really top notch and excellent attentive service to match. Everyone I have spoke to who went was impressed that the starters and desserts were so tasty, and the meats on the main, lamb and guinea fowl, were so well cooked, when catering for many. Made our table laugh when a lady replied by mistake when asked what she was having…guinea pig!

I have seen it mentioned here before but try the Little Gloster in Marsh Rd Gurnard, we went on Saturday for lunch; the place is very well decorated and had a good ambience. My wife and I both had ‘Grass Fed Sirloin Steaks’ served with portabella mushroom, watercress and rocket salad, fries and a choice of béarnaise or peppercorn sauce, the meal was fantastic and the steak was a generous size so we did not get to try dessert, all of which sounded good. We will return but it is not cheap, so it will be as a treat.
However I must say we got what we paid for as the steak really was delicious.

Completly agree with Sean - I had a fantastic meal at The Little Gloster last night, both food and service was terrific. Matt and Cat - visit here soon before the breast of Pheasant is taken off the menu, it is quite simply delicious!!! You definately get what you pay for, and this is top drawer.

I can't see one anywhere, but have you "done" The Cask and Taverners in Godshill. The food is excellent and all good local provenance - i recommend their home thrown pork pie with warm home-made piccalilli and in season game is always excellent. When we were last there, there were a line of local gardeners delivering fresh veg to the chef. Terrific

gonna be trying the Wishing Well next week - will let you know if it has changed now the "new" owners have settled in

Just noticed David Haylands' positive comment suggesting Matt & Cat review The Taverners. It was reviewed here, David:
http://mattandcat.co.uk/reviews/index.php/2008/06/17/taverners-godshill

Popped in the Caulk Heads yesterday (Saturday) with my 6 year old son for a bit to eat. He had the usual chicken nuggets with chips and I had roast pork belly with veg. Didn't have to wait long and mine was really good. Nice touch was a couple of slices of roast apple. Good value at £7.95 I thought unless you compare it to the Sloop (which never seems to have pork). Just wish my little one would be a tad more adventurous with his food! He only seems to like chicken nuggets these days!

Hi Mat and Cat,

Went to Take 5 in Newport which you reviewed in June. Tisn't there anymore!
Instead it's called The Retreat. Got chatting to the owner, who basically said that the lack of an 'identity' had killed off the predecessor. However, I really honestly couldn't tell any difference - same menu, same staff, same look. A straight 6/10.
So, oddly, I'm actually suggesting you don't need to review. Just rename the existing Take 5 review as The Retreat. You placed it under 'We Like' and I'm sure the new owners will be more than happy. Come to think of it, are they actually new owners anyway?
Regards, Jesse.
P.S. Note the last reviewer of Take 5 mentioned Phil's Diner as a good place to eat. Also noted it's one of your Favourites - have to agree!
P.P.S. Anyone know what's happening to Coast (opposite Morrisons). Used to love it there but now they're gone and it seems to have closed down.

Cat replies: Thanks for your comment, Jesse. Funnily enough, I was in Scarrots Lane at lunchtime today and posted this tweet about The Retreat.

The Lake Fish Bar in Lake is, I suggest, the best fish & chips this side of the Blue Dolphin at Hastings. I have no personal interest in saying so.

also I suggest you check out the Yarbridge Inn, which we thought was terrible or rather much like a microwaved ready meal. It ia railway themed. (!)
Thje Chequers in at Rookley seems a decent enough place though. If my wife does not comlain it is likely to be pretty good.

Matt and Cat respond: we thought the Yarbridge was closed. It certainly looks like it. And the Chequers, good suggestion.

Bayshore at St. Helens seafront?
Shorely?

Matt and Cat respond: That'll be the Baywatch on the Beach, surely?

You're absolutely right. I've been so many times, but I've always thought it a naff name - especially oif you google it & get loads of stuff about David Hasselhof.
The Bayshore is a big hotel on Sandown seafront. All I can say is it was late.

No it's Baywatch on the Beach on the shore-ly! Make sure you take your American Express Gold Card with you!

I would like to say had a fab meal at The Mill Bay Ventnor the place is clean staff great and even in this weather the view out to sea is great. We went Wednesday night I had Chicken Supreme which was the best I have had my hubby had the Mill Bay Mixed Grill which he said everything was cooked to perfection, my meal was FREE buy two meals at the moment and the cheapest one is FREE!!! we had couple of drinks and was about to leave when we were asked if we would like to join in a Fun Quiz, we had a great night.. will be back with friends for a meal and quiz a great night. Thank you to the great company and new friends we have now made.

How about Fox's in Bembridge? Or the New Holmwood?

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Bruno. Thanks for your suggestions. We've been to Fox's and liked it a lot! Let us Google that for you ;) The New Holmwood is on our list!

Hi - I think you should check out The Watersedge Cafe and Restaurant in Gurnard - great value-for-money and very yummy food! Service is always really friendly and they seem to retain the same staff!

Fab place, would be interested to know what you think!

Thanks
Sophie

Denice WightBullys, ‎12 of us have just had the most delicious Carvery at The mill Bay Inn, Ventnor. Relaxing surroundings with brilliant sea views (even in this weather) At the moment they have a special promotion Two Carvery's for £10. You may think that you might not get a lot for that sort of money but you would be so wrong.....give i...t a try you will be amazed, I would go as far as to say its Definately THE BEST Carvery on the Island and I have tried many.
Always a good welcome with well trained Staff who know all about Customer Service.
Have a look at their Facebook page for other Special Offers and Events......you will not be disappointed.....x

Maybe I'm just being ignorant, but I cannot find any review of Town Choice cafe in Newport. It's been going since 1986 and is always busy. I'm not a massive fan of the food (it's okay) but I know loads of people who swear by the place. Would love to see a review!

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comment, Steve3. Your wish is our command. Town Choice review here!

I can't seem to see a recent review of The Simeon Arms Ryde.
Worth a visit as I think they've changed chef over the past few months.
Dad goes in there for a regular pint of Goddards (which he says is very well kept)and he has noticed some good food being delivered to the tables. He thinks it's food most lunchtimes and evenings. We might even suggest we all eat there for Father's Day (if not before)and see for ourselves. He says it's well used by the boating set from Ryde Marina during the warmer months.

Really great carvery at the Mill Bay in Ventnor and we only paid "2 for £10" on Sunday so excellent value. They served up pork, turkey or beef (or some of each) with a beautiful huge Yorkshire (chef was very proud of them and quite rightly so!) then you can help yourself to veg, and right at the end of the carvery there were sausages and stuffing, which was an unexpected bonus. Nothing to fault at all, except the conservatory is a bit dated looking but it seems to be run by really friendly people and it is nice to suport a local business offerng a competitive carvery like that. makes eating out quite affordable.

As the Taverners review seems to be closed, thought I would put my comments here

Went yet again for and early dinner for my Birthday on Monday..Why would anybody order steak anywhere else on the Island.....The average pub on the Island charges £11/£12 for a rump steak, some more...for the same price you can have it at the Taverners cooked exactly as it should, presented exactly as it should be, with reall chip and fantastic sauces. If the average is £11 then you would expect to pay £22 at the Taverners.

Hi matt & cat, i strongly suggest trying the vineleaf coffee shop @ rosemary vineyard. freshly made light lunches, homemade cakes and cream teas all at very good prices. Best to go nearer to summer when the vines are in leaf as it really adds to the experience of sitting in the cafe looking out to the vines in the warm sunshine.

Hi

I've not been for a while - but there was the most wonderful tea-garden that was accessed next to the beach steps at Rylstone Manor Gardens (at the top - don't go down to the beach!). Looking out over the sea, it was/is the most idyllic spot to sit and sup tea and eat home-made cakes.

I'm not sure if it's even there now, but I used it frequently about ten years ago. I think it's linked to the tea rooms that are located round the back of Rylstone Manor - almost on top of the Chine.

If it's still there - visit it in high summer. You won't find a better location. And the home made cakes were something to behold.

Apologies if it's closed down!!

Matt and Cat respond: It was certainly open last summer, although we've not been there yet. And as far as we know it's not connected with the tearooms at Rylstone.

We visited Burr's in Newport Saturday 5th Feb. What a lovely experience. Small, but perfectly formed, as they say. Everything from the welcome, service and ambiance was excellent. Not to mention the food! The owner/chef has something to be proud of. We look forward to eating there again when next on the island. ( We know we're shooting ourselves in the foot, but the prices for the standard of the food were so very reasonable)!

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comments, Margaret and Malcolm. We love Burrs - read our review here.

Recently had lunch at Number 44 in Carisbrooke staff and food were fantastic. We had homemade cheese and tomato pizza, homemade beef burgers and chips. Will definitely be visiting again. Excellent prices for delicious homemade food

Had another meal in Waterfront Inn Shankin, food just as good as last time and the staff (i.e. owners) are so much more welcoming than the Steamer which is next door. Will certainly eat here again in preference to the Steamer. Their website is:-

http://www.waterfront-inn.co.uk/about/home

St Mary's Hospital full circle restuarant do a great breakfast or fish and chips on Fridays. If you have cause to visit the NHS give it a go

I recently took the family including two small children to number 44 in Carisbrooke. The food was really delicious and home made. The restaurant was clean sophisticated and yet very child friendly with plenty to play with for the children.

Hi Matt and Cat.

Great news for Ventnor...Goodman's Deli which closed earlier has been taken over by 2 chefs and openend this week. It's called Tramezzini and I took my 2 daughters there for lunch and everything was cooked or prepared fresh, coffee excellent and an large range of deli produce, Well worth a visit!!

You need to go to The Boathouse in Ventnor, please, you really really must! Location, Location, Location!! Service could be slightly better, but amazing amazing plac. Must have Lobster Salad. Quite expensive, be prepared, and can be slightly cramped with amount trying to squeeze in on the balcony. Best to ask when they have available seating to be right on the front of balcony, on the edge. You'll see what I mean. And you should revisit the Three Bishops as it has really gone downhill and is really rather rubbish.

Visit the New China Ventnor, great fresh chinese food, excellent value, served in a homely and friendly atmosphere, shame that it doesnt look trendy enough to become a must visit venue. Have never seen a revue for this established and highly recommended eatery. Ventnorians, start supporting your local restaurants, they are falling like flies, and soon we may be stuck with the Spyglass!!Location, location, and that's it ! Must like chips...

couldnt agree more, great , tasy and tempting fare on offer. Definitely panini heaven...Let's hope it is well supported . They deserve it..

Corries Cabin in Cowes is certainly doing it for me at the moment !!

I'm on the island once a fortnight for around 4 hours each time, and luckily the ferry back is 3pm which means i always have time for lunch at Corries :)

The little restaurant off the back of the shop seats no more than 15 people, so the one waitress is never over stretched.

The chips are spot on, and the Steak and Ale pie is great (i know its not homemade, but its better than the Pukka Pies we get around here !!

I have probably missed it, but has anyone done a review of The Cedars ( by the traffic lights in Wootton)? Would be obliged for a comment.

While you headed for Morocco we went to Australia, well an Australian Food Theme Night at the IOW College. The food was great, with lots on offer and the chance to try a taster menu of all the dishes, including crocodile satay kebabs and kangaroo. As well as these some traditional Aussie dishes which I cannot remember the names, but one was like little macaroni looking dumplings, different and nice, and the trio of deserts were also delicious. 5 courses (with coffee) for £15, they have an Indian, Italian and IOW Produce Night coming up….it really is worth a try.

Matt and Cat respond: we'd love to go to the college and eat. Do they have a restaurant website?

Matt & Cat, The College Restaurant do not have a website, but you can ask to be on a email list, giving details of up and coming nights. Info I have is…

10th March - Australian Evening
17th March - Classic Cuisine
24th March - Private Party
31st March - Indian
7th April - Classic
11th April—25th April - Closed - Easter Break
28th April - Italian
5th May - Classic
12th May - Caribbean
19th May - Island Sourced Produce (Cost TBC)

Opening Hours

Lunch available from 12.00 - Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday. This year we will be offering a 3 course lunch with coffee for £9.25
Thursday evenings will be available at £14.95 for 4 courses and coffee
Arrival times from 19.00 to 19.45pm ALL MENU’S ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST ONE WEEK PRECEDING THE NIGHT
NUMBERS ARE LIMITED SO PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Tel: 535206. email: Matt.Sprooles@iwcollege.ac.uk

Just been talking to the new manageress at the Orrery in Ryde, they will reopen this Wednesday with a more extensive menu than last year, Some special nights as well, charity fund raisers, and themed nights.
All sounds good not sure on the opening times think she said 10.00 because the Donald McGill post card museum opens at 11.00. Will report back when I've been in.

I really enjoy reading this site....Had a meal recently at The White Lion in Niton, seems to have gone up a notch or two since I last went there in 2008. As far as pub grub goes its great - might be worth another look. D

I would really like to know if there is a Caribbean restaurant on the isle of Wight.
we used to go to the griffin at godshill years ago, but the couple separated sadly, so I'd like to know if she cooks any where else.

At the Dark Horse Pub in Brading,I have just had the best steak and ale pie with shortcrust pastry ever! Huge and packed full to the brim with lean tender steak and a tasty ale gravy.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comment Christine. Perhaps you'd like to read our review of the Dark Horse.

Glad the new head chef at the Dark Horse is well received.

We visited the Pointer Inn yesterday. A couple were having the fish and chips and said how good they were. The portions filled the plates. I ordered a bacon and cheese sarni and my wife had a cheese and something sarni (can't remember) After about 10 minutes the yound lady told me the delivery was late and there was no bacon. Not to worry (minor hiccough) so I said I would have the prawn. Excellent nosh and reasonably priced.

I don't know if they were doing a test to see how drunk you were but the pepper pot with small holes (designed for shaking ground pepper) was filled with small peppercorns (which needed to be in a mill). I had to unscrew the top and sprink;e them on. Good party trick!

In conclusion a good eatery, friendly staff and worth future visits.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comments, Paul. We really like the Pointer Inn; read our review here.

Interesting!

http://ratings.food.gov.uk/QuickSearch.aspx?q=isle+of+wight

Some shock results!

My Husband & I visited The Crab Inn in Shanklin Old Village in February 2011. We enjoyed a lovely meal & great service in very comfortable surroundings & plan to go again this Friday. We really think it is worth you making a return visit to see the difference since your first review.

Went to the White Lion at Arreton the other evening. We had been before where I had a superb beef and stilton soup and the gaffer had parsnip soup. This time I tried the steak and stilton pie with chips and peas and she had the cauli cheese (she always has cauli cheese!)

The portions were excellent and we both enjoyed the meal. Only two minor things which is probably down to me. I expected the pastry topping to be flakey puff pastry but it was the hard type (like you get on a pork pie)It was quite hard and a case of hold it down with the fork and stab it with the knife. The pie could have done with a tad more stilton but that's probably just my taste.( Not worth downgrading it from a 5 to a 1 for the sake of a piecrust eh kj?) Reasonable prices,good evening out and will definitely put it on our list of nosheries for future visits.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comments, Paul. We reviewed the White Lion a few years back so it's nice to get an update. By the way, the pie sounds just like the steak and Stilton pie that Cat had at the Vine Inn, St Helens.

Hello Matt and Catt,

I remember reading of your visit to the Boathouse at Victoria fort Yarmouth after the gaffers festival some time ago. I recall that you sampled the tea and cakes. My Brother-in-law is the owner and he has worked very hard to establish a reputation for good honest food with local fresh ingredients. I would like to suggest you visit the boathouse for breakfast, lunch or dinner when you next find yourselves in Yarmouth and would be very interested in reading your comments. Keep up the good work.
Kind regards,
Jonathan

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comment, Jonathan. We really enjoyed our meal at the Boathouse and are pleased that your brother-in-law is making a success of it.

Would also like to suggest cafe number 44 in Carisbrooke, it's been open right down my road for about 6 months and I finally got round to going yesterday but it was great! Ridiculously quick service and lovely food, although my boyfriend's lasagne was probably better than my Carbonara which was a little bit watery, it was still piping hot and yummy and the portions weren't too big either. The garlic bread was also splendidly garlicky with actual crushed pieces of garlic visible on the top, probably not to everyone's tastes but definitely to mine. The staff were also really friendly and it was lovely and clean, although they didn't have paper menus which is my only complaint but apparently it's being fixed. I believe they do a late service on Fridays which looks delicious, so might have to try that out :) it's pretty cheap too which is a definite bonus!

We love Lake Fish Bar and always try and pop in once when on our holiday!

Great value, huge kids portions - you really should try it!

Went to the Four Seasons Pub on Friday Night for a meal and thought the food was good, very much a pub meal, but good quality and value, was quite busy with peeps eating. We stopped on our way to Ventnor Arts Festival to see American Comedian Rich Hall, who spent some of his show talking to Mat and Cat, from Ryde? He even serenaded Cat? We wondered if you were the lucky girl!!

Matt and Cat respond: That was us alright. What a night!

12 of us went to The Eight Bells in Carisbrooke on Sunday. It's under new management and is in great shape. The service was good, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the menu was wider than in many places. Carvery was scrummy. Will definitely go back.

Cafe 44 Carisbrooke. just had lunch in this lovely cafe. great service, really tasty well priced food, we had mussels in a lovely tangy sauce, a chicken wrap with proper tasty salad and a real homemade burger, service was friendly and the cafe was clean. l would highly recommend, plus free parking across the road!

Went to the Jasmine Indian restaurant in Shanklin yesterday evening. We ordered 2 papadoms, a chicken rogan for me and a chicken tandoori for wifey. We had a fried rice to share and 2 nan bread. In addition 1 had 2 cobra lagers and wife had 2 glasses of wine.

my wife enjoyed her meal but my rogan was only average. Seemed all tomato and very little spice. This all came to £45 which I thought was excessive. My wife paid by card as I left the restaurant. When I queried the bill she only had the visa receipt showing the grand total, no itemised bill as they had retained that. I then remembered that another customer was only given a total bill and had to ask for the itemised list.

The mains were about £9 x 2 (18) plus the rice say £3 and the popadoms say another £3. The nan bread about £5 this = £29. So we paid approximately £16 for 2 lagers and 2 glasses of wine.

Four of us had similar meals and drink at the Ryde tandoori next to Wetherspoons and that only came to £55. Definitely not repeating the experience.

you reallymust try the little gloster in gurnard just outside cowes. we visited last weekduringour holiday and can honestly say it is one of the best eating experiences we've ever had. the food looked and tasted outstanding (especially the pork belly),the staff were polite,accomodating and professional and the sunset looking at to sea was outstanding. reallymatta dn cat you just have to visit and makesure you go at sunset!!!

Matt and Cat respond: Hi julie, thanks for your comment. We went to the Little Gloster a couple of weeks ago - we're just putting the finishing touches to our review. Watch this space!

Went to the Sportsman's Rest. Never been to Porchfield before - nice little spot.
We ordered two baguettes (tuna and prawn) one coffee and one coke. They had run out of lettuce but that was only a minor matter. The baguettes were well-filled and about 10" long. The young lady serving was very nice and welcoming. The bill was just under £13 which isn't bad.

Before we left, I perused the menu in the window. Prices for most of the dishes were comparable to other places but two stuck out as being rather excessive. An 8oz rump steak meal for £14.45 and a mixed grill with a 4oz steak for £16.95. You could have those far cheaper at the Woodman in Wootton or the Folly Inn. I would go again but stick to the other menu items.

Wheelers, Wheelers, Wheelers - Steephill Cove.
I liked it so much even I attempted to write an interim review until you guys can do it properly.

http://bit.ly/jP0IGJ

Matt and Cat respond: yes, we're convinced!

Hi im not sure if you only do restaurants or take-away's too but it would be great if you could do a review of Chia wing the chinese take-away.

Not sure if its your kindda thing, but have you ever tried a Milkshake from the Moo Machine in newport ?

I'd like Matt and Cat to visit 'Crusoe's' along the promenade at Colwell Bay. Have heard favourable comments from others, but tried it for the first time today. Wonderful location which is open in the winter as well as the summer - must go there after a walk for hot soup and to watch the winter seas. Very friendly waitress and a good selection of food - a lot of it home made. Although I was tempted by the cakes, I had some fresh mackerel and salad which was very tasty, but maybe I would prefer a larger fish or maybe I'm just greedy! Anyway a good experience and will definitely visit again.

well who would have thought it...recommending my own fodder.

The Tap in Sandown is lucky to have one of the best 'cooks' I've met in years...yes we are a 'boozer'..but our staples compare well with the best on the Island for 'pub grub' so ' come on down' Mssrs Matt & Cat ;) I'll buy the drinks


Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your honesty KJ, we're happy to take self-referrals when they're up-front about it! We'll definitely put you on our list.

Might I suggest a visit to the New Inn, Shalfleet. I'm sure you've already been, but I couldn't find a review. However, we visited again recently, but were rather disappointed. The quality appears to have dropped, and the overall experience was a bit "ordinary". This used to be a good destination, but seems to have lost its way. The menu also looks a bit over-ambitious, and needs to be simplified. Used to be predominantly excellent fresh fish, but now looks like a gastropub menu, but a bit "wrong".

What do you think?

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Stephen. Thanks for your comment. We have been to the New Inn, but it was some time ago so we value your update. Thanks!

Hi Matt and Cat,
Have you tried the west bay club in yarmouth? anyone can eat in the country club brasserie (you don't have to be a member)

Their Beetroot and goats cheese salad is amazing and there are tables outside and place for kids to run around

highly commended by a customer :)

On Thursday the IW College Restaurant ended there term with an IOW Produce Night. The idea for their evening was to cook food only procured from the Island; the starters were asparagus from supplier Ben Brown from Arreton (who supplied the Royal Wedding) with poached bantam egg and hollandaise or Godshill duck with a blackcurrant reduction.

Then a crème de barry (cauliflower soup) followed by mains; rack of lamb or sirloin of beef (carved at table) from Godshill or sea bass (I guess from the sea around the Island it did not say) or vegetarian option of a savoury bread pudding, all were served with different vegetables and potatoes & jus.

And to finish a Lavender Crème Brule, a Rhubarb Pavlova (rhubarb grown in the IOW College Garden) or Strawberries and Cream, then a coffee & mints. The night was the best we have been to yet and at £20 for 5 courses and with the high quality of ingredients, it really was fantastic value.

You must try and go next term; they told us they are having many themed nights again next term starting in October including a Robert Thompson Night and another IOW Produce Night. Well done to all at the College and the budding trainees who provide such excellent food and service.

Just come back from Yarmouth where we visited Gossips Cafe. We both had their soup and sandwich deal. A cup of soup each, I had a tuna sarni and wifey had a ham sarni followed by a large mug of filter coffee and cream each. Total £13. For £6.50 each it's excellent value.

Hi Matt and Catt,
Re: The Propeller Inn, Bembridge

I enjoy reading your reviews and feel you have a balanced approach... here is a question :

I regularly eat out and recently went for a meal with 5 friends to The Propeller Inn, Bembridge. We ordered 5 meals, a bottle of wine and a couple of beers. One of the ladies has a multitude of allergies and only drinks tap water. The staff said they couldn’t serve it; we needed to buy it by the bottle. When we asked the management to explain this, she stated that the Environmental Health had told them they cannot serve water from the tap because it is a tap used for washing up. (?!)
We pointed out that the tap behind the bar surely couldn’t be for washing up, it was far too small to get any dishes under it... her response was to become quite aggressive and telling us that we didn’t have a right to "Ask" for free water because she was a business woman and as a commercial premises she has to make money. Unfortunately we had to buy a bottle for our friend, but it left us feeling that this was some ridiculous story about the Environmental Health!

To be honest, having spent £70+ in there, I would have thought they may have seen the value of offering one lady a glass of water!

We will NOT be going back and always laugh as we see the sign which says "Good Company" outside! "Not"!!

I would welcome your views on this please?


Matt and Cat respond: yes, it's a statutory licensing requirement for anywhere that sells alcohol. Details here. You should draw this incident to the attention of the licensing authority (the IW Council).

FAO Sandra
Re Propeller Inn
I'm sure that since last year, Licenced premises are required to provide free tap water as part of their licence conditions.

I wonder if they would of refused Alan Sugar who visited for lunch last Saturday!

Sandra, unfortunately the Island has a few businesses - food and non food related - where the proprietor's attitude is less than satisfactory. Whether it's doing a small favour for a customer or downright rudeness, they seem to have a take it or leave it approach. They don't think or bother about customer care or reputation. It's rather a stupid attitude to take these days particularly with the internet as people can read comments on sites such as Matt and Cat's. The proprietor can't afford a free glass of water but I bet she provides free toilets which cost money to maintain, or did you have to pay for those too! I wager, your comments on this site will cost the Propeller Inn far more than a glass of water. Not a particularly astute move by the management I would say.

Thank you all for your responses, they were very helpful. I used the link from Matt:

From: Consumer Council for Water:
Do pubs and restaurants have to supply free tap water?

Yes if they serve alcohol. The government updated rules requiring establishments to have free tap water available wherever alcohol is sold, in an attempt to combat binge drinking. You can read more about the Home Office’s latest guidance here. Failure to comply with any conditions attached to a licence or certificate is a criminal offence, which could be punishable by a fine or imprisonment or both.

I then rang The Propeller Inn, Bembridge tonight and (extremely politely) pointed out the above.

I probably can’t repeat here what they suggested. Suffice to say they do NOT agree.

I think that PAUL MULLERY is right; this is very damaging to a pub that isn’t busy at the best of times!

Went to the Shahanaz Indian restaurant last night. The staff were very attentive, polite and friendly. The kitchen has a glass frontage so you can see the food being prepared if you wish.

We had two mains, three papadoms, and shared an egg fried rice and naan. We brought our own wine and the waiter uncorked it and put the cork back on a second bottle we hadn't finished.

Excellent food and reasonably priced at £24 the lot. The only minor thing - in common with most Indian restaurants - the table for two was too small. The waiter had difficulty finding enough surface area to put all the dishes on. The table was about the same size as those mini desks you see in a school hall when the kids are doing exams.

We will definitely go again but ask for a bigger table.

The Roadside Inn at Nettlestone opened yesterday under new management. At the moment it is only serving drinks but I have been told that food will start in about two weeks. I shall drop by for a couple of snorters this evening and enquire of the landlord as to the situation and report back.

Had lovely fish and chips at Paramount Cafe in Shanklin last night. A sign assured us that the chips were homemade from real potatoes and they were very tasty but the fish was divine with a crisp batter and perfectly cooked fish. The specials were really reasonably priced with 8oz rump steak for £7. Service was very friendly and they do takeaway so I'll definitely go back.

I know you guys are always on the hunt for a good breakfast - try the Cafe at Yaverland car park. Right on the seafront with fab views - some tables outside to watch the goings-on down on the beach. Fantastic, well cooked, good value and friendly service. Apparently it has been run by the same family for years. Give it a go!

Matt and Cat respond: voila!

Hi
Could you review Bagel Wrap Coffee House as we have moved to 61a Union Street Ryde.
many thanks
Nigel
Proprietor

I have noticed over the last few days, posts have been made extolling the virtues of eateries which usually have negative comments. Have these places changed management or chefs or are these comments spoilers by the owners? Just wondering.

I was thinking exactly the same as Paul!

re the suddenly improved eateries; I also was a little surprised at the radical, alleged, improvements at such regularly criticised places as e.g. Baywatch on the Beach. Still, miracles may have happened (?)

I had a lovely meal at Waverley Park the other night and it'd be great to see what you think. They've recently opened to the public and it's the only place I've found in east cowes that has a kids play area.

Ganders on St Helen's Green. This is a family run restaurant, so the chef never changes and the food is consistently good. We eat there several times a year and we've never had a bad meal. It's more sophisticated than pub grub but not remotely pretentious.

I've hunted through the Ryde section and cannot find a single review on the bageutte factory in cross street. I along with my friends spent our 6th form years living there, really friendly place with lovely baguettes (I advise a small hot bacon one) along with weird but tasty rice krispie treats.
Trust me it's dead nummy!!
;-)

Went to the Yarbridge Inn this evening - our first visit. Parking was a bit tight as it seemed to be a popular venue. I had the fish and chips (7.95) and my wife had haddock mornay (8.95) The fish was fresh and hand battered but I think the chips were frozen The fish was rather on the small side being less than 6 inches in length and not particularly thick. You can get far better portions at other venues. My wife was pleased with her dish but it would be insufficient for someone with a larger appetite.

The dining area was somewhat canteenish, not helped by tables being placed near the toilets. I also noticed that there was no obvious heating which might be a problem in the winter. The room echoed with conversation which detracted from the dining experience. the plus point was that the drinks were reasonably priced. On balance not planning a second visit but we wish the new proprietors well in their new venture.

Dan's Kitchen (ex St. Helen's Restaurant)on The Green at St. H. has been up & running now since c.the end of July ('11).Chef Patron is Dan Maskell - previously Maitre Chef de Cuisine at Ventnor's Royal Hotel. We entertained two guests there last night(12 Aug). Well received on arrival - very welcoming.Good table (which we had arranged at time of booking). Specials of the day (blackboard)and a la carte menu. Both very acceptable ... shortish - 'though more than adequate -, uncomplicated selection. User friendly, sensibly priced wine list with some useful bin ends which we took advantage of: NZ Cloudy Bay Chablis at £23.00 (down from £29.00). Bread (possibly their own)and quality dipping oil. Extremely good standard of cooking (us:fish, pork, steak, 'open' fish pie which Bonne Viveuse considered to be "most unusual but the yummiest I have ever experienced"). Pleasing starters. Excellent coffee and remarkably good, small, warm, complimentary macaroons. Hard chairs = bad for the bottom. Towards the end of service, it would have been good if Dan had have come to front of house for some meet & greet and to encourage feed-back: after all, his name is on his shingle. Really only one little niggle: one of our guests ordered the steak - rib eye with sauce bernaise. It transpired that the kitchen had run out of rib eye however, sirloin was offered in lieu. Then, a.n.o. apology because "the sauce bernaise had split" and the other option, peppercorn sauce, was suggested. Guest declined any sauce. Surely chef could have sorted out the bernaise? This let an otherwise excellent side down. But his thrice cooked chips were A1 and they did bring extra, in their own little container, as a 'quid pro quo' so they got marks back for that. All four of us dipped into a portion of rhubarb compot with crumble and creme fraiche from the blackboard: outstanding. On departure, an equally warm farewell from the three, delightful, front of house staff. Total bill: a most satisfactory £139.75, which incl. 2 x premium bottled sparkling water. Service was entirely up to the customer.
Dan's Kitchen truly deserves to succeed and it seems to have got off to a very encouraging start. We wish it well and we will certainly become regular customers.

I have been trying to find info on the 'OLD STAG', 2 Cowes Road, Northwood, but can't find it on your web site anywhere.
Can you let me know if I just haven't found it or it has been left off for a reason?

Matt and Cat respond: yes Lawrence, it has indeed been left off for a reason - because we have yet to go there. When we do, we'll certainly put a review here.

Gatcombe Tea Rooms has a great location in a sheltered valley. The grapes hanging from the vines over our heads made this feel somewhere special. But the cream tea was over-priced and a real disappointment... Cornish(!!!) clotted cream in a tub, portion of jam in a sealed pack. On the plus side: a good choice of teas and a large scone (but just one). Maybe next time coffee and cake would be safer. Another oddity: teas from midday. No lunches as such. And I overheard complaints about the toilet (always bad news). They really must try much, much harder.

We visited the Gatcome Tea Rooms some months ago. The welcoming ambience with he vines etc belies the fact that much more could be made of the business. I too was surprised that nothing was offered in the way of food except beverages, cream teas and ices: although only beverages were being served when we went.

We had a good chat with the owner, a single parent. She has to do everything by herself which accounts for her limited range of food. I imagine that it would be impossible for her to cook food and serve customers single-handed. Thus everything must be pre-packaged and ready to sell. If she offered fresh cooked food - assuming she has cooking facilities - she might be able to employ someone to look after the serving and the till. A shame really as she could do with some assistance.

Wondered whether you've tried the new cafe at Quarr Abbey yet. We'd be interested in your comments.
Thanks, Jane.

Received a flyer in the post today. Two main meals for £9.95 at the Hare and Hounds. Has anyone tried it yet?

I think that the Hare and Hounds is a serious contender for the worst place to eat on the Island, and I can honestly say that I wouldn't eat there if they actually paid ME the £9.95 to do so. I think it is absolutely shameful that an establishment in such a wonderful location, with beautiful views and such a spacious car park respects, it's customers so little that it dishes up such poorly prepared, mass produced c**p!

I know you are normally interested in restaurants rather than tea rooms but my wife and I recommend Brannon's tea room in Wootton. It's an old fashioned tea room with good food, friendly staff and lovely crockery!
It's well worth a visit.

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Mike and Sue, thanks for your comment. Although there are plenty of restaurant reviews on our site, we love to visit other types of venue too - burger vans, takeaways and we definitely make time for tea. We'll put Brannon's Tea Room on the list - thanks for the suggestion.

I will never go to the Hare & Hounds again after several disappointing visits. From sarcastic bar staff ("Do you sell Flowers?" "No mate, we're not a florist") to a poor works Christmas meal as well as the worst meal I have ever been served which was swordfish steak cooked for so long it had carbonised and was completely inedible. All I can think is that unsuspecting visitors to Robin Hill keep them going as I don't know any locals who'll go there.

Hello Matt and Cat,

Could I ask that you perhaps pay a return visit to The Hare and Hounds? Your last review was from March 2007, and it was pretty favourable; however, as can be seen by the subsequent comments the place has either let things slip quite considerably, or as I suspect, you caught them on a rare good day! Please try and pop in again and tell us all what you think! Cheers.

I'm sure we'll get over there soon. It all sounds so inviting!

Meanwhile, a public service announcement. Perhaps we can ask something of you - yes, all of you. If there's already a review of a venue, please can you post comments about that location in the appropriate place? Sadly there's no one-click solution on this blog so it takes us about 10 mins work for us to move each misplaced comment. We don't get round to doing that very often.

Some folk like to use this suggestion page for specific comments about venues - that's not the idea and means that people reading the actual reviews will be deprived of your wisdom and up-to-date information. We very much appreciate and encourage the sort of informed and opinionated comments that we get here, but do us a favour, can you? Just pop them in the right place please.

Remember - this page is for you to (checks title) 'Suggest a venue'.

Thanks!

Would be interested to hear your view on the Chale Bay Farm tea-room. Great location and opne of the few tea places that does not shut up shop once it gets anywhere near tea-time!!

(I'm assuming this is not already on your site having looked all through "tea-rooms", but sometimes things are nicely tucked-away?)

Surpised to see no mention of the Cock-a-Doodle Cafe at Fakenham Farm, St Helens! Fantastic fresh produce, and for those finicky about there all-day-breakfasts this is a dream come true. You can munch al-fresco if you wish,overlooking the sea/St Helens Fort. Unless you'd prefer to go to less-than-satisfactory alternatives nearby (!) or simply can't resist the lure of McDonalds (?) This place is the antithesis :) (animals too, and people taking in freshly-discovered eggs)

We have been to the Cock-a-Doodle. Excellent place. Food of good quality and excellent value. Look out for their cat, Max. He is absolutely gross. He has to be 2 stones if he is an ounce! He is very partial to prawns.

hiya wondered if you have reveiwed table table yet (where medina quays was) we had a nice budget meal there last week, they do special menu until 630 and was surprisingly nice! we had 3 mains 2 adult and 1 child, 3 puds and drinks for £22! Bargain, full tums and a yummy meal!! x

Having read an online review of Fakenham Farm I would not consider using the cafe if they can't be bothered to look after their animals properly. Obviously this review could be fake but I'm not inclined to waste money finding out. If it is true they should be closed down.

Hi Matt and Cat,
Just wondered if you had tried the Foresters in Yarmouth?
We went there a couple of times whilst staying in Yarmouth back in May and found it to be excellent.
Very good food, friendly staff and a lovely atmosphere too. She even let Jim play the piano!

re Quarr Abbey; delighful spot, cakes and coffee very nice but service, on an admittedly busy Bank Holiday Monday, was woefully chaotic. Inexperienced and untrained staff really let the place down. Pity.

Highlights for us this year when visiting the Island have been:
* Bluebells at Briddleford Farm, Briddleford for a fab cream tea on a Sunday afternoon (lunch menu looked good too)
* Chale Green Stores for a light lunch - great food from their deli, beautiful gardens and lovely views
We wondered if you'd visited yet?

Matt and Cat respond: yes, we've been to both. We agree with you!

If something is so "obviously" a possible fake, perhaps accusations should not be made on this board without first hand experience! I certainly would not feel it a waste of money to exonerate a potentially blameless concern. Or perhaps innocent until proven guilty does not exist in some people's book....?

Dan's kitchen

I know some have already commented on the opening of Dan's Kitchen in St. Helens but I just wanted to come here and endorse those views. We just got back from lunch and want to thank them for a lovely meal and for being prepared to go out of their way to cook an dish from the evening menu, which was fab.

Good luck to all with the new venture and hopefully see you soon.

Four seasons wroxall.
just brill.
great pub
great staff
fantastic food
well woth the visit
go, u wont regret it

Agree totally with you Martin.

This has been our favourite pub on the Island for the past 3 years.

Food is generally home cooked (no frozen chips here!) & always served with a smile by the Landlady Shirley & her team.

Good mix of friendly locals & holidaymakers.

At last.
It's been a while since I posted on here, extolling the virtues of The Four Seasons.
It seems it's finally getting recoginition, although the fact that newly opened establishments are being reviewed ahead of it is irritating.
Surely it's time Mat & Cat headed to Wroxall and sampled the best value pub food on the Island.

Had some good meals while on the IOW because of reading reviews on your site so thanks mat and cat. we tried asian fusion but agree with 10% rip off in a buffet restaurant, and we live in the ‘big city’ and eat at these all the time, and no we don’t pay 10% all the time

the waterfront was fantastic views and culver inn were very nice, we found staff here great all you want is someone who knows what they are doing. however the tap in sandown was the worst food ever, cheap and nasty, defrosted quick and cooked fast, “carico di rifiuti” as the Italians say. Both pubs nearby the fountains and the chalkhead seemed way better all round, food looked and smelt good with friendly and welcoming staff, we wished we had eaten their instead so mainly thumbs up from us scooter boys for IOW grub - all it takes to please us is good service and tasty food, simples...you would think.

as for the kids moaning its up to the parent and establishment owner how late kids are in places you can go always go elsewhere if you don’t like it or choose somewhere kids enjoyment and laughter are not allowed try a conservative club! (or the tap)

I've had a breakfast quite a few times at the Overboard Cafe, Fisherman's Wharf, Embankment Rd, Bembridge quite a few times since they opened this summer. The location is very special as its on a boat, there is a moored pontoon at the side of the boat where you can eat outside and admire the view. Good breakfast except for the 'smiley face' potato product, fried spuds would be so much nicer but hardly ever provided these days.

The also offer locally caught fish dishes which I haven't tried as yet.

The downside is no toilet, the nearest being up the hill at St Helens or on the point.

The lovely lady gave my dog a sausage which was much appreciated.

I love this place!

Have today went to The Larder in Shanklin and was taken back to my early days in London every Saturday it was Pie Mash and Liquor as a treat ,They have started to do this and it was just like he old days ,I recomend any Ex Londeners to take themselves along for a taste buds treat Whilst I was there I meet two other couples and they also enjoyed it . They also do a take away and I purchase Two pies and Liquor which my husband realy enjoyed .

Thanks for such a useful site - we always read the reviews before we come over for our hols.

Don't think you've reviewed Taj Tandoori in Sandown. We went twice: both times I'd say it was top quality curry-house stuff - nothing as imaginative as some of the things on the Maharajah (Shanklin) menu but everything I had (onion bhaji, jalfrezis, keema nan and chips) was spot on (though, to balance things, my wife thought her Bengal Chicken was very bland). They've got an offer at the moment - popadoms, starters and main course for £9 and didn't mind us ordering two of these and sharing the food amongst two adults and two children. Top marks from me.

Also, if you felt in need of a greasy spoon in Sandown - Sunny Side Up (top of the hill by the pier) is worth visiting if only to experience the attentions of the friendly young man behind the counter.

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your comments, Pete. We've added a link to our Taj Tandoori review to your comment. Thanks for recommending Sunny Side Up - we'll have to give it a go; Matt loves a fry-up!

Because we always base ourselves in Sandown (& you have already pooh poohed The Driftwood !) I would like to know something about The Roxy & I cannot see that you have been to Bellamys.Latter seems an OK place, serves red wine but watch the opening hours.

Love a little dig from the scooter boys...for their information the Fountain is now closed; Caulkheads was nowhere near as busy as the Tap, which had a record weekend being full from opening to close from Thursday to Monday. The Tap is a pub...and the best pub ( and busiest pub) in Sandown ( if not the whole East coast).

Maybe I'll get the 100+ Black Country scooter Club that have 'lived' at the pub for the last 4 years to write a few reviews about us and Caulkheads.

Have you tried Mamma Mia's 2?

Love the site! Since spotting a sticker in a window and finding this site, I always have a read and visit places after reading comments posted. So how about adding The Tap to your list to review Mat and Cat - as I would be very interested in your thoughts!

After reading a post here I had to try the food The Tap had on offer (in what was stated as the best pub on the south coast) after ordering ‘Gourmet Beef Steak Burgers’ well who could resist those, and having to order another couple of pints of reasonably priced ale while waiting, in fact it was quite a wait for the food (probably close to an hour) and the pub was pretty much empty. But if its good food who cares, unfortunately it was not good, the roll on the wrong side of fresh, similar sad salad, burger well overcooked, if your going to use a good burger, and it resembled what could once have been a good burger (only CSI would be able to tell for sure) learn how to cook it right - put some effort in to make it gourmet not just say it, the chips were surprisingly ok, not very gourmet more just the cheap ones, here could learn about chips from places like The Taverners, chips can be very nice too even gourmet. It was not even served hot. Waited so long could not be bothered to complain just wont go back when other places near by have been tried and preferred for food.

“Best pub on the South Coast” it’s not even the best pub we have tried in Sandown, or even in Avenue Rd. Shame for us maybe you will find them on a better day.

M&C earlier in the year you asked me about the IOW College Restaurant, just a note to say they have released their menus for the new term starting on 6th Oct with a Classic Night, but also planning a Robert Thompson Night, a Gourmet Night and many themes such as Spanish/Italian and Irish. Would love to hear your thoughts for the £15 four course meal (5 course if you include coffee) on a Thursday Evening or cheaper if you go lunchtimes, booking is essential, maybe a good venue for your theme nights? They will usually send a menu if you ring the restaurant on 01983 535206. The Christmas menus look wonderful. I do not work there just go there to graze a lot and think the aspiring youngsters, and their mentors, do a brilliant job.

Yes; please check out Brannon's in Brannon's Way Wootton soonest. It vies for the title of 'best cream tea on the Island'. Mrs Porter's scones and cakes are home-made and delicious. Home-made soup and bread often feature as the always-reasonable offer of the day. Coffee is good and refilled for free. There's a loyalty card for a free hot drink after every 5. Dogs are welcome at outside tables. So am I. I love this place.

Cafe 44 in Carisbrook does the best breakfast ever and the lunches....mmmmm

Could I suggest to the "Only Fools and Sauces" take away trailer in Brading Car Park? I'd love to hear your comments!! And if you go on a Saturday you can get fresh veg and bread from another van plus cakes from yet another...

Matt and Cat respond: we're big fans of the Brading veg market. The van's also there on Wednesdays. great for fresh bread, pies, cakes and obviously, veg.

Ate at the much hyped Pond Cafe last night - what a disappointment.

However well it might perform as a cafe in the daytime, the prices it charges in the evenings (from £7 to £9 for starters and from £15 to £22 for mains) demand that it be taken seriously as a restaurant. With drinks and a bottle of wine our bill came to a staggering £134 for two! At these prices - not far off London's West End - I expect genuine service: a proper welcome, a knowledgeable headwaiter, maybe even an amuse-bouche. Instead, what we got were what now seems to be standard for chef-run restaurants on the Island: two young girls, who were perfectly pleasant but clueless about running a restaurant. As with the Garlic Farm Cafe, we waited 15 minutes before the drinks arrived - even then, it was only our persistence that got us this far.

As for the food - bits of it were OK, but the meat-based dishes suffered from the overall "brownness" that Matt & Cat commented on in their review of the Priory Bay.

But when will these chefs get the message that eating out is not just about the food - it's the overall experience that counts.

Please do give the Hillside Hotel Ventnor the benefit of your review. It is absolutely fabulous and Gert the owner so hospitable and charming. He really does make you feel at home. Along with El Toro this is our favourite restaurant. On the 5 occasions we have been there it has always lived up to our high expectations.
Also the rumour is true they are taking over the old Thistle cafe and I believe plan to open in Nov

I've heard a lot about Barefoot on the Beach at Colwell Bay. Can you check them out?

Hi Matt and Cat
We have just returned from our annual pilgrimage to the Island. One of the best pubs, in our opinion, is the High Down Inn. A proper authentic hostelry serving lovely varied food including game and seafood which has not been 'gastropubbed' and stripped of all character and atmosphere . Hopefully another one for your ever expanding list. We'd love to know what you think.

Matt and Cat respond: Hi Jan, thanks for your comment. It looks like you came to the same conclusion as us! We visited the Highdown Inn back in 2008.

Thanks Matt and Cat. My usual forensic perusal of your website failed me this time and I have now read your review from 2008. We had very full plates of beef in Guinness with proper mash (not tasteless smooth puree) and veg washed down with a pint of excellent Ringwood ale.

I see that the Rawlings Hotel in Cowes now has a tapas evening! About time to correct the glaring omission of this gem of a place from your site - and beef up the meagre tapas section....??

Hey guys,
any one been to the new maharaja spice lounge in shanklin?

Sadly can no longer recommend Fakenham Farm - all the allegations were true, as reported in the IWCP this week.

Not a venue as such , But have you checked out the Island Bakers stall at Ryde market on Saturday mornings ? , On seeing your recent trip to Borough market this is i slice of that, A fantastic range of breads and pastry's using alot of Island ingredients ( Cheese , Garlic etc ) Get there early tho ( 8.30 ? ) cos alot will sell out .

Since you're now including all sorts of mainland venues here, could I suggest Garlands in the Duke Street Arcade, Cardiff? Their laverbread and cockle pie is particularly memorable...

...and given the ever-growing panoply of mainland venues flooding onto the site, could I make a renewed plea in favour of Bob Carver's miraculous fish and chip restaurant in Hull...?

Could you not put all the non-Island reviews onto a different website, rather than making us read about restaurants that we will probably never get the chance to visit.
Your site is excellent with the unique reviews and helpful banter from the readers. I fear that you'll lose people by too much non-Island material. After all there are great establishments on our doorstep that warrant reading about.

Stop trying to educate us with your unisland supernatural ways you witches, burn them.

On the other hand I found the reviews very interesting and even though I live on the IOW I discovered a magical vessel that for a lot of gold coins will take you away to a magical land where you can try things such as restaurants, and go to markets and enjoy yourselves and share it with your interested readers...I was at the restaurant near were you went called Roast recently and I went round Borough Market, both made for a great day out.

re comment on Fox's in Bembridge my wife and i have had several meals theirs.Never had a complaint about any thing.The size of the meals arn't small it is all freshly cooked to order.The staff are always friendly and helpful.You are always asked if you would like anything extra.And as for the comment about the staff not being dressed up christmassy is a a ridiculous remark,how many places to you get that.I think Paul Mullary needs to visit the restaurant before he leaves comments

Dickie, if you read the two posts, you will discover it was Brunoicat who commented on the staff dressing up. I happen to agree that one goes into a restaurant to be fed not entertained. The staff should not be expected to put on a pantomime for customers. I am sure the staff are also polite and friendly.

I have not been in the restaurant personally but was commenting on Bruniocat's experiences in relation to mine with respect to quantity. I assume Bruniocat can count past 3 and if he says only 2 pebble sized potatoes were on the plate then it cannot be contradicted. He also says the food was of good quality.

The fact remains that certain restaurants appear to be in a competition to see who can charge the most for putting the least on the plate. I care not if the starter is by Gordon Ramsay, the main by Jamie Oliver and the sweet by Delia Smith. If they put mouse-sized portions on my plate, they would get a complaint.

my fave little sarnie shop..... lunch stop in union street ryde great salad bowls rolls Paninis toastys n more all as you want fresh and tasty at great prices and friendly service

Reminder: Brasnnons in Wooton Bridge with free parking for travellers between Ryde and Newport urgently needs a review: Christmas chore for Mat and Cat please!

Matt and Cat reply: Thanks for your suggestion Barry. We hope eating at Brannons won't be too much of a chore! It's on our list.

Went to the recently opened Lockslane (formerly Cafe Maya) in Bembridge on Friday and had a really nice three-course meal. Imaginative combinations on a pleasingly short menu that indicates the food is properly cooked on the premises rather than shipped in on refrigerated trucks. Lovely house red too...

For anyone interested, the contents of the now closed, Springvale Hotel are For Sale, please call 612533. Thanks.

MATT AND CAT!!! This is a bit of a question!? Have you possibly reviewed Forresters Bistro And Wine Bar? I cannot find it on here, yet I cannot believe you've let this one slip through the net?! It's on trip advisor with raving reviews. I think it's worth a visit....

Matt and Cat respond: Thanks for your suggestion, Miss Food Critique. No, we haven't been to Forresters. Yes, it's on the list!

Hey guys,
as i surfed threw the thread i realised you have not updated the Mamma Mia shanklin page,
they have moved up the road in a new establishment not sure on the number but is very nice.
They have brought a whole new look to the place nice elegant and warm.
only been in once through the week and once on weekend and has been full on both occasions.
Try it out matt and catt its rather nice

I agree with Jon. Out of season you need to get locals in...Jon have you tried set menu at Lugleys in Cowes, is really good value and excellent food, see link above, also Mojacs is great value with the free wine, and the Little Gloster do a set menu, when they reopen on Feb 10th.