insideKENT Magazine Issue 40 - July 2015 | Page 60

FOOD+DRINK

COASTAL DINING AT THE

OYSTER PEARL
Oysters and Whitstable: you can’t get a more perfect combination than that,
and at the Oyster Pearl, these delicacies are a speciality. BY LISAMARIE LAMB

The restaurant itself used to be a pub, until in
2012, San, chef and owner decided that it was
time for a change. She transformed – almost
miraculously – a worn out locals-only pub into a
stunning seafront restaurant, offering the most
delicious and interesting food for miles around.
The change wasn’t easy; some of the regulars
weren’t happy. But soon enough, San had won
round the local community (so much so that she
was presented with a huge print of a painting
from the National Gallery, A Water Baby by
Herbert James Draper, which hangs in pride of
place in the dining room), and now runs a thriving,
excellent place to dine.
On approach, the Oyster Pearl is a pleasant
surprise. It stands out from its surrounding
buildings, and is impossible to miss. Once inside,
the cosy wooden flooring and huge woodburner
in the fireplace lend the dining room a comfortable,
friendly air, whilst the lovely garden (in which the
salad and herbs are grown) is full of sunshine.
The bar is lively and full of people having a great
night out. One such person, San told us later,
was the fisherman who had just dropped off our
dinner, and who had stayed for a chat and a
drink. Now that’s