When the sun is shining, there are few better places to sneak off for a few hours than St Brelade’s Bay. We sent Emma Pallent to soak up the rays and enjoy some hospitality.
What’s better than a long lunch? A long lunch at L’Horizon. Located on St Brelades Bay, the restaurant offers scenic views of a bright blue sea hugging Jersey’s green coastline. It’s the perfect place to eat good food and drink copious amounts of wine. Dan, our very warm and friendly waiter, plied us with cocktails and made sure we had the best time. Thank you Dan.
The lunch welcomed a recurring question: “why don’t we come here more often?”. As a young twentysomething, the L’Horizon is not necessarily the first place I would think of going when I want a bite to eat. But, why not? It’s on the beach, it gets the sunset, and facilitates the space to overshare with your friends. It’s practically Splash, but more civilised, and minus the club.
The restaurant features an outdoor balcony lined with white wood and pristine glass. This second feature makes it the perfect first-date location: if you get bored of the conversation, you can easily become enamoured with the view. People-watchers should flock by the dozen to the L’Horizon. It is also a great location to walk down memory lane. Our sophisticated set-up was a more than sufficient scene to respectably reflect on our wild youths. Sandwiched between two infamous fire pit spots, we recounted nights gone wrong in the safety of our respectable restaurant.
Phoebe, an avid drinker of the Shirley Temple, commented that her beverage was one of the best she’s ever had (and she’s had quite a few). I am no wine connoisseur, but my Malbec was exquisite, practically glistening in the bright midday sun. The terrace proved to be incredibly relaxing, serenaded by the sound of the sea and the laughter of guests. We were blown away by the experience. Phoebe said “I just feel so rejuvenated and relaxed right now, and you don’t get this at a lot of restaurants”. I asked her where she had gone where she hadn’t felt rejuvenated and relaxed, and she regretfully admitted “Pizza Express” (“it’s just so loud”).
L’Horizon appears to be utilising its outside area much better than competitors along the promenade. . What’s more, the prices aren’t as premium as you might think. Unless you order the lobster, your lunch won’t set you back much more than a standard dining experience at Pizza Express. If you’re feeling seafood linguine over pepperoni pizza, park at the Pizza Express car park and then amble on past it to the L’Horizon. The walk is incredibly scenic, and leaves ample time to congratulate yourself on supporting local business along the way.
Phoebe ordered the Vegetable Korma, a vegan dish composed of new potatoes, spinach, charred peppers and red onion. The curry was complimented by braised rice, chota naan and raita. She commented that the dish was “just so good”. I ordered the Corn Fed Chicken Breast which topped a summer Orzo salad with feta and sun-dried tomato. They somehow managed to do that thing where the chicken is slightly crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside. This completely blew me away, because the only way I know how to do chicken is to cut it into cubes and expel all its moisture in a frying pan. My compliments to the chef.
Mid-lunch my dinner guest told me an incredible story about the quality of the burgers at L’Horizon, which are her dad’s favourite. She revealed that they are a mysteriously amazing type of burger which manages to be “incredibly juicy and non-bloating at the same time”. If you’re craving a meaty meal, but still want to look slight in your evening dress, then L’Horizon is the place for you.
It was hard to leave the L’Horizon. Not just because we were glued to the view, but because Dan kept offering us more lovely drinks. He recommended us his favourite, which was nutty, sweet and sour at the same time. It was a highly commendable cocktail that packed an explosion for the taste buds. We should have expected nothing less; Dan had shaken it himself.
The Terrace at L’Horizon.
Open Daily
Lunch 12pm – 5pm, Dinner 6pm – 8.30pm
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