Birdies Restaurant brings a slice of rural French charm to the seaside town of Whitstable, serving up classic dishes in a warm and welcoming environment.
Originally opened in 1993, Birdies Restaurant has quite the heritage. Owners Philip and Sue Colthup are both chefs with a passion for fresh flavours and the best produce, having worked between New York and London before taking on their own venture. Working closely alongside local growers and fishermen, the menu evolves regularly to reflect the seasons and there’s also a dish of the day so that no matter when you visit there’ll be something new to try.
Interiors have an old school feel to them with mismatched artworks adorning the painted brick walls, and red and white tablecloths covering the simple tables. A tiled terracotta floor and chalkboard menus add to the homely appeal.
Despite the menu changing regularly, there are typically the same style of dishes on offer so that you can roughly gauge the types of things to expect. Traditional French favourites like mussels in white wine and cream or a smooth chicken liver pate feature on the starter menu, or you could plump for a plate of six fresh oysters. Rich beef Wellington takes centre stage on the main section alongside things like lobster with saffron cream and mussels or fillet of hake with a pesto crust.
Despite the tempting selection of savouries, make sure to save room for dessert. A vanilla crème brulee is rich and silky smooth, while mixed sorbet flavours provide a lighter end to your meal should you prefer. Of course, no French restaurant is complete without a healthy cheeseboard, and Birdies doesn’t disappoint with their selection of wonderful European cheeses and accompaniments.
Well behaved dogs are welcome in the restaurant, and if you fancy making a weekend out of your visit there’s even a self-catering apartment run by the owners which you can stay in upstairs.