John’s Plaice, Shanklin
4th April 2007 7
John’s Plaice is a newish chip shop on the High Street at Shanklin. Matt visited with junior reviewers Bill and Jack one evening after a football match had placed them relatively far from home and in need of sustenance. The shop is modern, with clean white and stainless-steel styled... Read more
Morgans Restaurant, Shanklin
Uncategorised 22nd February 2007 19
Shanklin can’t quite decide whether it is a traditional seaside town like its neighbour Sandown, or a slightly more sophisticated venue, with its smattering of aspirational restaurants. Strolling along Shanklin High Street after a moonlit visit to the Old Village, Matt and Cat eyed the various attractive-looking restaurants that... Read more
Ko Sing, Lake
Uncategorised 9th February 2007 10
The Ko Sing is a long-established Chinese takeaway in the small parade of shops that passes for the commercial hub of Lake. More often passed through on the way to anywhere else than a destination in itself, Lake can nonetheless boast at least five different takeaways. Ko Sing is... Read more
Lee’s Kitchen, Sandown
6th December 2006 9
Like an unstoppable train, the Matt and Cat eating out guide is garnering recommendations for new places to try on a daily basis. Happy to respond to the metaphorical gauntlet thrown down by their readers, M and C ventured to darkest Sandown, specifically to Lee’s Chinese Kitchen – their... Read more
The Smart Fox, Brading: archive review
Uncategorised 31st August 2006
Note: the Smart Fox is now closed and was replaced by the Dark Horse, which itself closed and was replaced by Kynges Well. Brading is one of the Island’s quaint tourist towns, where, in the daytime, the coaches disgorge bemused oldsters to totter from tea shop to toilet and... Read more
The Carousel Cafe, Brading
5th August 2006 3
Slightly off the beaten track of Brading’s gift shops, wax museum, doll museum and tea shops is the Carousel Cafe. It is strikingly furnished with merry-go-round memorabilia – a welcome departure from the usual doilies and pastoral venacular. Cat and a friend ended up in the Carousel Cafe, not... Read more
Kate Cottage, Sandown
29th July 2006 8
There are those who say that the Isle of Wight is stuck in a time warp. If they visit Sandown, these suspicions may be confirmed. Alongside the gift emporiums, crimpolene frock shops, beachware retailers and chippies, are many cafés for visitors who only bought ‘half-board’ in one of the... Read more
June’s Fish Bar, Shanklin Old Village
13th June 2006 5
At the scrag-end of a hot Sunday afternoon, Matt and Cat were in need of refreshment. Turned away from one establishment who saw eating as coming to an abrupt end at 5.45, they sought succour in June’s Fish Bar. It is neat and newly painted, but does not particularly... Read more
Archive review: Siam Pearl, Shanklin
Uncategorised 25th May 2006
Archive review: Siam Pearl is now closed In the middle of the last century, the mock-tudor cafe of K. Gray & Sons Ltd was an impressive feature of the High Street where day-trippers took afternoon cream teas before strolling along the golden sands. Today, this oasis of civilisation survives... Read more
Thompsons Plant and Garden Centre, Newchurch
9th April 2006 0
A garden centre cafe may not be the first place you think of for a meal or just light refreshments, but your intrepid reviewers decided to stop in Thompson’s cafe for a fortifying meal before choosing plants to adorn Cat’s tiny balcony. The cafe is set in the middle... Read more
