Jurassic Seafood and Wine Bar, Dorset

Background

In my third or fourth review I had read a book called 'The Dinosaur Hunters'. In this review I told you (partly because of this book) we would be visiting Lyme Regis and the Natural History Museum on our honeymoon. We did and on our visit to Lyme Regis we found this gem of a restaurant.

The area of Lyme Regis was beautiful, we walked to The Cobb and after a couple of hours on the beach fossil hunting and grinning ...
...for £3.

Setting

Near to this restaurant, but down a steep hill, are several pubs with gardens facing the sea, if you want a pre-meal drink. When we there the lack scribbled clouds threatened, whilst sun warmed our shorts-adorned legs on the cobbles. The dramatic scenery I expected from Lyme Regis did not disappoint.

The walk up the hill to book this meal was hard work, but well worth it. Outside are big ... more

Background

In my third or fourth review I had read a book called 'The Dinosaur Hunters'. In this review I told you (partly because of this book) we would be visiting Lyme Regis and the Natural History Museum on our honeymoon. We did and on our visit to Lyme Regis we found this gem of a restaurant.

The area of Lyme Regis was beautiful, we walked to The Cobb and after a couple of hours on the beach fossil hunting and grinning at 2p machines, I bought one from The Fossil Shop for £3.

Setting

Near to this restaurant, but down a steep hill, are several pubs with gardens facing the sea, if you want a pre-meal drink. When we there the lack scribbled clouds threatened, whilst sun warmed our shorts-adorned legs on the cobbles. The dramatic scenery I expected from Lyme Regis did not disappoint.

The walk up the hill to book this meal was hard work, but well worth it. Outside are big models of a shark, lobster and something else with sharp teeth (these were a little tacky, but great for photos with hands in their mouths and scared looks on faces).

First Impressions

The restaurant was set out with about thirty to forty tables with plenty of space. The walls were hung with both contemporary and local pieces and popular prints from the last century. Included in these was a mould of an Iguanadon fossil, or it my have been the real thing (I didn't get close enough to see and if it was I imagine it would be in the Mary Anning corridor of the Nat. Hist. Museum.)

This place is very laid back in comparison with the production line feel of even very high quality eating places in Manchester. When we reserved our table for half eight we were told we could arrive an hour early if we wanted to as they only ever reserved tables for the whole night. On the Monday night we visited, there were only about six to eight tables occupied anyway.

Tablecloths were decorated with sine bottles (I was a little disappointed none of these wines were on the menu) and wipe-clean, so environmentally friendly saving on washing costs and disposable waste. The lighting was romantic and candles were lit at each table.

Beverages

There was a bar just past the entrance, which served a huge variety of drinks including beers on draught (Becks, Red Stripe, John smiths, Guinness, Thwaites and Stowford Press Cider. Many spirits, an extensive wine list and hot beverages were also available. House wine was available at £9.95 a bottle (very reasonable) or £3.95 for 250ml glass. Three types of champagne and a sparkling Rose were also on the menu.

Food

Starters

Being a seafood bar the majority were fish dishes (Local crab cakes £5.95, whitebait £4.95, crab soup £4.95). Not being a fish eater I was also pleased to see a wide choice of non-meat (Olive and feta salad £5.95, Veg spring rolls+samosa £3.95, Breaded garlic mushrooms + mayo £3.95) and other meat choices (Duck and veg wrap £6.96, chicken dipper and chilli sauce £3.95).

Main Courses

As with the starters, this menu was heavily seafood-based with a number of dishes embracing the mixing of fish flavours. All of the seafood was fresh from the harbour, with a catch of the day on the specials.

Mussels, lemon sole fillet topped with crab £13.95
Local whiting fillets £8.95
Fresh whole crab £12.95
King prawns and scallops in beer batter with a sweet chilli dip and lemon mayo dip, served with chilli potatoes and tomato and olive salad £14.95 (as you can probably tell, this was the most tempting sounding fish dish to me, who would never eat fish).
Also langoustines (£16.95), Tuna steak (£14.95), Crab and prawn salad (£12.50), Shellfish (£14.95), Surf and turf (steak and king prawns £15.95), Squid with everything fish (£16.95).

Vegetarian

Tomato basil pasta wit local cheese (£7.95)
Veg stir fry and rice (£9.50)

Other meats

Duck stir fry and rice (£12.95)
Lamb shank in red wine sauce (£13.95)
Steaks Rump (£12.95)
Rib-eye (£13.95)
Fillet (£15.95)

Children-sized portions of Tomato and cheese pasta, 5oz rump steak and chips, whiting fillet and chicken nuggets and fries were available for £5-£7.

Desserts

Sticky toffee pudding
Local farmhouse chocolate cake with moo fresh cream
Fresh Lyme apple cake with double cream
Each £3.95

Our experience

Having chosen my starter and main course, I noticed a box at the end of the menu with a three-course and wine offer for £16.95. This included both my choices and I would get a dessert and glass of wine with it too. I had crunchy garlic mushrooms and salad with lemon mayo, sharing a couple with my new husband. When my steak arrived it was cooked to perfection with a mountain of fries, onion rings and garlic mushrooms on top, salad at the side. Both the onion rings and breaded mushrooms were a surprise and not mentioned on the menu. Yippee! Black peppercorn sauce was amazing and enhanced the flavour of the steak and fries.

After a wonderful and huge two courses I had little space for stodgy cake, but as it was in the offer, it arrived. Wonderful - light fluffy sponge, sprinkled with cinnamon and chunks of apple inside with a lake of double cream. Yum yum! We finished it.

The offer reduced the cost of the four components from £24.75 to £16.95.

My new husband had the seabass baked with lemon on a bed of mixed seafood fried seafood rice. It was delicious and inventive and excellent value for money. He was happily surprised when the rice arrived and it was stuffed with many different types of seafood.

Service

The service was prompt, but we didn't have one plate whisked away to make space for the next course and move us on as the table was re-booked for other people. We had our table all night and that was refreshing, I enjoyed the leisurely atmosphere. All the food was served hot and fresh and with innovative touches. The owners and employees were really friendly and when we passed the next day the man was outside opening up and recognised and greeted us.

Clientele

The other customers in the place at the same time as us were also couples out for a treat. I imagine this is their general clientele as it is a little expensive, but money very well spent.

Toilets

One toilet was provided for each gender. These toilets were large to allow for disabled access. They were clean and the women's had a huge cut-out of cheesy muscle-bound man. After feeding us a huge three course meal I visit the toilets to find a pair of scales. That is just cruel and I did not stand on them.

Reservations

We reserved a table, but probably didn't need to on a week night. If you are booking a table for Friday, Saturday, Sunday reservations would be recommended as they told us they were full the three nights earlier.

Website

www.jurassicseafoodrestaurant.com

Disabled Access

The restaurant is all based on the ground floor and is accessible, however Lyme Regis as a whole would be difficult for wheelchair-bound and people with walking difficulties to navigate.

Contact Details

Tel: 01297444345
Address: 47a Silver Street, Lyme Regis, Dorset, DT7 3HR.
e-mail: steve@jurassiclyme.com

Extra information

The restaurant offers outside catering and offers the place as wedding venue.
Opening times from 6pm, seven days a week (and at lunchtime by request).

Parking

There is no parking designated for customers, there is a car-park down two different hills and these are both very steep. We arrived by taxi as we were staying three miles out and wanted a few glasses of wine.

In Conclusion

This is definitely the best meal we had on our honeymoon tour of Conwy, Hereford, Oxford, London, Hastings, Worthing, Weymouth and Lyme Regis. A little expensive but worth every penny of honeymoon treat money. If you are in the area, we would definitely recommend a visit to this welcoming, leisurely, spacious eating place. 

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