Brighton is hardly short of places to eat and drink. From quirky independent cafes tucked down cobbled alleyways to bustling seafront restaurants, there's always somewhere new to discover. Hidden away just moments from the heart of The Lanes, The Crazy Goose is one of the city's newer additions, bringing a stylish yet relaxed dining experience to one of Brighton's most popular dining spots.
Located on Boyce's Street, The Crazy Goose has transformed the former Coal Shed site into a sophisticated restaurant and bar that manages to feel both elevated and welcoming. Owned by Black Rock Restaurants (Tutto, Burnt Orange, The Salt Room), the venue combines quality British and European-inspired dishes with a lively but laid-back atmosphere. Given the opportunity to try out this brand-new gastropub, I had to see what all the hype was about.
My spicy Tommy's margarita (pictured left), and some of the cool hand-drawn art in the pub (right).
DesignMyNight’s Review Of The Crazy Goose In Brighton
Need To Know:
- Address: 8 Boyce's Street, Brighton and Hove, BN1 1AN
- Area: The Lanes
- Cuisine: British and European
Ambience & We Think Perfect For
- Atmosphere: The Crazy Goose struck a great balance between a stylish dining destination and a laid-back neighbourhood spot. Soft lighting, candlelit tables and contemporary interiors created an intimate setting that was ideal for settling in for the evening. One of my favourite touches was the selection of card games available on the tables. We spent part of the evening playing the game Incoherent between courses, which added just that little bit of extra fun to the evening.
- Perfect for: relaxed date night or dinner in a tucked-away place near The Lanes
Service & Price
- Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Cost: £134.50 for two (including starters, mains and a dessert plus drinks)
Crispy fried chicken (pictured left) and Westholm wagyu rump (right).
Menu Highlights
Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Crispy fried chicken (£7) - served with a vibrant tomato sambal, this was the perfect way to kick off our meal. The chicken was wonderfully crisp on the outside while remaining juicy and tender inside, with the sambal adding a punchy sweet-and-spicy contrast that kept us coming back for more.
- Garden pea tempura (£5) - easily one of the most surprising dishes of the evening. We'd never had anything quite like it before, and after the first bite, we completely understood the hype. Light, crispy and packed with flavour, the tempura was accompanied by a mouth-watering jalapeño mayonnaise that struck the perfect balance between creamy richness and gentle heat. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we kept the sauce on the table and found ourselves dipping bites of our mains into it throughout the evening.
- Westholme wagyu rump (£30) - cooked medium rare exactly as requested, this was a standout main course. The wagyu was beautifully tender and packed with rich flavour, pairing perfectly with a glass of the house red wine.
- Creamy mash (£6) - a simple side done exceptionally well. Rich, buttery and silky smooth, it was the perfect accompaniment to the wagyu rump and ideal for soaking up every last bit of peppercorn sauce.
- Chocolate and hazelnut profiterole (£9) - forget everything you know about profiteroles. Instead of several small pastries, The Crazy Goose served one giant profiterole that was finished with hot, melted chocolate poured over the top. It looked impressive, tasted even better, and combined crisp pastry, rich chocolate and hazelnut flavours beautifully. I’d never seen a giant profiterole before, but it's officially become my preferred way to eat one.
The star of the show: the giant profiterole.
Drink: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Spicy Tommy's margarita (£12) - a fantastic cocktail with just the right amount of heat. The spice never overwhelmed the drink itself, making it easy to sip and enjoy throughout the evening. It was the perfect accompaniment to a relaxed evening spent playing card games between courses.
- Crazy Goose IPA (£6) - this was the venue's own brewed IPA and a must-try for beer lovers. Crisp, refreshing and incredibly easy-drinking, it paired particularly well with the richer dishes on the menu and offered a great local touch to the overall experience.
Our Overall Experience At The Crazy Goose
DesignMyNight Review Out Of 5: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Crazy Goose delivered one of those dining experiences that felt effortlessly enjoyable from beginning to end. The combination of attentive service, high-quality food and a relaxed atmosphere (with some brilliant card games) made it somewhere we wanted to sit and chat all evening. I think it's well worth adding to your Brighton restaurant list - we arrived expecting a good meal and left already planning what we'd order on our next visit.
