Samphire

One word, WOW! This place did not disappoint. We had the crab rarebit to start, and this was a 20/10. My sister had the prawns and she said they were super meaty and flavoursome. The focaccia was the best we’ve ever had! We then had roast dinners, chicken supreme and beef, with a side of pigs in blankets and cauliflower cheese. The portion sizes were ample, and great value for money. The staff were warm and friendly and super attentive. Will definitely be returning!

Enjoyed a beautiful lunch at Samphire to celebrate my birthday. Food is absolutely fabulous, there’s a wide drinks selection, wonderful friendly staff and service. Very very special restaurant and highly recommended.

A real treat. Hearty and flavourful meals. Delicious ham with creamed leeks, fish pie and Creole mussels. Brilliant vegetarian options which everybody enjoyed. Traditional desserts with excellent textures. Very long and interesting wine list. Friendly staff and jolly atmosphere. The only thing that spoiled it was that a children’s dish from the children’s menu was spicy, it didn’t state this, and she didn’t eat much.

Samphire is a wonderful independent, family-run bistro in the heart of Whitstable, offering a true taste of Kent and the South East. Their commitment to fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms, fishermen, and producers is evident in every dish. The ½ dozen oysters with juniper mignonette are a must-try—exceptionally fresh, plump, and bursting with flavor. For dessert, the Miso & sea salt brownie with miso & caramel ice cream is an absolute delight. The touch of sea salt elevates the flavors, creating a perfect balance of sweetness and umami. A fantastic spot to experience local cuisine with a warm and welcoming atmosphere!

This is a gem! I'm Celiac and the staff were super accommodating. The cheese and ham croquettes were out of this world!

Amazing food, kind staff, good quality products, best spot in Whitstable so far! Thanks a lot, we will be definitely back :) Elena Frugoni

Started the meal with a round of oysters which were superb. Had the focatia for starters which was truly incredible. Fluffy interior with deep roasted garlic flavours, absolutely delicious. Had the bacon chop for main which was recommended by the server. Very tender and juicy with a lovely rich porky flavour. Shared a selection of the sides which were all delicious. Would definitely recommend to a friend.

We had a great birthday lunch at Samphire! The food was delicious and we had a lovely window seat 🩷

Looking for a day trip from London to have some excellent seafood? Samphire in Whitstable is one of the places I wish I knew about sooner. I know places can sometimes only be as good as their chefs or staff so if that is true, honestly come here now. Everything I had was EXCELLENT. Truly spectacular, if I lived in Whitstable, you would find me here regularly. I tried a few things on the menu but only had pics of a few of the dishes. I love to enjoy the day lunch special that is offered week days. Some of the excellent meals we had included: Dayboat -skate wing (Dayboat option was my favorite) Risotto with Lions Mane Pork Chop with Mash and Gravy Truly, the food here is outstanding and Michelin worthy. I adore this place and can't wait to be back to try more. Staff was friendly, attentive and knew the menu well. Food is so flavorful and served at perfect temperatures and excellent. I'm so happy with our meal here and can't wait to try more!

Extremely disappointed with the food and the wait staff. To begin with the menu's did not match the online one. Some of the potatoes were under done while the Porter house steak was tough and chewy. Lastly the head waiter was wearing gym Shorts. Over priced and too expensive for the meal we received. Would not recommend!

Very pleasant coffee shop/restaurant. Menu changes during the day. I went at 11am and had breakfast, very good scrambled eggs on toast and good latte. Very popular, the full English looked very tempting. Good service, but not too speedy.

Situated right next door to the local legend that is Wheelers I'm sure that Samphire does quite well from the disappointed punters who have not had the foresight to book ahead and are forced to look elsewhere for their sustenance. However, beware because Samphire is a pretty decent place in its own right and on our visit for a late Saturday brunch many folks were being turned away. We had a nice table near the front of the light and airy room which is simply furnished with lots of wood and a rustic, slightly bohemian feel. It's certainly quite different to the competition in Whitstable and, along with Pearson's, is probably a little more "trendy" than some of the more "tired" establishments in town. The young, friendly staff fit in well with the vibe of the place and are helpful and efficient. After a walk along the front from Herne Bay to Whitstable we were peckish but wary of over eating with a fish feast on the horizon for our supper; just what the Samphire's brunch menu was made for! After a bit of internal debate, one of those menu's where everything appeals, I plumped for the omelette Arnold Bennett which came perfectly cooked with just the right oozing texture and full of fishy, herby loveliness. B had the gypsy duck eggs with spinach and chorizo which looked very fetching when brought to the table bubbling in a clay dish. B declared herself to be very satisfied with her choice and she was soon wiping the dish out with the last of the bread. We washed this down with a glass of the house Sauvignon Blanc which was fresh, dry and well chilled. A jug of tap water with plenty of ice and slice or two of lemon was a nice touch. The evening menu was chalked up on a blackboard and looked very appealing. A selection of perhaps 5 or 6 mains always looks good to me and the prices seemed pretty reasonable for this quality of food in Whitstable. Although I was not really bowled over by Whitstable itself I would definitely return to Samphire if I find myself in town again.

We booked a table for Sunday brunch for 11:45. We had some traffic, driving down from London and arrived a few minutes late. I went in to get the table, while my friends parked the car. I was seated a pleasant table, right away. I was given a delightful brunch menu with lots of of interesting choices to to peruse, while I waited for my friends. Then a waitress came by and said brunch was over, took my menu and handed me a lunch menu with typically British uninspiring choices. Then she came back and said that was the weekday lunch menu, and took it back, saying she'd return with the weekend lunch menu. My friends arrived and a different waitress came by and said their printer was having issues and that most of the lunch choices (except for the good items) were "on the board". She did have one copy of the "correct" menu, but she said she needed it as it was her only copy. I would have loved to have tried some of their breakfasty/brunch choices, it was after-all, only 12:20 by the time the menu shuffle had ended (and the whole time I saw egg dishes coming from the kitchen). At no time were any of the waitstaff rude or unpleasant. Disorganized, very much so. I think the problem may rest with their chef and what he or she may deign to cook at what hour of the day, customers be damned. We did have to send back a plate over very under-cooked mussels back and my chicken croquets were like hockey pucks-hard and flavorless. If I were to give this joint another chance, I'd come earlier in the day and hope for the weekend brunch menu, which was the best of the four I was shown.

Best place to eat in Whitstable IMO. Classic dishes with a modern twist and always tasty. Best part of the experience is the service which has been superb on every visit.

A nice place for breakfast (black pudding is lovely as is the Bircher muesli) however the evening menu is unpredictable, sometimes it's just right and other times bizarre. Friendly service.

Yes, we were one of those people that were turned away from Wheelers but it's ok... samphire was still very delicious and the staff/service were fab too. I must admit, I must also applaud them for having their kitchen open beyond 8.30pm... which you'd think would be normal.... but no. Everyone else closed their kitchen at 8.30pm.... in July. Really England!!

By far one of the best meals! Out for an anniversary celebration with hubby. Our hostesses were so welcoming and informative. The sea bream was amazing and my husbands meal was a taste sensation. I could not recommend this enough. Very understated and the chef is incredibly talented. This restaurant made it a very special night for us

Went here just for a coffee and a quick snack with my mother and have been vowing to go back. The service and food were good and the chalk board of seasonal, homemade evening meals looked very tempting.