The Hythe Brasserie - Hythe

In a small road at the top of Hythe’s High Street, you’ll find an unassuming restaurant where you will certainly enjoy the food and atmosphere.
Open for coffees and croissants from 10am, the Hythe Brasserie brings a taste of France trans-Manche. The place is small and intimate with a family run atmosphere under the tutelage of chef-patron Jamal Hassim.
With a simple décor, pine floors, solid tables, you will also find attractive contemporary art on the cream walls. Plans are afoot, however, to redecorate.
The Hythe Brasserie has been a tearoom since back in the 1950s, and for many years was the renowned Rowan Tree. When Jamal Hassim took over just two years ago, he gutted the entire restaurant, but retained the intimate atmosphere.

French mediterranean
There is a basic menu in the French/Mediterranean style, with starters such as prawn or crab avocado salad, asparagus meunière or a freshly made soup of the day. My companion and I chose warm goat’s cheese and mushrooms farcis, stuffed with goat’s cheese; simple and satisfying.
Main courses include mussels in white wine, garlic, herbs and cream, a suprème de poulet and a maigret de canard, which I chose and enjoyed thoroughly.
My companion opted for lamb cutlets with a rosemary jus, the meat just melting in her mouth. With our meal we were served perfectly cooked vegetables and cubed sautéed potatoes to die for.
Specials each day bring you a variety to the menu and, to remember, for those of you who enjoy Moroccan food, Jamal makes a very good tagine.

Jamal makes a great tagine

The desserts change daily, but a stalwart is the crème caramel, which I loved. You could also find a chocolate chip pudding or strawberry pavlova, all home made.
All food is locally sourced, with the excellent and renowned Grigg’s bringing the fresh catch and Kent butcher Rook’s supplying the meat and much of the cheese. Eggs and other cheeses are brought in from Upton Farm and the bread is from Délice de France.
Jamal’s wines are supplied by Matthew Clark, whose representative also brings in some unusual varieties, such as a red from Morocco and the lovely red we drank from Lebanon. The wine list includes a sample of European whites and reds at reasonable prices.
Jamal does the cooking and pays individual attention to the food. He was trained in London at L’Escargot, working in Chez Gerard before moving to Essex to cater for frequent customers, footballer David Beckham, and popstar Rod Stewart at Smith’s in Ongar.

Relaxed atmosphere
The majority of the clientele is from Hythe - “they know you and you know them” - but weekends see clients coming down from Ashford and the surrounding areas as the familiar and relaxed atmosphere has much to commend it.
Certainly, if you are in Hythe for its famous Malt House market on a Friday or Saturday, take the opportunity to try this unassuming but reliable restaurant. On another day of the week, just treat yourself.

Words and pictures by Diana Crampton

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