The Smoking Lobster in Ventnor is one of my new favourite restaurants. The staff are wonderful. The atmosphere is happily informal - perfect for a seafront setting. The creative dishes are incredibly tasty. If you love seafood and shellfish then this is a restaurant not to be missed. I live in Surrey, the prices charged here are in no way expensive for the quality of the food that is served. I’ve been over ten times and tried a variety of dishes, all of which have been exceptional.
lornam77
£36 for half a lobster which was very disappointing. Just insipid and dull. McDonald's chips and a non event salad with water on it. £36 is not to be scoffed at in these difficult times. The service was great and the waitress was adorable. However the chef didn't care enough to comment.
smiler52
The food is wonderful, I could happily eat here on a regular basis, but working out at £90 a head, that does include a bottle of wine and four cocktails, not an everyday experience. But if you are happy to push the boat out for a special occasion recommended. A starter of tempura prawns, mains of tuna, steak with lobster and the whole grilled Seabass were all delicious.
jameslucy13
We attended on a Saturday evening @1700, were told as there was more than 8 we had to order in advance. This was straightforward however the person organising the orders from our group was sent two different menus and then had to chase up during the week to ensure our orders had been received. On the day we arrived at 1710, ordered drinks, there were 12 of us so a big table, all hungry and wanting to enjoy a birthday celebration on behalf of a friend. When the food came, the portion sizes were small in general, although the steak and chips looked great and those that ordered enjoyed it. Then came the deserts. Our organiser had ordered ahead, asking for the tiramisu for some. On the night he was told we don’t have tiramisu, with no real apology and no suggestion of ‘well perhaps you might like to try etc etc…. The offer was donuts with chic sauce, however these didn’t impress. Throughout the front of house didn’t really warm to our group despite us spending over £1k on the bill. This was made worse when we were told we had to leave the table as it was required for other guests. Some of our party didn’t have time to finish drinks or puddings. Overall I would say, the chef is clearly good, despite what we perceived as small portions, the food was no doubt tasty, however with what seemed a large number of staff on duty we weren’t made to feel that welcome and ushered out before finishing. Feels like an opportunity missed for the venue and many in our party have reflected a poor experience to those we’ve spoken to. Shame as we were really looking forward to the night and had money to spend. Sadly wouldn’t return, but hope this was just an off night when being busy had an impact.
Alison R
Japanese inspired cocktails, lobster and pandan doughnuts - our last feast on the island and what a way to go. Incredible food, staff and ambience! Can't wait to return, this time I'm not sharing my pudding with my husband.
Giancarlo L
Great meal at the Smoking Lobster, sea bass with ginger and black bean exceptional. Really good that they have a kids menu with excellent choices. Cocktails superb too!
RTreviewsit
Imaginative use of flavours you don't normally find in seafood. Sea Bass in Ginger and black sauce was fantastic. Staff were a good laugh. Will go back.
LauraMcc76
We booked here while on the island for a few days after it was recommended by a friend who’d been a few weeks earlier. They suggested we booked and we were glad we did as it’s not a huge restaurant and very popular. The service is warm and friendly, and members of the team were happy to answer any questions we had about the food. I had the tempura monkfish and my partner had tempura lobster - both were hot, fresh and so delicious and came with fries or new potatoes, a tasty fresh salad and slaw. We couldn’t resist dessert and the caramelised milk tart was outstanding. Overall we felt it was great value for money and will definitely be the first place we book next time we’re over on the island.
Sonar8
This venue was 5 minutes away from where I was staying on holiday, really glad I was able to get a booking! The staff were attentive and friendly. I had the smoked venison haunch as a starter, probably could have eaten 5 of them. Main was a sea bass (not a small one either!), I hardly needed the plate for the bones as the fish was cooked so well it slipped off the bones. Hope to eat here again when I visit the Isle again next September!
V7933HIpaulg
Been here several times over the years on our stays in Ventnor. Food has always been great, service good and it’s been hard to get a reservation. Went yesterday; although we warned it would take 30 mins for seafood platter it fact took 45; an adjacent table got the same dish 5 mins before us, despite arriving 10 mins after us. Food was tending to slightly overcooked and was, after our previous experiences here, a big disappointment. So much so we cancelled our second reservation for the week… I’m not sure what’s changed since our last visit, but hope they can fix it. Used to be a 5 star place, but not at the moment.
Excellent!The menu reflects the quality of the restaurant as close to as a michelin star as you can get.The food is fresh and very well cooked, the service is friendly and attentive. The wine selection is very well chosen for the food on the menu, the deserts are wonderful.One of our guests had some dietary requirements and they were very accommodating.There is parking just outside or a small pay and display parking just up the road. The restaurant is very accessible for wheelchairs or other accessable needs.
Michaelmoongazer
Unpretentious exterior disguised a glorious but simple interior full of discerning customers. No wonder, the food was truly excellent, served with a friendly but knowledgeable staff. Not inexpensive, but worth every penny.
sunshine9
I went on my own and had the half lobster, it was outstanding, beautifully cooked and moist, served with yuzu butter which accentuates the fine taste of lobster, one of the best lobsters I ever had! The accompaniments of salad and cole slaw were perfect as well, new potatoes just on the crunchy side, could have been cooked a tiny bit longer, but outstanding overall. Wine by the glass choices from the old world were a bit light (I am picky!), I would have liked a Loire valley white (chenin blanc for example, or a French Pinot noir) with my meal, but these whites are less known in the UK. Service is very friendly and efficient, I highly recommend.
Tony Goff-Yu
Super attentive staff who were more than helpful in finding us a quiet corner for our dog (they also gave us water with ice cubes for him on a blisteringly hot day).The turnip cake starter was sublime and the mains were lovely especially the half lobster. Highly recommend the chocolate pandan to finish up.
Patrik Strnad
The food was delicious, and the menu options were decent, but the service was slacking a bit.The food tasted good, and I must compliment the chefs for cooking it perfectly and making it look most appealing.Both me and my better half had the calamari for starters, which were very well cooked, and the sauce complimented the dish perfectly.I've had the Rib Eye steak - medium rare. The steak was cooked perfectly throughout, seasoned just right, and it wasn't dry!My partner had half lobster, which she said was "the best lobster she's ever had" - more compliments to the kitchen! And for desert, we've had the doughnuts and Délice - which I must say were both lovely. However, they were far too overpriced for the size of the dish.It's the table service where the experience lacked a bit. We've had to wait for our plates to be cleared of the table on multiple occasions, and various things have been forgotten (although corrected eventually). This won't have been such a big issue if it wasn't for the fact that at one point a waiter was just standing there doing nothing, whilst the lovely Australian lady was 'running' round serving multiple tables with a smile.There's also been a handful of occasions where the kitchen staff have called for service to clear their counter with food that was made and ready to be served, and even though there was more than one waiter available to answer the call, the kitchen's call was ignored.It's also worth mentioning that the overall prices were rather high - for what you see in the pictures, we've paid just shy of £140, which feels a little steep compared to other places.I've given this a 3/5.Though this could've been a solid 4 - maybe even 5 if there was better communication amongst the table service staff.Parking: There's Street parking right outside the restaurant, if you're lucky to find a free spot.Otherwise, there is a parking lot on the end of the street, but its a bit of a faff to get to and from because it's up a steep hill, which you DONT want to walking up after you've ate a £70 lobster ?- both options are PAID parking (£3.60 for 2hrs)
The Smoking Lobster in Ventnor is one of my new favourite restaurants. The staff are wonderful. The atmosphere is happily informal - perfect for a seafront setting. The creative dishes are incredibly tasty. If you love seafood and shellfish then this is a restaurant not to be missed. I live in Surrey, the prices charged here are in no way expensive for the quality of the food that is served. I’ve been over ten times and tried a variety of dishes, all of which have been exceptional.
£36 for half a lobster which was very disappointing. Just insipid and dull. McDonald's chips and a non event salad with water on it. £36 is not to be scoffed at in these difficult times. The service was great and the waitress was adorable. However the chef didn't care enough to comment.
The food is wonderful, I could happily eat here on a regular basis, but working out at £90 a head, that does include a bottle of wine and four cocktails, not an everyday experience. But if you are happy to push the boat out for a special occasion recommended. A starter of tempura prawns, mains of tuna, steak with lobster and the whole grilled Seabass were all delicious.
We attended on a Saturday evening @1700, were told as there was more than 8 we had to order in advance. This was straightforward however the person organising the orders from our group was sent two different menus and then had to chase up during the week to ensure our orders had been received. On the day we arrived at 1710, ordered drinks, there were 12 of us so a big table, all hungry and wanting to enjoy a birthday celebration on behalf of a friend. When the food came, the portion sizes were small in general, although the steak and chips looked great and those that ordered enjoyed it. Then came the deserts. Our organiser had ordered ahead, asking for the tiramisu for some. On the night he was told we don’t have tiramisu, with no real apology and no suggestion of ‘well perhaps you might like to try etc etc…. The offer was donuts with chic sauce, however these didn’t impress. Throughout the front of house didn’t really warm to our group despite us spending over £1k on the bill. This was made worse when we were told we had to leave the table as it was required for other guests. Some of our party didn’t have time to finish drinks or puddings. Overall I would say, the chef is clearly good, despite what we perceived as small portions, the food was no doubt tasty, however with what seemed a large number of staff on duty we weren’t made to feel that welcome and ushered out before finishing. Feels like an opportunity missed for the venue and many in our party have reflected a poor experience to those we’ve spoken to. Shame as we were really looking forward to the night and had money to spend. Sadly wouldn’t return, but hope this was just an off night when being busy had an impact.
Japanese inspired cocktails, lobster and pandan doughnuts - our last feast on the island and what a way to go. Incredible food, staff and ambience! Can't wait to return, this time I'm not sharing my pudding with my husband.
Great meal at the Smoking Lobster, sea bass with ginger and black bean exceptional. Really good that they have a kids menu with excellent choices. Cocktails superb too!
Imaginative use of flavours you don't normally find in seafood. Sea Bass in Ginger and black sauce was fantastic. Staff were a good laugh. Will go back.
We booked here while on the island for a few days after it was recommended by a friend who’d been a few weeks earlier. They suggested we booked and we were glad we did as it’s not a huge restaurant and very popular. The service is warm and friendly, and members of the team were happy to answer any questions we had about the food. I had the tempura monkfish and my partner had tempura lobster - both were hot, fresh and so delicious and came with fries or new potatoes, a tasty fresh salad and slaw. We couldn’t resist dessert and the caramelised milk tart was outstanding. Overall we felt it was great value for money and will definitely be the first place we book next time we’re over on the island.
This venue was 5 minutes away from where I was staying on holiday, really glad I was able to get a booking! The staff were attentive and friendly. I had the smoked venison haunch as a starter, probably could have eaten 5 of them. Main was a sea bass (not a small one either!), I hardly needed the plate for the bones as the fish was cooked so well it slipped off the bones. Hope to eat here again when I visit the Isle again next September!
Been here several times over the years on our stays in Ventnor. Food has always been great, service good and it’s been hard to get a reservation. Went yesterday; although we warned it would take 30 mins for seafood platter it fact took 45; an adjacent table got the same dish 5 mins before us, despite arriving 10 mins after us. Food was tending to slightly overcooked and was, after our previous experiences here, a big disappointment. So much so we cancelled our second reservation for the week… I’m not sure what’s changed since our last visit, but hope they can fix it. Used to be a 5 star place, but not at the moment.
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent!The menu reflects the quality of the restaurant as close to as a michelin star as you can get.The food is fresh and very well cooked, the service is friendly and attentive. The wine selection is very well chosen for the food on the menu, the deserts are wonderful.One of our guests had some dietary requirements and they were very accommodating.There is parking just outside or a small pay and display parking just up the road. The restaurant is very accessible for wheelchairs or other accessable needs.
Unpretentious exterior disguised a glorious but simple interior full of discerning customers. No wonder, the food was truly excellent, served with a friendly but knowledgeable staff. Not inexpensive, but worth every penny.
I went on my own and had the half lobster, it was outstanding, beautifully cooked and moist, served with yuzu butter which accentuates the fine taste of lobster, one of the best lobsters I ever had! The accompaniments of salad and cole slaw were perfect as well, new potatoes just on the crunchy side, could have been cooked a tiny bit longer, but outstanding overall. Wine by the glass choices from the old world were a bit light (I am picky!), I would have liked a Loire valley white (chenin blanc for example, or a French Pinot noir) with my meal, but these whites are less known in the UK. Service is very friendly and efficient, I highly recommend.
Super attentive staff who were more than helpful in finding us a quiet corner for our dog (they also gave us water with ice cubes for him on a blisteringly hot day).The turnip cake starter was sublime and the mains were lovely especially the half lobster. Highly recommend the chocolate pandan to finish up.
The food was delicious, and the menu options were decent, but the service was slacking a bit.The food tasted good, and I must compliment the chefs for cooking it perfectly and making it look most appealing.Both me and my better half had the calamari for starters, which were very well cooked, and the sauce complimented the dish perfectly.I've had the Rib Eye steak - medium rare. The steak was cooked perfectly throughout, seasoned just right, and it wasn't dry!My partner had half lobster, which she said was "the best lobster she's ever had" - more compliments to the kitchen! And for desert, we've had the doughnuts and Délice - which I must say were both lovely. However, they were far too overpriced for the size of the dish.It's the table service where the experience lacked a bit. We've had to wait for our plates to be cleared of the table on multiple occasions, and various things have been forgotten (although corrected eventually). This won't have been such a big issue if it wasn't for the fact that at one point a waiter was just standing there doing nothing, whilst the lovely Australian lady was 'running' round serving multiple tables with a smile.There's also been a handful of occasions where the kitchen staff have called for service to clear their counter with food that was made and ready to be served, and even though there was more than one waiter available to answer the call, the kitchen's call was ignored.It's also worth mentioning that the overall prices were rather high - for what you see in the pictures, we've paid just shy of £140, which feels a little steep compared to other places.I've given this a 3/5.Though this could've been a solid 4 - maybe even 5 if there was better communication amongst the table service staff.Parking: There's Street parking right outside the restaurant, if you're lucky to find a free spot.Otherwise, there is a parking lot on the end of the street, but its a bit of a faff to get to and from because it's up a steep hill, which you DONT want to walking up after you've ate a £70 lobster ?- both options are PAID parking (£3.60 for 2hrs)