Botanique is a fully vegan restaurant in Hove, Brighton owned by Wolføx. They own several establishments around Brighton including restaurants, an hotel, bakery and coffee roasters. They grow their own micro herbs and even the plates are embossed underneath with their name. The buildings across the road from Botanique is all Wolføx owned, apart from the jewellers…maybe that’s to come.
On a trip to Brighton last year we decided to try Botanique because we’ve always enjoyed eating at their Food For Friend’s restaurant in The Lanes. I wasn’t sure about the menu and told my husband that I thought we’d probably both prefer the FFF’s menu, especially as he’s not vegan, but he told me that I should be adventurous and try it. I’m so glad we did as it was really very good indeed.
We had a very good waitress, she showed us to our table which was ‘the best in the house’. We were beside a large window which looked onto the busy street below, nothing scenic but it’s good to watch the world go by and people watch, especially in Brighton, there’s plenty of flamboyant/eccentric characters around, we love it.
I was a bit lazy and didn’t ever finish writing the above review but we recently visited them again earlier this month. We stayed overnight in Brighton as we were to see Simply Red – tickets from 2020, but we could only fit Botanique in for Sunday lunchtime. On a Sunday they don’t have the full À le carte menu – which is normally small and large plates – but we really enjoyed what we had.
We had the same table as last time which was nice. We remembered that the almonds were particularly tasty and good to nibble on whilst waiting for the meal to arrive and they didn’t disappoint.
From the menu – with only three dishes to choose from on a Sunday – it could only really be the squash dish for us. This came with lots of lovely veg – not too hard, nor too soft – bay & rosemary roast potatoes, local heritage carrots, parsnips, roast chestnuts, crispy Brussels sprouts with miso buttered Sussex greens. All very colourful and well presented, along with plenty of yummy Primitivo & thyme gravy.
We shared two desserts, the pavlova and the ginger sponge pudding. Both were delicious. The Pavlova – basil, blackberry, cream. A large meringue with blackberries and tiny basil leaves, presumably their own homegrown micro herbs. Again, a well-presented dish with a few flowers on top to make it really pretty. If I recall rightly, my husband had the Pavlova last time and it was excellent then too. My favourite.
The sponge pudding – ginger, pear, parfait was great, similar to a sticky toffee pudding.
Botanique is quite plain inside, think olde worlde France. Our last visit was in the evening with tealights on the tables giving it a softer look, in the daytime it looked a little too rustic. Service on both occasions was very good indeed.
We shall definitely pay Botanique another visit.
Ambience 7
Quality 8
Value 8
Service 9
Overall 8
Return? Yes!
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