'I tried the new spring menu at Rockwater in Hove'

My partner and I entered the dark and cozy restaurant and bar in Hove on a blustery Sunday and were seated next to a window, a great place to people watch as we feasted.

We ordered with Sophie who was knowledgeable and friendly and who told us about what the catch of the day was, which on that day was plaice and sea bass.

We were given a bowl of nocellara olives while we waited for our food which were some of the best I have tasted, even my partner, who is not a fan of olives whatsoever, conceded they were “alright”.

The tuna tartare (Image: The Argus)

To start I had the tuna tartare (£14) with avocado.

The fish was lemony, fresh and soft with the welcome addition of crispy shallot for a slight crunch.

My partner opted for the delicious creamy burrata (£12) which sat upon a bed of tangy tomatoes and was served with focaccia.

The burrata (Image: The Argus)

For the main, I chose the dry-aged ribeye steak (£36) with bearnaise sauce (£2.50) and chips (£4).

The steak, the smell of which wafted from the kitchen and tantalised my taste buds as it made its way to the table, came with a sweet pickled cucumber salad and roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine.

Read more: Chef who worked under Gordon Ramsay appointed at seafront restaurant

Cooked medium rare, the meat truly melted in the mouth and combined with the sauce was rich and buttery.

The steak was cooked to perfection (Image: The Argus)

My mouth waters just thinking about it.

My partner went for the budda bowl (£13) which was comprised of farro, broccoli, edamame, spinach, avocado, pickled cucumber, toasted seeds, lemon and basil dressing.

He thought it refreshing and tasty but needed the added halloumi (£4.50), which is an added extra, to make it substantial enough.

The budda bowl (Image: The Argus)

You can also opt for chicken and tofu.

To bring the meal all together was the bottle of Brunito Rosso Toscana (£40) which was chosen for us by the kitchen.

The red wine seamlessly complimented each dish and was smooth, fruity and very easy to drink.

The Brunito Rosso Toscana (Image: The Argus)

After demolishing our meal, we were taken to the lounge area by Tom, another friendly and polite team member, near the bar and perused the dessert menu.

We both tried the dessert cocktails, my partner had the tiramisu (£13) made from amaretto, hazelnut, cream, coffee, which tasted just like the dessert in liquid form, while I went for the cornetto (£13) made from Bacardi blanca, strawberry, chocolate, coconut which did indeed taste like a cornetto ice cream.

They were the perfect end to the meal.

The cornetto and tiramisu cocktails were the perfect finish to our meal (Image: The Argus)

Regarding the prices I would certainly say a meal at Rockwater Hove is more for a special celebration or treat but the food is well worth it.

The restaurant smelled like a spa and the dark walls and wooden pillars were accompanied by bright pops of colour from Brighton-inspired artwork on the walls.

I could not fault anything on the day, the service, the atmosphere, the décor and the food were all superb and made for an extremely enjoyable visit.