Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Kent

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Kent? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Chef's Table

4.9

4.9 (91)

£41 and over

British

West Malling

About the restaurant

Nestled in the picturesque heart of West Malling, Kent. Welcome to Chefs Table, where every dish tells a story of passion, creativity, and excellence. Led by Chef Owner Bradley Redding, honored with a prestigious Michelin guide entry for 2024, we invite you on a gastronomic journey in our cosy 12 seater restaurant. From the freshest ingredients sourced locally to the innovative techniques mastered in our kitchen, each plate is a masterpiece crafted with precision and care. Experience the magic of culinary artistry and indulge in a symphony of flavors that will leave an unforgettable mark on your palate.

Brunch: Thursday - Sunday 9.30am-1.30pm
Dinner: Thursday-Saturday 6pm-10pm

A-la-carte available Thursdays Only. Tasting menu available Friday & Saturday only

Top review

Anna

Dined 7 days ago

We had a wonderful bday celebration here for my husband’s bday (though no special bday treats provided). The 6 course meal with wine pairing was exquisite, with each course delicately balanced on flavours, and adequate portion sizes were given so that by the end of the meal we both felt stuffed! The wine pairings were amazing and waitress service attentive, but not obtrusive. The restaurant is a small, intimate, 4-tabled affair and when we were eating there were just 4 guests so it felt special and almost like private dining. The music was retro and upbeat, but slightly too loud for me as I was sat directly under the speaker - I enjoyed the music so much that it slightly interfered with my attentiveness to tastes of food! We didn’t feel rushed and enjoyed being able to see the chefs at work from our seat. An expensive but well worth cost that my husband thoroughly enjoyed as his birthday treat. I would highly recommend. Thankyou.

The Poet at Matfield

4.8

4.8 (3125)

£26 to £40

British

Tunbridge Wells

About the restaurant

The Poet offers an informal yet refined dining experience in the heart of the Kent countryside. Set in a charismatic 16th century building, diners can expect food of the highest standards, made using the finest local and seasonal produce and lovingly prepared by a small team of chefs led by Head Chef & Director Lee Adams.

In addition to the food, we offer a selection of fine wines, quirky cocktails, and have a collection of over 25 craft gins available.

World War I poet Siegfried Sassoon lived in Matfield and is the inspiration behind our name. Sassoon was awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry" and later won acclaim for his writing. We're pretty sure he would have loved our food too!

A warm welcome awaits diners from General Manager and Director Tom Haacke and his team. We look forward to seeing you!

Please be aware we do not cater for the vegan diet.

Late cancellations / No Show - £40 per person.

Top review

Nancy

Dined on Jun 13, 2025

We had an excellent evening enjoying the wine-led tasting menu at The Poet on Friday 13 June. It was a pleasure to learn about the wines and understand the reasons for the pairing. The food was delicious and expertly chosen to complement the wines. This was a truly enjoyable experience. I felt truly nourished!

Land + Sea

4.8

4.8 (86)

£26 to £40

British

Whitstable

About the restaurant

Land + Sea is a foodie’s heaven, offering great food using quality ingredients.

From brunch, to lunch, to the deli counter, you can try some of the freshest made food and deli delights with the option of taking some home.

On select nights the restaurant is open, offering some unique dishes for you to try in a sharing style or your classical multi course dinner.

Top review

Yasmin

Dined on Jun 25, 2025

Food here is absolutely amazing. The Oysters were fresh with a delicious flavour. The tuna dish with strawberries and sumac was surprising and tasty. The tiger prawns were very good, although slightly over done. The bread and butter pudding was also good, the vanilla custard too thick/heavy for my preference, but still tasted great. The service is friendly and quick.

The Korean Cowgirl at Canterbury Riverside with Cheeky Ramen

4.7

4.7 (687)

£26 to £40

Barbecue

Canterbury

About the restaurant

Our Korean Cowgirl comes back to Canterbury bigger and better than ever...

The Korean Cowgirl Riverside Canterbury Restaurant provides a unique blend of Texas and Asian culture and cuisine. Here at the Cowgirl we mean true low and slow smoked BBQ, cooked for hours over only real wood, no short cuts. Our Amazing wings and boneless bites are double fried for that crisp sensation. Come and experience western dining for yourself.

Top review

Mark

Dined 5 days ago

Food was excellent , the service was also excellent, will definitely be returning.

Number Nine Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (144)

£25 and under

Country kitchen

Ramsgate

About the restaurant

Number nine restaurant.

Tucked away within the picturesque Chapel House Estate, number nine restaurant offers a refined yet welcoming dining experience, celebrating the best of seasonal, locally sourced, and sustainable ingredients. Under the expert guidance of Head Chef Stephen, our menus embrace the SLOW philosophy—Seasonal, Local, Organic, and Wild—ensuring that every dish is crafted with care and full of fresh, vibrant flavours.

From beautifully curated small plates to our indulgent Sunday roasts, each menu is designed to highlight the finest British ingredients with a modern twist. Whether you’re enjoying a relaxed lunch, an intimate dinner, or a special celebration, number nine provides exceptional dining in a stylish yet cosy setting. Just a short drive from Thanet, it’s the perfect spot to unwind and indulge. Book your table today and experience a true taste of Kent.

Top review

Kate

Dined 6 days ago

Excellent as always, Beef outstanding , service attentive. Back very soon

Discover more

Experience

Afternoon Tea - Sunday 10th August

Experience

Pizza afternoon at number nine

Experience

Mexican at number nine

Bleù Steakhouse

4.7

4.7 (143)

£26 to £40

Steakhouse

Staplehurst

About the restaurant

BEST NEW RESTAURANT 2023 - British Restaurant Awards

Your culinary adventure begins.

Top review

Jade

Dined on Jun 27, 2025

Overall experience was fantastic. Staff really friendly and food was delicious! Just a bit overpriced, but would happily go back again.

Kumquat Restaurant - Tunbridge Wells

4.6

4.6 (148)

£26 to £40

Asian

Tunbridge Wells

About the restaurant

At Kumquat, every dish is inspired by authentic Asian cuisine, crafted by Chef Patron Alex Boyd.
With nearly 30 years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants and prestigious hotels in London and Hong Kong, Alex has worked with renowned chefs like Joel Robuchon and Pierre Koffman.
He earned two AA rosettes as Executive Chef at the 4 AA Red Starred Hotel St Ermin’s and led the kitchens at Mansion House, cooking for dignitaries, royalty, and world leaders.
Inspired by the flavours of Asia, Alex combines classical dishes with modern techniques to create a dynamic menu.
We source only the finest ingredients, and our selection of handcrafted cocktails, wines, and beers complements the menu perfectly.
Whether you're enjoying a multi-course meal or a casual snack, Kumquat's vibrant yet elegant atmosphere is ideal for any occasion—whether dining with friends, family, or clients.
We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Top review

CarolineVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Simply delicious food overseen by a delightful lady

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Experience

Best Value Set Lunch

Sekkoya

4.6

4.6 (184)

£25 and under

Indian

Canterbury

About the restaurant

Welcome to Sekkoya! We are a casual Indian restaurant and bar located on Canterbury High Street serving dishes that tell a story of our heritage, cities and family.

From street dishes like Keema Pau and Samosa Chaat found all over Indian cities to curries made from recipes that have been in our family for generations which we have enjoyed around our Mums dinner table growing up like her amazing Butter Chicken and Dum Biryani.

John, our in-house bar guru, has created a cocktail menu that takes you back to the hotel bars of colonial India, perfectly complimenting our food.

For bookings of groups larger than 8, please call the restaurant on 01227 286221 to make your booking.

Parking available close by

Top review

LEE

Dined 2 days ago

Really enjoyed the food , overall had a very good time.

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The Toll Bridge Restaurant & Bar

4.5

4.5 (171)

£26 to £40

British

Sandwich

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

Sylvia

Dined on Jun 23, 2025

Fantastic food and service. Prices about average for that quality of food. Sat outside under the canopy and it was lovely.

Boeuf

4.5

4.5 (84)

£26 to £40

Steak

Rochester

About the restaurant

Boeuf is Medway’s first Steak Frites House, a restaurant serving the ultimate steak frites experience. Brought to you by the same team at The Dead Pigeon Pub & The Greedy Banker Pub, Boeuf is a unique experience that elevates this popular French/Belgian dish.

Through heavy research and years of knowledge working with beef we bring to you quite possibly the best cut of steak; Sirloin Pavé. This is a rare, premium cut of beef which has the same juicy tenderness of a fillet steak with the rich beefy flavour of a sirloin.

Our menu is precise and to the point but there is no need to do more when we have the best of everything all on one plate.

What makes our steak frites experience unique is we serve you the steak frites twice. Yes that’s right double steak frites!

Please note due to the size of the restaurant we are unable to accommodate pushchairs or high chairs. There is also no children's menu.

Top review

john

Dined on Jun 26, 2025

Quality food, great staff, An excellent little place, well worth a visit!!

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