Lunch at the Pearson’s Arms in the Coastal Town of Whitstable, Kent

I was recently invited to sample the menu of the Pearson’s Arms restaurant, located right on the shoreline overlooking the oyster beds in Whitstable in Kent. Having never visited before, I eagerly agreed, and invited my friend Dawn to join me (we were long overdue a catch up).

Location

Whitstable is a coastal town, located in north Kent, 5 miles north of Canterbury. Famous for its seafood, in particular oysters, it is very quaint with lots of independent stores and beautiful buildings full of character. The Pearson’s Arms is located right on the seafront, a short distance from the High Street.

About the Pearson’s Arms

The Pearson’s Arms is a traditional English pub – downstairs – with a lovely restaurant, upstairs. From the outside it looks quite compact, but it’s surprisingly spacious once you step in through the door. The pub is very cosy and welcoming, with leather sofas and bar tables, and a very well stocked bar.

The decoration reminds you (if needed) that you are right by the sea, with local photos arranged on shelves.

We particularly liked the use of oars as handrails!

Ambiance

We visited during lunchtime on a week day, so it was fairly quiet – which was nice. There were a few people in the pub, and a couple dining in the restaurant when we arrived. It felt friendly. It felt warm and welcoming. Stepping inside from a rather blowy seafront, it was tranquil and calm – and we were greeted with a smile 😊

Upon arrival we were led upstairs to the restaurant, passing the open kitchen on a half floor level.

Our table was by the window, looking out over the shingle beach and the oyster beds. It was a perfect setting.

The restaurant continued the homely, friendly, coastal feel from the pub bar area below.

We chose a carafe of sparkling water to share, along with some olives, while we perused the menu.

The Meal

We had a choice of the 2 or 3 course Set Menu, or their A La Carte menu; to be honest it was a difficult decision to make. Eventually we settled on the A La Carte menu.

I shall talk about each plate in turn as we made sure we each picked something different each time!

Starter

Dawn’s starter was the Crab Spring Roll. The ginger and chive spring rolls were accompanied by hand-picked Cornish crab, a spiced fresh mango chutney and a mixed leaves and beetroot salad.

The spiced fresh mango chutney was the best Dawn has ever tasted.

I chose the Hand Dived Roast Scallops, with salt baked celeriac, crisp parma ham, and pistachio crumb.

Scallops are always a total treat, and these were no exception. The salt baked celeriac was so smooth and creamy and really complemented the seafood. Lovely.

Main

Because we were looking out the window towards the sea, it felt right to stick to seafood for the main course too. Dawn chose the Whitstable Bay Beer Battered Fish with triple-cooked (huge) chips. This was accompanied by tartare sauce and crushed peas.

“Fish was so fresh and melt in the mouth and batter was perfectly crisp. Chips were lovely and VERY filling . The tartare sauce was homemade and perfectly accompanied the fish.” Dawn

I saw lobster on the menu – and anyone who knows me will know I can’t ignore it! So, I picked the Half Lobster in garlic and herb butter, with fries and a dressed salad.

It was delicious. The lobster was beautifully cooked and the garlic butter was just right – it didn’t overwhelm the seafood. The only criticism is that I really wanted the other lobster half too!

Dessert

When offered to view the dessert menu, well, it’s rude to say no isn’t it?! I picked the Passion Fruit Panna Cotta, which came with a brandy snap, white chocolate snow, passion fruit sorbet and puree.

The panna cotta was perfectly set. It was so creamy and luxurious. Very moreish, even having eaten so much already. The fruit puree added a fruity edge to the creaminess too – and who doesn’t love a brandy snap!

Dawn chose the Dark Chocolate Tart, with Kentish cherries, chocolate snow and milk chocolate ice-cream.

“The chocolate tart was amazing, but don’t choose that on a full stomach! The cherries went perfectly with the richness of the tart. Pastry was crisp. An enjoyable dessert and perfect for any chocolate lover” Dawn

Our ‘Summing Up’

Given that the weather forecast predicted heavy downpours, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the friendly smile as we entered, to the attentiveness of the service (timed perfectly – not rushed, not laboured), the proximity and view of the beach, and the exceptional quality of the food – we struggled to find any fault as we talked about our day on the drive home.

Apparently, the Pearson’s Arms are also known for their cocktails. Knowing this, now, we really do regret not stopping local overnight so we could sample some! Next time!

Contacts and Follow

If you’d like to find out more – or book a table – the Pearson’s Arms website is here. You can follow them too on twitter, facebook and Instagram.

Disclaimer

Dawn and I were guests of the Pearson’s Arms in return for this honest review. Our opinions and comments are genuine and not influenced in any way.