My husband booked for us to visit on my birthday in December and we were joined by my parents for a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. The wait staff were fantastic, very knowledgable & made the whole experience even more perfect! My husband and I have visited a number of Michelin star restaurants now & this one didn’t disappoint - thoroughly deserves to be on the guide. Our one tip that we have found at all Michelin restaurants is to book an early dinner reservation. Once the restaurant starts getting busier, service does tend to slow down but this is just a tip, by no means was the service slow! Thank you to the whole team for a wonderful evening - you had 4 very happy diners.
Theo Burke
Absolutely amazing, from start to finish. The oenology blew me away, I’ve never experienced that depth of knowledge in this area. I’d highly recommend including this to your meal, it completed an excellent experience. I struggle to see why this place does not rank 5 star. Others mention of the none refundable deposit, it’s clearly set out that this is their policy, good on them for ensuring a full house I say, after all this ensures of great ambience. This has to be one of the best restaurants in a 50 mile radius, easily. All staff were very friendly and accommodating to my pregnant partner dietary requirements. Fortunately right on our door step, I’m already looking for the next excuse to return. Wow. Thank you
Kirsty Kemp
Lovely old gastro pub, really lovely outstanding foodie experience highly
yorama2015
We have been dining at Fordwich Arms for years, and we love it. Yesterday we visited again and what a disappointment. Set lunch menu quite boring. We asked to change the main as we don’t like pork and it was replaced with a vegetarian choice (to save cost?). A small, strange and boring mushroom dish that was very salty. Nasty. First course and desert also a huge let down. Waitress explained that the chef changed. Well, that’s a shame. Will not be returning anytime soon.
the russellbrowns
Stunning. Had a wonderful evening here last night. Food was spectacular, service was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere welcoming and enjoyed!Thank you for a wonderful evening… the best meal I’ve ever had… period!
Arfon Davies
Exceptional experience for our anniversary. We both had the 7 course tasting menu and enjoyed every element of it. The food, service and setting are all of the highest quality. Very highly recommended.
Rob007Kent_UK
My partner and I had an amazing late lunch at this beautiful Michelin starred pub. The food was outstanding and the service exceptional. Most of the pub is given over to dining with just a few seats at the bar. The two large open fires at each end of the dining area were both in action creating a warm and cosy atmosphere. There are cocktails to start with but we opted for a lovely glass of the Kit’s Coty Grand Reserve and a pint of the Arms Lager. We had a choice of either a 4 or 7 course tasting menu and opted for the latter which with snacks and the bread service was £135pp. The snacks included beef tartare and foie gras chioux buns with a sweet cherry red glaze and were simply divine. Our stand out favourites were the scallops, lobster and the incredible chocolate orange (dark chocolate mousse, confit orange & Grand Marnier) for dessert. The wine list is very extensive and we enjoyed several individual glasses including the Albariño and one of the skin contact wines. The young staff really looked after us and were super friendly, engaging, attentive and knowledgeable. The Fordwich Arms had been recommended to us by several friends so we went with high expectations which were met. All in all, strongly recommended. This pub and restaurant should be at the top of every foodie's hit list and is thoroughly deserving of all the great reviews, its Michelin star, and awards for AA restaurant of the year and Top 50 Gastropubs.
John Flaherty
Absolutely beautiful place, food is fantastic and the service is exemplary. A really perfect place for a special occasion.
john wilkes
An amazing meal. Well worth the trek out from Canterbury. Spectacular presentation, inventive dishes, super friendly service. Tasteful dried flower arrangements everywhere, including a table sized piece hanging down from the ceiling. Outstanding wine pairings.Not cheap but a wonderful special occasion place.
David H
What a fantastic place! The food is totally exquisite and incredible value for such top Michelin star food! Really lovely food in a beautiful restaurant.
Visited yesterday and four of us had the roast turkey from the Christmas menu. It was amazing! Lots of delicious turkey and beautifully cooked vegetables. Definitely the best turkey dinner from a restaurant. All the meals we saw looked very tasty. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, the ambience was good and I can't find any fault whatsoever. Unfortunately I live over forty miles away so can't visit that often but definitely worth the journey!
Christine Kim
We had an amazing lunch at this beautiful Michelin starred pub. The food, atmosphere and service were great. We did the al a carte which is 3 courses with snacks and bread for £75. Between the three of us, we got a different starter, main and dessert each to share which was a great decision to try different dishes. My favourites were the lobster (supplement), scallop, hake and venison. Sam looked after us and was super friendly and knowledgeable.
Z4218TKleec
My wife and I had a rare evening to be able to go out. We were greeted by Belle one of our servers, she was professional and extremely welcoming, the food was incredibly and could not be faulted, both of our server's (Belle & Elijah) were extremely knowledgeable and attentive, all round the food and service was a wonderful experience, highly recommended, thank you, Lee & Jo
Pesh
Tonight we popped into the other Michelin star pub near to our base, The Fordwich Arms, I. England’s smallest town of Fordwich.This pub offers a seasonal menu focus on provenance, showcasing the best of local Kentish ingredients, sourced directly from local farms and producers.We opted for the a la carte tonight. I went for the BBQ lobster, grape & spiced butter sauce , not worth the £25 extra cost. However, the raw Orkney scallop was a hit around the table. Shame only one of us ordered it.Only negative was the slow service and plates left on table for too long. Having to wait 30 mins between mains and deserts with plates still on the table was unacceptable. Due to the time of our pickup by taxi we had to rush the last course.
Karolis Serenas
I don't think there is any more the staff could have done to make the night better. Starting from the card for my wife's birthday to the attentive but discreet staff. The food was just amazing. One of the best tasting menu experiences we have had. Thank you to all the staff and we will definitely go back for another special occasion.
My husband booked for us to visit on my birthday in December and we were joined by my parents for a wonderful meal in a beautiful setting. The wait staff were fantastic, very knowledgable & made the whole experience even more perfect! My husband and I have visited a number of Michelin star restaurants now & this one didn’t disappoint - thoroughly deserves to be on the guide. Our one tip that we have found at all Michelin restaurants is to book an early dinner reservation. Once the restaurant starts getting busier, service does tend to slow down but this is just a tip, by no means was the service slow! Thank you to the whole team for a wonderful evening - you had 4 very happy diners.
Absolutely amazing, from start to finish. The oenology blew me away, I’ve never experienced that depth of knowledge in this area. I’d highly recommend including this to your meal, it completed an excellent experience. I struggle to see why this place does not rank 5 star. Others mention of the none refundable deposit, it’s clearly set out that this is their policy, good on them for ensuring a full house I say, after all this ensures of great ambience. This has to be one of the best restaurants in a 50 mile radius, easily. All staff were very friendly and accommodating to my pregnant partner dietary requirements. Fortunately right on our door step, I’m already looking for the next excuse to return. Wow. Thank you
Lovely old gastro pub, really lovely outstanding foodie experience highly
We have been dining at Fordwich Arms for years, and we love it. Yesterday we visited again and what a disappointment. Set lunch menu quite boring. We asked to change the main as we don’t like pork and it was replaced with a vegetarian choice (to save cost?). A small, strange and boring mushroom dish that was very salty. Nasty. First course and desert also a huge let down. Waitress explained that the chef changed. Well, that’s a shame. Will not be returning anytime soon.
Stunning. Had a wonderful evening here last night. Food was spectacular, service was attentive and friendly and the atmosphere welcoming and enjoyed!Thank you for a wonderful evening… the best meal I’ve ever had… period!
Exceptional experience for our anniversary. We both had the 7 course tasting menu and enjoyed every element of it. The food, service and setting are all of the highest quality. Very highly recommended.
My partner and I had an amazing late lunch at this beautiful Michelin starred pub. The food was outstanding and the service exceptional. Most of the pub is given over to dining with just a few seats at the bar. The two large open fires at each end of the dining area were both in action creating a warm and cosy atmosphere. There are cocktails to start with but we opted for a lovely glass of the Kit’s Coty Grand Reserve and a pint of the Arms Lager. We had a choice of either a 4 or 7 course tasting menu and opted for the latter which with snacks and the bread service was £135pp. The snacks included beef tartare and foie gras chioux buns with a sweet cherry red glaze and were simply divine. Our stand out favourites were the scallops, lobster and the incredible chocolate orange (dark chocolate mousse, confit orange & Grand Marnier) for dessert. The wine list is very extensive and we enjoyed several individual glasses including the Albariño and one of the skin contact wines. The young staff really looked after us and were super friendly, engaging, attentive and knowledgeable. The Fordwich Arms had been recommended to us by several friends so we went with high expectations which were met. All in all, strongly recommended. This pub and restaurant should be at the top of every foodie's hit list and is thoroughly deserving of all the great reviews, its Michelin star, and awards for AA restaurant of the year and Top 50 Gastropubs.
Absolutely beautiful place, food is fantastic and the service is exemplary. A really perfect place for a special occasion.
An amazing meal. Well worth the trek out from Canterbury. Spectacular presentation, inventive dishes, super friendly service. Tasteful dried flower arrangements everywhere, including a table sized piece hanging down from the ceiling. Outstanding wine pairings.Not cheap but a wonderful special occasion place.
What a fantastic place! The food is totally exquisite and incredible value for such top Michelin star food! Really lovely food in a beautiful restaurant.
Restaurantji Recommends
Visited yesterday and four of us had the roast turkey from the Christmas menu. It was amazing! Lots of delicious turkey and beautifully cooked vegetables. Definitely the best turkey dinner from a restaurant. All the meals we saw looked very tasty. The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful, the ambience was good and I can't find any fault whatsoever. Unfortunately I live over forty miles away so can't visit that often but definitely worth the journey!
We had an amazing lunch at this beautiful Michelin starred pub. The food, atmosphere and service were great. We did the al a carte which is 3 courses with snacks and bread for £75. Between the three of us, we got a different starter, main and dessert each to share which was a great decision to try different dishes. My favourites were the lobster (supplement), scallop, hake and venison. Sam looked after us and was super friendly and knowledgeable.
My wife and I had a rare evening to be able to go out. We were greeted by Belle one of our servers, she was professional and extremely welcoming, the food was incredibly and could not be faulted, both of our server's (Belle & Elijah) were extremely knowledgeable and attentive, all round the food and service was a wonderful experience, highly recommended, thank you, Lee & Jo
Tonight we popped into the other Michelin star pub near to our base, The Fordwich Arms, I. England’s smallest town of Fordwich.This pub offers a seasonal menu focus on provenance, showcasing the best of local Kentish ingredients, sourced directly from local farms and producers.We opted for the a la carte tonight. I went for the BBQ lobster, grape & spiced butter sauce , not worth the £25 extra cost. However, the raw Orkney scallop was a hit around the table. Shame only one of us ordered it.Only negative was the slow service and plates left on table for too long. Having to wait 30 mins between mains and deserts with plates still on the table was unacceptable. Due to the time of our pickup by taxi we had to rush the last course.
I don't think there is any more the staff could have done to make the night better. Starting from the card for my wife's birthday to the attentive but discreet staff. The food was just amazing. One of the best tasting menu experiences we have had. Thank you to all the staff and we will definitely go back for another special occasion.