We had lunch at Petit Pois and it was a real taste of France

Snails, fish soup and a some great cheese - what more could you want for lunch? And that's exactly what I had on a sunny day when The Argus headed to Petit Pois in Brighton to try their French cuisine. As my byline may give away, I am French and Petit Pois had been on my bucket list ever since I moved to Brighton. With brilliant reviews and a menu involving staples like cornichons, goat's cheese, rouille and cassoulet, I was hoping it would become my madeleine de Proust on the days I get nostalgic for my native country.

WHAT IS IT? Petit Pois is Brighton's go-to French restaurant. Tucked away in Ship Street in the city centre, close to the seafront, it is not somewhere you would necessarily stumble across. It is a real hidden gem and its 4.

5 stars out of 5 on TripAdvisor and 4.7 stars out of 5 on Google Reviews reflect that. Inside Petit Pois (Image: The Argus) "A must visit", "excellent food", "a favourite in Brighton" - everything from the restaurant's rustic atmosphere to its staff has earned high praise from customers.

SO WHAT’S THE FOOD LIKE? In one word, delicious. As odd as it may sound to some people, I was so happy to be able to have snails - which I usually have on big occasions with my family. The dishes I chose were truly a reflection of what I would have ordered in France.

I started with six snails as a starter, a bouillabaisse as a main and shared a cheese board with my two colleagues - just the right amount of food. I am very proud to say that I managed to co.