Situated a stone’s throw from the seafront in Whitehead, between the train station and the rainbow houses, is the newly opened and aptly named Lighthouse Bistro. Inside is upmarket but quint, the dark wood furnishings on the polished concrete floor work well with the dark aqua themed walls adorned with an array of nautical-themed wall hangings, breath-taking art, and photos on the walls.
The day I went for lunch it was half full with accents heard from around Europe as I entered, which gave it an nice international feel. I was quickly seated and water brought to the table without the need to be asked for.
The restaurant is also BYO if you fancy something stronger, but the water was fine for me. The menu is set at £15 for 2 courses or £17 for 3, a reasonable price for high-end fare I feel.
I started with a Nicoise salad, a dazzling array of elements that worked well together especially the egg and the smoked fish.
For mains, I opted for a minute steak with chips, buttered peas, and peppered sauce. I really enjoyed this dish and found the cooking to be spot on, the steak was flavorful and seasoned well, with a little pink inside. The natural sweetness of the peas was complimented by the butter – a simple but effective choice. The peppered sauce was the star of the main and went well with everything on the plate. My only gripe is that the chips were just fine, lovely with the peppered sauce, but I would have liked them to stand out more.
Desert was a Chocolate Mousse with seasonal berries and cream and oh my was it exactly what I look for in a pudding. My favorite course, the mouse was light and the chocolate was dark and deeply flavorful, the berries helping to break up the rich chocolate flavor, as the cream, to even it out.
A really nice meal and pleasant surroundings made for an experience I’m keen to repeat, this might be one lighthouse you’re best not steering away from.
