Sam's of Sevendials

Following the success of his cosy bistro Sam's of Brighton, Sam Metcalfe has toned down his original Sevendials restaurant & given it a more relaxed, brasserie feel. Comfy leather banquettes & a central bar were installed as part of a major refurb, along with a reasonably priced menu of European favourites. Earthy flavours abound in starters of chicken & duck liver parfait or roast butternut squash soup, while scallops with boudin noir edge rib-eye & chips among the mains. The three-course set lunch (£14) is one of Brighton’s bargains, & weekend brunch has a loyal following. Housed in a former bank with high ceilings & imposing pillars, the dining room can lack atmosphere when it's quiet, but there are no complaints about the sweet service. The terrace is lovely on sunny days, provided you don't mind the traffic.