| Cuisine : | British, English, Fish and Seafood, Steaks and Grills |
|---|---|
| Open for : | dinner, lunch |
| Type : | bar, restaurant |
| Tags : | accommodation, by the sea, car park, child friendly, free range meat, local produce, private dining room, separate bar, sunday roast, tables outside |
| Suitable for : | vegetarians |
| Menu types : | a-la-carte, bar menu, lunch menu |
| For families : | childrens menu |
| Average price : | Main course £13. Three courses £23. |
| Website : | http://www.rocksaltfolkestone.co.uk/ |
| Short URL : | http://iate.at/OdSu |
Rocksalt Restaurant in Folkestone is chef Mark Sargeant's first restaurant as owner/operator. The Folkestone seafood restaurant, situated overlooking the harbour (on the former site of Jetty's pub), opened on Wednesday 8th June 2011. The menu at Rocksalt features meat and fish smoked and cured onsite, as well as plenty of fresh, local and sustainable seafood which is landed daily a short distance from the restaurant.
The Rocksalt kitchen, lead by head chef Simon Dyer, is equipped with a wood burning Josper oven. Dishes on the menu include a sausage-meat stuffed mackerel pasty; harrisa crab on toast; and smoked coley brandade with celariac.
Alongside Mark Sargeant's new restaurant there is also a separate a fish and chip shop located in an old smokehouse nearby called The Smokehouse. The fish and chip shop also has four rooms available to provide accommodation for diners wishing to stay overnight.
Mark Sargeant previously worked for Gordon Ramsay (including time as sous-chef at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Royal Hospital Road then as Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay at Claridges) before leaving to become creative director at The Swan Collection advising on the menu at The Swan at The Globe in Bankside.
Review left on 31/05/2012 by sadie (1 review)
Went to rock salt last night for the first time,had sea bream which was about 2 inch square of fish with shredded carrots and bok choy.i could not find the bok choy with the exception of one strand, I thought this was very expensive at £25. My wife had mackerel which was over cooked and was sent back. For desert we had cheese cake but did not resemble any type of cheese cake I had ever seen it consisted of a topping of a runny custard. I thought the restaurant was very expensive and overall poor quality food. The only good thing was the service which was attentive and helpful.
Review left on 28/12/2011 by Nikkijscotter (1 review)
Fabulous! wasn't sure what to expect when we arrived - without a reservation - staff very accommodating and efficient - seated quickly, food came looked like small portions but just enough to feel full but not stuffed, best soup ever ( and have been to some very good Michelin rest ) beautifully cooked pork and delicious gypsy tart - a total gem in an area which has been pretty run down in recent years - could this be the place the puts Folkestone back on the map ? I think so - next time will be def booking rocksalt rooms too ! Loved it x
Review left on 27/09/2011 by markr (1 review)
WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT TO A FRIEND NO! I have never been to a restaurant where i have left with an empty stomache and wallet at the same time.We didnt order a starter as usually you dont finish your main meal as you are ful,l If I had known how small the portions were I would have I ordered the fish pie which I love, it arrived in a small tin dish on the plate I had trouble finding any fish, very bland. Because you pay seperatly for your vegatables we shared runner beans and chips we had heard that there is more than enough veg for two there isnt, chips arrived in a small metal tin
Review left on 22/09/2011 by susan davies (1 review)
Rock Salt was very busy and, owing to a lot of hard surfaces, on the noisy side. Tasty homemade bread and good oil come automatically prior to your meal. Food was delicious, fish pie for me and lamb for my husband. Beautifully presented and tasty desserts. Coffee good but too strong for a connoisseur of lattes! (Me!).
A unique restaurant, I hope it does well.
(Try the latte in the Palm Court at The Grand in Folkestone, the best latte you will ever have!)
Review left on 05/09/2011 by Colin Wood (1 review)
After the much vaunted arrival of Folkestone’s newest restaurant the wife and I decided to give Rocksalt a try and I must say we were pleasantly surprised.
Firstly, a quick word on Rocksalt’s aspect. Most seats in the restaurant will give you a panoramic view of the harbour so, if you’re like me and love to eat while enjoying a sea view then you won’t be disappointed however, having said that you certainly don’t go to a restaurant just to look at boats bobbing up and down.
The menu at Rocksalt is original and impressive, as are the daily specials, and the wine list should suit most tastes.
I had the Potted Crayfish Tails to start followed by a very reasonably priced and extremely tasty Rib Eye Steak cooked exactly how I asked it to be cooked (medium/well done) while my wife had a Tankard of Grilled Prawns to start with Kentish Lamb Rump as the main dish.
Now my wife is a fussy eater but she loved both dishes and although I was more than happy with my own selection I have to say a little bit of “Food Envy” crept in, certainly enough to convince me what to choose on our next visit.
We shared a selection of vegetables which were priced separately at £2.50 but as the portions were quite generous I’ve no real complaints there.
We finished off with a Selection of Kent and Sussex Artisan Cheeses for “she-who-likes-a-cheeseboard” and I had a Selection of Rocksalt Ice Creams (home made of course), both were presented and tasted as good as the previous offerings.
This was all washed down with the house Rose which was more than just palatable but it has to said was a tad expensive at £19.00 to be classed as a house wine. It was however of a very good quality and would probably be at the top end of wine lists at less impressive restaurants.
The final bill came to £120, which also included a service charge of 12.5%, a bit steep you might say but, with the level of service we got on the night, I would argue that it was probably well worth it.
So, would I go back again? Absolutely, my wife now cites Rocksalt as “her favourite restaurant” and I have to say it’s very near the top of my list too however, I would categorise it as a venue for high days, holidays, and special occasions which probably makes our next visit something to really look forward to...
Review left on 21/08/2011 by Christini85 (2 reviews)
Service with a scowl and a whisper behind your back. Food was immense, loved it, but the waiting staff act like they're too good to be there. Wish i'd gone somewhere else for my birthday purely for that reason. Unless they get some new staff in, I will not be returning.