Seven Thanet restaurants have made it into the 2024 Michelin Guide with Kebbells in Broadstairs making its first appearance.
Kebbells seafood restaurant in Victoria Parade has a laid-back, holiday vibe with a menu of fresh seafood plus meat or vegan offerings and the skills to adapt so customers with dietary requirements have as much choice as everyone else.
The long counter/bar, in addition to the tables, means diners who want something informal, or perhaps are alone, can eat while watching their surroundings and have a chat with staff or other diners.
The venue is the creation of Sarah and Richard Kebbell, whose lives have taken a completely new direction since buying the property in 2019.
The pair bought a holiday home in Broadstairs some ten years ago, with Richard having spent many childhood visits in the town and Sarah’s dad living in Ramsgate since she was 12.
Both families were also frequent visitors to Spain and it is a combination of those experiences which provide the base for Kebbells.
Richard, who owns an office refurbishment company and Sarah, who has worked in the IT industry for some 30 years, decide to sell up their home in Surrey and make the move full-time to Broadstairs for their new venture.
One of the prompts for Sarah’s dream to run a restaurant was the couple’s difficulties finding somewhere nice to eat that also catered for her coeliac – which means she is gluten intolerant.
This has been built into Kebbells with sourcing of ingredients and Sarah’s knowledge meaning any intolerance can be catered for.
The couple took the plunge, gained the keys for the property in December 2019 and moving in on New Year’s Eve.
Due to the pandemic the restaurant opening was delayed until May 2021 but since then it has become a popular stop for seafood, sharing platters, brunches and more.
The kitchen is headed by chef Craig Mather who has previously taught at Broadstairs College and worked at the Little Ships and Empire Room in Ramsgate.
The menu alternates with whatever is in season and features everything from mussels and oysters to pork chop, chicken, roasted pumpkin, cauliflower steak, homemade ice creams and fabulous bread made on the premises.
The Michelin Guide view of Kebbells is: “Located right on the coast, in an area known as the jewel in Thanet’s crown, this is the perfect spot for a seafood restaurant. The dining room is bedecked with a multitude of mirrors, a large open counter and shelves filled with jars of preserved goods and house-made chilli sauce.
“As with all good seafood eateries, the menu changes with the daily catch; all the prime ingredients are well-cooked and delivered in carefully balanced combinations. The cheery, relaxed staff run the place wonderfully, giving everything a personal touch.”
Sarah, Richard and Craig said: ““We are all thrilled that Michelin have included us in this years guide, It is a reward for the hard work from all of our staff and the continued support from our local customers.”
Call 01843 319 002 to book Or Find out more about Kebbells here
Review: Brunch menu launches at Kebbells in Broadstairs
Stark in Oscar Road, Broadstairs, is listed for another year with a one star rating for high quality cooking.
The guide quantifies one star as being “high-quality cooking, worth a stop”; two stars is for “excellent cooking, worth a detour”; and three stars represent “exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.
The Michelin Green Star is an annual award which highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices and the Bib Gourmand recognises friendly establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.
In the 2020 guide Stark was the first in Thanet, and one of only three across Kent, to be awarded a Michelin Star which it again retains.
The guide says of Stark: “Patience – and flexibility on dates – are needed when attempting to secure a table at Stark because the restaurant has just four of them. “This is one of the smallest Starred restaurants around and thus one of the most challenging to get into.
“Chef Ben Crittenden works alone in the open kitchen and offers a no-choice six course menu that should appeal to everyone. His dishes may appear quite delicate in their looks but they offer plenty of flavour and contrasts in texture, whether that’s salmon with kohlrabi or cod with almonds. The ingredients are also clearly sourced with care – like delicious Shh’annu lamb from Lockerbie. Your best bet is to go with the wine pairings so you’re free from any decision making on the night.”
Stark opened in December 2016 and was a labour of love with Ben and his dad creating the restaurant in the shell of a former sandwich shop.
The move followed years of long shifts away from his wife and two girls, Ivy and Rosa, so the aim was to create a better work/life balance.
Ben previously worked at Dover’s Marquis at Alkham, Rhodes W1 in London and under Graham Garrett at West House in Biddenden. He also competed in MasterChef: The Professionals in 2014.
Stark in Broadstairs earns place in the Michelin Guide 2020 – Thanet’s first starred venue
Wyatt & Jones in Harbour Street, Broadstairs, is listed with the guide saying: “Follow the narrow road under the arch and towards the beach; here you’ll find 3 old fishermen’s cottages with sea views and a lovely vintage feel. Flavoursome Mediterranean-influenced small plates have a seafood bias – 3-4 each makes a satisfying meal. The interesting wine list offers everything by the glass.”
(Wyatt & Jones venue announced its closure in September. The venue is now Twenty Seven Harbour Street)
Find Twenty Seven Harbour Street here
In Margate Bottega Caruso makes the Michelin pages, which say: “A fresh-looking former pub plays host to this sweet little deli-cum-osteria offering southern Italian fare. The pastas are made fresh every day and most of the artisanal ingredients come from the owner’s family and friends back in her home region of Campania. Service is engaging and heartfelt.”
Angela’s at The Parade, Margate, gets a green star for sustainability.
The guide says: “A friendly team run this understated little bistro set just off the esplanade. Their ethos is fiercely local and sustainable and even the tables are made of compressed recycled plastic. The concise blackboard menu lists sustainable fish and a vegetarian option – no meat – and cooking is pleasingly unfussy.”
The green star recognises the restaurant working directly with growers, fishermen and suppliers who minimise their environmental impact and that it doesn’t use meat “because it contributes too much carbon, and our supply chain is plastic free.”
Sargasso on Margate’s Stone Pier, earns a Bib Gourmand for good quality, good value cooking
The guide says: “The seaside outpost of London restaurant Brawn, Sargasso sits beside the harbour wall and comes with some great views. The ethos and the menu are similar: an almost daily-changing selection of 12-15 well-priced, wide-ranging seasonal dishes. Fish from the small local boats is a highlight.”
In Westgate, Quince in Station Road earns its place with the guide saying: ”Two alumni of The Goods Shed in Canterbury are behind this unfussy modern bistro, which is a hit with locals and tourists alike. The simple dish descriptions on the concise seasonal menu belie the depth of the dishes, which are made with high quality ingredients and come with distinct flavours and textures. Smooth service adds to the experience.”
Quince is a 32 cover restaurant by chef-patrons Ben Hughes and Rafael Lopez in Westgate’s Station Road.
Hughes and Lopez’s approach is to use seasonal ingredients to showcase amazing produce in an accessible way in a relaxed but refined setting.
The duo previously worked together at farm-to-table restaurant, The Goods Shed, in Canterbury, where Lopez was at the helm for 19 years.
The ingredient-led ethos continues at Quince ,with a daily-changing menu. The wine list is curated with Clive Barlow, Master of Wine.
The bistro-style restaurant serves dishes, many with a Spanish influence, featuring British produce, much of which is grown or produced a short distance from the restaurant, such as Quex Estate Sussex beef and lamb, Longland Farm duck, Staple Stores sourdough, cheese from Cheesemakers of Canterbury, and vegetables from local farms. Fish and seafood is sourced from South and West coast day boats.
Reservations via www.quincewestgate.co.uk
