Not only is Folkestone full of great places to eat, but in the little part of town where we live, we happen to be lucky enough to have some incredible eateries just a cock-stride from our front door. It’s a paradox of choice at times, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Within a few minutes walk, we have The Bouverie Tap, Cocomee, Shayda’s, Conchitas and The Radnor Arms to name but a few. But if we stroll a couple of minutes further down the street, we get to experience the delights of Sotirio’s Bar and Restaurant.
The Warmest Of Welcomes
Sotirio’s is a family-run restaurant in the true sense of the phrase, with several members of the family playing key roles. And this is a family that knows how to do it right. The service here is just perfect. You get the sense you are being welcomed into their home, and their enthusiasm and passion for what they do is remarkably evident. Unlike many establishments, you are not assigned a waiter for the evening. The whole team look after you, and it really works.
Fabulous Fish
The menu offers a fabulous mix of cuisines, including Greek and Mediterranean, as well as some British classics. We chose to start with Coquilles St. Jacque, a decadent dish of king scallops, served like a fish pie, a gloriously generous portion for a starter. The classic deep-fried brie is always a winner and was cooked beautifully. And we just had to sample the Moules Sotirio – the garlic and white wine sauce was so thick and rich it made me want to lick the bowl clean – absolutely to die for. Our final temptation from the starters was a special of monkfish cheeks served with chorizo, another fantastically flavourful dish.
Sauces For Courses
Each of the main courses were superb. The Belly of Pork was wonderfully tender with a satisfyingly crispy crackling, as good as you will get anywhere. But it was the Kentish Cider and Apple sauce that really excited the palate, complementing the dish perfectly. The Magret Duck was tender and pink, and again, paired with a red wine, mushroom and shallot sauce, it delivered on flavour. We also devoured the special of Slow Roasted Lamb Shank served with creamy mash and mint gravy, falling off the bone and utterly delicious.
Just Enough Room For Dessert
Despite the satisfyingly generous portions, of course we powered through and ordered dessert. The Apple and Caramel Pie and the Toffee and Honeycomb Cheesecake were both excellent. And we were even treated to a drink from the bar on the house – a nice touch.
Decisions, Decisions
So often at restaurants, you peruse the menu and end up being drawn towards the same kind of thing, mentally eliminating most of the offerings and arriving at the only thing that really stands out to you. A word of warning – at Sotirio’s this will not happen. You will struggle to choose, and you’ll definitely require multiple return visits to sample everything on the menu that takes your fancy, so just resign yourself to that fact.
For us, the menu is still a work in progress and we will be returning to have a go at the Prime Blackgate Beef section, including Fillet, T-Bone and Rib Eye steaks, a Roast Chateaubriand, a Côte Du Boeuf, and Tornedos Rossini – a prime cut of fillet served on a duck liver pâté crouton and topped with a red wine reduction.
And if you fancy going full-on Greek, there is plenty to choose from, especially on a Friday night when they offer their Greek Mèze selection. Previous visits for us have involved the incredible Lobster Thermidor, simply divine. Costas, the owner and a fabulous presence in the restaurant, offered to serve the lobster however we wanted, even chopped into a salad.
And this is the ethos of the entire team, willing to accommodate any request they can to ensure you have an enjoyable experience. I can’t praise the staff enough for their generous hospitality, the unparalleled level of service and the quality of the food. This is up there with the best in Folkestone, and we will certainly be returning on a regular basis.
You can find Sotirio’s on Bouverie Road West, open Wednesday to Sunday.
