Royal Oak — Restaurant in Sevenoaks

Last Friday, I had the pleasure of visiting the charming and idyllic Royal Oak in Crockham Hill, Edenbridge, near Tunbridge Wells. This quaint countryside pub, a true gem, is known for its warmth and character. Managed by a family, the establishment boasts around seven inviting dining tables and often finds itself fully booked several weeks ahead. To begin our culinary journey, we indulged in classic gin and tonic aperitifs. As an appetizer, I relished in a courgette and garlic velouté adorned with fragrant basil and Parmesan, while my dining companion opted for the tantalizing Louisiana spiced tiger prawns. When it came to the main course, my choice was the tantalizing Braised Shoulder of Lamb Ballotine with a delightful herb crust, served alongside gratin potatoes. On the other hand, my partner's selection was the delectable Fillet of Salmon, paired harmoniously with Jersey Royals, spinach, and samphire. A glass of Merlot provided the perfect accompaniment to this seafood delight. The presentation of the dishes was as exquisite as their flavors. Each plate was a canvas of culinary artistry, inviting not only the taste buds but also the eyes to revel in the experience. The flavors were nothing short of sensational, leaving me with a profound appreciation for the culinary craftsmanship on display. My dining experience at Royal Oak was a true delight. The exceptional taste, coupled with the impeccable presentation, affirmed the establishment's commitment to culinary excellence. Without a doubt, I'm already looking forward to my next visit, as this delightful pub has secured a place in my...

Well, that was simply the best meal I've eaten in England since I went to Gravetye Manor a few years ago and it's less than half the price of that. Apt though, because the chef, Ollie, was pastry chef there a while back (hint - leave space for some dessert!).

My two guests and I shared 3 starters between us and each one was sublime - the Soufflé clinching top place for all of us.

This was followed by Bavette Steak and hand made frites. Ollie is French so, don't worry, he knows how to cook a Bavette.

We were stuffed already, but took a short break and finished off with a Chocolate Fondant. I wouldn't usually touch this in most English restaurants, but trusted Ollie to do it justice. We were all wriggling with pleasure at each mouthful and wishing we'd had appetite for a dessert each.

Sue and her staff were friendly and welcoming so the service gets 5*, but don't expect it to be fast because everything is freshly and lovingly prepared in their recently extended kitchen.

"The best things come to those who wait" and this beats Heinz Ketchup by a dozen country miles and there's plenty of beautiful ones of those to wander along in the local area...

Went to the Royal Oak in Crockham Hill for Sunday dinner with the family and dogs after a long walk over the chart and could not believe how rude they were! We all paid for our meals and waited patiently as they all came out slowly in dribs and drabs, despite all ordereding within minutes of each other only for 2 meals to be missing! When we explained this we were told that we had already had them. The bar staff and then subsequently the chef came to tell us that we had already had them, providing "proof" with the tickets (which said there were 14 meals but only 12 plates!) they STILL didn't believe us and basically called us liars and after half an hours arguing decided to refund us the money. They went on to say that we provably threw the 2 plates over the hedge! Will NEVER go there again and apparently the chef doesn't care about Facebook reviews or what people think! Avoid,...