Petit Pois

Ana Cook

July 29, 2021

Petit Pois Brighton

A short distance from the bustling seafront and the historic Lanes, Petit Pois Brighton is located on the famous Ship Street. It is a bit of a departure from the local food offerings, which are surrounded by a variety of dining options.
Located just a few steps away from the shore, this French bistro is an accessible contemporary eatery with a menu of memorable selections, and a wine list to die for.

When inside

It was a bustling restaurant full of happy diners discussing plates of delicious-looking food. A beautiful colossal blackboard, adorning the kitchen counter, tantalising odours of garlic, herbs, and truffle, as well as a gigantic leg of ham, immediately invoke a strong desire for food. This made me eagerly observe the other patrons get some inspiration from their food, and of course not to miss out on anything on the menu.

There’s a range of vegetarian, fish and meat dishes on the menu, along with vegan options, so the whole Brighton community can enjoy it. The portions on the menu are plentiful and cater to all dietary requirements, with four choices in each of the three main dish options (meat, fish, vegetarian). At Petit Pois, one can enjoy a quality dining experience whether it’s a date night out or a family gathering.

From The Menu

I had the pleasure of dining with a friend who is a recently converted vegetarian, who was both impressed by the wide options available to her. She chose goats cheese croquettes to start and wild mushroom ravioli for a main. I was happy to see snails and frogs legs on the list of nibbles as both of these are French delicacies. Since I had never experienced the latter since the last time I was in France, I found it impossible to resist ordering them as a starter, choosing pork belly as a main and frites and mixed greens as a side dish.

Our list of reasons why you should visit Petit Pois includes a carefully crafted and well-thought-out wine list. Only French wines are offered, and many of them are natural, which is a bonus for us. The list is significantly different from other lists in Brighton, showing France as one of the world’s best wine-producing countries. The team at the front of the house can offer food pairing recommendations so you can get the most out of your Petit Pois experience.

The meat on my pork belly was perfectly cooked and juicy, with a nice crispy crackling crust on top. There was a side dish of red cabbage and tiger-prawns, all served with a flavourful potato mash. Every single bite was delicious, made me wonder about how the Sunday roasts are and made me want to book a table there for later in the week. A fine addition to the meal was our side dishes of frites and mixed greens. A lovely creamy bearnaise sauce was served with the frites. The mustard greens were crisp, fresh and drenched in garlic butter with sautéed shallots served in an ever-so French style. Superb!

It’s Sweet Time

Having had a dessert of crème caramel, which had runny, sweet caramel as well as crispy pieces of caramel, I was extremely satisfied. My dining partner picked a twist on a strawberry cheesecake with a sponge-like base, cheesecake filling, strawberries and strawberry gel topping – a great finish to this amazing meal.

Petit Pois is a French restaurant located in the heart of The Brighton Lanes. This charming establishment is just a pebble’s throw from the sea side.

Our visit to Petit Pois was smooth sailing from beginning to end. We booked a return visit immediately. A charming restaurant and a lovely, warm and cosy atmosphere made us wanna stay! All of our meals were amazing, so we wished to return and try more on the menu. There’s a lot of talent here for French cuisine that has a contemporary flair. For those on a budget, there is a set menu from Monday to Friday, 12-7 pm, offering two plates for £11, or three, for £16, which is incredible value for money and still has a great variety of dishes. Petit Pois has got it all when it comes to a truly authentic French dining experience.