Modern cuisine from a long-standing venue in Tunbridge Wells - visit and review made at time of having a Michelin star

The headline for this visit is that this was simply outstanding value for money. I have only been to one other Michelin starred restaurant with better value and sadly that has now closed. Lunch at Thackerays was £20 for three courses which included snacks and an amuse bouche, so for the 5 elements, this is the best value Michelin starred meal I have come across and is available at time of writing – I challenge the others to do better than this! The food itself was crafted well as one would expect and appeared to sit in the 1 Michelin starred family with a couple of high notes and other mostly fair dishes.

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The wonderful snacks of salmon and dill deep fried bon bons and mozarella & tomato soft biscuits were a very good start in comparison to the cold carrot, ginger and gin shot which was not as comforting (a warmer, frothier soup would have gone down better for me). The chicken terrine starter was perhaps the low moment of the meal and the fatty collection of cold meats I thought were a little bland and needed a lot more shallots or pickled elements to lift it in to the really enjoyable zone.

However, all was saved with the lamb main with its wonderful tomato sauce and utterly divine side of creamed mash with parsley. Dessert was fine but again, simmered at this level – still, very well presented, as were the petit fours. Service was homely and more engaging at the senior management level.

I can’t say that the meal made me explode with happiness however, it was a pleasant experience and for the value for money, one of a kind to have at this level.

Food Grade: 76%