Deal is our favourite town on the Kent coast
Mainly because there’s a great line up of restaurants down there now, with the likes of The Rose and the Blue Pelican turning heads in recent years. And the latest addition to see us make the trip down to Deal is Cherub’s, a residency above The Bohemian pub from chef Jakob Grant, who has previously worked at Sargasso in Margate and Bouchon Racine in London.
Eat This
Jakob’s seasonal menu changes weekly, making the most of local suppliers such as fishmonger Jenkins and Sons, and butcher The Black Pig, both of which are located just around the corner.
On our visit, we loved the anchovies and peppers in olive oil; the crunchy radishes with a big dollop of whipped smoked cod’s roe; the chicken terrine with boudin noir and prune; and the crisp baguette with local butter.
For the mains we had turbot with roast fennel in a bisque sauce, and the absolute standout dish of the night – slow-roast lamb shoulder with crisp skin, chickpeas and yoghurt. Super simple but very accomplished cooking. We finished up with a classic St Emilion au Chocolat; rich chocolate cream with a layer of crushed sherry-soaked amaretto biscuit.
Drink This
While Jakob is fully in charge of the food menu in the upstairs dining room, the drinks are all from the pub downstairs. The wine on offer is not really a match for the food, so we settled with a good old pint instead.
Why Go
Though this is a temp residency, Jakob is a clearly a talented chef, and if this is a test drive for having his own proper restaurant then we’re very much looking forward to whatever comes next. In the meantime, this residency is well worth a visit on your next seaside trip.
Key Information
Address | 47 Beach St, Deal CT14 6HY
For more information | @cherubs.deal