When Burnt Orange was named best restaurant in the BRAVOS 2025, we decided we were long overdue a visit. Burnt Orange won best restaurant at the BRAVOS 2022 and 2023 and came second in 2024.
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Nestled in Middle Street, between the Lanes and the seafront, Burnt Orange is a welcoming and inviting, cosy and stylish restaurant, with some outdoor space for al fresco dining. We sat inside (it’s so windy at the moment!) The staff looked after us really well. They were attentive, keen to give recommendations if we needed, keep our table abundant and glasses full.
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The Burnt Orange Experience For Two
We decided to go for The Burnt Orange Experience For Two (£39 per person and available for up to six guests), which can be bought as gift voucher (£78 for two people sharing). There is also The Burnt Orange Veggie Experience For Two (£74 for two people sharing) if you’re not a meat eater. This offering is billed as “Leave the selections to us, and we’ll send a delicious spread of dishes to share. No break in conversation required.” I love that, because, I am terrible at choosing when everything looks so delicious! And I love sharing, but sometimes if you’re a newbie, it’s hard to know exactly how many dishes to choose. I could have been swayed by the spiced calamari fritti (£11) though but we’ll have to try that next time.
The Spring menu we experienced included wood-fired flat bread with sesame brown butter, romano pepper hummus with confit onion, halloumi Calamansi and green chilli honey and smoked lamb shoulder cigars with padron yoghurt. We then had BBQ chicken thigh with green olive, roast stone bass Sobrassada, with borlotti and wild garlic, smoked miso aubergine with crispy onions and sour cream. The sides were skillet-baked potatoes with herb cream and sheep’s Cheese, and bitter leaf fattoush with saffron vinaigrette, pomegranate and crouton. Gosh, my mouth is watering just recounting it all to you.
Drinks
Burnt Orange speciality is Margaritas (Flor de Limón, Amaro Smoky, Lychee & Basil and Yuzu Spicy, ranging from £12.50 to £13.50.) My partner opted for Lychee & Basil and I exercised my reviewer’s rights and enjoyed a good sip. This green number was punchy and well-made, with a floral flavour. The vast drinks menu ranges from Champagne and sparkling wines, and a dozen signature cocktails, to Sake, Mezcal and other spirits, with wines, including a range of orange wines, in between. I opted for a glass of Prosecco (£9.50). Cocktails that caught my eye included a Hot Honey Lemon Drop and Bread & Butter Old Fashioned. Cocktails priced at £12.50 to £14.
Starters
Our Experience Menu starters came in quick succession and I was most excited for the smoked lamb shoulder cigars, which in the picture above sort of look like spring rolls. The lamb was fragrant, juicy, and their casing light and melted in the mouth. Complemented with padron yogurt and other fruity delights, this was the showstopper of the starters. I could have eaten another. As you can see from my photos, this is food made with love, with considered flavours alongside thoughtful and beautiful combinations.
The hummus was hearty and comforting, slathered with layered toppings. The bread was oily in the best and ravish-worthy way. I savoured every morsel to scoop up each drip and juice off each sharer dish, even stopping our efficient waitress from sweeping away a “finished” plate before I had devoured everything. The halloumi was citrusy (that would be the Calamansi) and bathed in flavour. One thing to note here is if you like big piled plates, Burnt Orange isn’t the restaurant for you. But if you like quality over quantity and trying lots of different things it is. There’s one piece of halloumi each.
Wood-Fired Mains
This restaurant prides itself on “wood-fired flavours” (as well as “well-made drinks”. So, next up was the chicken, the bass and the aubergine with potatoes and fattoush “on the side”. The chicken was the most tender and dreamy chicken I have ever tasted. I can imagine it in my mouth now. Light, juicy meat with crispy skin spiced with tagine. The aubergine was also a favourite, balanced with sour cream and crispy onions. Wild garlic was the main character of the potato side, giving the plate that unmissable seasonal green wild garlic colour. Now is a good time to mention how colourful and fresh each plate was. The bass was red, yellow and green, thanks to Sobrassada sausage, borlotti beans and fragrant salad.
The award for the prettiest dish goes to bitter leaf fattoush (with saffron vinaigrette, pomegranate and croutons), pictured here. It tasted as good as it looks. Fresh, crunchy, sweet and sour.
Burnt Orange: Desserts
We had booked a late table and service slowed as the evening closed in, so we decided we were full up from the experience menu and didn’t opt for dessert this time round. The cost of desserts, drinks and service charge is on top of the price of the experience menu so we paid £54 on top of our £78 voucher for two drinks each and service. Dessert options include dark chocolate mousse, with baklava crumb and sea salt (pictured – £8), Catalan custard tart with fig and cinnamon (pictured – £8), dulce de leche ice cream with chocolate crumb (£4), chocolate truffles with salted caramel (£4) or baked Tunworth cheese with Fig & Bullet chilli jam, croutons (£12).
Of course, in true Burnt Orange fashion, there are four dessert cocktails to choose from, a selection of dessert wines and port. Maybe next time, I’ll just go for drinks and desserts. Yes, that’s plural.
More About Burnt Orange
Burnt Orange opened in 2021 and is run by the same team as Tutto, The Salt Room and The Coal Shed. It is open 12pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 1am Friday to Saturday and midday until 11pm on Sunday. The last seating for food is 10pm Monday to Saturday and 9pm on Sundays. The restaurant is card only. Dogs are welcome on the terrace only.
Address: 59 Middle Street, Brighton, BN1 1AL
Burnt Orange Website
