Omakase sushi, steak and lobster and family Italian in Rochester, plus Chatham and Rainham: 12 Medway restaurants with prices, hours, ratings, checked 24 Oct.
Most of the Medway restaurants people look for are on Rochester High Street: Brettington’s for steak and lobster, Fish at 55 with its six-seat omakase counter, and the family Italians Don Vincenzo (open since 1998) and Amore. Away from Rochester, the Ship and Trades looks over the marina at Chatham Maritime, and Rainham has Café Nucleus and Tarana. We checked every entry against the venue’s own website on 24 October 2026.
We have not eaten at these places for this guide, and none of this is a review. Each entry gives what the restaurant says about itself and what it publishes about prices, hours and booking. We have added the Food Standards Agency hygiene rating, and we say where any other fact comes from. Prices are as shown on the venues’ sites on 24 October, and they change often.
1. Mamma Mia
Mamma Mia’s site explains that the host, Roberto, and his family come from Alberobello, the village of trulli houses in southern Italy. Its published menu has pasta from £14.50 (carbonara, an eight-hour Bolognese) and mains from £19 for chicken to £29 for a 10oz sirloin tagliata, plus pizzas, fish dishes and a specials board.
A Christmas menu is on the site, and you can also order for collection.
The restaurant told us it is a small family business with its roots in Puglia, and that for more than 15 years it has served freshly made dishes cooked to the family grandmothers’ original recipes. Its Christmas menu has starters at £11.50 to £12.50, including burrata with prosciutto, mains from £21 for a Gorgonzola and walnut risotto to £26 for slow-braised venison with polenta, and warm panettone at £8.95.
The restaurant’s Christmas menu lists the starters, mains and desserts with prices.
5 photos, swipe or scroll. Photos: supplied by Mamma Mia
Open Mon to Fri 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm; Sat 12pm to 11pm; Sun 12pm to 10pm
Price pasta from £14.50; mains £19 to £29
Booking Christmas menu to be preordered a week ahead with a £10 deposit per person
Call 01634 827027
Address 4 High Street, ME1 1PT
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 5 June 2026
Website mammamiarochester.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for family-run, specials board, collection, Christmas menu
Rochester High Street
These entries run along the High Street from the Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel at number 16 to Limehouse Thai at number 327. For car parks, see our parking guide.
2. Don Vincenzo
Don Vincenzo is a family-run Italian restaurant, open since 1998, with chef Gabriele Forestieri in the kitchen. The regular menu covers meat, fish, pizza, vegetarian and vegan dishes, and a weekly specials menu uses seasonal ingredients.
The restaurant says “almost 90% of our menu can be made gluten-free”, including pasta, mains and pizza. It hosts private parties for up to 100.
Open Mon 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm; Tue to Fri 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm; Sat 12pm to 4pm and 6pm to 10pm; Sun and bank holidays 12pm to 8pm
Booking through OpenTable or by phone
Call 01634 408373
Address 108 to 112 High Street, ME1 1JT
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 9 June 2026
Website donvincenzo.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for gluten-free options, vegan dishes, weekly specials, private parties up to 100
3. Amore
Amore is an Italian restaurant and pizzeria whose site promises “authentic Italian flavours, homemade pasta and the warmth of a family table”. The menu runs from antipasti and fresh pasta made in-house to risotto, pizza and calzoni, main courses and cannoli.
Amore says it was named Best Restaurant in South of England at the UK Italian Awards 2026. Seating includes a garden and a room it calls the lemon room.
Open Mon to Thu 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm; Fri 12pm to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10pm; Sat 12pm to 4pm and 5.30pm to 10pm; Sun 12pm to 8pm
Booking by phone
Call 01634 395613
Address 98 High Street, ME1 1JT
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 10 August 2024
Website amorerochester.co.uk
Good for homemade pasta, pizza, garden, lemon room
4. Padrino, Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel
Padrino serves “Classic Stone Baked Neapolitan Style pizza and Modern Italian Dining” in the Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel, according to its site. On the dine-in menu on its site, pizzas run from £12 for a margherita to £16.50, and fresh pasta and risotto from £13.50 to £16.50.
There is a children’s menu and a weekend brunch, and it also delivers. Padrino says it takes reservations four days a week, and if it has no space it will take your enquiry and try to fit you in.
Open weekend brunch Sat 10am to 5pm; Sun 11am to 5pm (last bookings 4pm)
Price pizzas £12 to £16.50; pasta and risotto £13.50 to £16.50
Booking online
Call 01634 400655
Address 16 to 18 High Street, ME1 1PX
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 19 June 2025
Website padrino-pizza.com
Listing Our listing
Good for Neapolitan pizza, children's menu, weekend brunch, delivery
5. Brettington’s
Brettington’s is a steak and lobster restaurant. Its à la carte “brings together premium British beef, fresh seafood and classic flavours with a modern touch”. It also publishes lunch and evening set menus, and its Christmas party and Christmas Day menus are now online.
The restaurant has a partnership with the Kent winemaker Chapel Down.
Open Mon to Sat 12pm to 9pm; Sun 12pm to 8pm
Booking online, or by email at info@brettingtons.co.uk
Call 01634 400192
Address 79 High Street, ME1 1LX
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 8 July 2024
Website brettingtons.co.uk/menus
Listing Our listing
Good for steak and lobster, lunch set menu, Christmas menus, Chapel Down wines
6. Fish at 55 and Omakase at 55
Fish at 55 is a seafood and sushi restaurant run by the same group as Brettington’s. Its site lists breakfast, lunch, à la carte and sushi menus. Downstairs, Omakase at 55 is a six-seat chef’s counter, open Thursdays and Fridays.
There is no menu to choose from: chef Thiago Krobath serves a multi-course sushi progression lasting about two hours, in the Tokyo Edomae tradition. A standard table booking does not include the counter.
For the festive season the restaurant is offering a set menu of two or three courses. The restaurant says every festive booking needs a pre-order.
Open Mon to Sat 9am to 9pm; Sun 9am to 7pm
Food breakfast Mon to Fri 9am to 11.30am; Sat and Sun 9am to 11am
Price festive set menu Mon to Thu £45 for two courses, £50 for three; Fri to Sun £50 for two courses, £55 for three
Booking festive menu bookings need a pre-order; omakase essential in advance, through the Experiences section on OpenTable
Call 01634 844609
Address 55 High Street, ME1 1LN
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 21 January 2026
Website fishat55.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for seafood, sushi, breakfast, six-seat omakase counter Thu and Fri
7. SMOQE
SMOQE is a family-run burger and smoked barbecue restaurant. Its story page credits the family’s travels in the USA and a burger they ate at a New York gastropub. The burgers are 4oz patties smashed on a griddle, and the menu runs from £12 for a single to £18 for the double Grim Reaper with Carolina Reaper sauce.
There are craft beers, cocktails and milkshakes.
Open Thu and Fri 6pm to 10pm; Sat 12.30pm to 10pm; Sun bookings only
Price burgers £12 to £18
Call 01634 553010 (takeaway)
Address 172 High Street, ME1 1EX
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 6 February 2025
Website smoqe.co.uk/menu
Listing Our listing
Good for smash burgers, smoked barbecue, craft beer, cocktails, milkshakes, takeaway
8. Limehouse Thai
Limehouse Thai calls itself “Rochester’s Best Kept Thai Secret” and says it has served Thai food in the town since 1997. Until 30 November 2026, the lunch set menu is £12.95 instead of £15.95: a starter, then a stir-fry or curry with jasmine rice or yellow noodles, with king prawns at no extra charge.
The Autumn Thai Combo with a drink is £14.95. Both run from 12pm to 2.30pm and are dine-in only.
Evening sharing menus for four or more start with a “Grandma Platter”. The restaurant asks that children stay seated during evening service.
Open Mon 12.30pm to 2.45pm and 6pm to 10pm; Wed, Thu and Sun 12pm to 2.45pm and 6pm to 10pm; Fri and Sat 12pm to 2.45pm and 6pm to 10.30pm; closed Tue
Price lunch set menu £12.95 until 30 November 2026 (normally £15.95); Autumn Thai Combo with a drink £14.95
Booking tables kept for 1.5 hours, or two with a full order
Call 01634 813800
Address 327 High Street, ME1 1DA
Hygiene rating 4, Food Standards Agency, 26 June 2026
Website thelimehousethai.com/lunch
Listing Our listing
Good for set lunch, sharing menus for four or more, open since 1997
Chatham and Chatham Maritime
9. The Sultan, New Road
The Sultan is an Indian restaurant on New Road. Its site says it is “based in a listed part of Chatham”, uses locally sourced ingredients and has “an award winning chef with more than 40 years service in the industry”. It has lounge areas where diners can sit before eating.
It is an evening restaurant, and it also takes online orders for delivery or collection.
Open every day 5pm to 11pm
Call 01634 880579 or 01634 813122
Address 17 to 19 New Road, ME4 4QJ
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 8 October 2026
Website thesultanchatham.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for listed building, lounge areas, delivery, collection
10. The Ship and Trades, Chatham Maritime
The Ship and Trades is a Shepherd Neame pub, restaurant and 15-room hotel. Its site describes it overlooking “one of the yacht basins at the former Royal Naval Dockyard”, with views across the Medway to Upnor Castle. The restaurant has glass walls and there is waterfront seating outside.
The pub lists itself as dog friendly with wheelchair access. Its menus include a Sunday roast sharing feast for four or more, carved at the table, and a tomahawk steak for two or more.
Food Mon to Sat 9am to 11am and 12pm to 9pm; Sun 9am to 11am and 12pm to 8pm
Call 01634 895200
Address Maritime Way, ME4 3ER
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 21 October 2025
Website shipandtradeschatham.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for marina views, waterfront seating, dogs welcome, wheelchair access, Sunday roast, rooms
Rainham
11. Café Nucleus Rainham
Café Nucleus is a small Medway group run as part of Nucleus Arts and the Halpern Charitable Foundation. Its cafés add a small cover charge as a donation to the foundation.
The Rainham branch is a daytime café that turns into a restaurant on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 6pm. Its menus page lists a steak menu for two on those nights: two steaks, two sides, two sauces and a bottle of house wine.
The group’s Chatham café, set among palms and tree ferns off 272 High Street, opens in the daytime only. Its Rochester café on the High Street is closed after a fire, the group’s site says.
Open Sun to Thu 9.15am to 5pm; Fri and Sat 9.15am to 10pm
Price steak menu for two £70 with 8oz sirloins or £90 with 6oz fillets; autumn set menu £22 for two courses or £27 for three, Mon to Fri until 6pm; afternoon tea £40
Call 01634 406971
Address The Langton Studios, 35a High Street, ME8 7HS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 21 January 2026
Website cafenucleus.uk/welcome-to-cafe-nucleus-rainham
Good for dogs welcome, wheelchair-friendly downstairs, afternoon tea, steak nights Fri and Sat
12. Tarana
Tarana is an Indian restaurant on Rainham High Street. Its site promises “the exquisite taste of Indian and Punjabi cuisine”. Every Tuesday a set menu of starter, main, rice and a side or naan costs £17.95.
On Sundays, also £17.95, diners get two hours, between 12pm and 9.30pm, to order as many dishes from the menu as they like.
Open every day 5pm to 11.30pm
Price Tuesday set menu £17.95; Sunday unlimited dishes for two hours £17.95
Booking by phone or email at reservations@taranarainham.co.uk
Call 01634 789281 or 01634 264312
Address 85 High Street, ME8 7HS
Hygiene rating 5, Food Standards Agency, 10 August 2026
Website taranarainham.co.uk
Listing Our listing
Good for Punjabi dishes, Tuesday set menu, Sunday unlimited dining
How we chose
We started with the restaurants Medway people search for and the ones that appear again and again in public listings and guides. We then kept those whose own websites publish their hours, menus and booking details, so each entry could be checked. Every place here has a Food Standards Agency hygiene rating of 4 or 5 on the FSA register, checked on 24 October 2026. We left out venues whose websites were offline, out of date or showed a closure. Awards are given as the restaurants themselves report them. Our Medway food hygiene ratings story covers the borough’s ratings in full.
Run a place that should be here, or spot something that has changed? Email newsdesk@medwaylive.co.uk.
For more to do, see things to do in Medway, what’s on in Medway this month and our Medway business directory, which includes local businesses in Rochester.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I eat sushi in Medway?
Fish at 55 at 55 High Street, Rochester, serves sushi alongside fish, seafood and meat dishes. Below it, Omakase at 55 is a six-seat chef’s counter on Thursdays and Fridays, where the chef chooses a multi-course sushi menu lasting about two hours. It must be booked in advance through OpenTable’s Experiences section.
Which Medway restaurants are open on a Monday?
Don Vincenzo, Amore, Mamma Mia, Brettington’s, Fish at 55 and Limehouse Thai in Rochester all publish Monday hours, as do The Sultan on New Road, Chatham, the Ship and Trades at Chatham Maritime and Tarana in Rainham. Limehouse Thai closes on Tuesdays instead. SMOQE opens only Thursday to Sunday.
Is there a cheap set lunch at a Rochester restaurant?
Limehouse Thai’s lunch set menu, a starter and a main with rice or noodles, is £12.95 until 30 November 2026 (normally £15.95), from 12pm to 2.30pm on every day but Tuesday. Its Autumn Thai Combo with a drink is £14.95. Brettington’s also publishes a lunch set menu.
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