Terre à Terre

This veggie-vegan trailblazer (strutting its stuff since '93) still pulls in the crowds. The food remains innovative with dazzling flavour combinations and menu descriptions that are lengthy, esoteric and a little confusing. Inspiration comes from across the globe, backpacking its way from the off; an opener of 'arepas chilli candy', for example, which is deep-fried corn cakes rolled in spice dust and served with chilli chelly jelly, avocado and lime hash, chilled pokey gazpacho and a candied chilli. There's no holding back at main's either; perhaps a 'rösti Raj' - crispy fried potato, onion and garlic rösti topped with griddled tandoori halloumi, channa tamarind dhal, coconut, green chilli and curry leaf chutney with deep-fried chick peas, chilli slivers, and dressed with tangy lime and Mumbai mixed spice dust. And all this colourful fun's just a stone's throw from the English seafront, the modern, up-tempo restaurant appropriately decked out in bright tones with staff who share a passion for the food, while organic and biodynamic wines further enhance credibility.