Reviews in Hastings

After having high hopes after reading their web site, we were very disappointed. The service was slow and the restaurant tatty with cheap (and stained) tables and chairs. Food was ok but nothing special. St Clements and The Fish Cafe are far better with the same prices but much better service and ambiance.

Absolutely the best place in town serves fantastic meals at low prices.Had my husbands 30th birthday here and used the party menu of £11 per head-there was far too much food which a few asked to be put in containers to take home.Lovely staff and atmosphere,nothing is too much trouble -cant rate the place enough !

Had another great meal at the Black market. Still my favourite place in town. Friday nights are the best time to go as the bar can get busy on a Saturday( unless you like a lively place). Wonderful night.

When a restaurant seems perpetually full you know you could be on to a good thing. Situated at one end of the atmospheric Old Town, Lathams is a small (ish), friendly and buzzing place to eat and, when we finally chose the right moment to chance our arm at a table, we tested their Sunday lunch. The menu's shorter than normal on a Sunday, but we were happy enough to choose from roast chicken, lamb or beef. Other options got little attention from us, but I noted there was a convincing vegetarian selection on offer too. We began with a compact, surprisingly fluffy fishcake and a ham hock terrine - both excellent. The roast beef had that rare tallow taste that only the happiest cows yield - when they've been allowed to hang properly. The roast potatoes were as good as any in a restaurant I've ever eaten, the Yorkshire pudding firm and soggy in all the right places and the fresh veg exactly the right side of crunchy. Ask for the gravy on the side - the food is too good to be tainted with so much sauce, fine though it was. We even got bread sauce. Sadly we were too full to try Lathams Eton Mess, but shared a creme brulee which came with a satisfyingly crunchy top above a homemade custard belting out vanilla bean flavour. All this, with a bottle of wine, water and a coffee came to just over £50. We're never eating Sunday lunch at home again.

Visited this restaurant on the off-chance last evening when visiting the town for its carnival. It was an excellent night! The modern English menu was superb (you might wonder why I chose the plain ol' burger but I saw another customer ooze adoration for theirs that i just had to try it)! It was truly wondrous. Later in the evening DJ Kev Hill really turned up the volume but know what? The music he played - old Soul, Jazz Funk and Disco -perfectly suited the suave surroundings and I for one will be back!

Really lovely food and reasonably priced. The staff were fantastic! Thanks!

We are a local couple who visited the Black Pearl for the first time this weekend. We are fish lovers and totally and completely recommend this restaurant! The decor was really nice, up stairs and down, the music presented the perfect mood for a cosy meal, and the staff were friendly and very knowledgeable about the food. We had the fish platter for two, and thought we had died and gone to heaven! You really do get what you pay for here. It's not cheap but worth every penny. We will visit again and again.

Visited April 27th '08,a party of 4.Excellent friendly service /good wines/wonderfully cooked meals /great coffe-in simple,homely and relaxed surroundings.Ideal for an informal meal with friends!

great value for money. I would recommend the party menu (I think for 5 people or more). Great choice of starters, followed by crispy duck and then dishes of your choice. The more people in you party the more dishes you can choose but you are always given plenty. All this for £11 a head -great value.

We were in Hastings for the day and had early dinner in the Black Pearl. I enjoyed the downstairs atmosphere so much that we didn't leave the place at all. It was great for dinner and drinks afterwards, the music was just right and the food was fantastic, even the non-seafood option was delicious. The oysters were very fresh and so was the fish. We will come back again.

Best breakfast in the Old Town, excellent coffee. Try the German breakfast it will see you through the day!

we have relatives in hastings and will not visit without returning to the black pearl.my fourteen year old son loves cooking and also loves his food, hence we always pre order the lobster,his fav. great food and lovely people.

Shame ...reduced the food, changed the menu. Sorry back to Laythams. Don't mend what's not broke.!

Went there when it first opened and it was good, now it's even better. Had a great night of endulgence last Friday. The food was wonderful and the place was lively without being to loud. If you havn't tried it yet then you have been missing out on the best night in town. We need more new venues like the Blackmarket. Don't get it confused with the black pearl the food there is really bad and over priced!!

The service was the only good thing. My dog gets fed better. Really BAD FOOD!!!!!!

All i can say is AWFULL!!!! I had the worst night, my 40th birthday. Food not cooked, waited for hours to be served baring in mind that they had our orders 4 days in advance. My friends booked this as a surprise and were mortified by the appalling service we received.

A fine homely Sunday roast at a very reasonable cost

If you want Italian food that tastes as good as it does in Italy, this is the place to go. The regular menu is very good, but for a real treat, try one of the specials. They are all delicious and served by very friendly staff. Expect a meal for two including wine to cost about 50 pounds - money well spent