Skyfall prides itself on serving up seasonal dishes with top notch ingredients and I couldn't wait to see what the fuss was about.
The Venue
Located on Church Road in Hove, just up from the seafront, from the outside Skyfall blends in to the surrounding restaurants. However, once we got inside, we saw Skyfall really begin to show its individuality. The décor is a medley of juxtapositions - geometric yellow and grey tiled walls opposite bare red brick, cold metal tables surrounded by sumptuous velvet seating - but it all comes together to create an intimate, stylish restaurant. The restaurant is glass-fronted, perfect for people watching with your supper, but we were seated further inside for a more cosy meal. The walls are lined with USB and electrical sockets so you can leave your phone on charge and engage with your dinner mates...or get a power boost so you can Instagram the gorgeous looking food.
(Photo Credit: Shoot First Talk Later)
The Food and Drink
The dinner menu offers a small range of seasonal dishes, but still with enough variety to keep everybody happy. Each dish looked so delicious, we took a while to decide which one to go for. In the end, we decided to go with the fish dishes as we were by the sea - I chose Scorched Skin Mackerel Fillets with Salsa Verde, Puy Lentils and Diced Salt Baked Beetroot (£12) and my friend chose Oven Roasted Cod Steak with Chickpea, Chorizo and Sweet Sherry Braise (£13). Both pieces of fish were cooked to perfection, with my mackerel having a lovely crispy skin and my friend's cod being done so well, he has since made it his life goal to learn to cook fish to that standard. Being dedicated to my role as reviewer, I made sure to sample my friend's meal too and was bowled over by the rich, and warming tomato sauce that accompanied the fish. Another plus point in my books - the dish was of a generous portion size so we definitely were not left hungry. However, we made sure to sample some dessert too. I had a Chocolate Brownie with vanilla ice cream and "drunken" cherries (£7), the brownie was warm, melting and the cherries added a welcome tang to spark up the flavour.
Skyfall has an extensive drinks menu with cocktails, wines, beers and spirits. We first had a Peach Bellini which was light and refreshing and gone all too quickly. I then chose the Popcorn Martini (£7) - made with popcorn water, butterscotch schnapps, vodka and cream. Chosen out of curiosity, I was slightly concerned the drink would be too heavy and may overpower my food but this was definitely not the case. It was subtle yet distinctive taste - putting a more grown up twist on the usual popcorn snack.
Fish is the dish of the day at Skyfall thanks to their local resources and stunning ingredients.
The Atmosphere
Skyfall has live music acts play most weekends. We had the pleasure of listening to James Hazell sing and play guitar. Loud enough to enjoy the music but not so loud we couldn't hear each other speak, James played an eclectic mix ranging from Scissor Sisters to Radiohead and with a cheeky nod to James Bond with Carly Simon's Nobody Does It Better. The music really reflected the vibes of Skyfall - cool, laid back and with a good variety to please everybody's taste. I was impressed with the attentiveness of the staff. We were never left waiting and were made to feel welcome and very well looked after. The restaurant attracts a mixture of ages and groups. The smaller venue allowed for everybody to interact, especially with the brilliant music, but at the same time never felt too closed in and hidden corners would allow people to have a more private dinner, if preferred.
Skyfall is as welcoming as any, with a top notch staff and stunning atmosphere.
Summary
Laid back whilst also managing an air of sophistication, Skyfall was perfect for a relaxed meal of delicious food made with exciting ingredients; all in a great, beautifully presented venue.
