Core by Clare Smyth in Kensington and Chelsea

Absolutely delightful experience. It was my first time in a Michelin restaurant and wow did this place rock! Everyone was so attentive and amazing.

I will start by saying, what a wonderful experience. Everything was amazing and the service was beyond the 5 stars you’re allowed to give. Everyone was so fun, knowledgeable and experienced. It’s definitely worth a try if you had any desire at all to check it out. I’m excited for when I’m in London again because I will definitely go back.

Environment: It’s very bad seating set up. The atmosphere is just like a noisy cafe instead of a 3 star michelin restaurant. Don’t worth the money,. We were sitting in the middle os the room and there are many staff walking around making the dining experience quite tensed. And there is a big group of customers talking loud the whole time non stop. making the whole experience depreciates significantly. I do asked for change of seat as i can’t stand for the noise. They just made me change seat to opposite side only. No afterwards follow up and the atmosphere keep noisy. Food: Many ppl appreciate the potato and Roe. I feel it is just a normal potato dish. Scallop Tartare is good and fresh. Overall is very salty and no ‘wow’ dish to remember. I would expect the quality has big differences with other Michelin 1 star restaurant but i was disappointed. Service: the staff are very attentive at cleaning up the table after each dish, they clear my xrish while i am eating last bite of my dish, make me feel very tensed. However, when i want to change seats, no attention received from almost all staff. They just ignore and avoid eye contact with me.

The taste of the food is so-so,some dishes are good some are just like ordinary food. and not worth the price. The service staff walk around repeatedly, too chaotic like a scene from a movie. The atmosphere is not good, it doesn't feel like a restaurant. £250/per person.??

We wanted to love this restaurant. We waiting for the day to come that we would finally go and honestly we’re disappointed. The food good food as you would expect for all the stars, there were a couple of stand out dishes but most of the menu wasn’t memorable (we did the core classics menu), cocktails were however good. Overall for the cost versus quality we sadly will not be returning. Service feel totally scripted and none of our questions were answered, the servers did not appear knowledgeable about the menu or the wine beyond the blurb they came with. We did go for the last time of service, maybe that was the error.

Spent a long time on OpenTable looking for "next available" and got lucky one day. Nice friendly greeting from the brigade to start things off and straight to the table in a corner far from the window. Hushed chatter in the dining room and a nice bottle of champagne to start. It's difficult to describe this place because it's just so formulaic and conveyer belt I came away underwhelmed and frankly disappointed. I've had better 1 star meals and at one point we had to ask for the service to slow down as it was just serve, observe, collect, repeat. It's so slick, so polished, and utterly devoid of atmosphere and emotion. The signature carrot and potato dishes were very ordinary too. The venison and the dessert that looks like an apple were very good but it wasn't enough to make it memorable. Make your own mind up but I won't be returning.

Possibly the greatest meal I’ve ever had in my life. I cannot convey my emotions into words what a truly amazing experience this was and I would fly out to London again just to come back here. The food was phenomenal and the service was just as good. Kind and caring, they explained each dish as they came out and I probably didn’t understand half of what I was eating anyway but it didn’t matter. The quality of the food is akin to artwork. After my many courses, and having left my meal and am now sitting quietly, reflective of my meal, I am doing my best to remind myself: don’t be sad because it’s over, be glad that it happened

We were very disappointed with the overall experience in that we expected more for a 3 *. Service was rushed (2 minutes between clearing your table to putting the next dish out). No palate cleansers between courses. Very pretty and elegant plates of food but taste wise was so so. Wouldn't be recommending this 3* and there are definitely others that are better for the price you pay for.

From the moment you walk in you and are welcomed you know you are going to be in for a special lunch. All the staff are attentive but not over fussy, polite and welcoming. Now the important part, we tried both of the tasting menus and I can honestly say it’s the best meal we have ever had and we have tried a lot of tasting menus. Before we went I thought it sounded expensive but you can understand why, the staffing levels, the food quality and also amounts. Photos might make the portions seem small but you honestly would not want anymore. Glad we went at lunch time and can’t wait to go back again.

As exceptional as you expect. But also relaxed. Informal and unhurried service. The top for their game - no question

We visited core on 5/10/24. We had a lovely time and got to sit at the chef’s table. The staff worked hard to fit all dietary requirements, and to their credit did a great job. The only issue with the day was seeing heading chef Jonny Bone shouting and pointing a knife at a junior chef. Whilst this maybe common behaviour behind closed doors (and it shouldn’t be), to observe it so apparently from the dining room left a bad taste in all of our mouths. Passion and quality shouldn’t enable dehumanising behaviour.

As a group of six food-loving siblings, we chose Core by Clare Smyth in Kensington for a surprise 40th birthday celebration, and it was an absolutely divine experience. From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed, and the service throughout was impeccable. Watching the artistry in the kitchen unfold was a delight, showcasing their expertise and passion for food. The incredibly attentive staff were knowledgeable about the extensive menu, offering recommendations and expertly pairing drinks, wine, and cocktails. The food tasting was truly out of this world, with every dish exquisitely prepared. They also catered to all dietary requirements effortlessly, accommodating gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options without a hitch. The elegant setting combined with great company and the professionalism of the staff made for an unforgettable evening. Each course was a masterpiece, both in presentation and taste, making the birthday celebration extra special. Core by Clare Smyth is more than just a meal—it’s a memorable culinary experience. We highly recommend it for anyone looking to indulge in exceptional food, world-class service, and a truly wonderful atmosphere. A perfect place for a special occasion or simply to enjoy incredible food!

Utterly fabulous in every way! Food, service, ambience, pace. The wine flight is also superb. Worth all 3 stars without question.

Good food, good service, nice interior. Very pleasant experience

The phone number they provided busy and no answer all the time! Impossible to book a seat with solo diner which is disappointing and unfair!

I feel compelled to write an updated review for Core by Clare Smyth since when I first visited in February 2020 it only had two Michelin stars. Well, it has three Michelin stars now! I had to come back to see what the difference was. Ironically, I didn't realize that I ordered the Core Seasons menu last time (perhaps I should have checked my own review!), but I did end up ordering the Core Seasons menu again. I could tell very clearly that Core has increased its level since the last time I was here. The presentation was tighter, the creativity was on par if not slightly better, and of course the food was still amazing. There were no misses at all on this menu, although if I had to pick a favorite it would probably have to be the Langoustine and Wasabi Pea. But honestly, everything is fantastic as you would expect from a three Michelin star restaurant. As usual, Core has impeccable service. Even though they are now at three stars, you never feel like they think they're too good for you to be here. Everyone here was super friendly! Every dish explained after its brought out. Table cleaned after every dish. Hell, they wouldn't even let me pour my own water. I have been spoiled to have been to multiple three star restaurants, but at least I know what the standard is and they meet that standard. Since I have been here before, I was already familiar with the ambience. Like i I said before, Core prides itself on being "an elegant and informal fine dining restaurant." You never feel uncomfortable in here at all despite it being a three star restaurant. Luckily this time, I was able to be seated at a table at the edge of the room rather than the middle of the room. This really allowed me to observe all the details of the ambience. Really felt super comfortable here, as I did last time. I also wanted to thank the reservations folks for allowing me to book a two person reservation, then changing it to a one person reservation since OpenTable didn't allow for a one person reservation. A lot of fine dining establishments don't do this, so I am grateful that they allowed for this. Core by Clare Smyth is firmly one of my favorite restaurants in the world. I was impressed by it in in 2020 and even more impressed after 2024. And since I still haven't ordered from the Core Classics menu, I still have incentive to come back!

Core really delivered. We were lucky enough to sit at the Chef’s table and were impressed and delighted by the theatre of the kitchen. Top class food in a comfortable and relaxed environment. Every part of our experience was perfect, from the tasteful interior design, the warm and attentive staff, and maybe the best seasonal tasting menu we’ve ever had. Our experience was capped off perfectly by having an opportunity to speak to Chef Clare Smyth at the end and to take a picture.

I’ve followed Clare’s success at Core since she joined us for an after lunch coffee at Royal Hospital Rd a number of years ago…and she was a delight to chat with. You enter Core into a beautiful bar, colours and vibe are superb. It’s not squeezed either, you can actually use it as a bar and enjoy snacks & drinks if you don’t want the restaurant. Clare is from our part of the world, Northern Ireland, and it’s superb to see numerous nods to her background throughout the menus. The Causeway cocktail was just too easy to drink! The dining room is the complete opposite, bright & airy, quite different to what we were expecting….a very relaxing room. I’ll not go into detail about the menu, other than to mention the potato dish….as many of our neighbouring diners were. The fact the humble spud (Clare’s family are potato farmers) can be elevated to this level highlights a chef’s creativity, sustainability & heritage. Many chefs and restaurants claim these words but often fail to deliver….this place does it in spades! Staff are everything you expect at this level, but delivered with a comfortably relaxed approach. Can’t wait to go back!

What a fabulous evening. We have been many times and every visit seems to get better. The food is amazing, the service superlative (with a different member of staff explaining each course as it is served), and the atmosphere superb. Great wine list, although I think, next time I will choose the flight.

Incredible! Everything flawless that's all there is to it, Core can do no wrong it seems Check these photos! Amazed with my cheese and onion one with white background

Very disappointed that they "don't have space for" prams (even for essentially silent newborns).

Second time here. This is a seriously expensive restaurant with seriously good food. The potato seaweed dish is the best thing I have ever eaten and I’m still thinking about it weeks later. Wine with each course was perfection. Service feels slightly manic, but every need is taken care of. I think it’s just the volume of staff in what is a relatively small space. Meeting Clare at the end was such a special touch. Will def go again another time, but this takes some real saving, it’s just so expensive.

Food is great and staff are also very welcoming and professional.

I absolutely loved my experience here. I recommend everyone to come here at least once.

Lovely atmosphere the staff were Splendid

Wov this place is absolutely brilliant to eat the food is lovely and the staff are really good fantastic food the atmosphere in the restaurant was brilliant

The service was especially great very happy with my visit

Very delicious food Highly recommend

very bad jadhel jevu food che service doesn't work either

One of the best experiences I’ve ever had. Hands down!!!! Great customer service definitely recommend aswell as ontop of that marvellous food.

was exquisite, great food, fabulous wine and a great atmosphere

Very beautiful setting, service worthy of a Michelin star Everything is really very well done and very good No big surprise, however, I was not disturbed by the original tastes as one would expect in a three-star hotel except for one of the desserts which was sublime. But otherwise it's really very good

Not the most unforgettable three stars restaurant I’ve been too but the bar was kept very high with each course. The storytelling could have been better, with waiters speaking too fast and mumbling over their words, but that seems to be common all over the world

It was a great experience. Would highly recommend if you want to try a fine dine experience. The staff were very welcoming. Literally everyone welcomed us when we were guided to the table. I got a bit shy to be honest. We went for dinner. The decor was simple and nice. Rooms were dimly lit. It gave a nice "sit comfortably, relax, have a nice, long, slow dinner" feel. I ordered their classic. My wife got the same but a pescatarian version. We were still a bit jet lagged. So didn't add wine pairing nor get any drinks. If I have to redo this, would do it with some drinks. The next hour and half was me getting impressed with the dishes presentation and digging in. This was a long course and by the end we were super full. On that note good that we didn't add drinks 😂 Most of the dishes had this theme. Main ingredient, topped with things which adds a different flavor/texture to the main ingredient, followed by a sauce/broth around the dish. So my sequence was, try the main dish a bit(on its own), with the sauce. Then finish the sauce with the bread. Highlights Scallops (first course) - the presentation was just tooooo good. The photos don't do justice here. I saw the dish and it was as if I was infront of a miniature cove/backwater with lilles. The dish itself was amazing. Couldn't tell if the scallops were cooked. It felt soo fresh. The dill apart from decor also imparted a nice flavor difference. Baked Potato - simplfying the dish a lot😂 - I really like the soup/broth. Potato had a mild creamy flavor. The potato chip on the top with the crunch and the caviars added a nice texture difference to the dish Cod - didn't like it. The code was fresh and juicy. The shrimp was too fishy and overpowered the dish. The green paste at the bottom was a bit bitter to my taste. I didn't find the dish cohesive. I dissected it and ate each layer separately Carrot - It was nice, simple dish. Brought out the flavor of carrot and the broth. An homage for carrot. Duck - Duck was juicy. The beet paste and beet were good too. The cherry was really the cherry on top. Added a nice flavor twist to the entire dish Celeriac (my wife's main dish) - she was blown away by this dish. It her favorite in full course. The apple - this is my other favorite dish. I was excited to try it after seeing pictures. I saw the dish and was not disappointed. It looked amazing!!! From the pics, I thought the shell would be hard but it wasn't. It's a jelly. Inside was a mousse, and the core was apple compote. It had a good mixture of sweet and tart, like how a good granny Smith would be. Loved it Meringue - It was a good dessert. The lemon verbena added a lot to the dish than I expected. Every time I bit the herb, the flavor would change from sweet strawberry ish flavor to a sour lemony flavor. Finally, we finished with wine jelly (no pic) and war chocolate on a lavender crust. Crust was perfect. Mild touch of lavender. Chocolate was warm gooey.

I can only describe our experience in one word……excellent! Thank you to everybody involved in making our experience 100%

Great atmosphere, great display. Tone for the sauces were too sour for a few dishes in the seasonal set, but classical set were alright.

It's 3 Michilin stars, and we'll deserved. The food was beyond amazing. The potato is a must have, and nothing else on the menu disappointed. You won't leave hungry nor sad.

My husband got food poisoning after dining at Core, which is unacceptable in and of itself for a restaurant of this calibre and price. But to add to this, the way the restaurant responded to our complaint was also extremely poor: we got told they served 21 other meals that evening and that no one else got food poisoning, and were subsequently redirected to complete a long survey by a third party to assess the veracity of our claim. Regardless of whether they believe it, my husband caught food poisoning. A nice message and an offer of a little something for our next visit would have sufficed and gone a long way. Instead we were made to feel as though we were not being truthful and made to jump through hoops to prove it (on top of a terrible couple of days for my husband following the dinner). We were really excited and spent a lot of money to go to Core, and unfortunately were left with a bad taste in our mouth- both literally and figuratively.

Beautiful atmosphere, excellent meal and amazing staff.

Absolutely love coming here. Top notch service and creative, delicious food.

It is always a pleasure to book in multi-starred restaurants. Just the thought makes your mouth water. Sometimes it's pure enjoyment, as flavors and ingredients surprise you and make you discover things you would never have thought of. Beautiful dishes to look at and, on the palate, an effusion and persistence that you will remember for years. Unfortunately this is not the case with this restaurant. The service is excellent, the environment very pleasant. The dishes, physically, are ugly and not well presented. The customer then hopes for an explosion of flavours, which will make you forget those yellow, grey, brownish colours, which do not invite the fork. The explosion never arrives and... for €700 for two, I think it could be a legitimate request. Good raw materials, but treated badly and managed worse. Some dishes had a 'reheated' scent. Too bad, because the price is very high. And not only. They also 'throw' an item into your bill, which is equivalent to the obligatory tip - without previously asking if the customer agrees -. For us it was around €100. In my opinion, this attitude definitely needs to be reviewed. It was a real disappointment. Certainly not up to the standard of other restaurants - at least in Europe - awarded with the same (or fewer) stars.

We went to this restaurant and, seeing the good reviews and fame (3 Michelin stars), it seemed like an excellent choice. The entrees were already terrible and with a decidedly unpleasant reheated taste. The dishes arrived within close proximity of each other, which suggests that they were practically ready. Ugly dishes, zero presentation. The chef's most famous dish was a potato with fish roe and a sauce underneath that ruined everything. All dishes accompanied by incomprehensible sauces that ruin them. The biggest problem with this restaurant is that it has dishes that don't have a strong, strong flavor. Very high bill, also given a mandatory tip of 100 euros for the service. We would have tipped them significantly less. We won't be returning.

My partner and I dined here in April. As big foodies, it had been on our to-do list for years. Reservations are hard to come by! We were not disappointed. The food here is incredible. We had the 'Core Seasons' menu which was £245 per person. We also had the wine pairings, which added on another £155 per person. We enjoyed our night at Core thoroughly. The stand-out feature for us was the wine pairings. The wines were curated perfectly for the food, and they were simply delicious. The service here is great. They have so many servers here waiting to cater to your needs.

Good food with one or two dishes being exceptional, but otherwise not as special as expected. Some sauces were slightly repetitive.

It’s obviously going to be incredible food, but the wait staff were so lovely and I was still blown away by how delicious the food was. A truly special occasion.

I went with a friend and had a fantastic time, exactly what I'd expect from 3 Michelin stars. Attentive waiting staff, we never waited for anything. Didn't feel pretentious, but very friendly staff. Food was delicious with so many flavours and yet rooted in (mostly) single ingredients. Clare was even there to chat about the dishes and answer any questions, and we could see into the kitchen (how was it so white and spotless??). We stayed in the bar for a few drinks afterwards. Bar staff (especially Charlie) were friendly and informative. It's a lovely looking bar and I'll be back to have a relaxed drink there sometime.

An incredible, special experience. There's lots of highly rated fine dining around the world, but Core is a gem among them, a highly acclaimed restaurant that deserves its plaudits fully. The food was creative, varied, and consistently excellent (the kitchen also adapted very well to our vegetarian diet), the atmosphere cozy and intimate, and the staff was friendly and responsive to our needs. Many months after my wife and I celebrated our anniversary there, our experience of Core is firmly lodged as a special memory for us and the high water mark of fine dining.

This was the third visit to Core for my wife and I. As usual it was perfect. Pricey, yes. But with everyone operating at the top of their game it was money well spent. A wonderful experience from start to finish.

Mon épouse et moi nous faisions une joie de venir déguster la cuisine de Clare Smyth. Nous avons pris le menu dégustation afin de découvrir le monde culinaire de ce chef. Dans leur ensemble, les mets proposés sont savoureux et bien exécutés mais notre fête a été gâchée par un service certes attentionné et efficace mais trop pressé, nous avons eu l'impression que le personnel avait un train à prendre et voulait nous voir quitter le restaurant au plus vite. C'est la première fois que nous ressentons cela dans un 3 étoiles (nous en avons visité une quinzaine à ce jour). Déçus donc, 3 étoiles c'est un tout et pas uniquement des plats bien faits....

An amazing experience! Everything from the food to the service to the atmosphere was perfect. Got the Core Classics menu and the Potato and Roe Dish especially blew me away - had to lick the plate clean. There’s lots of nice surprises throughout the courses and the atmosphere really makes you feel at home. Highly recommend!

Hard to ever say a meal or restaurant is the best I have ever experienced but I can say I have never had better. Not a thing I could suggest to improve. Bravo!

I would start by saying that I write this review objectively and based on my experience of many Michelin Star restaurants around the world (this is my 7th 3* restaurant and I have dined at many 1* and 2* restaurants too). The restaurant is a short walk from the tube station and relatively easy to find. On arrival we were warmly greeted. As we entered we were shown a bar area to the left (which was empty), and had assumed that having arrived well in advance of our reservation time that we would have been given the option to take our aperitif there. We were however shown immediately to our table. First impressions is the restaurant was very light and airy, but the tables seemed to be very close to each other. Due to this fact it was very difficult to have a conversation without being overheard and without overhearing others. Whilst I am aware that at this standard a restaurant calculates the number of staff prorata to the number of guests, it almost felt that the waiting staff were outnumbering the diners and their way of moving around the small dining space made it feel very busy. There just seemed to be a lot of activity which was very distracting. We took the tasting menu, and I won’t go into details of each dish, but I would say that for the first time after dining in a 3* restaurant I didn’t come away with one dish that gave me the wow factor. That said the food was executed and presented perfectly, it just didn’t inspire me. I noticed after the first few dishes that the plates were taken away literally as soon as the cutlery was put down, and the next dish followed extremely quickly thereafter. It felt uncomfortably rushed to the point where it actually began to annoy me. Whilst it is nice to have an attentive waiting service it felt as though they were standing waiting for the dish to be finished, and as soon as it was it was whisked away. I understand to get the timing between courses right is one of the hardest elements to manage, however we were not given time to savour one course until the next arrived. At the end of the meal (literally 5 minutes after finishing the final dessert) we were presented with the bill (without us asking for it). Again this felt really rushed, we were not allowed the time to sit and reflect upon experience, nor were we asked if we would like at digestive, it was simply assumed that as we had no plate in front of us we were finished and duly presented with the bill and card machine!! Clare Smyth you really need to work on the timings, our tasting menu only lasted a mere 2 hours from arrival time to departure time! Considering the £700 price tag, maybe you could afford your guests a little more time to savour not only the food but also the environment. On leaving the restaurant I was handed my jacket, again a first for me. Even at home if I have guests I hold their coats for them to put them on when they are leaving! Overall, food good, service very hurried! Would I visit again? - I doubt it unless they relax the speed and allow guests the time to enjoy the experience.

Wow ! We had a picture with Clare………wow wow wow ! She signed a menu… This was my wife’s 50th Birthday present. She has always loves Clare Smyth since seeing her on TV and following her. Myself wife and son had the original tasting menu. From entrance you are greeted professionally but not arrogantly , so important when dinning in prestigious places and most get this bit wrong in my opinion. The staff are all lovely and extremely attentive, but not over the top. We had the wine pairing and for the first time ever we were topped up where needed which was a revelation….at hestons last month they skimped on this part which was extremely annoying. Well done on the pairing side , really lovely to see. It felt like your experience was more important than just profit! The food was beautiful, of course it was, delicious and incredible , again of course it was. Toilets delightfully clean , always a must and staff polite , professional and not arrogant. We stayed at the hari hotel , 15 minutes taxi so not to bad and from reviews the local one isn’t great. Hari is an excellent 5 star. Clare and team we cannot thank you enough for taking time out at the end of the night to say a brief happy birthday to my wife it made her night and year very special. It was not expected and totally appreciated. My wife was a star struck by it and shed a few happy tears. So very very special and kind of you. X

Wow ! We had a picture with Clare………wow wow wow ! She signed a menu… This was my wife’s 50th Birthday present. She has always loves Clare Smyth since seeing her on TV and following her. Myself wife and son had the original tasting menu. From entrance you are greeted professionally but not arrogantly , so important when dinning in prestigious places and most get this bit wrong in my opinion. The staff are all lovely and extremely attentive, but not over the top. We had the wine pairing and for the first time ever we were topped up where needed which was a revelation….at hestons last month they skimped on this part which was extremely annoying. Well done on the pairing side , really lovely to see. It felt like your experience was more important than just profit! The food was beautiful, of course it was, delicious and incredible , again of course it was. Toilets delightfully clean , always a must and staff polite , professional and not arrogant. We stayed at the hari hotel , 15 minutes taxi so not to bad and from reviews the local one isn’t great. Hari is an excellent 5 star. Clare and team we cannot thank you enough for taking time out at the end of the night to say a brief happy birthday to my wife it made her night and year very special. It was not expected and totally appreciated. My wife was a star struck by it and shed a few happy tears. So very very special and kind of you.

Well deserved 3 Michelin stars to Core by Clare Smyth. The food is absolutely delicious, delicate and full of flavours. The service was spotless. We'll definitely come back.

Core by Clare Smyth On Saturday we enjoyed another delightful visit to Core where we would once again experience food and service of the highest level. This was however the first time we’d been since they underwent a major refurbishment so we were very excited to see all the changes. On arrival we received a fabulous welcome from Alina before being escorted via looking at the new bar where we would later enjoy a digestive to our table. We stopped at the kitchen to chat with Jonny , Millie and our old friend Antonio. We didn’t have to go far to our table as we were given the honour of being seated at the Chef’s Table which can become quite noisy with a constant flow of guests wanting to say hello and have pictures taken with the team. It also meant we wouldn’t get to see the changes made in the dining room. A complimentary glass of bubbles got us underway nicely before an array of snacks arrived including a Lobster Roll , pea and mint gougere and the Core fried chicken. There is a choice of two tasting menu’s and an a la carte. My wife chose the Core Classic while I opted for the Core Seasons. Sommelier Gareth recommended an absolutely stunning wine to pair with the majority of both menu’s in the form of a Naude 2010 from South Africa. The Core Classics menu featured all the favourites and included a fabulous new main course of Merrifield Farm Duck with cherry , almond , beetroot and timut pepper. My Core Seasons menu included one of the best asparagus dishes ever with morels , wild garlic and duck egg yolk. I did swap my dessert so that I could enjoy the delicious Irish Coffee with milk chocolate , hazelnut and whiskey that was simply heaven. We then moved to the bar and was looked after by Vincenzo who had returned to be the new bar manager. Here we were to finish with the amazing Irish Coffee Cocktail where you choose your own whiskey , essence and topping. This along with petit fours brought an end to a fabulous afternoon. It was great to see some old faces as well as some new ones especially Molly and Nathan who looked after us superbly. Thank You Clare , Jonny , Millie , Gareth and all the team and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

No review I can give will ever do this place justice. The food, the staff, the atmosphere Never had anything like it. Just excellent in every way. Hope to be back soon

- It is a 3-star Michelin restaurant that is very good value. - The cheese & onion dish is very delicious, like onion soup presented in a new way. - The final dessert was also very good, very delicious. - The service is very good, the food is not slow, and at the end I got to shake hands with the chef :)

They deserve every single star that earned from Michellin.

The best of the best.. This place is unbeatable. Everything is perfect. The food they served was a masterpiece, the service was impeccable, the ambience …. exceptional!

Amazing dining experience. You feel very special.

For a Michelin star restaurant I had very high expectations and I am sad to say my expectations were not met. The service was the worst part of the evening. There were too many waiters moving for no reason it was such a huge distraction. Most of them looked like they didn’t know what they were meant to do. Food wise, it was ok, but could be better , considering the prices. I am sorry to say i have has way much better from other Michelin restaurants. The presentation was amazing though Going back? I am not sure, maybe.

Came here for my 30th birthday last night and what a treat! Absolutely phenomenal food and great service from all staff. The atmosphere of the restaurant felt so cosy and the Core team made our meal extra special with a little birthday treat at the end. Thank you so much Core for the wonderful experience!

The shop is beautiful, the service is very good, the sourdough bread is very delicious, the carrot dessert dish is good, the other dishes are good, but not great.

A true culinary feast. Extraordinary combinations, intense flavors, the freshest ingredients. Complexity and nuance. Very relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Excellent wines. We'll be back:)

Lovely experience! This is such an inspiration as a Chef to see such excellence 👏

Hard to overemphasize how impressive this place is. We had a group of 4 and we were immediately made to feel at home. The atmosphere feels upscale but also homey. I ordered the seasonal menu + wine pairing and my wife ordered the classic menu. One of the best parts was getting to try dishes from both menus (I slightly preferred the classic dishes). The wine pairings were truly incredible. You can feel the excellence of this place from start to finish and I don’t think I’ll have a better meal for a long time.

Honestly, this is one of my most memorable and amazing meals that I’ve had. A 3 star Michelin restaurant with a chef whom is consistently present with her staff and has the passion and empathy to say hi to her guests while making her menu financially accessible to more people considering the status of her food. It was a genuine pleasure to be serviced by the waiting staff and chefs. Clare Smyth is a major reason to visit, but her staff and their warmth and professionalism is on another level of service. Genuinely, it broke my mind the way we were treated. I ordered the classic menu while my date had the seasonal spring menu. We also ordered a bottle of wine! Overall, cannot say enough amazing things about my experience here.

Extraordinary theater. Staff best ever in assuring every plate presented with explanations of unique combinations. Four of us were amazed at the gorgeous presentations which continuously added to the enjoyment of the evening The wine list was a worldwide combination of the best in every category and priced accordingly Thoughtful warmth decor provides a muted sound .

Truly outstanding experience by Chef Clare Smyth. We were lucky to have been there while she was in charge that evening. Having gone to all 3 Michelin stars in London this is by far our favourite. Every dish is exciting and surprising, the wine list selection is also amazing. Already have a second booking and I can’t wait to come back.

The dining experience was outstanding. My wife and I really enjoyed the entire evening, and it is one of the best fine dining restaurants we have ever been to. The service was very professional and attentive. The dishes were creative, original and delicious with complex and interesting flavors. Marvelous dishes presentation with great attention to detail and spotless service. Some of the dishes looked so good that it was a pity to ruin them by eating. A nice view of the kitchen with Clare working as you come in on the way to the table. A minor downside is the explanation about the served dishes that is really hard to comprehend for foreigners due to the heavy accent.

What a shame! 😳 We were expecting to be blown away, the only thing that blew us away was the bill. The food was presented well and looked great and that’s where it stopped. Too scared to say anything at the time…really intimidating atmosphere. Won’t be back

DECENT FOOD; HOSTILE SERVICE I made the reservation for 4 persons which I tried to amend to 3 weeks before reservation. It was confirmed that no table was available and we’d be subject to a cancellation fee of £150 per no show person. I accepted this charge over the phone and it was also advised that this could not be spent on beverages - I also accepted this. When we were presented with the menus, I explained to the hostess that I had been unable to find a replacement forth guest but would like to order from the a la carte menu (£185) to supplement the three tasting menus (and fulfill our obligation of 4 pax worth of food) rather than pay the cancellation fee (£150). Hostess and the manager were incredibly rude and condescending in the process of rejecting the above. He launched into a lecture about how it was clearly stated in the booking that cancellations are subject to the fee and that is the contract made between us and the restaurant. He insisted there must be a forth person there for a fourth menu to be ordered. I then queried why he was insisting on there being a person if we were ordering the food anyways when he condescendingly said ‘without being rude, [he didn’t] understand what was so confusing about the cancellation fee when it was explained so many times already’. I then queried if it could be any person, to which he responded sarcastically ‘but you don’t have a forth friend do you’. I believe he racially profiled us and assumed we were tourists when I actually live in the neighborhood. I gave up trying to reason with the staff and told them I would find someone. To which manager returned 5 mins later and asked snidely if I had found a 4th person. Staff then refused to serve us/take the order until fourth person arrived as if they didn’t trust us. We sat with no food for more than half an hour. Our treatment has left such a bad taste that I cannot even recall the food we ate. I sent an email after hoping to clarify why their actions were unacceptable for a restaurant, let alone a 3 star one. Their response was again defensive and failed to acknowledge their failures. Manager advised that he found the conversation frustrating because we had already agreed to the terms of our booking previously. He also advised that he had listened to the telephone calls I’d had with staff. Frankly if he’s this easily frustrated then he should reconsider his position and industry. If he did conduct a thorough investigation, he’d also know that: 1. His staff did not proactively inform me about the cancellation fee terms. I had to call back and check if it was usable towards drinks to which they said no. Nothing was said about food hence my queries on the night. 2. The T&Cs provided do not state that cancellation fee cannot be used as credit, contrary to his insistence on the night that they did. Core is a beautiful restaurant with alright food but if you’re looking for a personable, caring service and knock out food then I would suggest looking elsewhere - London has many better institutions.

The food was amazing. I had the Core Seasons menu, while my girlfriend had the Core Classics. They had called a week before our booking to check for food preferences and adjusted the menu accordingly. The starters were a bit hit or miss, but the mains (pork cheek with truffle and capers, lamb with lamb bacon, baby gem lettuce and peppermint sauce) were cooked to perfection. The sommeliers were very knowledgeable and the wine pairing was amazing value! I got to discover some very special wines, the highlight being a 2005 Saint Emilion grand cru. The desserts were delightful! The other carrot, Core apple, Core teaser, and the wild strawberry, lemon and meringue verbena. Absolutely magical! The service, from start to finish, was impeccable. The staff never shied away from a conversation or a joke, and the attention to detail was insane! Great value for a 3-starred restaurant, and they make sure you know you’re dining in one of the world’s best!

Brilliantly food, service and atmosphere.

The best meal I’ve had yet! Went here last week. I made this reservation 90 days in advance and was almost too late to get a reservation. I got the seasons menu and everything tasted so good! It was just around 1 hr 30min from the first to last course. The service was excellent as well. They always stopped by to make sure everything was good and made you feel at home.

Food was good but overall too salty.

High exception with 3 Michelin star. Food are within my expectations. Service is amazing but still can see improvement. I really like the Sommelier’s recommendation of wine. To add on , I recommend the music can be more loud as I can not hear the food description clearly with noisy background noise.

My wife and I visited Core in 2019 and to this day it is the mutual choice for the best meal we've ever had. I ordered the Core Classics menu and my wife ordered a la carte. The menu itself was incredible and only added to by the amuse bouche that was brought out. The explanation for each dish was great as it told the story of the preparation and presentation. My wife's favorite was the potato and roe and she swears she would pay for the meal again just for that dish. I was jealous of hers as it was a tad larger since I had more courses included with my meal. The service was exceptional and it was a team effort to ensure that our overall experience was worth the price. Speaking of price, it is not cheap, but it is well worth the buy in. We don't think about how much we spent, but we do speak about the experience that we had. I would highly recommend this location for dinner and at the very least look into the bar, Whiskey & Seaweed, for a cheaper option with more availability.

I saw some recent poor reviews which had me a bit concerned but I’m not sure what they were talking about. We had the core classic and the core seasons menu and both were excellent. Some courses on the seasons menu, or significantly better like the wasabi and langoustine to start and the core teaser dessert but the classics menu also had some great highlights. Pacing was very good and we had dinner for around 2.5 hours. Service was friendly and professional.

Consistently excellent. This was our 4th visit we have the classic tasting menu each time which never disappoints. Lovely atmosphere, not stuffy but intimate. Lovely staff. Can't fault it.

What an experience! Core really delivered. We were lucky enough to sit at the Chefs table and were impressed and delighted by the theatre of the kitchen. Top class food in a comfortable and relaxed environment.

Excellent service and food ruined by being asked to move We were very much looking forward to our lunch at Core having stayed up several nights to book a table due their difficult booking procedure. (They release tables around 6 weeks before booking dates and they seem to go in seconds). Once we had secured our table we very much look forward to the day and we weren’t disappointed. A huge array of staff welcomed us to the restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble and the food and service was impeccable. I loved the fact that a lot of thought had gone into the UK provenance of the dishes. The clams from Scotland, the potted shrimp from Morecambe, etc. The creativity of the dishes was exemplary. We went for the tasting menu combined with the wine tasting and looked forward to a leisurely afternoon of culinary excellence which was forthcoming. Unfortunately the lunch came to an abrupt end after 2.5 hours when we were asked to move to the bar before even finishing out tasting menu. We ate our dessert in the bar. No-one else was asked to do this. In fact the table next to us left 45 minutes later. And the table who arrived first left after another hour. While the impeccable service, food and drink continued at the bar, the whole ambience had changed. And the lunch ended very differently to how it began. If we’d ordered a la carte it would have made more sense for us to be moved on. But the fact that we were moved was inexcusable and completely changed our perception of the day. I implore Core not to take customers for granted, to allocate at least three hours for tables with tasting menus. Please look at your competitors and make it special for your customers. Recommended. But order a la carte unless you don’t mind being moved.

Excellent service and food ruined by being asked to move We were very much looking forward to our lunch at Core having stayed up several nights to book a table due their difficult booking procedure. (They release tables around 6 weeks before booking dates and they seem to go in seconds). Once we had secured our table we very much look forward to the day and we weren’t disappointed. A huge array of staff welcomed us to the restaurant. Nothing was too much trouble and the food and service was impeccable. I loved the fact that a lot of thought had gone into the UK provenance of the dishes. The clams from Scotland, the potted shrimp from Morecambe, etc. The creativity of the dishes was exemplary. We went for the tasting menu combined with the wine tasting and looked forward to a leisurely afternoon of culinary excellence which was forthcoming. Unfortunately the lunch came to an abrupt end after 2.5 hours when we were asked to move to the bar before even finishing out tasting menu. We ate our dessert in the bar. No-one else was asked to do this. In fact the table next to us left 45 minutes later. And the table who arrived first left after another hour. While the impeccable service, food and drink continued at the bar, the whole ambience had changed. And the lunch ended very differently to how it began. If we’d ordered a la carte it would have made more sense for us to be moved on. But the fact that we were moved was inexcusable and completely changed our perception of the day. I implore Core not to take customers for granted, to allocate at least three hours for tables with tasting menus. Please look at your competitors and make it special for your customers. Recommended. But order a la carte unless you don’t mind being moved.

Absolute cream of the Michelin crop! Beautiful experience, food looked stunning, full of texture and flavours. For special occassions!

Not as we hoped to, we walked away speechless. Every dish was uninspired and in no way remarkable. The food was (purposely?) very generic in taste, while presentation fantastic. I’d been looking forward to this experience for over a year yet the experience was incredibly lacklustre, particularly the wine pairing which was spectacularly mediocre given the price. This was purposely the 50th Michelin restaurant I’ve visited and the only I’d say was undeserving of any stars.

We have been trying to book this restaurant for ages and finally got lucky at short notice. The experience was excellent from the hearty welcome we received right through to the chefs waving us farewell. Every little detail was covered. We chose the seasons menu which seemed to feature every one of my wife's favourites from crab through turbot to venison. However, we agreed that the Jerusalem artichoke and crispy sweetbreads were the highlights. Service was excellent, as you would expect. It was a little fussy to start with, with our food being served immediately after our gin and tonic, but this seemed a small mistake. Chef herself was present to greet customers, which is always a good sign. We will return - assuming we can get a booking!

We finally managed to book dinner at Core by Clare Smyth for last night and it was well worth waiting for. The bar area was beautiful and so was the dining area. We were taken through by friendly staff and even got a wave from Johnny Bone, the Head Chef, as we passed by the busy kitchen. As soon as we were seated Alessandro took care of us and was very helpful in explaining the options. We chose Core Classics -7 courses of the dishes for which Core is most well known. Afterwards we were so pleased with our choice because every dish was a winner. We particularly liked the potato and roe but in fact each dish was a surprise and a delight. We chose to select our own choice of wine rather than the wine pairing and Hubert, the Head Sommelier, was very helpful when we perused the extensive wine list. We were all extremely happy and felt that the whole team deserved congratulations in creating such beautiful dishes as well as such a great ambience in which to enjoy them. Five stars all round for the fantastic experience! I cannot end without mentioning the one area at Core which clearly needs attention. That is the ability of a patron to make contact - either to make a reservation or to confirm a reservation already made. A restaurant as superb as this must surely be able to set up a system where phone calls can be answered by a human being. I found it impossible to make contact with anyone in order to answer questions which were not dealt with on the website, or to make a booking. Eventually I used the Centurion service at Amex , as they were prepared to keep trying on my behalf and they succeeded. Then during the week prior to my reservation date I called personally at least 6 times over several days. The reply always asked me to call back as no one was available to take the call. On 3 occasions I left a message reconfirming- with my number and email address - and asked someone to call back or email to say the message had been received. Nothing! No contact. When we arrived at Core last night I had no idea whether or not our reservation had been cancelled or confirmed. Please Clare, can you arrange for a human being to answer all incoming calls? It would make such a big difference. Thanks in advance and for a lovely experience. Michael

I thought it would be a lifetime experience. Truly, one that makes one question what three star is. Dishes in themselves are not memorable with four dishes sharing similar textures and tastes -- something in salty soup. Signature dishes : potato in creamy soup, carrot in lamp soup. It reminds me of dishes that a good home chef could make when we want to be pretentious. There's no storytelling to the dishes but random words such as "local" "small farm"... Hmmm, I get that from butcher downstairs. The theme of the place is flowers which is nice. Flowers are arranged in a nice way that a regular street corner flower shop can do but not artistically. Unfortunately, they brought GNAT on my food -- hello black fly on three star dishes. We showed the team. Manager turned up and asked:" what do you want?" Surprised at the attitude while wanting to say I want a free meal 😂, my connoisseur friend with lots of fine dine experience said : "suprise us". We were then "surprised" with another dish in very salty creamy soup.... The deserts are a truly disaster with unsophisticated taste. Finest of Tesco is more fine than CORE. Coffee is a true disaster, using beans that any chain fast food would use....

I loved it but it was hard to understand the accent of some waiters. Maybe you can leave a written note on the table describing all that you will be served in case you missed a word from the waiters.

Really lovely experience at Core. The atmosphere and decor was delightful, as were the staff. I also loved that we could have the two different tasting menus.

Sublime experience. I've never felt so relaxed and happy at such a high-end establishment. The wine pairings in particular were exceptionally creative and delivered with refreshing humour and style. Plates were luxurious, showcasing the highest calibre produce with lovely storytelling. World class.

Located at short walk from Nottingham hill gate tube stop. Entrance rather confusing as one sort to apartment block and other to restaurant. Number of people have been standing trying the wrong door. Warm welcome with nice view of the kitchen as you came it. Very cramped setting, tables felt very close together compared to other three Michelin stars and really felt the cramp/ over crowding when the restaurant was full at 7.30pm onwards. Also could overhear conversations - not that we wanted to but due to proximity of tables especially with some louder clientals. Bread was good- standard stuff as well as butter. Amouse bouch was good but started in the wrong order. Chicken skin should be first as least interesting and lobster roll last as best. The crab claw dish with consommé was good- the intensity of the consommé was amazing. The crab claw was average as was the sabayon. Jerusalem artichoke was nice with a rather sweet artichoke Veloute. The turbot was again average - cucumber salad was nice with potato and nice sauce, couldn’t identify the oyster in the dish. Pork Cheeks was below average- fatty pork portion which we both felt was overly fatty - was a bit gamey with an overpowering sauce Mains of venison- sauce was too intense, metallic venison with an ok haggis Palate cleaner of carrots was nicer than the main desert Desert was ok - the honey comb was nice. The ball mimicking the Maltese was average. Service was good but here was so many staff , it should be-They added to feel on overcrowding and didn’t help when the restaurant was full. £700 for a core season menu for two a bottle of champagne was overpriced for the experience. Cloak room had some issues at the end- wrong scarf with jacket and manage to initial lose the correct scarf as fallen on the floor which is a real downer after the meal with staff franticly trying to find items. Should be more organised as there are atleast two staff at the cloak room!

Located at short walk from Nottingham hill gate tube stop. Entrance rather confusing as one sort to apartment block and other to restaurant. Number of people have been standing trying the wrong door. Warm welcome with nice view of the kitchen as you came it. Very cramped setting, tables felt very close together compared to other three Michelin stars and really felt the cramp/ over crowding when the restaurant was full at 7.30pm onwards. Also could overhear conversations - not that we wanted to but due to proximity of tables especially with some louder clientals. Bread was good- standard stuff as well as butter. Amouse bouch was good but started in the wrong order. Chicken skin should be first as least interesting and lobster roll last as best. The crab claw dish with consommé was good- the intensity of the consommé was amazing. The crab claw was average as was the sabayon. Jerusalem artichoke was nice with a rather sweet artichoke Veloute. The turbot was again average - cucumber salad was nice with potato and nice sauce, couldn’t identify the oyster in the dish. Pork Cheeks was below average- fatty pork portion which we both felt was overly fatty - was a bit gamey with an overpowering sauce Mains of venison- sauce was too intense, metallic venison with an ok haggis Palate cleaner of carrots was nicer than the main desert Desert was ok - the honey comb was nice. The ball mimicking the Maltese was average. Service was good but here was so many staff , it should be-They added to feel on overcrowding and didn’t help when the restaurant was full. £700 for a core season menu for two a bottle of champagne was overpriced for the experience. Cloak room had some issues at the end- wrong scarf with jacket and manage to initial lose the correct scarf as fallen on the floor which is a real downer after the meal with staff franticly trying to find items. Should be more organised as there are atleast two staff at the cloak room!

Amazing food and service was simply delightful! I had what I feel is quite possibly the best potato I’ve ever had in my life here. This is probably the “cheapest” best value 3 Michelin starred meal I’ve had.

As expected, had an amazing time at Core. Service was excellent and food very tasty. An iconic London fine dining experience.

Stunning, sublime and sensational - a true 3-Michelin star experience. Staff were charming, and it was lovely to see Clare herself smile and welcome us, as she looked serenely through the glass wall from the kitchen. The food kept interest up throughout: the jerusalem artichoke and the black truffle linguini were the standouts for me; the carrot cake was nice, but didn't rise to the heights of the others. Wines were beautiful and generous. I'd love to go back!

Still the best in town. The core-teaser is stellar

Overall, we had the most incredible experience at Core last night! Walking into the dining room where all the kitchen team, including Clare Smyth, greeted us warmly with a wave was a very special moment. The restaurant director Rob, head sommelier Hubert and the entire floor team were so welcoming, and looked after us exceptionally well throughout the night. We chose the Core Seasons tasting menu (with the addition of the black truffle linguine) plus the associated wine pairings. Every single course from canapés to the petit fours was utter heaven. The black truffle linguine was absolutely stand out, as was the veal sweetbread, venison and of course the signature Core-teser. The wine pairings were well chosen by the expert sommeliers. Watching the kitchen in action throughout the experience was such a treat. Everyone worked with such professionalism, meticulous attention to detail when plating and the clean down process was so impressive to observe! The playlist in the bathroom was so much fun with some perfectly chosen anthems! Sadly our experience did not start as well as hoped with my husband arriving early for a pre dinner drink in the bar, only to be quite rudely turned away by a member of the front of house team and told to return at the time of table reservation. I entirely understand that the bar was full, but a more polite approach would’ve been appreciated, perhaps with a suggestion of where else to get a drink nearby. I do feel that the whole experience should begin from the time you walk in (as with other 3 stars we have visited) and sadly this wasn’t the case for us. However we did not let this detract from the phenomenal experience that was to come from a team that should be very proud of how they look after their diners. Clare Smyth is a total icon and we felt privileged to enjoy her hospitality last night.

One of the best 5 meals I’ve ever had in my life. Food, service & ambience were exceptional. Added bonus was a quick chat with the lovely Chef Clare at the end! :)