Wyatt and Jones

The pretty little seaside resort of Broadstairs, with its Charles Dickens connections, its famous folk festival, crazy golf and flat sandy beach, is an old-fashioned kind of town  – in all the best possible ways. A perfect family destination, it boasts good places for fish and chips, gelato and excellent pasta – all of which can be heartily recommended. Until recently, however, there was a Wyatt and Jones-sized hole in Broadstairs – this all-day restaurant, offering informal elegance and contemporary flair, serving deceptively simple Modern English food using the best seasonal ingredients, was just what the town needed. Its location, at the foot of Harbour Street is a winner; bag a table at the lower level and you'll get fabulous views of the sandy beach, which is literally a bucket-and-spade's throw away. The room – or rather rooms, staggered on three levels, as the restaurant slopes down the street – are soothing and bang-on trend, all slate grey tongue-and-groove, dark stripped wood and posies of fresh flowers on each table. But views and decor alone can't keep a place afloat, of course – it's the food that elevates Wyatt and Jones into the top ranks on Kent's dining scene. Everything on the regularly changing menu is appealing, but it's tempting to stick with fish and seafood – from a simple cockles with buttered toast appetiser to a hefty slab of salt cod fishcake with mussels in a garlicky sauce. The Broadstairs lobster salad – half a lobster, with red currants, crunchy apple, a zingy dressing and all manner of fresh leaves, is a delicious bargain. Tarts are great, too, filled with interesting combinations of local veg, and there is usually a steak on offer, along with other meat dishes, and good kids' menus – Wyatt and Jones, for all its contemporary tranquillity, is as family-friendly as any other in town. It's a shame not to see more local wines on the wine list, but there are Kentish ciders and beers on offer.