French restaurant in Lewes

“Incredible. Ordered on the phone and drove down from Uckfield, order ready when I arrived. Food was fresh, high quality and unique to other burger joints. Price fair for the quality provided. Will absolutely be back to try the other burgers.”

“This is a great place to bring the kids for lunch. They have delicious ice creams. Also the portions are good sized. It’s not expensive at all and it’s quite tasty. The people are quite nice, accommodating and really friendly. It’s right in the park and next to the paddling pool so the kids can have loads of fun here, you can really spend the day, and have loads of fun recommended.”

“From the moment we walked in, the staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The service was impeccable throughout our visit—friendly without being overbearing, and always on hand just when you needed them. It’s clear the team takes pride in creating a relaxed yet polished dining experience. The food lived up to every expectation. Fresh, vibrant ingredients shine in every dish, from the beautifully presented starters to the generous mains. To top it all off, dessert was a true indulgence, a perfect end to the meal.”

“What a lovely restaurant! Very warm welcome. Good selection for vegetarians. We shared some light bites followed by sharing a Pizza Pesto. The pizza was the most delicious we have eaten in a long while. All washed down with the house red which was very acceptable. We were visitors to Lewes - this restaurant will encourage us to return!”

“What an excellent pub! I only stumbled upon it after a hike. Brilliant selection of craft beers on draft and a couple of cask ales. Very nice beer garden below the chalk cliff. Very enjoyable chat with the friendly owner Dominic. I’ll be back!”

“We celebrated our son and future daughter in-laws engagement here. The staff were brilliant and treated them to a glass of bubbles and cute congratulations motif on their desserts. It was great to have an exclusive little room to ourselves and we felt unhurried and relaxed. Thank you”

“Hands down the BEST pizza in Lewes! Nah… actually it’s the best pizza I think I’ve ever had. No joke! The Fuoco Blue is my weakness. Super friendly staff in a sweet, simply, hidden away location behind the station. And now they do awesome coffee too! If you like a raw and rustic atmosphere, friendly, down to earth staff and pizza that is frickin heaven with every mouthful - then def come here!”

“Nice cafe cum bar in Lewes. Great food and service. I had a meat plate (full English) which was great - not cheap at £15, but value for money. The coffee is great and I also had a 0% Paulaner beer as it was about 10.30”

“Since my first review 2 years ago. I'm really pleased to see how this place has developed. The meals aren't huge, but just right for lunch. The homemade burgers are seasonal flavours. Their Christmas nut burger was a delightful mix of flavours and textures. The loaded fries with vegan cheese and red onion chutney was delicious.”

“It doesn't look very promising from the outside but I was persuaded by the good reviews to give this place a try. Excellent fish and chips - I ordered huss, which was meaty and full of flavour, as it should be. Huge portion of crispy chips. I saw a sushi order being collected and that looked excellent too. A great local, family run place which I plan to return to. One warning - they don't take cards, so you either have to pay cash or arrange a bank transfer which is a bit of a hassle. .”

“A very smart, modern establishment with good counter service and very nice food, I had smoked salmon with dill on a focaccia which was delicious along with a date and chocolate cake, also delicious. The place was dog friendly inside and quiet which was good for my old girl, outside seating also available. A lot of thought had been put into the lighting and mood of the restaurant though I didn't quite understand the art, there is obviously a meaning but it was lost on me, not the restaurants fault, definitely mine. A bit pricey but often cost comes from quality and quality was evident in all aspects of this quirky eatery.”

“Can’t thank the team enough for making our wedding day so special, you went above and beyond. Fabulous food, we had meze platters which were the perfect snack. The gardens are beautiful and thank you for letting us have a few photos there! The Swans x”

“When we walked in, we first noticed the BEAUTIFUL decor and really calming music! The staff were so friendly and made us feel really welcome and wanted! The food was lovely - we both tried the poached eggs w salmon on toast and the scrambled eggs and pepperoni on toast (which we've never tried before but the pepperoni definitely works!!)- the food was lovely and we were full half way through! We chatted with the staff about their plans for the Panda Lounge moving forward and we're really excited to see the business flourish! We will be back! Thank you for excellent service!”

“A lovely quaint pub next to the river. A pleasant atmosphere, really friendly and welcoming team of staff, and the Sunday Roast - I had the minted lamb - was delicious. A generous portion, with plenty of veg and just the right amount of gravy. I say at a small table outside, and the sun shone down on us. I enjoyed my visit here and trust you shall too. 5 stars for the food and the service. A high 4 for the atmosphere. Overall, easily 5 stars.”

“A lovely pub with a great garden and friendly service. Local beers including Long Man and Harvey's on tap. I believe they also had Ascension Cider which is a must try.”

“I visited the Pelham arms as part of a large group for a Sunday Roast. The service and food were excellent. There was a choice of four meats and two vegetarian options. They were serving a lunch menu, too. The gluten free roast was exceptional. The staff are always really helpful. Can’t rate this place enough. Thank you, Pelham Arms.”

“What a lovely meal. All 3 courses were great. Thought the portions were spot on, just the right amount. Great classic flavours with some little twists. The effort put in for gravy, for Sunday's roast is awesome! (Started on a Tuesday) Definitely booking for that in the near future.”

“We had a delicious brunch time snack at the cafe du jardin. The entrance way is unassuming but don't let that fool you, this rustic restaurant serves delicious bites and thirst quenching drinks in a relaxed and informal French cafe style both outdoor and indoor tables and believe me this place gets busy. Our server, Albie was an absolute gem, he worked hard to ensure no one was waiting, very attentive and capable. As you can see from my photos the food is excellent. However I wished I had ordered one of the tasting plates as they look fantastic.”

“I ordered a chicken burger and was really impressed. It arrived so quickly, was piping hot, delicious, and really well packaged. I’ll definitely be ordering again!”

“Service was fast and food delicious. Got 3 small tapas plates which was perfect for my appetite. I particularly loved the veggie quesadillas. Also got a free soft drink with it (tapas Tuesday). The veggie options are great and diverse. The ambience in the evening is great although the music a bit loud. Great for a meal with a friend!”

“Recently been refurbished and very much improved. Lovely menu, excellent service, and good value. Their poached eggs on sour dough bread are amazing, as is their Turkish Omelette. Portion sizes are excellent, they also have a build your own breakfast option.”

“I think this must be fairly new as I have no recollection of this pub / restaurant. Thomas Paine has strong local connections, unlike Casta and Madge. He helped inspire the American revolutionary war and almost lost his head in the French one. Silly so and so. I had another Harvey's Sussex best bitter. One of three real ales on my visit. Very good. Up steep stairs finds a roof terrace. Must be lovely on a warm sunny day / evening. Free wifi.”

“Lovely upstairs cafe, views of the river and shopping street. Always a good experience here, everything made fresh too. Expect to queue for a few minutes at busy times. One of my favourite haunts all year round.”

“Had a great lunchtime meal at Pizza Express Lewes. Starters and mains were tasty, hot and came out quick. Shout out to Luke the chef and Brandon the waiter both very friendly couldn’t ask for better service which made it a pleasant experience. Top marks”

“We had dinner during the long interval. We'd ordered a bottle of wine beforehand which was waiting for us along with a jug of iced water. Although the menu was two course (mains & dessert), there were nibbles also on the table and bread. Quantities of both courses excellent as well as quality. We had beautiful roast beef, perfectly cooked with huge Yorkshire pudding, jus and a gratin on the side. Not cheap, but what is, thoroughly enjoyed”

“Thank you very much for your very kind service today to my elderly friend who's birthday it was today. He was very touched by the unexpected surprise. He has been coming to your lovely cafe for years and will continue to do so because the food and staff are wonderful Keep up the great work!! Xx”