The bite-sized mini lobster rolls
Kitchen W8 - the Kensington restaurant co-owned by Rebecca Mascarenhas and Phil Howard - is about to hit its 10th year in Kensington in 2019. And for eight of those years, Head Chef Mark Kempson won and kept the restaurant's Michelin star.
As part of their anniversary, they've spruced up the place, giving it a full renovation over the summer, giving it a much, much lighter feel throughout and adding a brand new private dining room at the front of the restaurant.
Rather shamefacedly, we hadn't been down to visit Kitchen W8 before, so when we were invited to try out their new autumn menu - we happily took the opportunity. Here's what we had on the night:
Kicking things off - curried cauliflower dip with black rice crackers
Next up - raviolo of game, crushed celeriac, hazelnut and Autumn truffle. A huge piece of game-stuffed pasta and just LOOK at the truffle. Wonderful. This is currently on their set menu (without truffle) - three courses for £28 (lunch) or £29.50 (dinner).
For mains - haunch of fallow deer, roast beets, grains, liver and bacon - carrying on the game theme (very Autumnal) with this beautifully sourced and cooked deer
Another main - pic grabbed off the diner next to us - pumpkin gnocchi, cavelo nero, yellow chanterelles and garlic buttermilk
And for dessert - warm hazelnut and prune croustade, rum and raisin ice cream. Perfect comfort food for a chilly evening.
Overall thoughts are that we could immediately see why the restaurant has held onto its star with clear Michelin-starred food and service. And with really decent-sized portions which were particularly welcome.
Do keep an eye out for their truffle menu - which is running from 12-25 November with three types of truffle on the menu. That'll feature dishes like "Baked Charlotte Potato, Vacherin Mont d’Or, Pickled Walnut, Potato Emulsion, Périgord Truffle" and "Label Rouge Guinea Hen, Lightly Smoked Sausage Roll, Crushed Pumpkin, Autumn Truffle, Sage and Onion". It'll be £100 for four courses.
Here's to another decade!
Hot Dinners dined as guests of Kitchen W8.
More about Kitchen W8
Where is it? 11-13 Abingdon Rd, Kensington, London W8 6AH
How to book: Call on 020 7937 0120.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @kitchenw8.
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