Ever since The Lighthouse first opened its doors in the late 1990s, the restaurant has been top dog on Aldeburgh’s increasingly foodie High Street. The “busy, buzzy” space continues on its merry way, feeding locals, holidaymakers and festival-goers with the last word in fresh seasonal food.
The two-floor restaurant is a simple space, with both the ground-floor and upstairs dining rooms featuring wooden furniture and an array of paste hues. Overall, the interior is a happy mix of bare tables and café bonhomie with extra space in the sunny full-dress dining room at the back. The Lighthouse’s menu naturally veers towards seafood, featuring the likes of pan-seared scallops and bacon with salad, or a classic helping of beer-battered fish & chips served with peas and tartare sauce.
It’s not all about the seafood though, with meatier offerings including Gressingham duck leg confit with haricot bean and bacon cassoulet, as well as pan-fried calf’s liver and bacon on mashed potatoes with shallot gravy and seasonal vegetables. There’s also Sirloin steak, which arrives at the table with hand-cut chunky chips and a leaf salad, as well as your choice of accompaniment (choose from green peppercorn, blue cheese, garlic and herb butter or shallot gravy).
To finish, perhaps try sticky toffee pudding topped with clotted cream or a boozy banana pancake with toffee crunch ice cream. Those lacking a sweet tooth can instead opt for a delicious cheeseboard which is served alongside savoury biscuits and homemade Lighthouse chutney.
The Lighthouse has also moved with the times by introducing a dedicated vegan menu, which features dishes such as pear and walnut salad with balsamic dressing, Indian vegetable curry with basmati rice and mango chutney, and puddings such as poached pear in a chilli and saffron syrup, served with a scoop of mango sorbet.
Friendly, knowledgeable service is appreciated too, as is the well-spread reasonably priced wine list.