A town branded “king of the Kent coast” has been praised by the Michelin Guide as it lands a spot on its top 10 seaside foodie destinations list.
Fighting off stiff competition across the UK & Ireland, Margate has been given a place in a guide of “the best seaside spots where you can pair your sunbathing with Michelin-approved dining”.
Boasting three of Kent’s 24 Michelin Guide restaurants within a stone’s throw of each other, with nearby Sete in Cliftonville and Quince in Westgate-on-Sea, Margate’s resurgence as a trendy town has partly been powered by its impressive food offering.
This was not lost on the Michelin team, who placed it alongside Brighton, St Andrew’s and Kinsale as just some of the UK and Ireland’s top towns for foodies.
“There are plenty of great spots to visit along the Kent coastline, including desirable towns like Broadstairs and Deal, but for gastronomic goodness, Margate is the pick of the bunch,” the experts wrote.
“Focus your attention on a trio of restaurants handily clustered near the town’s famous beachfront, the Dreamland amusement park and the Turner Contemporary art gallery.
“For the best seaside location and value for money – go to Sargasso. Situated on the harbour wall, it’s a restaurant that swaps faff for flavour, with high-quality produce and clean, unpretentious cooking.”
Opening in 2021, Sargasso soon won a Bib Gourmand for “good quality, good value cooking”, which it has retained for multiple years.
Michelin chiefs added: “If you’re a fan of Margate but would kind of prefer to be on the Med, then Bottega Carusso will transport you there thanks to chef-owner Simona Ryder’s lovingly made family recipes.
“There’s a wonderful feel about the place as a whole, which also plays a key role in the community alongside fellow restaurant Angela’s.”
The Whitstable Oyster Company was also given a shout-out, thanks to its “fabulous festival of seafood – including their own oysters prepared in a multitude of ways.”
The coveted guide dates back to 1900, when tyre company Michelin decided to create a pamphlet to encourage car sales, to help boost tyre profits.
It first began to offer stars out to restaurants in 1926, before establishing the three-star system in 1931, which it continues to operate today.
It has since become a symbol of quality and honour, while the fortunes of restaurants reviewed can be significantly altered by the views of the critics.
