Bills Brighton – Vegan Menu Review

It’s been an age since I ate at Bills in Brighton. I think the last time I was 20 and three dress sizes thinner – yes eating out constantly has finally started to catch up with me!

But back in January, I was invited in to try out the restaurant’s vegan set menu – which launched for #Veganuary and runs all through February as well as January. (Lucky that, as I’m a little late to tell you about this).

Since I often get asked where can you eat great vegan food and it’s an area I’m a bit ill-informed of, I took up the offer.

It’s a chain, which I try to avoid but if you’re vegan I think you want to have all the choice you can. Plus it has a nice local connection – it was originally founded as a fresh produce store and café in Lewes, East Sussex by a greengrocer Bill Collison almost 20 years ago

Right, back to the vegan menu… the set menu runs Monday – Friday from lunch until 7pm and is priced at £11.95 for two courses and £14.95 for three. Outside of those days and hours, you can still order vegan dishes (it’s just a bit pricier).

First up was a lovely gin cocktail, followed by two appetisers. Bill’s Vegan Wellington (the first) with a divine thick rich gravy was a real winner and the tempura cauliflower bites that followed were also pretty tasty (although they could have been crisper).

Then I had the vegan “duck” salad as a starter and this was the highlight of the night for me with some cracking spicy and sweet flavours. If I were you I’d request this as a main and ask them to double up on the ingredients which were chilli, coriander, spring onion, cucumber, carrots, cabbage and baby gem lettuce tossed in a miso dressing with sesame seeds and lime.

For my main, I picked The Moving Mountain Burger with a mushroom & beetroot patty, vegan cheese and chips but I didn’t fall in love with it. The patty reminded me of a dirty Greggs sausage roll rather than the flavoursome vegetable alternative I was hoping for. Burger Brothers (next door) does a much better vegan burger that sizes up more competitively with a meat burger.

Then dessert, I opted for the chocolate fondant with coconut ice cream and hazelnut crumb – the ice cream was divine but the fondant was heavy and far too sickly (even for this chocoholic).

Verdict

It’s worth a try, particularly if you’re a large group (the restaurant is huge) or on a budget (because £15 for 3 courses is pretty good going). Yes, you can get far better vegan food in Brighton – Purezza, Canna Kitchen & The Pond are all my favs – but this is a good option if your dining with a mixed party of meat and non-meat eaters.

PRICE: £14.95pp for 3 courses / £11.95pp for 2 course
RATING: Must Go | Worth A Try | Give It A Miss

Bills
The Depot, 100 North Rd, Brighton, BN1 1YE
bills-website.co.uk

*Disclaimer: I was invited to dine at Bills with a guest but as you’ve read, when things aren’t quite right I will tell you.

Tell me something… Where should I head to for my next vegan food review? Let me know in the comments. And remember to click the heart button underneath if you found this restaurant review useful.