There’s something extra appealing about enjoying your seafood while looking out onto the shoreline of a British beach, and the Crab and Winkle in Whitstable provides the perfect venue to do just that. Overlooking the working harbour, you’ll be afforded a front row seat of the action if you plump for a space on the expansive waterside terrace.
Indoors and the vibe is fresh and bright with high-backed wooden booths accommodating parties of four and other scattered round tables providing seating for further groups. Come the evening The Crab and Winkle is an adult only environment, so it makes a great place for a catch up with friends or a romantic meal with your partner sans kids.
Seafood, of course, is the main focus here with plenty of classic combinations on offer for those who favour traditional British flavours. Start your meal with deep fried whitebait, mackerel patter or a platter of oysters or plump for a soup of the day if you’d prefer to keep fish for your main course. Here you’ll find a luxurious offering of whole brown crab, seared tuna steaks or grilled garlic-butter-smothered lobster alongside more adventurous things like a prawn tikka masala and a rich bouillabaisse.
A varied drinks list helps to wash everything down nicely, while the knowledgeable staff are on hand to advise and direct customers, chatting through perfect pairings and the various catch of the day options (a lot of what ends up on the menu is sourced directly from the harbour in front, bought from local boats or the fish market below the premises).
As with a lot of Whistable’s best restaurants, Crab and Winkle does tend to get busy come the summer months when tourists flock to this small slice of Kent. Book well ahead to avoid disappointment, and make sure to reserve an outdoor table if you’re expecting nice weather.