Harden's survey result
Summary
“An exceptional meal all round, with fantastic, seasonal cuisine” is how all the numerous reports we receive describe James Knappett & Sandia Chang’s 18-seat chef’s table experience in Fitzrovia, which has one of the best reputations amongst the capital’s most renowned tasting experiences. Even so, its “eye-watering prices” are of concern to both fans and foes alike. A rare critic says that “everything about the place misses the mark for me, apart from the food. I am in a minority, but just not a fan”. More representative is the following enthusiasm: “somehow I have managed to justify to myself spending this much on a meal four times now. That’s how good I think it is!”
Summary
James Knappett and Sandia Chang 18-seat, chef’s-table experience is “an exceptional restaurant that never ceases to amaze and delight” and some would say it’s “London’s best Michelin two-star by far” (“I’ve had four visits in the last year, and this is the most imaginative cooking in the capital!”). Even fans, though, had come to see it as “ridiculously overpriced” – “I love Kitchen Table, I really do. I’ve dined there quite regularly since it first opened and the food is exquisite. However, the price per person of £300 is a step too far: it’s a great establishment, but that feels extortionate”. The penny has dropped however, and in late May 2023 – after our survey concluded – they slashed the price here by one third, to £200 per person for their 20-course experience. On that basis, we’ve rated it a little more optimistically than this year’s feedback in our annual diners’ poll would have suggested.
Summary
“Sublime on every level… if only it wasn’t so expensive”. James Knappett and Sandia Chang’s 18-seater in Fitzrovia re-opened after a significant reformatting in July 2021 and “it’s both an exceptional meal and quite a show” – “the arrangement of the counter makes for a theatrical experience, with lots of opportunity to chat with the people cooking and running front of house”, while the multi-course menu (each course focused on a single ingredient) is, all reports agree, utterly “memorable”. Practically all reports also mention the pricing though – “OUCH!”… “it was amazing but the bill’s crazy…”
Summary
“Truly extraordinary” – James Knappett and Sandia Chang’s gastronomic vision continues to blossom at their Fitzrovia 18-seater, which reopened in July 2021 after a major refurbishment. The reformatting included ditching the adjacent Bubbledogs concept, which they led with in 2012, and converting that space into a lounge and bar for diners at the main event: the chef’s table. It also included a not-insignificant price hike to £250 for up to 20 courses, which on opening included dishes such as Glazed Cornish Blue Lobster, Tahitian Vanilla Brown Butter, and Pickled Beach Roses. Sandia’s wine list now features some of the rarest grower champagnes (which she also sells online). The ratings are something of a guesstimate based on past performance and – the restaurant being closed leading up to the survey – rave meal kit reports.
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 Kitchen Table?
70 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4QG
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £0.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £0.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 10.00% |
70 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 4QG
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑4 pm, 5:30 pm‑11 pm |
| Friday | 11:30 am‑11 pm |
| Saturday | 11:30 am‑11 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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