Fino, Cromer, Norfolk
This neighbourhood restaurant, a short stroll from Cromer’s gorgeous chalky-turquoise sea, has garnered awards for serving up the local “natural bounty,” says co-owner Dan Goff. Think crab salad with fennel, crème fraîche, croutons and roast cherry tomato or a huge skate wing from across the border in Suffolk, with meat so silky it slipped off its fingers. Its buttery, capery sauce was perked up by crispy anchovies. The side salad seemed intent on outshining everything: a fantastic courgette, bean and fennel salad with sprightly flakes of salt. Fino sources its seafood from the fishmonger next door and another local fishery.
Address: Fino, 9 Garden St, Cromer NR27 9HN
Website: finocromer.co.uk
Butley Orford Oysterage, Orford, Suffolk
A no-fuss temple of seafood where the focus is on shell, smoke and claw. Bill Pinney is a second-gen oyster man who farms rock oysters on the Butley River, two rural miles from his restaurant. The family fish the North Sea, too, for lobster, crab, skate and herring. For the full repertoire, tuck into the Selection – briny Butley oysters and fish smoked by Bill at the smokehouse close to the oyster creek. Make room for the puddings; they have autumn written all over them!
Address: Butley Orford Oysterage, Market Hill, Orford, Woodbridge IP12 2LH
Website: pinneysoforford.co.uk
Rocky Bottoms, West Runton, Norfolk
A stalwart on the Norfolk Coast, this winning spot offers views of the sea from its picnic tables where families gather to tuck into lashings of seafood surrounded by a whiff of salty air. Complement with Norfolk’s Flint Vineyard citrussy sparkling Charmat. Order glistening Brancaster oysters and lovely, sweet lobster platters and keep an eye out for the specials: grain and geography crunched into tasty, fat lobster tails battered in Norfolk’s Lacon’s Encore amber ale.