Fine Dining in Kent

Kent isn’t called the Garden of England for nothing. Its fields and farms produce an abundance of fresh produce, so Kent naturally has some of the best food and drink in the country. Whether you’re after a Michelin starred eatery or a fancy gastropub, here is our guide to the best restaurants in Kent.

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Kathton House No Ordinary Dining

Kathton House just outside of Canterbury emphasises the use of fresh, local produce in all its homemade dishes. It serves a range of elegant dishes such as fillet of venison with port and shallot sauce, and honey parfait with pink grapefruit gel and honeycomb. There is also a vegan, vegetarian and rotating Sunday lunch menu.

Rocksalt Restaurant

Rocksalt in Folkestone is a fantastic place to enjoy locally sourced food fresh from the fishing boats and local farms. The menu changes regularly depending on what’s in season, and the Sunday menu features a selection of local meats and a roast fish of the day. Enjoy panoramic sea views across the English Channel through the floor to ceiling windows, or relax on the terrace in the warmer months.

The West House Restaurant

Housed in a 16th century weaver’s cottage in the village of Biddenden, The West House Restaurant is one of the best places for fine dining in Kent. Boasting one Michelin star, the restaurant serves dishes that make the most of seasonal and local ingredients, such as partridge escabeche and miso glazed mackerel. There are many vegetarian options, as well as tasting menus if you want the best of everything.

Fordwich Arms

The Fordwich Arms has a seasonal menu with ingredients sourced directly from local farms and producers. The restaurant serves dishes like duck liver parfait, Rye Bay brill and caramel apple pie in a stylish 1930s bar and oak panelled dining room. During the summer, dining is available on the terrace and gardens by the riverside.

Hide and Fox

The Hide and Fox in the coastal market town of Hythe serves modern British cuisine served in an intimate and relaxed environment. The a la carte menu offers a range of starters and mains with seafood and meat options, and exquisite desserts like muscovado custard and white chocolate tofu. There is a separate vegetarian and tasting menu. The restaurant also prides itself on an extensive collection of handpicked wines and curated bar list.

Brasserie at The Manor

Formerly known as The Manor Restaurant, the Brasserie at The Manor is located in Eastwell Manor, a Champneys Spa Hotel not far from Ashford. The Brasserie has a menu inspired by flavours from around the world. Try Italian dishes, local seafood, fresh salads, British steaks, homemade burgers and mouth watering desserts. With elegant and sophisticated decor, it’s a fantastic fine dining experience.

The Milk House

The Milk House in Cranbrook is situated in the picturesque village of Sissinghurst. Located in a former 16th century hall house, the pub still has period features like timber beams and a Tudor fireplace. The dishes are simple but stylish, and use free range meat and sustainable fish. In addition to the regular menu, the Classic Menu has a range of pub favourites, and the Sunday Lunch Menu includes a choice of traditional roasts.

Victuals & Co

Victuals & Co in Deal offers casual contemporary dining using fresh local produce which reflects the seasons. The restaurant creates modern, classic and eclectic dishes inspired by British and European food cultures. Depending on the day of the week, there is an a la carte menu, fixed price menu and the unique ‘Raid the Larder’ on Sunday evenings, where a menu is created from the stock of ingredients. There is also an extensive wine list.

Frasers

Frasers is a 2 AA Rosette award-winning restaurant based in Frasers of Egerton, an idyllic rural retreat. Using fine local ingredients, the restaurant offers tasting and a la carte menus, brunch and afternoon tea. Try dishes like seabream and spiced couscous, saffron arancini and Frasers Estate pigeon. Squeeze in a dessert like white chocolate parfait, baked cheesecake or sticky toffee pudding. The restaurant is housed in a traditional oak framed barn with views of open countryside.

Thackeray’s Restaurant

This elegant restaurant in Tunbridge Wells offers relaxed fine dining in a warm atmosphere set in a building over 300 years old. There is a wide variety of menus, from the daily set lunch menu to the chef’s tasting menu. The modern cuisine has been influenced by European cooking, and includes dishes like roast stone bass with pesto gnocchi and pot roast quail with vacherin mont d’or.