Harden's survey result
Summary
Former rock drummer Graham Garrett’s quirky 16th century restaurant-with-rooms in a “lovely village” in the Kent Weald has been beating off the competition since back in 2002. The set menus showcase some “very good cooking” based on “top-quality ingredients” – and while “just a few tables can mean there is a certain formality to it all”, it’s “none the worse for that”.
Summary
A happy crowd of regulars have beaten a path to the “delicious, inventive food and wine” served by rock drummer-turned-chef Graham Garrett at his sixteenth-century village weaver’s cottage for 21 years now. Returnees are “not disappointed” – “the tasting menu took us on a wonderful journey with excellent stop-off points to taste the marvellous and beautifully presented food en route”.
Summary
“Exceptionally good food, accompanied by an eclectic but interesting wine list”, has earned a strong reputation for rock drummer-turned-chef Graham Garrett’s “small but quirky” sixteenth-century weaver’s cottage in a tiny Weald village over the past 20 years. A drop in ratings this year, though, was occasioned by a couple of ‘off’ reports.
Summary
In a tiny village, Graham Garrett and his family's sixteenth-century cottage (complete with wattle and daub) has, since it opened in 2002, won fame thanks to its “consistently excellent” cuisine: more offbeat items like ceviche or tacos are mixed in with much more “classic” fare on its taster menu, while the à la carte is all a little more conventional. With the summer departure of chef Tony Parkin, Michelin removed its long-held star last year, but we’ve maintained our survey rating for the time being.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The West House Restaurant with Rooms?
28 High St, Biddenden, TN27 8AH
Restaurant details
The West House Restaurant with Rooms Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Dinner, and a night in one of the very quiet and comfortable rooms (with excellent breakfast hamper). Our meal - the tasting menu of five courses - was faultless and full of interest, with lovely amuse-bouches (brick tube stuffed with chicken parfait, Parmesan churros). Standout dishes for us included ‘Egg and Bacon’ (leek ballotine, quail’s egg, smoked eel and crispy pancetta), and a slice of braised and grilled Wagyu beef cheek with anchoïade. The wine list is eclectic and wines-by-the-glass well chosen. The service, by members of the chef’s family and others, was professional and charming. The ancient beamed dining room is warm and cosy but the tables well-spaced. Overall, a lovely experience. Perhaps you currently underrate the restaurant. "
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £21.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
28 High St, Biddenden, TN27 8AH
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | CLOSED |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑1:45 pm, 7 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:45 pm, 7 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Saturday | 7 pm‑9:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:30 pm |
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