The restaurant credited with turning Western Road into a desirable dining spot, the fact that Gordon Ramsay always tries to drop by when he's in town speaks volumes.

The Venue
Perfectly positioned on Western Road to pull in locals and passing tourists, Pinxto People is aesthetically beautiful. The two floor restaurant has a dark colour palette that is coupled with worn looking floorboards. An attractive looking bar stands proudly on the ground floor with traditional long tables that ensure strangers happily chat away together, it's ideal for a pre-dinner cocktail. Meanwhile, as you make your way up the impressive railed staircase you can't help but be wowed by the fantastic layout. Black walls as dark as the night sky contrast stylishly with red banquettes and tasteful art deco touches that give a funky twist to the place.

Its sister restaurant in London is famed for its fabulous food but the Brighton restaurant stands up to intense scrutiny on its own merits. Pinxto People serves up a sublime array of authentic tapas with that all-important twist and there are influences from the Basque and Catalonian regions. All in all this is a thoroughly five star experience.

The Atmosphere
The restaurant starts to get busy after 7pm so if you want a quiet meal prior to that then you will be waited on by what seems to be your own personal team - no bad thing. Staff are warm, polite and friendly and it’s as if you’ve just become their new Facebook friend as conversation flows freely. The funky, welcoming ambiance and the eclectic mix of twenty and thirty-somethings ensures that Pintxo People is a bustling highly sought after restaurant for eating in the heart of Brighton.

The Food
Executive Chef Miguel Jessen has an impressive track record coming from the highly respected two Michelin-starred restaurant El Amparo which is based in Madrid. His knowledge and use of flavours is a sheer inspiration as he and his team creates a wealth of tapas dishes with influences not only from Spain but around the world. The staff are always on hand to deliver recommendations which you should take with open arms as they really know the menu inside out. As an appetizer you will be served a small helping of gazpacho (spicy, cold tomato soup) with a little drizzle of olive oil which really is a teaser for what’s in store.

Try the Hanger steak with sweet and sour piquillos and pintxo crisps. A delicate cut of beef from under the diaphragm this is packed full of flavour. The interesting part comes with the passion fruit vinaigrette which is sharp and complemets the rich heaviness of the meat. The seared rare tuna fillet with basil, cheese and tomato marmalade is outstanding. Beautifully presented on individual tapas plates the fish is seared on the outside and left lovely and pink in the centre. The tomatoes are blanched with the skin taken off and the marmalade really is a good accompaniment to the tuna - it certainly beats smearing it on toast. The duck magret with popcorn (yes, that’s right, popcorn) is really one of those unforgettable taste experiences. With a little marinade running over the top which consists of a mixture of four different types of corn including creamed corn and a type of Spanish sweetcorn, this is really one of the stand out dishes.

Other dishes include roast Iberico pork belly with black olives and peaches, a medley of grilled Mediterranean vegetables and an unusual poached egg with ‘pisto manchego’ tart. The pastry is extremely fresh, not too heavy and doesn’t ruin the classic of all Spanish cheeses which goes into this dish. Desserts are just as inventive as the rest of the courses. From the red fruit tea with goat’s milk flan and sweet honey ice cream to the banana parcels with ginger sauce and subtle earl grey tea ice cream, the dishes are delicate and delightfully balanced. Failing that, close your eyes as you savour the orange blossom soup with an intense blood orange and cardamom sorbet that'll quickly transport you to lands far away from our homegrown Brighton shores.

The Drink
Pintxo People is winning local fans as quickly as it's winning awards. It has fast established itself as the place to hang out every night of the week and is easily one of the UK's top hotspots. With inspiration taken from some of the world’s best mixologists as well as timeless classic cocktails there’s a vast selection to choose from as a pre, post or accompanying dinner drink. The Sazerac is a New Orleans brandy based cocktail which dates back to the late 1700s in New Orleans that's still going strong with Brighton foodies and bar flies.

There’s also a combined range of well over 80 wines, whiskies, rums, and spirits and if you love bar culture there are few other bars in Brighton that can dazzle in quite the same way. The fresh Spanish Laxas Albarino 2005 has influences of stone fruit, citrus and wild flowers while the 2003 award winning Bodegas Tobia Rioja is a combination of blackberries with hints of vanilla that leaves a long finish on the palate. You can easily spend an entire evening sampling your way through the menu and why not? Pintxo People has a magic and charm that's totally unique in the Brighton dining and drinking scene.

The Last Word
An unrivalled tapas experience that will live long in the memory Pintxo People has shaken up the world of Spanish cuisine in Brighton for the better.