The Chartwell Restaurant — Restaurant in Sevenoaks

Nestled within the charming Donnington Manor Hotel, Chartwell Restaurant offers an unforgettable dining experience that can only be described as magical. From the moment you step inside, the warm, inviting ambiance envelops you, setting the stage for an evening of culinary delight.

The decor is a perfect blend of modern elegance and traditional charm, creating an atmosphere that feels both sophisticated and cozy. Soft lighting, plush seating, and tasteful artwork contribute to the restaurant’s enchanting vibe, making it an ideal setting for a romantic dinner or a special celebration.

But it’s the food that truly steals the show at Chartwell. The menu is a testament to culinary artistry, featuring an array of dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious. Each plate is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, showcasing the finest local ingredients and innovative flavor combinations.

The starters set the tone for the meal with their exquisite presentation and vibrant flavors. The seared scallops, perfectly cooked and paired with a delicate citrus dressing, are a standout, while the wild mushroom risotto is rich, creamy, and bursting with earthy goodness.

For the main course, the chef’s signature dish, the beef Wellington, is an absolute must-try. Encased in a golden, flaky pastry and served with a luscious red wine reduction, the beef is tender and succulent, melting in your mouth with every bite. The pan-seared seabass, accompanied by a zesty lemon butter sauce and seasonal vegetables, is another highlight, offering a perfect balance of textures and flavors.

Dessert at Chartwell is nothing short of a masterpiece. The chocolate fondant, with its molten center and perfectly crisp exterior, is a chocolate lover’s dream, while the vanilla panna cotta, served with a tangy berry compote, provides a refreshing and delightful end to the meal.

The service is impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who go above and beyond to ensure a memorable dining experience. Their recommendations are spot-on, and they strike the perfect balance between professionalism and warmth.

In summary, Chartwell Restaurant at Donnington Manor Hotel offers a dining experience that is truly magical. With its enchanting atmosphere, brilliant food, and exceptional service, it’s a place where every meal feels like a special occasion. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, a meal at Chartwell is an experience you won’t...

We were staying at the hotel and had just completed a very long hike from Merstham. We didn’t want to travel anywhere else that day, so decided to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, The Chartwell.

I will caveat what I am going to say with the fact that we weren’t expecting the best meal ever. It was a matter of convenience for us more than anything else.

We ordered the fish and chips and a meat feast pizza, along with a couple of drinks. The pizza arrived and it was clearly a bought pizza base (which is fine) but it had been undercooked. The toppings and mozzarella were plentiful but the pizza itself was doughy.

The fish and chips were fine; the chips were actually really good. The mushy peas were a little on the cool side. The fish was tasty in a nice batter but I found five bones. I pointed this out to our server (didn’t make a big deal of it) and he returned from the kitchen to apologise. The chef had apparently said that it’s difficult finding all of the bones in the fish as it arrives frozen. I get it, but I remember watching my dad painstakingly remove all of the bones from fillets of cod (which arrived frozen) each morning as we used to own a chip shop and it’s either go through the long process or put somebody’s health (and your reputation) at risk if they choke on a bone. I think, in this situation, some compensation should have been offered but it wasn’t.

Our server, Dhimant, was perfectly polite. The restaurant was very quiet hence the low atmosphere score. I’m sure it would be better with more customers in there.

Overall, we didn’t expect a lot and didn’t get a lot. I think it is quite lazy cooking as a means to get by and the basics require attention to detail as much as the more exciting dishes on the menu. I’m sure there are some dishes they do well but unfortunately they weren’t the...

Me and my partner went in for lunch on a Sunday,

A little confused about the parking as you’re meant to go into the hotel and register your car and not pay for parking (had to double check with staff as private parking companies can be quite vicious and I nearly paid for parking as well)

There was only us and one other table in the restaurant, everything was a bit slow apart from the food coming out, and the first waiter was helpful but seemed a bit off when we ordered

I had a chicken burger from the “from the grill” section of the menu for nearly £17, bit of small portion for the sides and the quality maybe didn’t match the price? but the burger contained a whole chicken breast that was pale and lukewarm, asked the wait staff as it came out really quick and wasn’t hot,

They came back from the kitchen and told me that they pre cooked them in the oven an hour ago and reheat them to order, by the looks of it they just grabbed one off the tray that had been sat out cooling for an hour

The staff were very apologetic and offered to remake it, we had to leave due to the time and they took it off the bill, the staff handled everything very well and I’m grateful for that, but even after that we were waiting a while for the bill, (by this point we were the only customers in the building)

I do think that this place needs to decide what it wants to be and maybe a bit more thought needs to be put in, they’ve clearly put the money into it, from the private parking company, the fleet of Tesla chargers, the decor inside and out, mannerisms of the staff and menu pricing, They are viewing themselves as a higher class but unfortunately don’t seem to be backing it up In practice,

Also it’s 2025, maybe pop at least 1 vegan dish on the menu

Me and the missus have now vowed to avoid places with...