The Little Fish Market is proof positive that good things really do come in small packages. Hidden down a nondescript side street in Hove, this teeny but terrific fish restaurant has room for just 20 diners across a handful of tables.
The Little Fish Market is owned by the fittingly named Duncan Ray – a chef who used to work at Heston Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred The Fat Duck in Bray. At The Little Fish Market, Ray creates seriously refined food in a tiny basement kitchen, while his sidekick Rob takes care of front of house “in the best possible way”.
The fixed-price tasting menu is a constantly evolving affair (dishes change every 4-6 weeks) dictated by the catch from the local boats, although diners can expect “magnificent” dishes packed with flavour. Dishes you might find on the menu include celeriac with seaweed potato and hispi cabbage, followed by a mussel curry served with apple. Desserts are a highlight too, with options including the likes of a Valhrona chocolate tart and mandarin with cacao nib.
With the multi-course tasting menu clocking in at £69 per person, this is not exactly a cheap night out by Brighton standards, but the quality of food on show here more than justifies the price tag. We were also impressed by the superb service (from just one waiter), while we found the concise wine list to be a good match for the range of fish served to us. Our top tip is to reserve your place well in advance, especially for weekend meals, as tables here often get snapped up weeks in advance.
The Little Fish Market joins a clutch of Brighton-based restaurants that have proved themselves as more than capable rivals of their London counterparts, with other top Brighton joints to look out for including Murmur, The Salt Room and 64 Degrees.