Harden's survey result
Summary
“Still zinging after all these years”, this colourful Westgate outfit (est. 1988) is not the Gallic eatery you’d expect from the name, but rather a “very popular” and “lively” Mexican. Between the “happy atmosphere” and “scrumptious” cuisine, “a pilgrimage to Canterbury for Café des Amis is a must” (with the option to check out their local sibling Café du Soleil – part of a three-strong mini-empire that surprisingly includes a Hawaiian spin-off).
Summary
Ignore the Gallic name – this “busy, bustling and friendly” outfit in Westgate in fact deals in “excellent” Mexican fare and is “just such a happy place” where “the atmosphere sizzles” as much as the fajitas; the “long-established” venture (“it’s been going since 1987 and hasn’t lost its spark…in fact it just gets better and better”) has a namesake sibling in Paia, Hawaii, and is also related to Canterbury’s Café du Soleil.
Summary
A fixture of the Westgate for 35 years, this “colourful and very popular” spot serves “good portions of fairly priced and fresh-tasting Mexican food”, “with lots of choices for non-meat eaters”. The “good staff” ensure a “fun, buzzing atmosphere”, and it “always seems to be busy, so best to book”. Well-travelled owners Bill & Emmanuelle Betham have another Café des Amis in Hawaii, and a Café du Soleil serving Mediterranean food in Canterbury.
Summary
Bill & Emmanuelle Bethan’s “very lively and popular” Westgate Mexican – with a Gallic name to reflect its half-French ownership – serves “fresh-tasting food with lots of choices for non-meat eaters”, and is a favourite of both students and tourists. “I’ve been coming here for over 30 years & it hasn’t lost its vibe. Great fun food and the atmosphere just zings”.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Café des Amis?
95 St Dunstan’s St, Canterbury, CT2 8AA
Restaurant details
Café des Amis Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Cafe des Amis never disappoints. You can't fail to leave Cafe des Amis well fed & happy."
"Long-established lively Canterbury Mexican, mostly keeping up good standards, though the prices can be a bit steep; commendable use of local suppliers of ingredients"
"Always a very lively atmosphere and very popular ; the food is fresh-tasting and lots of choices for non-meat eaters."
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner | £21.00 | £26.00 |  |
|
|
Traditional European menu
| Starter | Main | Pudding |
|---|---|---|
| £10.80 | £21.80 | £7.25 |
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £3.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
95 St Dunstan’s St, Canterbury, CT2 8AA
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
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