The Place Bar & Grill

The Ship has obviously had a refurb in the last year or two.
It promised much to start with, pleasant bar with quite a few people in, on a Saturday night, including a couple of larger parties.
Menu looked interesting, and presentation was very good, and YET it just didn’t quite hit the spot.
WHY?. difficult to say, flavours not quite there, they’ve got the menu, and the pics for presentation, BUT, perhaps it was an off night, and I think it was a fairly new menu. Portions could have been 10% more generous.
Not sure I’d go again.

Thanks to this and other recommendations from Amethyst, I had a really good stay in Chichester — and a really good meal here. The atmosphere of the restaurant is lovely: an elegant balance of contemporary and classic with some particularly lovely wallpapers!
I chose from the early ‘£10 for two courses’ menu, and was impressed by the quality of food provided for that price. Pan-​fried mackerel was delicious, with fresh, beautifully-​cooked fish and tasty, imaginative accompaniments. Treacle tart was warm, with crisp pastry, a soft filling which wasn’t too sickly, and a scoop of organic ice cream. There is a selection of wines available by the glass, as well as by the bottle (although I stuck to water). Coffee was also good, and service was friendly and efficient.

There are several routes into the Bar and Restaurant; it has its own independent access to the side of North Street and two entrances within the Ship Hotel. Enter through the main hotel door and, to your left, you’re greeted by the welcoming sight of a roaring log fire (in winter!) alongside inviting squashy sofas in modern neutral tones. Walk past, or through, the bar and you’re in the spacious, airily stylish restaurant.
I chose to sit in the strikingly attractive, subtly-​lit conservatory, looking onto the quiet side street. The Lloyd Loom (style) seating was both chic and comfortable.
I opted for the evening two-​course table d’hote menu, at £10. My starter of fresh grilled sardine was inventively filled with ricotta and accompanied by green salad; it was light, tasty and the perfect size for an appetiser. I wasn’t sure about my main of pan-​fried mackerel when I ordered it but it proved to be deeply-​delicious, packed with flavour, as fresh as could be, complemented with crushed new potatoes, black olive, fresh tomato concassé and salad leaves. The busy staff provided excellent, efficient service and remained smiling and attentive throughout.