Wild Flor

Brighton gets a lot of attention but when it comes to food, but those in the know are more likely to wander down the quieter streets of Hove to find interesting, neighbourhood restaurants showcasing fantastic ingredients and experimental techniques. Wild Flor is all of this and more - an intimate, independently-owned bistro with a keen industry following and much-loved by locals for its seasonal dishes and expert wine curation, which is given as much the spotlight as the food.

James and Faye Thomson and Rob Maynard opened this bistro with a small budget and a big dream, and this personal feel imbues the restaurant, and makes you want to sit here all afternoon with friends. Wild Flor is both comfortable and impressive, balancing of-the-moment coolness with ultra-humble cooking. For example, we snaffled the indulgent pig head croquette presented alone next to a dollop of crab mayonnaise, adding a little sourness to the rich filling and off-setting the heavily crisped, big-crunch exterior. This is where Wild Flor really excels, surprising with flavour combinations that bring something unique in a way subtle enough to be universally pleasing.

The menu changes every week or so, but there are some recurring themed nights, like the ever-popular roast chicken dinners, served with drinkable seasonal sauce, golden blocks of confit potato and green beans.

Desserts are not an after-thought here, and those with a sweet tooth will really appreciate the time taken to create something a little different. We enjoyed a deconstructed Eton Mess with fresh strawberries and broken shards of meringue (served in a stylish silver coupe) which was perfectly balanced and light on the tongue, but right now the malted creme brulee with a ginger and orange biscuit sounds incredible. If you’re visiting East Sussex, please put this special restaurant on your list, and locals, we’re jealous that this is no-doubt your regular Sunday spot.

Wild Flor has the feel of a neighbourhood restaurant; authentic interiors, a menu filled with locally-sourced produce and a passionate team. But, since it's opening in 2019, it has become a favourite with more than just Brighton and Hove locals. Indeed, the restaurant has received wide-spread national acclaim and scooped a number of awards over the last four years. 

Wild Flor was founded by James and Faye Thomson and Rob Maynard who, boasting extensive careers in the restaurant industry in Sussex, came together one day to make their dream of owning a restaurant happen. With a small budget, they cobbled together enough chairs and tables to open, and put all of their efforts into working with the best suppliers of food and wine.

The concept behind the menu very much focuses on a commitment to source the best ingredients from local growers and farmers, working with suppliers such as Saddlescombe farm, Neals Yard Dairy and Wiltshire truffles. Where possible, the kitchen team practices whole animal butchery to ensure little is wasted, in keeping with its sustainable ethos.

The same menu appears for both lunch and dinner, changing regularly depending on the season and produce available. An example of what you may be able to expect includes lamb belly fritters and an English muffin with smoked roe and lemon as snacks, and radicchio, goat's curd, blood orange and ginger salad alongside veal sweetbread, vol au vent, spinach and sauce grenobloise as starters. Highlights from the mains section include house Cumberland with sauerkraut, apple and crackling and Cornish monkfish with sage, prosciutto di Parma and gnocchi. 

Reflective of the restaurant's place in its community, the team often host supper clubs, test out new menus and wine tastings, so be sure to sign up to the newsletter to join the next event.