Kumquat Restaurant - Tunbridge Wells — Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells

I am really disappointed to be having to write this review. My partner and I ate here last weekend, and whilst the food was good, our evening was ruined by our encounter with the manager at the end of our meal. We had been given the wrong order (prawns instead of tofu), not realising until after we had eaten one each, which itself really wasn’t a big problem, mistakes happen. However, as we had been given the wrong order and had eaten it, despite my partner being vegetarian, we thought that our waitress told us that we wouldn’t be charged for the dish, as we had been served the wrong one. When our bill arrived, the dish was still on our bill. We asked the waitress if the dish could be removed as we thought she had told us this would happen. She checked with her manager and returned to tell us that this wasn’t possible because we had eventually been served the correct dish, despite my vegetarian partner mistakenly eating prawns for the first time in her life. We replied that in that case would it please be possible to remove the optional service charge which came to roughly the same cost as the dish, which we thought wasn’t an unreasonable thing to ask for given the circumstances. However, the manager then came over and clearly thought differently. She was confrontational and aggressive in a way that shocked both of us. I understand that the manager was trying to stand up for her staff and have no issue with that but the tone that she took with us was just unacceptable. The situation got to the point where she told my partner to ‘shut up’ and I had to intervene to ask her not to speak to my partner like that. After about 5 minutes of this we were eventually able to pay and leave the restaurant. We left shocked and rather upset with what had just happened. It was a genuine shame to experience this as our waitress was very nice and dealt with completely understandable slip up politely and professionally. The manager however didn’t show either trait at all. Perhaps we caught the manager on a bad day or maybe there were other problems that night but our encounter would be unacceptable at any time, let alone when we were forking out £95 for dinner. Good food, nice setting, really poor...

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Tunbridge Wells

From the moment we stepped into Kumquat Restaurant, we were greeted with warmth and hospitality by Virginia and Alex, making us feel right at home. Kumquat is truly a hidden gem, especially for food enthusiasts seeking something unique.

Our dining experience was exceptional from start to finish. We initially shared a starter and ordered two main courses, but by the end of the meal, we were both so captivated by the flavors that we ended up indulging in a three-course meal each. Each dish was creatively crafted, with flavors that complemented each other perfectly. We found ourselves eager to try more, as every bite offered something new and exciting.

The ambiance of Kumquat adds to the charm. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating, making it an ideal spot for a romantic evening for couples, yet welcoming enough for families or groups of friends.

What stands out is the variety of dishes. Whether you enjoy subtle, delicate flavors or crave a bit of spice, Kumquat has something to cater to every taste. The fusion of ingredients and cultures truly delivers an unforgettable dining experience.

If you're looking to explore new tastes and enjoy outstanding food, we highly recommend Kumquat. It’s a true culinary delight that will leave you wanting to return for more.

Having traveled all the way from Cardiff after two years, we were eager to see if Kumquat still lived up to our fond memories and they exceeded our expectations. The exceptional flavors, warm hospitality, and inviting ambiance made our return visit just as memorable, if not more so. We’ll certainly be back...

Simply excellent, I had been meaning to check out Kumquat since they opened and my mums birthday was the perfect opportunity.

This was a rare occasion where the menu was perfect for all of our tastes (fish dishes other than fish and chips as well as a range of meat dishes), I normally really struggle to find a single restaurant in Tunbridge Wells that suits everyone, so naturally we all had our eyes on several items on the menu before we arrived and had all been looking forward to the meal all day.

We had the slow cooked pork belly and fried tiger prawn bao buns, slow cooked pulled - beef bulgogi in brioche bun and the smoked trout fillet salad, everything was really bang on! There was a subtle ginger note in the king prawn bao bun that really complimented the dish, the pork belly was melt in the mouth and likewise with the pulled beef bulgogi. We could all tell that real care had been taken throughout from selecting quality ingredients to the final presentation of the dish, which would look at home in a gallery, there’s an attention to detail that I haven’t seen before at other restaurants.

Naturally we had to try the deserts, with the kumquat tart and the chocolate, hazelnut and coffee delice. Both of these were even more intricately presented and simply beautiful to look at and once again all the flavours really complimented each other and nothing was out of place.

Thank you so much Virginia, Alex and staff for making this special occasion really rememberable, we all had an amazing dinner and really enjoyed ourselves, the food and company was exquisite and really hope...