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Family friendly food
Lucy's restaurant by Terri O'Donnell
 Lucy's is situated close to the
West Pier with a beautiful sea view complementing the bright and
spacious feel of this charming new restaurant.
When we arrived at lunchtime we
were met by Kevin and his mum Nuala and treated to the very best
service and eating advice. Simon opted for the highly recommended
Sirloin steak,(£7.95), while I choose the Crab Fish cakes,
(£6.95), and we enjoyed the house wine, which far from the usual
vinegar was in fact a lightly spiced Puglian Red, (£9.00), the
ideal accompaniment for the steak and fish cakes.
Whilst waiting for our meal we
discussed the harshness of sitting in the beautiful sunshine
sipping red wine and watching the world go by framed by the sea
and a view of the West Pier. It is indeed one of the more pleasant
ways to spend a couple of hours and of course there was the
anticipation of our meals in case the conversation dried up.
The arrival of the meals was a
welcome interruption, the sirloin steak, served on a skillet was
cooked to perfection, complete with thick cut fries and
vegetables, lightly stir fried, were colourful and divine. The
crab fish cakes, served with a most unusual spicy sauce with
noodles and vegetables, stir fried in sesame seed oil, was simply
delicious. The combination of the spicy sauce and delicate sesame
flavour of the noodles enhanced the strong flavour of the crab
fish cakes.
The newly built children's
playground nearby, make Lucy's the ideal place for families. With
a varied selection of children's meals and weekend specials, you
could even enjoy your meal and keep a close eye on the kids while
they wear themselves out or work up an appetite in the playground.
A rare opportunity in family dining.
With its friendly and relaxed
atmosphere Lucy's offers something for everyone, you can enjoy
your meal on the patio or in the bright indoor surroundings. The
elegant choice of food and wine at an average cost of £6.95 per
meal ensures at least one meal that tempts your palette. I can
recommend the sirloin steak, as a must for all carnivores and the
spicy crab fish cakes are heaven too. With the personal service
and attention to detail shown by this family run restaurant it's
best to book sooner rather than later as this is bound to be the
place to eat this summer.
Lucy's Restaurant
Kings Road Arches, Brighton
Tel: 01273 220222
Open: Monday to Thursday 9-6pm,
Fri, Sat, Sun 9-8pm.
Japanese delights
Moshi Moshi by Veronica Groocock
 I was a tad apprehensive at the
prospect of my first taste of sushi. My fears were quickly allayed
on visiting Brighton's own official Festival Restaurant, Moshi
Moshi Sushi, in the Lanes. This increasingly popular and
innovative Japanese restaurant more than lived up to its
reputation as one of Britain's top ten eateries. Using only the
finest seasonal ingredients at affordable prices, Moshi Moshi
prides itself on three basic principles: simplicity, quality and
artistry. One unique Japanese feature is conveyor-belt sushi,
which enables the punter to choose from an exotic-looking array of
small but perfectly formed dishes (hot and cold, savoury and
sweet) as they meander past your table on colour-coded plates
(from which your bill is calculated).
While enjoying a heady Sake (rice
wine) recommended by operations manager Jerome Petit, my companion
and I - both sushi virgins - picked out a couple of passing
specials: Salmon and Spring Onion (£2.50) for Jenny, Salmon and
Avocado (£2.90) for myself. Delicate flavours to whet the
appetite.
We moved on from the Sake to a
bottle of fruity Sicilian red, served in giant glasses. The menu
is extremely varied, including several vegetarian options and
made-to-order Japanese Tapas, a summer bonus. I decided to try one
of the distinctive double-decker Bento boxes. At £14.50 per head,
they contain two layers, one for each course. For my appetiser
(top layer) I chose Sakura Set, consisting of Agedashi dofu (tofu
segments that melted in the mouth), spinach and sesame salad
(delicious) and sashimi: a small sample of octopus and snapper
fish, which may be an acquired taste. The main course (bottom
layer) was Grilled salmon fillet cooked to perfection in a tasty
yet unobtrusive teriyaki sauce and oroshi daikon (yellow radish),
served with brown rice. Other options are white rice, or crispy
grilled rice balls.
Jenny was equally enthusiastic
about her choice. She'd opted for Tendon (£5.50), one of the
Donburi dishes: a selection of (hot) prawn, fish and vegetable
tempura in a light soy-based sauce. Miso soup is an additional
accompaniment and, Japanese-style, we ate it after the main
course.
I made room, just, for dessert. As
a born chocoholic, I naturally singled out the Chocolate Platter
(£4.50), its tooth-tingling gooeyness diluted by a decaffeinated
cappucino. Jenny, more sensibly, managed two scoops of ice cream
(£3.00) before her coffee. Next time I think I'll go for the more
authentically Japanese Custard Dorayaki, sweet pancake filled with
creamy custard.
The atmosphere was leisurely and
intimate without being cramped, despite it being a busy Friday
night and the start of another Bank Holiday weekend. By 7.30pm the
place was buzzing with a (largely) young and fairly affluent
looking clientele. The building itself, the Opticon, is inspired
by traditional Japanese architecture and resembles a sculpture of
light. And the sunset-red ceiling gives off a sensuous warm glow.
I walked home along the seafront to
Hove afterwards, hunger sated, mind relaxed, intending to return
before too long.
Meal for two: £45.40
MOSHI MOSHI SUSHI
The Opticon Building
Bartholomew Square
Brighton BN1 1JS.
Tel: O1273 719195.
Open: Sunday to Thursday l2noon - l0pm; Fri, Sat. l2noon - llpm.
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