JoJo’s

Nikki Billington and Paul Watson continue to thrive at this super-friendly indie venue in a low-slung, whitewashed building overlooking the North Sea, delivering their fantastic take on English-style tapas to an appreciative crowd of locals, foodies and holidaymakers.

Consistently fabulous flavours combined with keen prices make for a winning combination, and we concur with the reader who reckons it’s “probably the best value for money you can find” in Whitstable. Impeccable sourcing and culinary craftsmanship shine through, whether you’re nibbling on wafer-thin slices of charcuterie with crostini and homemade jelly or sampling the full range of individual items and mezze-style feasts – anything from JoJo’s famous beer-battered calamari with garlic mayo to char-grilled sardines, mutton and feta koftas with spicy tomato sauce, couscous salad and stuffed mini red peppers. Despite the menu changing regularly the above make frequent appearances on the line-up alongside fresh veggie plates of things like puy lentil salads, patatas bravas (everyone’s favourite, surely?) and pea and mint arancini. For something light plump for a couple of the homemade dips, like hummus or tzatziki, which are served with warm pitta bread and happen to be the perfect accompaniment to a chilled glass of something.

The premises are licensed, but sadly the popular BYO policy has been withdrawn. This, however, isn’t all bad news as there’s a fun and fruity drinks list that showcases bottles from around the world. Expect to pay from around £20 for a house serve, with Champagne not breaking the £40 mark.

As with many of Whitstable’s best restaurants, JoJo’s is of course busiest on those warm summer days when the terrace out front is packed with people enjoying the delights coming from the kitchen as well as the scenes in front that stretch out to the sea. If you can, try to book ahead and do note that opening times vary in accordance with the seasons.

JoJo’s is a family run establishment, and is your go-to spot for a delicious, informal dining experience in Whitstable. As an independently owned and fully licensed restaurant, the team takes pride in serving freshly prepared, homemade dishes with a Mediterranean flair. From mouthwatering mutton and feta koftas to grilled sardines with lemon and black pepper, this menu is a celebration of delicious Mediterranean influences. At JoJo’s, the team are proud to embrace the joy of sharing, with most of their dishes crafted for a communal dining experience. Every item is made to order, using only the finest ingredients sourced from trusted local suppliers - they are committed to quality, ensuring that their meat and eggs are free-range, and their fish is sourced from sustainable stocks. Furthermore, the garden at JoJo’s is not just for show, it actively contributes to the kitchen, providing seasonal organic vegetables and leaves. The beautiful flowers adorning the restaurant? They often come straight from JoJo's garden, adding a touch of freshness and beauty to your experience.

The vegetarian mezze board includes hummus, tzatziki, crostini, Gorgonzola, Ashmore, olives, pitta bread, Moroccan bulgur wheat salad, puy lentil shallot and herb salad, and an Indian spiced chickpea salad with Greek yoghurt, and is a great way to start your meal. The meat board typically contains free range artisan meats typically including chorizo, lomo, fiocco di spalla, serrano bodega ham and cecina smoked cured beef. There are plenty of individual portions of meat on the menu, along with cooked meat koftas and marinated bavette steak. Haddock and cod goujons are also on the menu, along with mackerel and plaice fillets and calamari. There are a selection of salads and vegetables, and the menu concludes with desserts such as cheese options and homemade puddings.