The Best Restaurants in Kent, United Kingdom (2025)

We don’t eat Mussels (although the Mussel menu had an amazing selection!), but visited and there were plenty of other options on the menu. Beef Bourguignon was delicious, it was rich, with a reasonable portion and tender meat. Great selection of drinks, wine was lovely and service was friendly and attentive. Nice atmosphere and will definitely return… although we really miss the Sunday roasts from years ago, they were always our favourite place for a Sunday!!

Superb mussle restaurant with a great variety of tastes, good wine and quick service. One muscle portion is actually enough for two people and the prices reasonable. Thumbs up will return soon

Wonderful evening, friendly and efficient staff, fabulous food, lovely atmosphere. We shared a starter and cheese board as the mains are plentiful. Beef bourguignon delicious and bacon and brie mussels platter was amazing

This restaurant has been on my radar for absolutely years and I finally got there! And, wow, did it exceed my expectations. Yes, it's a little pricey but the location, the building, the service and the food more than make up for it however, I would say, this is a place that's definitely reserved for a special occasion. I went for the classic mussels with white wine and cream but the choice of mussels dishes is quite large, about 15 to 20 I think. There's other more traditional foods like steak if you're not into mussels, again a nice varied menu. I had tap water so I can't comment on the alcohol but there was a good selection to choose from. Another table requested to try two wines as they couldn't decide which one to have and the server brought a sample of both so the decision could be made. I've not seen many places do that nowadays. All in all, a great restaurant, great food, no complaints here, just compliments all round.

Lamb rump really delicious. Small, single hasselback potato accompaniment needed some friends, for £26 though! And the side of veggies at £5 also a derisorily small portion size. Service and vibe superb, so if the pointlessly miserly approach to vegetables is rectified, this place would be perfect!

Really good food and service. Went for Sunday lunch and the roast was delicious. Other options on the menu as well.

First visit to this incredible little gem today for our anniversary brunch, couldn’t find a single fault, not that we were looking however, staff were perfect! Welcoming, polite, friendly, felt like we were the only ones there because they were so attentive and lovely, would go back just to be treated so nicely, but the food was 5 star, perfect temperature, fresh, and really good options especially for me as a vegetarian, love love love this place! Will be going back asap!

Spent a Saturday afternoon here drinking delicious cocktails and absolutely loved it. Fabulous range of cocktails for a pub, and all the ones I ordered were delicious, unique and beautifully presented. Decor is lovely, seating cosy and service friendly and attentive. Slight criticism is the as the afternoon turned into early evening service became overbearing as a member of staff approached our table persistently every few minutes asking if we were ready to order more drinks. There were only two of us and it was clear that our glasses were not nearly empty so it felt like we were being rushed, perhaps as they wanted to accommodate more patrons arriving. But I had a lovely time and would definitely return.

Lovely British lunch. Perfect if you are hungry. Dessert was lovely too.

Gorgeous family run home cooked food , never been disappointed, prefect servings all freshly cooked

Beautifully cooked Christmas lunch. As usual, the food was lovely, the fresh veg always goes down well, gravy is divine and roast pots, lush. Try the roast pork, it's divine.

Dining at the Parlour is always a delightful experience, and even after 10 years, it remains as exceptional as ever. Kelly and her daughter manage the front of the house, while Glen, a seasoned chef with a history of working in top Kentish Pubs, including the Old Coach & Horses, The Compasses at Crundale, The Chapter Arms at Chartham Hatch, and the George at Newnham, runs the kitchen. It's a family-run business with a strong family ethos. Glen sources all food locally and prepares it with care. Years ago, he transformed an ice cream parlour into the charming venue it is today, complete with original 1930s artwork on the walls. The menu ranges from ice creams, coffee, and homemade cakes to wholesome dishes reminiscent of childhood favorites, catering to all tastes and budgets. The parlour, situated on the outskirts of Birchington's bustling high street, is a popular spot for both locals and visitors, offering limited roadside parking. After an extensive refurbishment, they've reopened, ready to welcome both new and returning patrons. On my recent visit from Canterbury with a friend, a former patron of the Old Coach & Horses, we hadn't booked, but they graciously accommodated us. I messaged Glen en-route. I savoured the Slow Roasted Belly of Pork with crispy crackling and apple puree, accompanied by roast potatoes and vegetables, all brought together with a rich gravy reduction that was simply divine. My friend opted for the Sausage and Mash with Mustard Gravy, which was also perfectly prepared with a flavourful onion gravy. To finish I had a dark truffle chocolate torte dessert with sprinkles of frozen raspberries, and a raspberry swirl ice-cream, it was delicious. As others have said you got to eat here if you want the best in Birchington in my humble opinion. Well done to Glen and the family for keeping up the best standards.

Honestly from the moment we walked in we had a very warm welcome from Jade who showed us to our table. Nigel served us and gave us an exceptional service taking our order and serving us drinks. The food was amazing too. Definitely a little hidden gem we found and will come and eat here again. Thank you again to all the staff.

Went for the first time, for Sunday lunch, and had the Roast Beef with vegetables and Yorkshire pudding all of which was cooked to perfection and tasted great. A very relaxed ambient atmosphere with pleasant staff situated in a lovely peaceful village setting

Fantastic village pub offering an extensive menu. I always liked visiting this pub; excellent food and it used to have a pub cat. 😻 Back for the first time in a couple of years, we didn’t book and were lucky enough to get last available table in the bar on a Saturday lunchtime. Food menu is extensive and portions are generous. Fantastic steak ciabatta with mushroom pate to start. Very nice. Big onion rings and chips on the side. Big specials menu as well. The beer was Krombacher. Rarely seen but a decent pils. No room for pudding this time, but excellent previously and one to have. Small car park but you can park in nearby streets if full; so not a deal breaker. Whole baked Camembert on the menu. That you like to see. Will have that next time for sure.

I love The Three Tuns, I hadn't been in a while since I moved away but I used to go to the pub quiz every 1st Wednesday with my family and friends and it's such a good time. I was there recently for the Christmas quiz and it was just as wonderful as always. Food, service and atmosphere are always great. Definitely the best pub in the area.

Agree with the other five star reviews here. Fabulous fish and chips, very fresh, beautifully fried and large portions. Aside from the great food that you can eat in or out, we loved the really high quality paper bags; a pet hate are plastic bags, as they gather condensation and make the chips soggy! Not so here! We got lucky picking this takeaway. Highly recommended.

went to seabells today for some lunch with my 2 year old daughter and the staff were amazing, he gave her a drink on the house, he was very chatty to her and very professional and polite, food was lovely too . Defo recommend

went for a meal on 10th June 2024, excellent friendly service and superb fish and chips, cannot recommend highly enough. Portion were very generous and waiter carefully arranged left over food in a cardboard container for us.

Very nice service and food was lovely. First time here with relatives who live nearby I was visiting from London. Would recommend wish it was like this in London. Very kind staff

An incredible experience, all round. The service, food and atmosphere were outstanding. I love the fact that this restaurant doesn't have a 'stuffy' vibe. It's top class but in a relaxed way. Will definitely be going back.

The food was exceptional as was the wine selection which included a number of English vineyards. We chose the â la carte menu and were very pleased with the choices. I suppose the only comment we would make is that it's basically a pub albeit an elevated one and the service reflects that. Which doesn't mean that anyone was rude - far from it - but there was a fair bit of shouting and loud talking in/out of the kitchen and up/down the bar. My expectation when paying £75pp is that the staff would perhaps be a little more circumspect but in no way did it detract from the absolutely amazing food.

We have dined here for a special occasion. The fire place was on and it added to overall atmosphere. We went for a longer menu. It was one of the best meals of our lives. Especially the lobster was just amazing. Every little piece was perfectly executed and balanced. Oysters were delicious as well. And the wine selection is very extensive.

I had a wonderful time at the Fordwich Arms. The food was delicious and the staff very kind! I had the Hake, The Quail, the pistachio and raspberry tart. My fiancé got the Pork instead of the Hake.

Enjoyed a lovely hot drink and homemade brownie. The pub was buzzing and you can just tell its a hit with the locals as well as being a firm favourite "hidden gem". Loved the Christmas decorations outside too! Saw lots of regular events advertised so we're sure to come back!

My husband & I stayed at the lovely Duke of William for 2 nights and had a wonderful stay. The staff, Adam in particular can't help enough and even went to the shops and got a bag of sweets for a friend as I was at a wedding most of the time so he did that for me. Amazing staff, lovely room, fabulous b/fast. The bar and restaurant was always full, incredibly welcoming for dogs and children as well.

The Sunday Roast was the best we've had in a long time. Jenny, who manages the restaurant was welcoming, professional, friendly and calm under the pressure of so many covers. The food was excellent and we will definately be returning.

I really enjoyed my Sunday roast. I had soup to start and then roast chicken with stuffing. The meat was tasty and the veg well cooked. I'm not a fan of cauliflower cheese with a roast, but that's personal preference. The building is old and character-full and the staff very pleasant. Definitely worth a visit.

I had last night homemade leek & potato soup excellent. My mains were lambs, liver & bacon mashed potato, a selection of fresh vegetables. They were like mums dinner. And a pint of local beer Heart of Darkness.

This is one amazing Oldie but Goldie pub filled up with interesting photos on over the walls and antiquity surroundings complete with outdoor seating and a smoking area. The food of which I had was the best steak & kidney pudding in my life and my misses had a huge pork succulent chop, both served with creamy mash and fresh veg, both were very plentiful and really delicious, hence the empty plates The service was fantastic including the young girl (well younger then me) was rushed off her feet, made you feel very welcomed and gave you and a busy restaurant 100%. This place was alight with happiness and that wasn't only due to a brilliant service, great food and good music but people were talking to each other and hardly to none mobile phones, people were polite with no weatherspoon type reckless regulars trying to get a cheap beer if you get my point and my favourite was this cozy corner with a log burner with two sofas that surrounded it to relax with a coffee to finish your meal. The toilets were lovely and clean and didn't smell at all which is just as important as the meal itself, the price was definitely worth it for what I paid which included two puddings and a couple of drinks. All in all I give this restaurant 10/10, worth the 45 min drive to get there were guaranteed return visit very soon.

We had a wonderful lunch at The Cook's Tale Restaurant in Canterbury! As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by Asher, our host, who was friendly, welcoming, and very knowledgeable about the menu. He made sure our dietary requirements were carefully addressed and guided us through the options. We opted for the Meat and Vegetarian Thali, and both were absolutely delicious — full of vibrant flavors and beautifully presented. What truly stood out was the exceptional service. During our meal, Chef Alfie came over to check on us, asking if we were enjoying our food and if we had any feedback. It was a lovely personal touch that made the experience even more memorable. The restaurant itself had a cosy, festive atmosphere, with Christmas decorations adding a warm touch to the environment. Overall, a fantastic dining experience, with excellent food, great service, and a welcoming ambience. Highly recommended!

Wow, what an amazing experience. Came here for our 23rd anniversary meal, and went for the 12 course tasting menus with matched wines. After the first couple of courses I was a little worried that we would not be full by the end, but by the end of the tenth course we were both struggling to take another bite. Had the food not been so good, we may have given up, but it was amazing and we persevered, and now we are both uncomfortably full but so happy with what we have eaten. The service was impeccable, you rarely get it so good in this country. The food was rich, delicious and wholesome, and varied enough to keep the most eclectic palate happy. The wines were incredibly well paired, and each one delicious in their own right, but elevated to another level with the paired food. It is a little off the beaten track, but worth going out of your way to find. No regrets at all with choosing this marvellous restaurant, we will be singing praises to our friends and family and would heartily recommend to anyone.

I have been visiting The Cook’s Tale for at least eight years now and I always have a wonderful experience. The food is simply delicious! It's fine dining quality at a mid-range price. If you are able to take advantage of one of their monthly deals, it's insanely good value for money. The service has always been very attentive. As a vegetarian I love the quantity and variety of vegetarian dishes - it's clear they aren't some afterthought. Something else that I really appreciate about The Cook’s Tale is that unlike many other restaurants in a similar price range they don't automatically add gratuity to the bill, it's left to you to decide how much you want to tip. If you are considering visiting The Cook’s Tale, stop thinking and go now! You won't regret it.

My husband and I booked for the Indian high tea. It was on an offer and we love high tea, so we figured we would try it. It was all so amazing. There was a tone of variety of both sweet and savoury and the masala chai tea we got was very nice. The service was quick and attentive. Such a fun and unique twist- our favourite was the spiced chocolate cake and the potato sandwich. We cleaned our plates!

We are regular customers. Such a nice place and equally good atmosphere in summer or winter. Lovely staff and great chef. Thoroughly recommend.

Lovely cafe with good coffee and lunch menu. We were a large group of walkers ready for refreshments and service was excellent at short notice. The toasty was nicely presented and everyone in the group were happy with it. Area can be abit noisy due to acoustics but not too disturbing. Staff are friendly and helpful

We called for coffee and cakes and...what cakes! All freshly made and very tasty. Price compares well with the overpriced chains on the high street, although soft drinks too expensive at £4 each. Nice courtyard with waiter service, rare in the UK but welcome. Inside dining also. Will return again to try lunch.ample car park. Not easy to find so be patient, it's worth a visit if you like a country drive