Living in Hove, surrounded by restaurants of all nationalities, I’ve never felt much need to hunt out Brighton’s more hidden dining establishments. However, after visiting Dilsk, I think this needs to change. There is a certain charm and excitement about visiting a restaurant that few know about and one that offers a fine dining experience a cut above the rest.
Located on the Brighton seafront in Kemptown, Dilsk is nestled in the basement of the boutique Drakes Hotel, a hotel that houses around 20 luxury rooms. The décor of the restaurant is sophisticated and elegant, with dried flowers skirting the walls and wooden tables and flooring. With my vegetarian flatmate joining me to sup, we already knew Dilsk had both vegetarian and vegan options on offer.
The Set Menu At Dilsk
As an indecisive (and often brain-frazzled) Libran, one of the advantages of Dilsk is how few decisions you need to make. Hurrah! Food choices are between two South Coast-inspired tasting menus or a set menu, and we opted for the £40 per head set menu. Whilst this isn’t the cheapest of eateries, there are probably few restaurants in Brighton where you could secure four Nouvelle Cuisine courses for this kind of price tag.
The first course was a visual delight, with the bread appearing covertly in the guise of two laminated brioche rolls propped up on a bed of decorative grains, with a miso butter on the side. My flatmate had already spotted the stylish knives, and it must be said that top marks have to go to the restaurant’s trendy cutlery and crockery.
The next course was rather enjoyable too, with a Fried Bantom egg splayed upon Beef Short Rib, with the unique flavour of Piccalilli adding an extra level of depth.
With a choice between chicken or cod for the main, I tucked into what could be described as a Nouvelle-twisted roast dinner. The leading star—the Saxon Chicken—was joined by a cast of artichoke, baby gem, and potato puree, which the waitress drizzled with a sweetcorn-inspired gravy.
For me, there were too many flavours and textures at play, but the presentation was spot on. My dining pal had a similar dish with beetroot as the leading star. Replying to my queries of what it was like, she replied ‘very beetrooty’, which was both a compliment and an explanation as to why I am the one writing the review.
dessert: The star of the show at Dilsk
While the dishes so far had been flavoursome, the dessert took my taste buds to the next level. Opting for the bay custard with blackberry ice cream, this beautifully presented dish had the refreshing creaminess I long for in a dessert—with the additional crunch of gingerbreadcrumbs and zing of fresh blackberries. It was right up my alley, and to be honest, it was so delicious that I didn’t really care what my flatmate was eating, but she seemed happy too.
The Verdict: My Final Thoughts
With its hidden seaside location, knowledgeable and helpful waiting staff, and luxury cuisine, Dilsk offers a unique dining experience you will not forget in a hurry. Clearly a labour of love from chef Tom Stephens and house manager Madeleine Riches, the restaurant takes sustainability, presentation, and your comfort and happiness extremely seriously.
A great choice for a romantic anniversary, special celebration, or if you are trying to impress… well, anyone.
Address: 44 Marine Parade, Kemptown, Brighton, BN2 1PE
Website: https://dilsk.co.uk/
