Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Beer/Wine
British
Catering
Established 1981 a vegetarian restaurant offering both lacto-vegetarian (dairy) as well as some vegan options. Open Mon-Sun 09:00-22:00.
145 Reviews
First Review by Foxtrot
neil n michelle
Points +16
Food Ok But Poor Manager - Edit
Firstly we were offered water with the food. They should make you aware that it's not table water and it' at a price. The food was delicious and the portion size was adequate for us but if you're expecting a plate full then you'll surely be disappointed. We were shown to a table next to where the coats are hung. As the restaurant became busier more coats were hung and then a couple of inconsiderates gave no thought to their coats hanging inches from our food. Having eaten the main and with some of the starter left that we were going to pick at over drinks and a coat sleeve in the water was enough to see us off. I complained to the manager but she was only interested in knocking off the cost of the water. During that conversation she kept deflecting the conversation telling me how great the seating and the food was. She must have thought she was talking to a pleb. No respect for customers....what a shame as the food is ok
Read moreCons: Manager
Guest
IanT
Points +32
Great vegan food, quantity a bit dissapointing - Edit
I was here as part of a big group and we had a vegan platter. Food was excellent, really good and varied vegan choices but quantity was disappointing. Even with deserts it wasn't really enough. Go here but order plenty
Read morePros: Good vegan choices, Great service, Sensible approach to groups
Cons: Busy place, need to book, Portions a bit small
Guest
jennyc32
Points +4389
Decent vegan option - Edit
If you're wanting to splash out on a fancy meal, I'd go for Terre a Terre rather than Food for Friends - it was nice, but not as special or impressive. The sharing plate for starters is good, and the curried dishes are nicely spiced. I had been really looking forward to the arancini for dessert, but they weren't as good as I'd expected. Nice, but not mind-blowing.
Read moreGuest
Mhaffner73
Points +196
Second visit - Edit
Our second visit to this establishment and we were a little disappointed. The prices have gone up and the menu has shrunk. First visit a few months ago was amazing I fact we visited twice. This time around just the one. Food again though is wonderful.
Read moreGuest
LauraS🪷
Points +794
Very Filling, with some good choices for Vegans - Edit
We had Sunday dinner at Food For Friends. We had to wait a short while for a table, as it was so busy! My other half and I shared the Mezze (the Vegan option version) to start, he had the stuffed marinated aubergine, and I had the coconut curry, for the main, which was delicious. I couldn't finish my main (I got my other half to, as I hate seeing food wasted!!), so we skipped dessert.
Read morePros: Very filling, Nice setting, Nice interior
Cons: Not 100% Vegan friendly
Guest
asharpknife
Points +20
Noice! - Edit
Had a light lunch here, a Mezze platter, shared with my partner. Bread and accompanying sundried tomato dip was super moreish, I did slightly wish there was more of it, but then I'm a bread fiend. The Mezze was gorgeous, a lovely balance of flavours, one of the salads had a dressing that was a bit on the sweet side for me, but again, that's probably just a personal preference. We certainly demolished the whole thing, the spring rolls stick out in my mind as especially tasty. Service was good too, very courteous, and we had some beautiful chocolate truffles for dessert, which is usually exactly what I want! Yay!
Read moreGuest
imogenmichel
Points +2746
Incredible vegan fine dining - Edit
I came here for dinner one night whilst visiting Brighton and thoroughly enjoyed the set menu. I had the sweet tofu pockets for a starter, was blown away by the delicious crispy tofu warm salad with mango and cashews for the main, and finally coconut arancini for dessert. It was definitely on the pricey end of my budget, but extremely high quality. Highly recommended!
Read morePros: Wonderful vegan fine dining, Tasty food
Cons: Slightly on the pricey side
Guest
Bistokid
Points +15
delightful food - Edit
A delight for a weary traveller, food for friends was welcoming, warm and friendly. The food was among the best presented and full of flavour I have come across on my nearly 50 years of being a vegetarian. It's only a shame I live so far away. I will definitely return when I am back in Brighton.
Read moreGuest
AnaEatsPlants
Points +1671
Awesomely delicious - Edit
Had an awesome experience here last Friday night.
Read moreService was great, friendly and so accommodating to my 'asking a million question'. Food is clearly labelled, vegan, gluten free, nuts etc.
We ate a curry dish with rice. Was absolutely delicious and tasty!
Presentation was top notch if you like your food a bit more fancy.
Will definitely return on my next trip to Brighton.
The prices seem fair. It's not advertising itself as a cheap cafe. The prices feel aligned with what you get.
Pros: good vegan options, really delicious, good for a special occassion
Cons: tables quite close together
Guest
rosie
Points +531
creative menu and well presented, tasty food. - Edit
we went on a satuday night and service was a little hectic - 15 min wait for our (booked) table. But service was friendly. A fair choice of vegan -we had soup and a tofu pocket for starters and some sort of stuffed aubergine and mango with sheep cheese warm salad for main. The set menu (£19.95 was quite a good deal as they are on the pricey side). Only one vegan pudding option on the set menu - aranchi with mango 3 ways, the sorbet was nice, but was less sure about the slightly like a donut, but with rice pudding inside, aranchi.
Read morePros: friendly service , interesting food , set menus are good value
Cons: a bit pricey , slightly chaotic wait for tables , could have more vegan options
Guest
JesseWaugh
Points +415
Not Sure - Edit
Pretentious. Food is good. Made me wait for table as did not possess "reservation". Many tables were empty, despite place being full of masculine women serving and eating. (What ever happened to femininity?)
Read morePortions are spartan. Had full cloves of garlic in food - I avoid garlic and the way it makes people smell. Prices a little high. Not sure if I'd recommend unless you just need some variety like I did when I decided to come here.
Pros: good food, clean, staff okay
Cons: pretentious, not cheap, are men welcome?
Guest
cakeandcounselling
Points +180
One of my favourite restaurants - Edit
This was one of the first fully vegetarian restaurants I ever went to (many years back) and it set the bar very high. I've since eaten here many times and have never been disappointed. Even my otherwise fussy omnivore friends loved it. Great for either a smart dinner or a casual lunch, friendly staff and a great atmosphere. Not the cheapest place to go to, but they always have a reasonably priced set menu.
Read morePros: Creative and exotic dishes, Beautiful restaurant, Friendly staff
Cons: A little expensive
Guest
robh
Points +20
Vegetarian Fine Dining - Edit
Now has the abience of a smart restaurant rather than the more informal approach of most vegetarian cafes. The food has some interesting and well balance flavours. If you are looking for up-market dining which happens to be vegetarian, this is the place to go. I would rate the cooking as a slightly ahead of Terre a Terre, which is also excellent. A good place to take non-vegetarian friends.
Read moreThe prices are a bit than most vegetarian restaurants, but didn't seem unreasonable for the quality. Some portions were variable - I have a salad based meal which was generous portion, but a friend had gnocchi which arrived as an artistically arranged, but rather empty looking plate.
Overall, this is a great place and highlight of a visit to Brighton. Good for special occasions.
Updated from previous review on Saturday September 21, 2013
Updated from previous review on Saturday September 21, 2013
Pros: High quality food, Wonderful intense flavours, Smart restaurant abience
Cons: Variable portions, Prices higher than most veggie places
Guest
gen6
Points +95
Love the food! - Edit
Such delicious food, particularly the coconut desert which is heavenly! Beautiful venue. Have eaten here for lunch and dinner and both menus are great
Read moreGuest
itsmeagain
Points +518
expensive - Edit
Highly expensive, small portions A wine bar selling veggie fine food ie small portions, Putting a candle on the table is not a replacement for value for money. Chips there are lovely. Pleasant service throughout.
Read morePros: veggie, vegan options
Cons: expensive, tiny portions
Guest
Lachyp
Points +20
a bit dear but great food. - Edit
We were impressed with this restaurant. There were sufficient vegan options to make a choice, and a bit more upmarket than the vege cafes and Indian restaurants in Brighton that we have been frequenting. Food and atmosphere was great. Mains were about 12 to 13 pounds.
Read morePros: fine dining, good vegan options
Cons: a little bit dearer
Guest
fuz1987
Points +191
Food in the Lanes - Edit
In terms of location it is almost perfect. You get a real sense of the life of one of Brightons most popular areas and with that in mind it is possible just to sit and people watch. Although there are some more intimate parts of the restaurant too if the person your with is more interesting.
Read moreThe food is normally seasonal and therefore the menu changes 4-5 times a year. The food is of a good quality but although the place is 100% vegetarian it does not supply a stunning selection of vegan options and really they prefer to rely on the vegan option (VO) route. However there are vegan choices or (VO) on all the parts of the menu.
The staff are always very friendly, knowledgeable and the overall service is some of the best I have encountered at any vegetarian restaurant.
This is a popular place for young couples in the evenings and also attracts a large number of omnivores so pre-booking is essential most nights. However during the daytimes on most days there is usually a table available even though it is still busy.
Overall if you are looking for somewhere for nice evening out in Brighton and you don't want to spend an absolute fortune this is one of your best bets.
Pros: Staff service, Seasonal, Location
Cons: Can get very busy, Limited Vegan Options
Guest
wholelifefood
Points +29
Food For All Sorts Of Friends - Edit
In the early days this was a self serve & brimming with students. Now refined cuisine and although the menu is not extensive it does not disappoint - & accessible to meat eaters as well as plant lovers. I would rate it as better than terre-a-terre, which is the better known veg. restaurant just down the road. This is less pretentious and the food is more balanced.
Read moreGuest
Anneluren
Points +45
A bit pretentious - Edit
This is a nice location, with good food, but I don't like the atmosphere all that much. The waiting staff seems to have a bit of a superior attitude, and the place doesn't have a great feel to it. But it can't be denied that the food I had was good, and you get a nice view of the cosy street outside.
Read moreGuest
CLRtraveller
Points +10104
Delicious and attractive meals - Edit
The ginger beer glass was garnished with a strip of fresh ginger - nice. I also enjoyed the lentil-peanut soup; tofu pockets stuffed with rice, served with seaweed and enoki mushrooms, soy sauce, pickled ginger; and a side of garlic sautéed kale. All absolutely delicious. Nicely presented also.
Read morePros: tasty food, good service, vegan items
Guest
Miggi
Points +2705
MORE VEGAN OPTIONS! - Edit
Places like FFF act like they think the only people that order vegan dishes are vegans, as if making vegan food means no-one else can eat it when actually their cheesy, buttery-for-the-sake-of-it or eggy stuff excludes vegans and the infrequency of their menu changes means we only bother to eat there once a year or so as otherwise we run out of options. It just seems a bit silly to me, as if this business just doesn't want my money.
Read moreAnywhere that puts together an Xmas menu with a non-vegan Xmas pudding is just not thinking!
Shame, as the food is quite nice. I had a gorgeous vegan chocolate tart with hazelnutty base last time I went.
Pros: Nice environment, Good food, some vegan options
Cons: For a veggie place, not enough vegan!, Change menu more often , Be less snobby!
Guest
fruityfresca
Points +21
Lovely food - Edit
Have been to FFF a few times now & food is great & quite diverse. Staff are great & well informed. Would recommend & gives me hope that places like this are actually thinking 'out of the box' as far as vegetarianism.
Read moreGuest
Nostoc
Points +81
Best food in Brighton - Edit
Whenever I go to Food for Friends I am disappointed that there aren't more vegan options yet I would still say it's the best restaurant in Brighton. The food is great, imaginative & well presented. Also excellent service.
Read morePros: Food, Service, Food
Cons: Needs more vegan options
Guest
Lilimedusa
Points +75
Excellent food - Edit
I consider this restaurant as a gourmet restaurant because of the fantastic food they serve and the way they present it. As a vegan, I really appreciate this kind of restaurant.
Read morePros: Delicious food, nice staff
Guest
margypargy
Points +108
FFF defensive - Edit
I have eaten at FFF lots over the years and had both good and bad experiences. They took a while to catch on to the idea that vegan is a (pure) form of vegetarianism, rather than just some weirdness. So planning a trip to Brighton in December I checked out FFFs Xmas menu, only to find it has merely ONE vegan 'option' for each course, whereas dairy-eaters get THREE. So I emailed them my comments, making comparisons to Terre at Terre, which is the other main Brighton veggie restaurant and where I've also eaten a lot. There were good and bad comments in the mail and I expected a sensible response to my points. Instead I received a totally defensive, quite unpleasant email from the co-owner, Ramin Mostowfi, accusing me of trying to create bad vibes between the two restaurants and ignoring my points about vegan options altogether. I don't know what their problem is but I'm not going to be eating there again. Shame because I really liked their choc torte.
Read morePros: Choc torte was fab
Cons: Defensive oweners, not very vegan aware.
Guest
Jan
Points +56
Worth a visit - Edit
Have been eating at Food for Friends for a number of years. The menu has vegan options but it doesn't change that often so are limited to the same few choices. The food is always good and portion size is reasonable, however it is a little pricey. We have always particularly enjoyed the desserts here and recommend the afternoon tea offer where you get a choice of teas and a cake for 4.95; there is always vegan scones as a choice which are wonderful!! Can get busy at weekends so advise to book. Service can vary between friendly and helpful to disappointing as there have been two occasions where we were forgotten. This meant we were kept waiting a long time before our food arrived with no offer of compensation and barely an apology. Despite this, Food for Friends is a very good vegetarian restaurant and worth a visit.
Read morePros: good quality food, nice setting
Cons: a little expensive
Guest
KATIE H
Points +363
3 tahini dips rule - Edit
i love this place i regularly take a drive every couple of weeks for the tahini dips, and desserts. they recently changed their menu and vegan choice is limited. bring back the butternut squash filo and its my favourite veggie eatery. lovely staff and nice atomosphere all the time just like brighton. good quality food honestly priced.
Read morePros: 3 tahini dips, vegan choc truffle torte, good size portions
Cons: small glasses of water, lack of vegan choices
Guest
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