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Sète

Kent, Margate - French - Restaurant - ££

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Very Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Good

* Chef Billy Stock has moved on and been replaced by Andy Lowe (most recently at the Verdant Seafood Bar, Falmouth). There'a new GM too (Amy Meakock, ex-St John Bread & Wine, Bao etc). Watch for a new review coming soon.* A brisk walk uphill from the Old Town takes you to Cliftonville – well away from Margate’s tourist bustle – and to Northdown Road, a lively street that is establishing itself as quite a player in Margate’s blossoming food scene. Here you will find Natalia Ribbe’s intimate wine bar-cum-eatery. Run with personal charm, it’s an upbeat place that knows how to win friends, and it comes with all the right credentials: a tiny front bar offering a wide-ranging modern wine list (by the glass from £6) and a dining room at the back with good things to eat. The food is down to Billy Stock, a chef who respects the traditions of French gastronomy and single-handedly runs the open kitchen, which takes up a good half of the small dining ...

* Chef Billy Stock has moved on and been replaced by Andy Lowe (most recently at the Verdant Seafood Bar, Falmouth). There'a new GM too (Amy Meakock, ex-St John Bread & Wine, Bao etc). Watch for a new review coming soon.*

A brisk walk uphill from the Old Town takes you to Cliftonville – well away from Margate’s tourist bustle – and to Northdown Road, a lively street that is establishing itself as quite a player in Margate’s blossoming food scene. Here you will find Natalia Ribbe’s intimate wine bar-cum-eatery. Run with personal charm, it’s an upbeat place that knows how to win friends, and it comes with all the right credentials: a tiny front bar offering a wide-ranging modern wine list (by the glass from £6) and a dining room at the back with good things to eat. The food is down to Billy Stock, a chef who respects the traditions of French gastronomy and single-handedly runs the open kitchen, which takes up a good half of the small dining space. His short, ingredients-led blackboard menu pleases without challenging. Pop in for a selection of shareable small plates, a chunky pâté de campagne with mustard and cornichons perhaps (plus bread from Oast bakery down the road) or a beetroot, radicchio, goat’s curd and walnut salad, which arrives in a marvellous jumbled mess. A popular choice is the individual vol-au-vent – especially the prawn cocktail version, if it's on offer. Otherwise, stick around for the full three courses: we continued our evening visit by sharing a generous plate of crispy duck leg with braised chicory and a burnt orange sauce before rounding off with a classic crème caramel.

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VENUE DETAILS

238 Northdown Road
Margate
Kent
CT9 2QDGB

01843 606007

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OTHER INFORMATION

Separate bar, Counter seating, Dog friendly, Credit card required

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