The Best Seafood Near Crafted at Powdermills, by the Record

A former fishmonger's across from an old Victorian fish market, so the address was never really a choice. This is a small, unassuming seafood restaurant where the chef-owner has been quietly refining a set-menu format for years, cooking through courses that lean heavily on understanding the fish rather than dressing it up. He's also working the room himself, which keeps the whole thing from feeling stiff.

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant

The oyster beds sit just outside the window, which is about as farm-to-table as the phrase was ever meant to be. This family-run seafood restaurant on the Whitstable waterfront built its reputation on those native oysters, served natural or dressed up depending on your mood. The rest of the menu follows the catch, kept simple and close to the sea. A big terrace looks out over the estuary, which on a good day makes the whole thing feel almost unfairly pleasant.

1. Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant