As I roamed rather aimlessly through the gorgeous, narrow streets of Sandwich, I very nearly missed my lunch destination.

On the corner of Strand Street, Hay’s Shack from the outside is an understated restaurant with Mediterranean blue door frames, fresh signage and stickers on the window.

It suits the town which, despite its natural charm, has of late been somewhat overshadowed by other, trendier seaside towns like Folkestone or Margate.

As unassuming as it may be, Hay’s Shack is currently a five-star rated restaurant on Tripadvisor. It has won a lot of praise for its menu and dedication to flavour, helping it rise to fifth in the website’s rankings of the best fast-food outlets in Kent.

One reviewer described the burger fries as “absolutely insane”, while dozens more have raved over their experience at the venue, which opened four years ago.

Taking a seat in the small but attractive seating area, I was immediately drawn to the decor and the menu.

The interior has a rustic quality which combines Portuguese and Med-inspired features.

The menu features loaded fries, mac and cheese, nachos, burgers, halloumi and salads – it’s a decent selection.

And with Piri Piri, Mango and Lime, Korean and Frank’s Red Hot Sauce all options for flavouring on pulled pork or grilled chicken, there is a good range of tastes on offer.

I decided to stick some Mango and Lime on a chicken burger, with cajun fries, burger fries and an Oreo milkshake – costing £5.50.

Full disclaimer, the portion sizes were a lot bigger than expected – a nice surprise but it made finishing the meal impossible.

Coming in a bigger-than-expected tin bowl, the lauded burger fries were essentially a deconstructed version of the traditional meal with potatoes subbed in for buns.

Covered in a hearty amount of burger sauce, there was also an abundance of lettuce, tomato and onions. I found I enjoyed this more than if I’d had a traditional meat patty.

The grilled chicken burger with slaw was lean and went down well, a contrast to how fried poultry can sometimes be, and helped accentuate the flavours while maintaining a fresh feel.

If I had one criticism, it would be the cajun fries – maybe more seasoning on these would be good, but perhaps I’m being harsh when it has to live up to the fantastic performance of the accompanying dishes.

But, as a whole, it was a decent meal out and certainly goes some way to justifying the reputation it has gained.

Having only taken over last month, the new owners of Hay’s Shack admitted to me they’re still figuring things out.

The only certainty is the prices are going down – a welcome move in this day and age.

It does mean the menu is out-of-date, with burger fries only costing me £10, as opposed to the £12.50 listed.

To be honest, the overall prices are genuinely reasonable to start with – but cuts certainly aren’t a bad thing.

With desserts such as Rocky Road or Biscoff brownies at just £2.50 and cans of soft drink for £1.50, it’s pretty affordable compared to other venues.

Fingers crossed the commitment to keeping prices low sees Hay’s Shack trading for years to come – it’s a refreshing change of pace.

Food: It was an enjoyable meal and, hopefully, this stays with the change in ownership ****

Drink: A wide range of options including hot drinks, milkshakes and soft drinks all on offer ***

Decor: Playfully combining strong colours with neutral shades, it was inviting and tidy – very important *****

Staff: The two gentlemen running it were respectful, quick and kind – what’s not to like? *****

Price: Prices are going down. Fair play to them ****