Brighton’s got a thing for performance, from the Prince Regent's historical blowout banquets at the Royal Pavilion to Furna’s open kitchen putting on a show over the road and over two centuries later. It’s difficult to write a piece about restaurants without acknowledging it’s been a rough year for hospitality: we said goodbye to The Gingerman after nearly three decades, the much-loved Grubb's Burgers closed after 45 years on Western Road, and Alberta's at the Windmill went too. Still, the city’s (relative) old, award-spangled guard are doing exactly what they do best: BRAVO’s restaurant of the year Terre à Terre is an icon of vegetarian fare; Embers and Burnt Orange keep the wood fires stoked; Wild Flor, The Flint House and etch.