Bite Club: Ft. Sargasso, Firepit, LOVE Cafe, Marlowes Burger and The Dining Rooms
The Posh Nosh Edition : Well, the festive season last year was a bit of a write-off. Hopefully, you haven’t gone out and blown all your wonga on toilet rolls and petrol before this year’s Christmas capers get under way. We’ve picked out a handful of dining destinations that could be worthy of a special visit.
Sargasso, Margate
Insta: @sargasso.bar
Restaurant, bar and occasional music venue, Sargasso on Margate’s Harbour Arm has become one of those special visits in the past six months.
Working with acclaimed east London restaurant Brawn in Columbia Road, Sargasso has made the occasional sea-spray shower, a risk you’re willing to take.
Sargasso founder and musician Matthew Herbert is now complemented by Brawn-ite head chef Marcelo Rodrigues.
While the menu is always changing depending on the time of year and what has been caught by ‘Fisherman Kevin’ (we’ve seen everything from skate wing to sea bass on the menu), the Mediterranean stylings will warm your soul.
Sharing is the order of the day, with their signature parmesan fritters and speck and figs through to the smoked cod’s roe and soft egg or mussels, fregola, tomato and aioli. Get your fingers involved. Look out for... the specialist wines (including orange wine) - try the Sicilian Zibibbo white. Boom!
The Dining Rooms at Albion House, Ramsgate
Insta: @albionhouseramsgate
Regularly touted in the national press for a weekend hotel stay when down on the Kent coast, the folk at Albion House have actually been a bit naughty. They didn’t tell us about their best-kept secret - The Dining Rooms.
The Georgian building was once part of the local government buildings and the Dining Rooms formed the impressive mayor’s chamber - next time you’re there, check out the bar as that is literally made from the bar behind which all the officials would sit to make decisions. If you’re not a history buff, then let’s fast-forward to right now and on to the new head chef Russell Oxtoby, who has worked under some amazing chefs over the years - most notably at QC under Jun Tanaka and Berner’s Tavern under Jason Atherton - before arriving in Ramsgate this summer.
A brasserie feel with some banquette seating, exposed wooden tables and a lively bar atmosphere, it’s easy to relax here.
The seasonally-changing menu uses fish from Fruits de Mer in Broadstairs (often landed in the harbour in front of the hotel), meat comes from Chef & Butcher in Broadstairs and the sourdough bread is from Viking Bakehouse in Ramsgate.
On our visit we opted for the aubergine caponata with sweetcorn puree, dried tomatoes and zesty gremolata. The burrata is a little sphere of joy covered with figs, hazelnuts and rocket pesto.
The centrepiece is the sirloin steak with triple-cooked chips, Portobello mushroom and slow-roasted tomatoes.
Look out for… an opportunity to grab one of their wicked cocktails (Palermo - Ocho tequila, Campari, grapefruit, lime, soda) and wander through to the lounge for some chill time to digest.
Firepit at Cave Hotel, Boughton
Insta: @firepitatcave
There’s always a worry that when you visit a restaurant as visually spectacular as the Firepit at Cave Hotel the dining won’t be as thrilling as the theatre that surrounds it.
With sleek but edgy interiors and bouncing light flames creating a thrilling and atmospheric dining setting, the pressure was on. But we needn’t have worried.
Chef John Bingley and maître d’ Sergio Gomes have travelled the world to bring a modern, dynamic fusion of international cuisine to Boughton.
The dishes are so varied yet work so well together, so sharing several dishes is the only way to experience the range - and it is designed that way.
The Voodoo Shrimp served in a smoky americana Cajun bisque balances spiced lamb cutlets rubbed in a mint and lemongrass glaze and covered in a pistachio crumb. Banging!
Then there’s the Sticky Thai fried rice topped with beautifully runny egg and the sweet Korean beef skewers in chilli, chive and lime.
In chatting to the team, we also learned about the Black Cod dish. A year-long project and process of refining it and testing it and, finally, chef Bingley has nailed it. Marinated in miso for five days and served simply on its own – it’s mind-blowing. I wanted to take it home to meet my parents. It topped off a great experience.
Look out for… the smoked and spiced whole cauliflower, sat in a masala sauce and concealing a pocket of goat’s cheese in the centre. Pull it apart and have your way with it.
Marlowe’s, Bromley
Insta: @marlowesburger
These bad-boy burgers of Bromley were actually born and raised in leafy Tunbridge Wells, but after a fire at the old Calverley Road site, west Kent is serviced by takeaway/delivery-only out of the Chequers pub in Sevenoaks and the Allotment pub in TW.
But we are more than happy to say that at The Glades in Bromley, Marlowe’s has got a wicked set-up.
The stripped-back industrial interiors - highlighted by epic spray murals from Kent street artist Humor - suit the ethos that reads “Real Burgers, that’s it”.
But there is so much more to love. The crafty beers are wicked; we had the Brewgooder Clean Water Lager to whet the whistle before we tucked into the MAJ - a double 3oz beefburger with extra mature cheddar, caramelised onions, crispy onions and mustard mayo in a brioche bun. The Yeah Lovely is packed with American cheese, streaky bacon, pickles and the Marlowe’s signature sauce (a sweet paprika-based burger sauce). Sides speak for themselves, with various loaded fries and some walloping chicken tenders to dip.
Look out for... the Vegan Yeah Lovely with the Moving Mountains pattie – and the tiny model cows hidden around the restaurant.
LOVE CAFE, MARGATE
New to the Margate food scene, the Love Cafe (@lovecafemargate) can’t really have escaped anyone’s notice.
Created by restaurateur Gizzi Erskine, Libertines frontman Carl Barât, his partner Edie Langley and music manager Ronnie Traynor, it has already turned heads. Using loads of local producers it offers cold options such from the Cheesemakers of Canterbury Cheese Plate to the Kent Charcuterie board (the wagyu bresaola is off the chart).
But it is the baguettes and hot sandwiches that steal the show - marmalade-cured ham with cornichons and cowslip butter; Ashmore Farmhouse cheese with lime pickle; or the braised Ox Cheek, Gruyere and Mozzarella toasted sandwich (pictured). Lubbly