Over the hills and into the countryside
One of the many blessings of having the South Downs on our doorstep is the magical but short drive from Brighton – up over the top and down the other side into the Sussex countryside. It almost feels Narnia-esque to be lifted up and set down in another world of rural idyll just the other side of the hill.
And this is where we find Tottington Manor, home to Terra restaurant, nestled quite literally at the base of Truleigh Hill, just 15 minutes from the centre of Brighton. On this early spring Friday evening, as a busy week came to an end, the prospect of being fed and watered in one of Sussex’s countryside foodie havens felt particularly welcome.
What You’ll Love
- Hyper local “Taste of Sussex” menu
- A stunning South Downs setting
- Refined, seasonal cooking from Chef Jordan Sarvar
- Expert wine pairings, including Sussex wines
- A relaxed yet polished dining room
A refined countryside dining room
It’s just two years since the renovated Terra restaurant opened its doors, and in that short time, it has gathered numerous awards and richly deserved praise for its refined cooking and commitment to local Sussex produce – including winning our BRAVO Sustainability Champion in 2025.
We are welcomed into Terra’s plush yet informally cosy dining room by Jared, who is the epitome of understated professionalism: gracious, friendly, attentive and effortlessly knowledgeable about the menu and wine list.
A Taste of Sussex
Terra’s new Taste of Sussex spring tasting menu is taking centre stage for us tonight, and Jared guides us through the finer details of what we can expect, whilst we sip on a crisp glass of Bacchus from Poynings Grange Vineyard – just a mile down the road from where we sit.
This sets the tone for everything we are about to be served. All of Chef Jordan Sarvar’s ingredients are sourced from Sussex, some of them from within walking distance of the restaurant itself.
Six courses of seasonal brilliance
The Taste of Spring menu consists of six delicious courses, and we are eased into the flavours to come with a delicate dish of pan-fried South Coast mackerel with wild garlic mayonnaise and picked red onions.
This is followed by an earthy courgette trombetta with quail’s egg, asparagus, fondant potato and a zingy lemon and cucumber foam. We both adored the third course of super-succulent South Coast scallops with beautifully silky cauliflower purée and citrus gel.
After these three gorgeous starters, things moved up a notch with what was, without question, my standout dish of the evening: a Sussex Coast white fish broth with coconut, kefir lime and samphire. It was a beautifully balanced dish and an extremely moreish umami bomb that had us both cooing with delight.
Our standout main and perfect pairings
Then followed the equally show-stopping main: the most perfectly cooked, melt-in-the-mouth pan-roasted lamb (from a neighbouring farm), with pistachio and rosemary, served with cauliflower purée and wild garlic emulsion. Alongside this was an accompanying lamb, feta and mint ‘bon bon’.
This triumph was paired with a glass of Ridgeview sparkling Blanc de Noir – a wonderful match for the invigorating spring flavours of the dish.
A unique and memorable finish
After a pause to appreciate both the cooking and the ambience of the room – now filled with the soft chatter of other diners enjoying themselves just as much – we moved on to dessert: poached rhubarb served with rhubarb syrup, lemon verbena and custard gel, and the other standout flavour of the evening – a genuinely unique and outstanding homemade peppercorn and bay leaf sorbet. Just wow.
As we finished the menu, Chef Jordan came out to chat with us and other diners about his menu and the produce he selects. We were struck by how well balanced it had all been – led in with delicate and subtle starters, building to more robust and hearty flavours, without ever feeling too much or too little.
Celebrating Sussex produce
The real takeaway from this wonderful menu was the satisfaction of knowing – and tasting – the locality of every ingredient. It is a testament to Terra’s vision, and to Chef Sarvar’s culinary creativity, that so many fantastic flavours and dishes can be created from produce on the doorstep of the restaurant.
What a gem!
We returned from this countryside gem, once again up and over the Downs and back to the bright lights of Brighton with a short drive, knowing that an excuse to return will be very easy to find.
For a seasonal tasting menu rooted in Sussex and a countryside setting that feels a world away, Terra is well worth the short trip from Brighton.
