Aldeburgh: The Suffolk Sur-Mer reviewed by Jay Rayner

And 25-year-old chef Thomas Payne, who recently took over as head chef at The Suffolk Sur-Mer in Aldeburgh, admitted to experiencing a "ratatouille moment" when Jay Rayner arrived to eat.

The food critic wrote about the restaurant: "Lobster and chips is on the menu at The Suffolk, a restaurant with rooms a surf’s whiff away from the shingle beach in Aldeburgh. 

The Observer's restaurant critic and a feature writer Jay Rayner, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"I was already minded to fall in love with the place, but that one item sealed the deal. 

"The Suffolk Sur-Mer is a side hustle that got wildly out of control. 

"My dinner took me to a whole bunch of very happy places." 

The kitchen was only recently taken over by self-taught chef Mr Payne. 

The head chef from Woodbridge, who started working in the restaurant as it launched last summer, said: "A month and a half ago, the old head chef decided it wasn't for him. I had a conversation with George, the owner, and said I'd try out. 

"I was in charge for about a week, and I was figuring out what was going on when one of the front of house staff comes in and says: some big shot reviewer is coming in. 

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The Suffolk Sur-Mer head chef, Thomas Payne, Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"I said: It can't be Jay Rayner. I poked my head out and saw him sitting down on table six." 

The excited chef then told his team to "smash it", which they did perfectly. 

The hugely respected critic even asked for the recipe and wanted to meet the head chef. 

Chef Payne added: "The review dropped last Sunday night and was beautiful, great reading. 

READ MORE: Aldeburgh restaurant named among best in UK

Lobster at The Suffolk, Rebecca Dickson (Image: Rebecca Dickson)

"After that, the restaurant was packed with people just coming in, saying they read the review. 

"Then the following week we’re fully booked. It’s all you can really ask for."