Dems

4.1

152 Reviews

£25 and under

European

Romantic
Good for special occasions
Innovative

Conveniently situated on the high street, Dems is one of the city's best kept secrets, seemingly small from the outside, it opens up into a meandering and charming setting, rich in character and with an abundance of atmosphere. Live pianists on Fridays and Saturdays set the tone and we even have a VIP private dining area called 'Paris' for extra special celebrations.

All our food is locally sourced and freshly cooked to a very high standard at surprisingly reasonable prices.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
£25 and under
Cuisines
European
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 7:30 am–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 7:30 am–10:30 pm
Phone number
01227 769018
Website
http://www.demscanterbury.co.uk/
Payment options
Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Scott Aldridge
Catering
All our food is freshly cooked to order from local ingredients.
Private party facilities
The beautiful Paris room is available for private parties and is located on the first floor of the brasserie, just next to the kitchen. It is a lovely room with windows overlooking Canterbury High Street, music, leather settees and a wonderful ambience.
Private party contact
Bethany Rae Willis: 01227 464531

Location
10 St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2AT
Neighborhood
Canterbury
Cross street
The Friars
Parking details
We are situated in St.Peter's Street , on the corner of The Friars, home to The Marlowe Theatre in the centre of Canterbury. <br /><br />Pound Lane Car Park is our closest parking facility, approximately 3 - 4 minutes away, just behind The Marlowe Theatre.
Public transit
We are a five minute walk from both Canterbury East and West train stations. We are also five minutes walk from Canterbury Bus Station.
Entertainment
We are happy to announce regular live pianists. Please contact us to confirm when the acts are booked - they normally play Wednesday and Thursday from 5.30 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 7.30 pm. This can be subject to change without notice but is generally reliable.
Additional
Bar Dining, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Soup of the Day£5.00
Tomato and Mozzarella£6.00
avocado, basil and olive oil
Wild Mushrooms en Croute£6.50
smoked wild mushrooms, garlic, cream & puff pastry
Grilled Goat's Cheese Salad£6.75
butternut squash, beetroot, pumpkin seeds, watercress, mint, olive oil
Pate£6.95
Chicken Liver, Mackerel; All served with toasted bread
King Prawns£7.50
pea shoots, bread, sweet chili sauce, lemon dressing & toasted bread
Seared Scallops£9.00
wrapped in pancetta, lemon balm, with avocado
Prosciutto Salad£6.55
figs, serrano ham, watercress, buffalo mozzarella & honey
To Share: Charcuterie Slate£13.95
Vegan Option Available

Main Event

Mussels & Fries£12.00
mussels sautéed with shallots, white wine, garlic & cream
Grilled Chicken Breast£14.00
chicken breast, gruyere cheese, peach, sautéed potatoes, asparagus, white wine sauce
Coq au Vin£15.00
free range leg of chicken braised in red wine, chestnut mushrooms, lardons, new potatoes, vegetables
Hachis Parmentier£15.00
oven baked French casserole, with mashed potatoes, diced beef stew and cheese
Salmon Fillet£14.25
grilled peppers, potatoes, broccoli, lemon dressing
Slow Roasted Rare Breed Pork Belly£18.00
crackling, spring greens, apple sauce, mashed potato
Roasted Rump of Saltmarsh Lamb (10oz)£20.00
pea puree, dauphinoise potatoes, gravy
Chargrilled Fillet Steak (10oz)£22.00
28-day matured Sussex steer steak, green salad & your choice of: sautéed potatoes / frites / mashed potato / peppercorn / béarnaise / melted Roquefort

Penne Pasta

£12.95; With your choice of the following

Chilli with Chicken
Harissa spice, spinach, tomato & spring onion
Green Pesto
broccoli, mushrooms, pine nuts, tomatoes
Beef Meatballs
in a tomato sauce with and spring onion

Paella

£13.50

Seafood
rice cooked with scallops, prawns, mussels, sweetcorn, peppers, courgettes & chilli
Chicken and Chorizo
rice sweet corn, peppers, spring onion, smoked red peppers & mushrooms

Salads

Goat's Cheese Salad£10.95
Tomato, butternut squash, grilled peppers, courgettes, mixed salad, mint, pumpkin seeds
Chicken Salad£11.95
with a light salad dressing mixed salad leaves, tomato, cucumber, avocado & red onion
Grilled King Prawns£12.45
with sweet chilli, red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, mint, vinegar served with bread

Vegan Menu

Starter

Soup of the Day£5.00
Please ask a member of staff
Mushroom Pate£6.55
served with toasted bread
Butternut Squash Salad£6.65
butternut squash, beetroot, pumpkin seeds, water cress, mint, olive oil

Main Course

Today's Special£12.45
please ask a member of staff
Lentil and Tomato Stew£12.50
onion, coconut, celery, garlic, soya milk, rice
Roasted Gnocchi£12.45
sun blushed tomatoes, olives and spinach in a tomato sauce

Sides & Extras

Olives£2.65
Fries£2.65
Mixed Salad£2.50
New Potatoes£2.65
Mixed Vegetables£2.75
Sauteed Potatoes£2.65
Asparagus£2.75
Fried Courgettes£2.65
Mashed Potatoes£2.55

Drinks

For a complete list of wines, wine flights, beers, cocktails and spirits please ask staff for full list By the 175 ml glass:

White Wine

Domaine de Pellehaut From£4.50
Sauvignon Blanc£5.00
Picpoul de Pinet£5.50
Muscadet de Sevre£6.00
Marsanne Vin de Pays£6.50

Red Wine

Domaine de Pellehaut£4.50
Merlot£4.50
Medoc AOP£5.50
Passimento£6.00
Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon£6.50

Rose

Domaine de Pellehaut£4.50
Sancerre£6.50

Champagne & Sparkling Wine

By the bottle

Crement de Loire£25.00
Jules Feraud Brut£35.00
Bollinger Brut£35.00
Laurent Perrier Rose£75.00
Cuvee Dom Perignon£150.00

Lager, Ale, Cider

Curious Brew£3.90
Pelforth Blonde£3.90
Becks Blue Alcohol-Free£3.80
Gadds No 5£4.00
Wise Owl Cider£4.90

Teas & Coffees

Espresso£1.90
Double Espresso£2.30
Americano£1.90
Espresso Machiato£2.20
Cappucino£1.95
Latte£1.95
Hot Chocolate£1.95
English Breakfast Tea£1.90
Herbal Teas£1.90

Soft Drinks

Pepsi/lemonade£1.90
J20 Appletiser/Sprite£2.20
Orange Juice£1.90
Cranberry Juice£1.90
Apple Juice£1.90
Kingsdown Mineral Water£1.90
Fever Tree Mixers£1.60
Ginger Beer£1.60

What 152 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.1

4.1 based on all time ratings

4Food
4.1Service
3.9Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Energetic

152 Reviews

LH
LesH
London
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 4, 2019
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Service was polite and perhaps a little too swift as the restaurant was empty when we arrived. Food was very good and well presented but pace was a little too fast and this spoilt the meal, as we needed more time between courses. However, we would return when next in Canterbury.
Is this helpful?
s
sarah
London
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 27, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
the food was delicious and the waiter was helpful, attentive and a pleasure to be served by.
Is this helpful?
SA
SusanA
London
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 15, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Food was excellent. Staff very efficient and friendly.
Is this helpful?
EM
EmilyMilton
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 13, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Visited dems taking my son and my mother before going to The Marlowe..... Very cosy feel very quiet... Helpful waiters....... Lovely meals and did not have long to wait...... Would definitely visit again.......
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GW
GrahamW
Kent
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 8, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
Luckily we were able to get a Saturday night booking having arrived in Canterbury only 24hrs before our meal. The Salmon fillet was superb and the broccoli shoots vegetables were the best I've ever eaten. Plus a decent bottle of wine at a reasonable price. What's not to recommend?
Is this helpful?
SB
SusanB
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 7, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We have been three times before, each time before visiting the theatre. The food is excellent and service friendly and efficient. Wouldn’t really think about going anywhere else as also value for money.
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JR
JohnnyRay
Kent
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2018
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Been twice, enjoyed each meal. Service was professional and clearly there to enhance the dinning experience . I thought the price was just right, It's now my favourite pre show places for a drink and a good meal.
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JF
JeanetteF
Kent
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 14, 2018
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
A pleasant bistro just across the road to the Marlowe Theatre and ideal for a pre theatre supper. Choice of set menu and a la carte at reasonable price. Good ambiance.
Is this helpful?
VB
VirginiaB
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on November 6, 2018
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
I had reserved a table for a pre-theatre meal through Open Table. When we arrived, there was no record of my booking. The waitress went to check; we were not on their list, but fortunately there was a spare table with a reserved sign on it. Having checked it wasn't lined up for someone else, she gave us the table, but warned we might have a 20-30 minute wait. We gratefully accepted. In the event, service was very prompt, and our food arrived in plenty of time for us to amble across to the theatre when the time came. The food was good. I found myself wondering whether I had booked us in on the wrong date, but this proved not to be the case. We have enjoyed pre-theatre food at Dems on several occasions and always enjoyed the experience, but now wonder whether to do so in the future. If there hadn't been a spare table, we'd have been turned away is spite of having made a reservation.
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G
Gorgonzo
Kent
3 reviews
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2018
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 2
Starter inedible, mains didn’t arrive in time. Terrible!
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FAQs

Dems is rated 4.1 stars by 152 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Not available on OpenTable

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not on the OpenTable booking network. To check availability, please contact them directly.

Is this your restaurant?

Claim this listing

10 St. Peter's Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2AT

Additional information

Cross street
The Friars
Neighborhood
Canterbury
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 7:30 am–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 7:30 am–10:30 pm
Price
£25 and under
Cuisines
European
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
We are situated in St.Peter's Street , on the corner of The Friars, home to The Marlowe Theatre in the centre of Canterbury. <br /><br />Pound Lane Car Park is our closest parking facility, approximately 3 - 4 minutes away, just behind The Marlowe Theatre.
Public transit
We are a five minute walk from both Canterbury East and West train stations. We are also five minutes walk from Canterbury Bus Station.
Payment options
Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Scott Aldridge
Entertainment
We are happy to announce regular live pianists. Please contact us to confirm when the acts are booked - they normally play Wednesday and Thursday from 5.30 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays from 7.30 pm. This can be subject to change without notice but is generally reliable.
Additional
Bar Dining, Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.demscanterbury.co.uk/
Phone number
01227 769018
Catering
All our food is freshly cooked to order from local ingredients.
Private party facilities
The beautiful Paris room is available for private parties and is located on the first floor of the brasserie, just next to the kitchen. It is a lovely room with windows overlooking Canterbury High Street, music, leather settees and a wonderful ambience.
Private party contact
Bethany Rae Willis: 01227 464531

Dems

Not available on OpenTable

There’s more to explore

Additional information

To Begin

Soup of the Day£5.00

Tomato and Mozzarella£6.00

Wild Mushrooms en Croute£6.50

Grilled Goat's Cheese Salad£6.75

Pate£6.95

King Prawns£7.50

Seared Scallops£9.00

Prosciutto Salad£6.55

To Share: Charcuterie Slate£13.95

Main Event

Mussels & Fries£12.00

Grilled Chicken Breast£14.00

Coq au Vin£15.00

Hachis Parmentier£15.00

Salmon Fillet£14.25

Slow Roasted Rare Breed Pork Belly£18.00

Roasted Rump of Saltmarsh Lamb (10oz)£20.00

Chargrilled Fillet Steak (10oz)£22.00

Penne Pasta

Chilli with Chicken

Green Pesto

Beef Meatballs

Paella

Seafood

Chicken and Chorizo

Salads

Goat's Cheese Salad£10.95

Chicken Salad£11.95

Grilled King Prawns£12.45

Vegan Menu

Starter

Soup of the Day£5.00

Mushroom Pate£6.55

Butternut Squash Salad£6.65

Main Course

Today's Special£12.45

Lentil and Tomato Stew£12.50

Roasted Gnocchi£12.45

Sides & Extras

Olives£2.65

Fries£2.65

Mixed Salad£2.50

New Potatoes£2.65

Mixed Vegetables£2.75

Sauteed Potatoes£2.65

Asparagus£2.75

Fried Courgettes£2.65

Mashed Potatoes£2.55

Drinks

White Wine

Domaine de Pellehaut From£4.50

Sauvignon Blanc£5.00

Picpoul de Pinet£5.50

Muscadet de Sevre£6.00

Marsanne Vin de Pays£6.50

Red Wine

Domaine de Pellehaut£4.50

Merlot£4.50

Medoc AOP£5.50

Passimento£6.00

Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon£6.50

Rose

Domaine de Pellehaut£4.50

Sancerre£6.50

Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Crement de Loire£25.00

Jules Feraud Brut£35.00

Bollinger Brut£35.00

Laurent Perrier Rose£75.00

Cuvee Dom Perignon£150.00

Lager, Ale, Cider

Curious Brew£3.90

Pelforth Blonde£3.90

Becks Blue Alcohol-Free£3.80

Gadds No 5£4.00