The Kentish Hare — Restaurant in Tunbridge Wells

I popped in for a cheeky lunch here this week, having been before and being in the area(ish). I was warmly greeted and seated straight away. The menus were provided, and the set lunch option was an obvious choice. The staff are very attentive to dietary requirements and ask about allergies before taking your order. I chose the terrine to start with, which arrived with some sourdough bread on the side. The terrine was made up of chicken ham and black pudding and was delicious. It had a great texture mixing the chunks of ham and chicken with the softer black pudding. Served with a little salad leaves and some shitake and date ketchup. It was very tasty indeed. Next, I went for the lamb and ordered a side order of hispi cabbage. This was an absolutely delicious plate of food and very well executed. The lamb was a rolled shoulder that was incredibly flavoursome and a little crispy and not soggy and fatty. Served with this was the most smooth and decadent mashed potato. A few turnips and some leaves of perhaps Cavalo Nero and a plentiful amount of sauce (jus) made up the rest of the plate. Delicious! Now, I am going to mention the side dish of hispi cabbage as it was without doubt the best cabbage I have ever had. It was simply delicious. Yes a bowl of cabbage.!! It was just cooked and well seasoned, and coated with white miso, butter, and chili. It really was fabulous. I should have stopped here, but my greedy side came out when they offered dessert, and I saw the Bramley apple crumble and custard. It's apple crumble, big deal? Under a big mound of crunchy pebble like crumble was a tart but sweet, deep pile of apple, unmistakably Bradley's. A little jug of vanilla custard on the side finished it off. The crumble was buttery, yet crunchy, the apple was pure Bramley deliciousness and the custard, warm, not hot, not too thick and heavy with vanilla. The most comforting choice for a dessert and it certainly delivered. All in all, everything i ate was well thought out and very tasty. Now I must also mention the staff, who were attentive but not intrusive, very engaging and knowledgeable about the menu too. I also want to mention the young lady who greeted me and found me a table. I don't think she was waiting staff, as such, but more the front of house and bar manager. (I apologise for not getting her name). She worked nonstop, always on the go, and always cheerful. There is a great team at the Kentish Hare, making for a great experience. I will certainly be back...

Last Friday, a dear friend booked a dinner for us at this restaurant. Three couples were booked for 8 pm, and we arrived 15 minutes early. The decorations and ambiance were welcoming. James, our server, politely informed us that our table wasn't ready because other guests were still dining. We went to the bar and had a drink. Our table was ready by 8:20 pm, a bit later than expected, but we didn't make a fuss. We ordered still water and a red wine, Saint Clair New Zealand Pinot Noir. For starters, we ordered various dishes, and I opted for the ravioli with mushroom and English truffle. Keep in mind that English truffles have a subtle flavor, working well when you want a touch of truffle without overpowering other ingredients. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of this until I tasted it, and it turned out to be quite tasteless. English truffle won't be my choice again. We enjoyed several delicious main dishes, and I decided to go with a bottle of Stellenrust SIMPLICITY SHIRAZ: CABERNET SAUVIGNON-MERLOT, recommended by James. I chose the slow-cooked lamb (10 hours), but, apologies to James, due to excessive seasoning, the classic lamb flavor was overshadowed, making it taste more like beef. Overall, it was an amazing experience, and I'd love to return, but I'll steer clear of the lamb...

The Kentish Hare pub looks like a contemporary country pub from the outside. Don’t let that fool you into thinking this is any old pub. Open the rear entrance door and begin to absorb the attention to detail. The hare theme runs throughout with hare ornaments abound. There is a feeling of newness with the clean lines of the bar and dining area. The restaurant is bright, comfortable and open to the vocal drama of the kitchen. The latter is an element that sets The Hare apart from the normal pub restaurant setting. I love it. Food is a traditional British affair, which follows a template for the Kentish region. Each dish is immaculate, well crafted, full of flavour and surprisingly light. The service is the only element where The Hare is let down, it can be seen a slightly too pretentious and lacking attentiveness. This is one of the best food settings I’ve experienced thus far. The food was excellent. The chocolate dessert, slightly more pricey than its siblings, is worth every penny and is my pick of the dishes. Beautifully rich and sumptuous. Come for the country views and...