An Easter weekend break in Whitstable saw us in the neighbourhood, so we took the opportunity to swing by The Blue Pelican in nearby Deal, Kent. It opened in November 2023 to amazing reviews and, on the night we were there, was clearly already very popular.

Reblochon and Jambon de Bayonne Croquette

Opened by the same team behind the chic nearby pub, The Rose, The Blue Pelican has Luke Green at the helm as Head Chef. He spent 5 years living in Japan which prompted him to put together this Japanese inspired menu. It’s an intriguing mix of ingredients served up as small plates and sharing platters with French and mediterranean influences creeping in here and there in dishes like the Reblochon and Jambon de Bayonne Croquette.

As we entered the seafront townhouse through a solid blue door, it felt very much like being invited into someone’s beautifully decorated home. Perched at our table in the window with jazz music floating through the air, the tone was set for a very sophisticated dining experience. I don’t, however, mean this in a fussy way. The food was beautifully presented but not overdone and the dishes were solid and well thought through with layer after layer of flavour.

We had Blue Pelican cocktails and sauvignon and pinot noir by the glass - all of which were excellent. We ate Mushroom Hojicha Broth which was deep and comforting and creamy, crisp Reblochon and Jambon de Bayonne Croquettes. The Chicken Tsukune, Fresh Peas, Lardo and Smoked Broth was so beautifully cooked that even the peas were a delight worth mentioning. Chicken Thighs with Wild Garlic and Ponzu were juicy and bathed in sweet but delicously light take on a staple and the Dry Aged Rump Camp with Tokyo Turnip was one of the tastiest pieces of beef I have ever had. The Pork Katsu, Castlefranco and Sesame Dressing was a delight with the creamy dressing and the Pink Fir Potatoes, Rainbow Chard and Walnut Miso were off the chart (see below). We finshed off with a Kumquat and Kinako Set Custard which was a brilliant twist on a French classic of creme caramel and had a lovely oaty finish.

Pork Katsu, Catselfranco and Sesame Dressing — Pork Katsu, Castelfranco and Sesame Dressing

This sounds like a lot, but they were all small plates except for the Pork Katsu which came as a sharing platter. I should also say at this point that I usually dread the small plate dinner format. I know it’s popular but, for me, it is always a bit stressful not knowing whether I’ve ordered enough or too little and how the dishes will work if people want to share. Fortunately, the waitress was incredibly helpful in guiding us through the ordering process, so for once, I needn’t have worried.

The most incredible dish of the night was the Pink Fir Potatoes, Rainbow Chard and Walnut Miso. This might seem surprising given what other epicurean delights were served up. How could a humble potato beat such stiff competition? But that is just the point. To take something so simple and pack in that much flavour is pure genius. The potato was served up perfectly baked, a bit crispy on the outside with a delightfully fluffy interior. It was topped with the most on point combination of mind blowing umami from the walnut miso balanced by gently bitter freshness from the wilted radicchio and a generous covering of parmesan. My first bite lit up my brain like it was food crack and I just kept going back for hit after hit of this unexpectedly wonderful treat.

I could go on and on about each of the dishes as there was not a wrong step in any of them. I won’t though, as this article would be very, very long, but I do encourage you to go, if you can, and try it out for yourself. This place deserves to be hugely successful and I will be going back as soon as I get the chance.