Core by Clare Smyth in Kensington and Chelsea

Phenomenal - This firmly sits at the top of my restaurant experiences. Amazing settings and ambience, the staff were so grounded and so knowledgable although I think they may have had eyes in the back of their head as nothing went unnoticed - some of the best service I have received. The food was indescribable - you just need to try it for yourself. I loved how personal everything was and everything had a story, from the plates to the gnarled vines the last delights were served on. Thank you Clare and team, we will be back!

Took a couple of years to get in here. Staff are fantastic- bar staff especially. Food !! Well that was ok but not blown away like we usually are at restaurants of this standard. Bill was a little awkward as I visited the toilet and feel sure they thought I was doing a runner. Test of a good restaurant is if you ever return - it’s a no from me unfortunately

Special meal with excellent service.

I would describe our experience at Core as flawless, and we both commented that it has been a number of years since we have said that about a meal. Service was exemplary, and the food executed perfectly. It's often the small things that are hard to spot - whilst we were choosing dessert wine they held off serving so we didn't end up with dessert and no accompaniment, which happens regularly. We met Clare both as we arrived and as we left. I would not hesitate to return.

I want to give 5 stars but the way the meal ended took the shine off the experience. This was my third visit to Core which clearly shows it has impressed previously, but I’d like to just strike a cautionary note. We arrived at 12 and the welcome was lovely as usual. Very friendly and aware that this was a return visit. The meal was exemplary, but before we were ready to go or had paid, we were pretty much told to move to the bar area so “we could meet the kitchen staff” and maybe have a coffee. We said we’d go in a bit then a few minutes later this came from a different staff member so we moved. I don’t recall there being a time limit on the table, or a second lunch sitting, but it would have been so much better if we were just asked nicely if we could give up the table, rather than the not-so-coded “Go to the bar.” We felt pushed out and as though the meal had finished before we were ready. To cap it all the member of staff in the bar had a very unfriendly and cold manner. Surprisingly poor when all other staff had been excellent. I am sorry to write this when everything up to that point was amazing and shout outs to Rob, Jonny, Gareth and Stefan and all the kitchen staff and others who took the time to share their enthusiasm and make the experience the best for us. I will return as 95% of the experience was brilliant but I hope for better next time.

We have been lucky enough to have tried some of London’s nicer establishments, but this is by far the best we have been to so far! From the welcome at the front door to the passing introduction to the head chef and kitchen staff the service was spot on. No stuffiness about it every aspect was geared for a relaxed atmosphere but with military precision. The food (classic menu) was a triumph, each course a work of art with flavours to match. We had the wine pairing and again the choices were on point and complemented each course very well. The staff were a credit to the restaurant and help make this such a great dining experience. Thank you

As always, the service was friendly and efficient. The sommelier is always a pleasure to work wit. And the food is inventive and delicious with creative ways of putting together multiple ingredients without being heavy. It’s our favourite 3 star restaurant in London.

This is London's most serious gastronomic destination. All the effusiveness you've read about the food is merited. The brigade is clearly at the top of its game. The wine list is comprehensive but, in all candour, didn't *excite* me. Pairings were well devised, polished, but didn't make me think in a new or different way about the wine or the food it was pairing. This is so often the problem with pairings: they either try to be wacky OR they are sensible and coherent but don't take me somewhere new. A tough balance to strike! Service was generally excellent apart from one member of staff who really didn't know (or want to?) read the table; interacting with them slightly soured what was, overall, an exceptional experience.

Very hard to get a table here and, of course, outrageously expensive but totally fantastic, wonderful and amazing.

Fab atmosphere, excellent service, friendly staff and fantastic food

The most amazing experience of my life. Food, service and ambience was amazing head chef John is a charmer.🙏🙏🙏

Excellent place to enjoy with family and good meal

Great, it really is the best restaurant in London!!😍😍 😍

We’ve had many memorable meals over the years, but this one certainly takes the cake. Core’s three Michelin stars are extremely well-deserved - the creativity, presentation, and attention to detail are truly unrivaled. Each course was perfectly crafted, beautifully plated, and masterfully explained by its chef. Chef Clare Smyth was active in the kitchen on the evening we dined there, and it was evident how dedicated she was towards every dish being truly perfect. The wine pairings were a highlight as well, as was our amazing service by our server Bri. We can’t wait to return here again someday; do not miss your chance to dine here if a reservation comes available.

the staff there was amazing and the food even more amazing, would totally 100% recommend going, great atmosphere and great vibes

I really enjoyed going here, its really one of the best restaurants I've been to the food was scrumptious and very delicious and the service was really good, the staffs were really nice and pleasing. And the place had a really good setting, the presentation itself deserves a good 5 stars. And I would love to come here again.

Fine dining at its best 👌 truly recommend plus the staff are amazing as always.

Amazing food with service I've never received from anywhere before. The vibe was great and would totally recommend. 10/10 place and would go again.

Fine cuisine, tremendous service & very friendly staff.

I recently visited there and overall, it was a great dining experience. The ambiance struck a perfect balance between cozy and modern, with attentive service that made us feel welcomed without being overbearing. The menu offered a nice variety, blending classic dishes with more inventive options. The dishes stood out as a highlight—perfectly seasoned and beautifully plated. The drink menu was equally impressive, with a selection of wines and cocktails that complemented the food well. However, I felt the [another dish or aspect, e.g., dessert or service] could use a bit more attention, as it didn’t quite live up to the standards of the rest of the meal.

Wonderful place and wonderful atmosphere very good choice off music and decoration is 100

Absolutely amazing place. The food is amazing, lovely people. I 100% recommend ♥️

Incredible experience, the food looked amazing and the staff was friendly. I recommend visiting and experiencing the atmosphere of flavors and the experience of a great atmosphere.

A fabulously amazing experience. Greated by Clare herself too and she even thanked us as we left. All the thanks goes to Clare and her amazing team.

Racial discrimination experience: The receptionist is extremely indifferent, arrogant and rude when I called earlier mentioning my friend’s medical emergency. As we’ve tried our best to make it there and apologize for being late, the blonde receptionist in green suits still held her bad attitude towards us and judges us from top to bottom, claiming that our dress code doesn’t fit even if none of us is wearing hooded tops. Then she just left us at the front door and looked for another woman for help. When the woman in black came, she first said that the kitchen is already closed and there is no way we can have lunch there and instead of moving our appointment time, we have to reschedule everything. I asked when the next available time is and she first said it would be dinner and then after a second she said the dinner is also booked in that second, which is ridiculous and suspicious. Then she said: WE CANNOT LET YOU IN EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT LATE IN THIS. I’ve been to many Michelin restaurants and none of their staff said anything rude like that when we were in normal clothes and she cannot even say which dress code listed on website is broke, let alone I’ve informed of them about our rush from hospital to the restaurant due to the medical emergency. Then she suddenly said we can only have lunch in the bar instead of inside the restaurant, we have no choice but to follow. During our lunch, I noticed other customers coming out of the restaurant inside wearing something even more casual than us, which makes our whole experience worse. I would say the woman in black was playing with us for the whole time, and this is racial discrimination for sure. Their attitude makes us feel being treated like inferiors and they deserve neither the fame nor the price.

Absolutely spectacular in every way. The team are completely invested in this well oiled operation - they care, they are passionate and give there all. The food was absolutely outstanding. The wine pairing selection was perfect - down to the final cocktail - this was a welcome surprise. I am definitely booking round two - the tasting menu leaves you complete but not uncomfortable- this is an accolade in itself. Well done Clare - you are a true ‘craftsman’ and should be extremely proud of your creation.

Core by Clare Smyth delivered an exceptional dining experience. The ambiance was charming and welcoming, and the service was attentive and flawless. A top-tier experience all around. Highly recommended!

Impeccable. Most memorable meal of the year, most attentive service and beautiful atmosphere. Core and seasonal set menu options using artisanal English food products. Strongly recommend you go if you can afford it and manage to get a reservation.

Core by claire smith Nice welcoming from chefs But service seemed rushed ever since we sat down Like hurry up and get out. It really set the mood for the dinner and NOT IN A GOOD WAY. I really disliked the hustle and bustle. No offense but if someone goes to bathroom you STOP the course until they return. Both my husband and I got up to use the restroom and food was brought to table without both being present. Extremely odd not sure what michillen was thinking when they handed out those stars. ok now on to the food. Oh I will say some servers were quite nice. First few bites were ok Loved the grushere pumpkin bite it was cheesy and delicious Everything else was ok the mini lobster brioche was so dense, it looked cute though just didnt taste very good. chicken skin taco was good but all i tasted was corn chip , the tart thing didnt get much caviar flavor Scallop dish was EXCELLENT perfectly cooked victor the chef presented to us Small Family dives for scallops. Dish was awesome loved every bit of it cavair , lobster foam, linguini. Perfectly cooked. Scallop was sweet too,lovely dish . Next up potato dish Was not a fan of the potato but all the garnishes and sauce were quite tasty. I never understand paying $$$$ for a course that costs 2$ to make? Saison had a course of radishes and water and we paid almost 1200$ for that meal. I just prefer all the fancy stuff. Especially if you are paying for high quality dishes. Next up the fish turbot this was nice as well. Perfectly cooked lovely truffle sauce this was pretty good as well as scallop well balanced. The truffle broth was really lovely. Next up main course I had the lobster Wellington. I know how easy it is to overcook lobster and it was overcooked just slightly. Should have just poached it and served on truffle puff pastry. The components were all very good just wish they didn’t overcook that lobster. Duck dish was pretty good but really tired of duck now seems like everyone is serving duck. It was prepared nicely and sauce was nice but really nothing that stood out.Pre dessert was a play on a caramel apple not sure where the play was tasted nothing like a caramel apple. Would prefer the traditional one honestly. Last was a chocolate ganache this was delicious should have just served this not the weird apple thing. Overall save your money go to PAVYLLON London at the four seasons instead way cheaper a nicer experience unless you want feel like you are being pushed out the door. I liked 3 out of the 7 dishes we tried. Scallop, Turbot and chocolate dessert. Nothing at this restaurant had a wow factor. Left hungry and put a good hole in my wallet. Sorry Core by Claire Smith this was a miss.

Quite simply one of the best 5 meals I’ve ever had in my life. Food, service & ambience are exceptional. This is UK fine dining at its best and while expensive is worth the experience. Added bonus was a quick chat with the lovely Chef Clare at the end! :)

The food had a rather understated flavour—nothing particularly memorable or exciting. While some might appreciate the simplicity of the taste, the dishes lacked a distinctive kick that would make them stand out. The presentation was quite dull as well, as reflected from other reviews.

London Michelin three star restaurant : Core by Clare Smyth. It was a very good dining environment, friendly and professional staff. The starter is very good, the main course is okay. The chef is friendly too. That's all acceptable, but what's not acceptable is：see 3 chef use the same spoon to taste, then use the same spoon to serve food to customers. I've been sitting here eating for three hours watching at least three chefs do it. What's even more outrageous is that the spoon is shareable, and it's also seen being used by another chef. This is a three-star Michelin restaurant. I've eaten a lot. This is the first one I've seen use the same spoon to serve the entire dining room🤣

How is this hygienic? Beyond disgusting

Last week I celebrated my boyfriends 30th birthday with him at Core by Clare Smyth. We had been looking forward to it for months. When we arrived we were impressed by the stunning decor and the fact that there seemed to be no shortage of staff. The last however became very annoying very quickly. There were more waiters and sommeliers than customers in the restaurant and they were running around like crazy, creating a very chaotic and stressful vibe. Soon it became clear why they were running around so hard: we had the 7 course seasons tasing menu with half a wine pairing per person. The courses came in an absurdly high tempo, even after I asked the waiter to please slow down in between. I hadn’t even finished chewing my last bite (this is not even an exaggeration unfortunately) before they took away my plate asking how the course was. We started at 18.30 and at 20.45 all tables around us were finished and left, followed by the next shift that starts at 21h. This really made it feel like a cheap mass production experience. Such a shame. The wine pairing was unbelievably expensive for the amount of wines you get. We shared a wine pairing and received 3 sips per glass per person at max. When looking over at the other tables next to us we saw that people who had -we assume- had the full wine pairing received only one or one and a half sip more at most per person per glass. Bizarre. In advance I had asked if they could do something with the dessert for my boyfriends birthday, seeing it was his 30th birthday and we wanted to celebrate it in a special way -hence why we celebrated it at a 3 star restaurant.. Per mail they confirmed they would take it into account, but on the day itself they didn’t do anything about it. Then came the finale: the bill. Apparently in London it’s normal to put a 10% service charge on the bill, which apparently is “optional”. However in a 3 star michelin restaurant you don’t expect them to put it on it. Me as a tourist didn’t know it was optional and paid £88 pounds -€100!!!- as a service fee, for a service that was not good at all. What a disgrace to make your money in that way, seeing the prices are already absurd for what you get (the wine pairing) and the way it is served (way too fast to make sure at 9pm the next shift can start). All in all I would definitely not recommend this restaurant.

We thoroughly enjoyed a mouth watering visit - having booked many months in adavnce. It's a relaxing venue with superb service from staff who can't do enough for you. You know that the food is going to be very good indeed, but it still managed to exceed our best expectations. Three of us enjoyed the Core Classic menu, whilst our fourth diner had the Core Seasonal choice. Each dish was a real treat - all served with great aplomb by the attentive staff. We also enjoyed pre and post drinks in the comfy cocktail bar. We look forward to a return visit in 2025.

Several dishes were too salty and not as impeccable as other 3 Michelin starred restaurants. Not sure what happened, but the service, attention to detail, integrated design, and cocktails were top tier.

Our 258th review and simply one of the best if not the Best! A wonderful meal with delicious courses throughout the 'seasons menu'. From the canapés to the desserts every dish was a delight to a foodie but also served impeccably with some humour from the relatively young but very expert staff. For meat and fish lovers we thought the Jerusalem artichoke was one of the most exceptional dishes we have ever tasted. Didn't quite turn us into veggies but demonstrated what you can achieve with vegetables.

If you are looking for an amazing 3-star Michelin experience – visit Core. I have visited many Michelin-star restaurants, and this is by far one of the best. The service was topped notch, friendly, and fun – not an expectation for a place as elegant as Core. Then there is the food - course after course of delicious food. My favorite was the lamb carrot but ever course was amazing. A place to add to your list!

Great service. Many staff. Good there’s ala carte

Dem four-hands Lunch bei Clare Smyth mit Andreas Caminada,unter dem Patronat von Dom Perignon sah ich mit etwas gemischten Gefühlen entgegen. Einerseits fallen diese Special-Dinners vielfach allzu üppig aus und zudem ersetzt mir nichts ein Glas guten Rotwein zum feinen Essen. Die Befürchtungen waren unbegründet. Die Mahlzeiten absolute Spitzenklasse (Kalbsmilken, Saibling, Randen)mit vielen vegetarischen Komponenten. Die Leichtigkeit der Gerichte konnte auf höchstem Niveau bis zum Dessert durchgehalten werden. Alles grossartig angerichtet und serviert (Caminada hat sogar sein Geschirr aus der Schweiz mitgebracht). Ganz herzlichen Dank. Das war outstanding und ein prägendes Erlebnis.

I had really bad food from a different Michelin 3-star restaurant in London. Thank you for restoring my faith in Michelin.

We’ve had many memorable meals over the years, but this one certainly takes the cake. Core’s three Michelin stars are extremely well-deserved - the creativity, presentation, and attention to detail are truly unrivaled. Each course was perfectly crafted, beautifully plated, and masterfully explained by its chef. Chef Clare Smyth was active in the kitchen on the evening we dined there, and it was evident how dedicated she was towards every dish being truly perfect. The wine pairings were a highlight as well, as was our amazing service by our server Bri. We can’t wait to return here again someday; do not miss your chance to dine here if a reservation comes available.

Fine dining at its best. Great food and service

It was a wonderful shop. I would love to visit you again! The best restaurant in London. Amazing!

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.

Desde el primer momento que llegamos toda la experiencia fue increíble. Personal altamente capacitado, los mejores ingredientes de primera calidad y, por supuesto, lo principal, incluso la cena, simplemente espectacular. ¡Los dos nos enamoramos de este restaurante! Nunca me sentí tan bienvenido en cualquier otro restaurante Michelin. El personal estaba disfrutando, un ambiente verdaderamente feliz. Definitivamente volveremos

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.

The service was especially great very happy with my visit

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

Lovely atmosphere the staff were Splendid

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Beautiful atmosphere, excellent meal and amazing staff.

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

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.

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.

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.