The idyllic and charming seaside town of Deal was the last stop on our week-long trip to the Kent seaside (Margate, Ramsgate and Botany Bay). With the uncertainty of the pandemic still looming, a lot of places were still closed for business so we didn’t explore much from a culinary perspective.

However, there was one place that I REALLY wanted to visit – The Rose Deal – and luckily there they were open for the duration of our trip!

The Rose is a historical pub that has been standing for over 200 years and has been tastefully renovated into a hotel and a restaurant. We initially looked at staying here but they were fully booked for the dates in Deal. But we made sure we had a meal here before departing for London.

We started with seasonal plates like Heritage Tomatoes Charred Peaches and Marcona Almonds and Jersey Royals Grilled Leek Hearts, Slow Cooked Egg for starters

Craving something light for our mains for a summery evening, we opted for their fish dishes – Skate Wing, Garlic Broth, Young Potatoes and Rainbow Chard and Lemon Sole, Grilled Cucumber and Dill Butter Sauce.

Finally, a warm and gooey Chocolate Fondant with Ice Cream was the perfect way polish off a fine meal.

Everything was fabulous! In fact, we loved the food so much we returned the very next day for another meal!

This time, we tried a selection of their ‘Snacks’ to get a feel for the range of their cooking.

Whipped Cod’s Roe, Radishes

Devilled Eggs, Watercress

Fried Chicken, Dill Ranch dressing

Crab Doughnut

Having tried a largely pescatarian menu the previous evening, we decided to go all in with the meat. Both of us had Aged Feather Steak, Crispy Kale, Smoked Béarnaise followed by THAT Warm Chocolate Fondant with Ice Cream again!

The food in The Rose is absolutely delicious and I would highly recommend this place if you are visiting or staying in Deal. It does get booked up really quickly, so booking in advance is highly recommended. They are currently running a special collaboration with renowned chef Nuno Mendes so it’s definitely worth checking out.

DRINK

Whilst in Deal, the following places are great for a pint (or many):

The Kings Head – Huge beer garden, overlooking the Deal seafront and pier.

Ship Inn – cozy little traditional pub in Deal’s famous Middle Street.

The Bohemian – Gastro pub vibes with an upstairs section and large beer garden at the rear.

Top Tip : Stop by the No Name Shop on Deal High Street, a charming deli/bakery where you can stock up on cheese, charcuterie, olives, bread, pates and pastries. Perfect to takeaway or for a picnic on the beach on a warm, sunny day!