Stark in Thanet

The atmosphere was relaxed and the decor dark and sultry. The lounge area for drinks afterwards was perfect for us. The taster food was delicious. We all enjoyed every mouthful. The two different pudding were delicious. The wines were interesting. Personally I preferred sticking to a red throughout. The bit I would change was the fact we had to keep our cutlery for every course. For the price of the food and drinks ( Our bill was over £700 for two couples) and the ambience it was unpleasant to reuse them for totally different courses. ( there was a choice to change them but this would have been a request rather than the norm. ) Overall the experience was excellent and the service was amazing. We will be back.

This is by far our favourite restaurant and so worthy of its Michelin star status. We have been lucky enough to visit 4 times and every time has been incredible. Very intimate dining space, with first class service and exceptional food. We’ve been served by both Sophie and Jess during our time and both are a delight. Very engaging and knowledgeable about the food being served and the wines that accompany it (if you book the wine flight, which in my opinion is a must!) Ben is a master in his craft, an absolute genius (you must read his book too, very insightful) who has worked so hard to get to where he is. I’m just gutted he’s leaving Broadstairs to relocate with his beautiful family to Mersea Island, Kent’s loss is Essex’s gain! We intend to make the journey at least once, he’s that good!!

We were lucky enough to secure a table at Stark in Broadstairs last Thursday evening. We were dubious as to what to expect as the restaurant didn’t look at all like a Michelin establishment. It just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover! I’d read reviews and wasn’t sure whether I’d be comfortable with a ‘cosy’ setting. How wrong I was, even though the room is very small it didn’t detract in any way, in fact it added to the ambiance of the place. Ben, a very unassuming chef absorbed and focussed all evening whilst creating an amazing array of courses, the waitress, Jess was very efficient, doing a complicated job but making it look so easy. Every course was different and delicious! I wish them every success when they relocate to Mersea Island and for sure we will be visiting them again - can’t wait!

Stunning. Deserves six stars. Food, atmosphere, service, all absolutely excellent. Try and get a table before they move to Essex. If you can't, go find them in Essex! It'll be worthy the journey :)

Beautiful venue where every detail has been thought through. From the ceiling covered with thousands (3000 to be exact) of stickers to the bathroom floor made with coins. The food was as amazing as it would be expected. The ambient very cosy: perfect temperature, perfect volume and choice of music. The cooks and waitress are very attentive and careful not to make noise while washing up and ordering the kitchen, which does make the difference in such a small place. Ben and team very well done. Look forward to visiting the new venue.

We came here while we were on holiday over Easter, and honestly the only thing wrong with Stark is that it's in Broadstairs and not near where I live. One of the best meals I've ever had. Possibly sounds a bit weird, but every dish tasted exactly like the perfect flavour of the list of ingredients on the menu. Really cleverly made dishes and also delicious. Special shout-out to the prawn-stuffed morel mushroom, which I would eat by the plate-load. Hopefully I'll be back some time!

Had a truely wonderful experience at this lovely restaurant in Broadstairs Stark. The tasting menu was superb we enjoyed every course can’t wait to visit again soon highly recommended its charming atmosphere & staff were amazing good wines to complement the dishes.

A tiny and rather eccentric little place with only a few tables, in the hands of a chef who really does know what he's doing. For us it was nearly five stars - there were a couple of courses on the tasting menu (the duck liver parfait and the final dessert course that was some sort of concoction of chocolate, miso ice cream and fig) were heavenly. Some of the others didn't *quite* hit the spot for us though - they were certainly ambitious in their texture and flavour combinations but, we felt, maybe more 'interesting' than fully successful. I guess that's part of being a top chef at this level of course - you do need to try stuff out. It's a unique experience all round though, with a set of wines to match the courses (which we didn't go for, though most others were seeming to). Not cheap but certainly less than you might pay for similar food at other Michelin-starred restaurants. If you are in the area, do go - but get in quick as it looks like they plan to move the business to Essex later in 2024.

Visiting family in the area and they were keen we dined here. All I can say is wow. Fantastic food, service and atmosphere.

If you are lucky enough and can get yourself a table @starkbroadstairs I can not recommend it enough! The most wonderful food, just sublime, and being able to watch Ben make it right next to you makes it so magical. I loved everything about STARK, it oozes personality from the decor, to the tableware to the amazing playlist. Cause it's so small you feel very privileged to be there! The team are just brilliant but so humble in their brilliance! It's a foodies heaven!

Stark, with a small rough-hewn dining area and smaller open kitchen, has none of the pretentions of traditional 'fine dining'. The food, however, is astonishing - complex, beautifully cooked and perfectly balanced with some unusual combinations. By some way the best restaurant in Kent.

We dined at Dos, Stark’s former sister restaurant a couple of years ago and vowed to return to dine at its slightly larger sister which was just down the road. Having secured a much coveted reservation around two months ago, we were shocked to discover that our booking was in potential jeopardy as a result of the restaurant experiencing a major water leak which had resulted in bookings earlier in the week being cancelled. Sophie emailed to give us as much notice of this as possible and to confirm that an update would follow shortly. Much to our relief we received an email the following morning to confirm that the leak had been fixed although the matching wines would be unavailable as it hadn’t been possible to place a wine order which left a limited number of pairing wines. Full marks for excellent communication, keeping us informed and managing expectations. The restaurant is located in a residential part of Broadstairs just a few doors down from No. 1 Oscar Road (a beautiful little wine bar which is a great spot for pre-dinner drinks and the former location of Dos). Access is gained by knocking at the front door. This is a very intimate dining experience with all the tables in very close proximity. There are just five tables (1 x 4 and 4 x 2). The restaurant (which feels like someone’s front room) has an eclectic mosaic made from stickers covering the ceiling, exposed brick walls with gorillaz album and dark wooden tables with colourful vinyl covered chairs. It’s quirky, but stylish. A varied playlist provided some great and much needed background music. The kitchen is open plan so you can watch Ben hard at work. It’s quite incredible that so many different beautifully presented dishes emanate from such a small, confined space. Dining is from a ‘mystery’ six course tasting menu served to all customers with optional wine pairings. The menu changes weekly and so you literally have no idea what you will be eating in advance. We knew from reading the information on the website and online reviews that dietary requirements, dislikes or allergies could not be catered for so if you are a fussy eater or selective about your food this isn’t a restaurant for you. The tasting menu comprised a good selection of dishes - duck liver parfait, gurnard and prawns, lamb, Wagyu beef, goat curd and a chocolate dessert. Each and every course was beautifully presented and clearly involved incredible skills in their creation. The tastes, flavours and textures were sublime and really excited the palate. The service was good with just the one staff member outside of the kitchen. Having to retain our cutlery between courses was slightly odd but I guessed it saves on the washing-up! We enjoyed a good selection of wines including the Rose Takoli Rosado, Gran Cerdo Blanco and the Chilean Metic Merlot which were all moderately priced. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner here especially after such a long wait – thank you Ben and Sophie for a very memorable dining experience.

We've been meaning to go to Stark for ages, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is relaxed and intimate - refreshingly unfussy. We were made to feel very welcome and were very well looked after. The tasting menu was amazing - we particularly enjoyed a dessert of goat curd, almond and fig, paired with a delicious Monbazillac. All in all, a wonderful evening!

Had heard such great things about Stark and it didnt disappoint. Food was spectacular. We had the paired wines, all of which complimented the food amazingly well. Our waitress was fantastic. Very attentive. One of the best meals I've ever eaten. We had to book 2 months in advange but was so worth the wait. Will definitely be returning.

Went for second service on a very hot night. The place was like a sauna, the service was poor and the ambience was terrible. A long dinner service turned into a war of attrition. There was a race to see who could pay the bill first and get out. The food was good but not exceptional, the service was poor - I had to ask repeatedly for drinks, water was served without ice - and the ambience felt like nobody really wanted to be there. Broadstairs has a wealth of high quality eateries with exceptional food and service, they’ll be my goto for occasion nights in the future.

Came here for my fiancés birthday and it didn’t disappoint. A night to remember that’s for sure…Everything we were expecting, lots of small delicious dishes with plenty of watery green leaves for WhatsApp group with the lads. The only downside was it didn’t have a tv screen showing the boxing so had to wolf down the dishes, quickly drag the mrs to the nearest boozer only to find out the boxing fight was over so had it off with her in the street. Couple of double jab right hands done the job to put me in the horrors for the rest of the night. Both woke up feeling horrendous. so promised a few things including a walk round the lakes wen back home but all I could think of was dream team Saturday with the lads. Overall great trip, would do it again but maybe minus the alcohol. Margate you’ve been reet

Third visit and still amazing. Do yourself a favour and book a table - you will not regret it. Cannot honestly think of anything I would improve. Superb.

Fantastic food by a fantastic chef. A brilliant tasting menu with a fine wine paring to go with We will visit again. Superb

This has to be the most amazing food in Kent and now my favourite restaurant. I don’t usually get too excited about food, especially tasting menus where you are often overloaded with food. Each dish was exquisitely presented and each mouthful an explosion of flavours that all worked so extremely well together. Somebody asked me which was my favourite course and I really couldn’t choose - they’re all superb. I’m already looking forward to my next visit. Thank you so much.

This was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The food was amazing and wine choices excellent. Service was great throughout. A wonderfully quirky venue full of character and charm.

Love this place. Our favourite starred restaurant in the county and it's worth travelling across half of Kent to dine there. The usual dining format is an amuse bouche followed by 6 courses (4 savoury, 2 sweet) for £85 per head with an accompanying wine flight available for £45. The wines are well matched to the courses, so the wine flight is a worthwhile option. With the food, there's no customer choice or tinkering (so fussy eaters/allergy sufferers beware). You eat what the chef patron (Ben Crittenden) is serving on the night. The great news is that what he serves are beautifully conceived and wonderfully constructed plates of food perfection. This was our 5th visit over the past 2 years, so we've now consumed 30 different dishes, plus numerous amuse bouches... every single morsel has been fantastic! That level of consistency at such a high standard is amazing. The restaurant itself is SMALL! It's literally the size of a house garage, with about a third taken up by the open kitchen, with the dining area having just 5 tables with 2 covers and 1 table with 4 covers. It's quirky modern pop-culture decoration is great, as is the chef's eclectic playlist, which he and you listen to throughout service. Getting a table no longer seems to be the challange it was a year ago, so get booking (online only)! If you love great food, you won't regret it.

We can’t add much to the reviews and plaudits…we absolutely loved everything about this place. The simplicity, the relaxed and intimate feel, the funky decor, the top music choice, and of course the 6 courses of magic conjured up by Ben the chef just a few feet away from us. The wine pairings were great, unfortunately I had to drive so the wife consumed most of it! :-)) This won’t be for everyone as what you see is what you get on the menu and you don’t know what you’re going to get until you arrive…but that works just fine for us as we eat absolutely anything! We’ll definitely be back!

It took us several attempts to dine at Stark, given changing Covid restrictions, but boy was it worth the wait! There are no words for the imaginative, beautifully presented and delicious courses of the superb tasting menu we enjoyed on a midweek visit. We often stay over for a few days in Broadstairs as there are some great pubs and restaurants, but future trips will be firmly based around availability at Stark. Don’t be fooled by the stripped-back, modern menu descriptions - the food is innovative and complex, and each course is as pretty as a picture and delivers layer after layer of flavour. We’re lucky enough to have dined at Roux Junior, Blanc, and Kerridge establishments, and this is right up there. Space is tight so you’ll need to be patient when trying to book, but do book, and don’t give up - you won’t be disappointed. Congratulations Ben and team; what a gem!

It's a tiny restaurant - 10 covers max, only 6 is use during our meal. I loved the quirky interior design and the chef's music and the tiny restroom is a delight. Restaurants don't get a star and the sort of tripadvisor reviews that Stark has received without providing amazing food - so I shan't bore with the details, but needless to say, it was 6 plates of sheer magical brilliance (Mr Garret may hate the comment, but even better than the West House) - the wine pairings were very good too, with 5 out of the 6 working well. Having enjoyed our meal so much, my wife and I pondered on which of our friends we could take along for another visit, and actually struggled because of the fixed nature of the menu. We concluded that this was all our friends' loss and our gain - we'll just go as a couple again! Oh, if you book and haven't been before, then there are two restaurants in the street with "Stark" on the outside, only one of which is open... make sure you don't do what we did and loiter outside the wrong one for 10 minutes before realising your mistake!!!

We had waited a long to time to visit Stark as was a gift before lock-down and can only say it was well worth the wait. Ever course was a taste experience we thoroughly enjoyed. The wine flight is such a good idea as a good to way to sample wines too. Just a really fantastic little place and service was excellent. Thank you!

The best first post lockdown meal I could imagine. I very much enjoyed eating at Stark. Every dish was a dream.

This was our fourth visit to Stark and I don't know how...but it just gets better and better every time we visit. This is mine and my partners favourite restaurant and we have been to so some places!!! I feel so fortunate that this is in my beautiful home town of Broadstairs. The decor is very nicely done, a bit quirky and I love the atmosphere. You are made to feel so welcome and even though I usually dress up a bit for the dinner occasion, it's not at all pretentious and I would feel just as comfortable in my casual clothes. You go for a tasting experience and that is exactly what you get. Each of our visits have been so memorable and we still refer to some dishes we had on our first visit. Ben and Cleo are very friendly and I look forward to returning after each visit to see what they come up with next. Already booked in for another visit end of July and cannot recommend this little gem highly enough.

Non pretentious and intimate, friendly, funky and cool right from the decor to the music...but most importantly was the focus on amazing food and flavor combinations that blow your mind. Dining out here wasn’t just a great meal, it was a dining experience and by far the best restaurant in Thanet and beyond. It does what it says on the tin and then adds a little magic for fun.. the only criticism is the lack of space and availability to come back with friends ...but that just shows how good it is!

What can I say, from start to finish the whole experience was amazing! From the service to the amazing decor to the music playing which was just our style. The food was absolutely delicious, we had the matching wine flight which complemented the food perfectly. Thank you for a perfect end to my birthday celebrations we will be back for sure!

How could this place possibly live up the reviews? Everyone has raved about it so much on here that we turned up thinking the only possible outcome was we’d be slightly underwhelmed. Wrong. It didn’t just live up to the hype, it exceeded it. It really was the most incredibly wonderful experience. The design of the tiny interior is extremely cool and provides the perfect ambience for a sensational meal. All six courses were outstanding and the accompanying wine flight added to the pleasure. My favourite bit was the Michelin star casually blue tacked to the wall. Fantastic! Well done, Ben. What you have achieved is absolutely amazing. I was going to say we can’t wait to go back but such is Stark’s popularity we are going to have to.

With restrictions on due to the pandemic and only 3 tables available for sitting, we have had our very exclusive delicious experience at Stark. Thank you so much for having us and looking after us. With each dish the flavours were getting yummier and then the desserts arrived and BOOM, we were hooked. Is there anything I would have wanted to change? Perhaps the portion to be a tad, only a tad bigger so I could enjoy each dish that bit longer, but that’s only because I was greedy to the scrumptious flavours.

Every course of this tasting menu was delicious. There were some interesting combinations we hadn’t come across before but everything was perfect. We loved our evening here and will be sure to return when we are back in the area. The final course was the best desert I’ve ever tasted. Atmosphere was intimate and relaxed too. Thanks so much!

An intimate little restaurant currently only seating 6 diners at a sitting. We chose to have the £35 wine flight with our tasting menu. The food was superb; chef Ben Crittenden certainly knows how to make sauces. We loved it and will certainly return

We have been to Stsrk a number of times now, very lucky to get a table and it never disappoints. The new venue remains intimate, tastefully decorated and relaxed with the background music.The food is always amazing, Ben is such a talented young man and truly deserves the recognition he has been given. Its always a positive experience and I'm pretty sure we will be back again!!

This was our third visit and cannot speak highly enough of Stark. The new venue is so stylish and is slightly bigger but doesn't take away from intimate dining experience. The food is just WOW! We had some of the best dishes we have ever had, and some how it just gets better and better every visit. Its unbelievable that just one chef (Ben) can produce such amazing food on his own. Service was also great as always. Will be booking again ASAP

A fantastic 6 course tasting menu. All dishes were delicious, beautifully presented and faultless. It is a small intimate restaurant (with appropriately spaced tables) with great service & a great play list creating a nice atmosphere with the open kitchen. Highly recommend. Note you will need to book well in advance - you will not be disappointed.

We feel very lucky we were able to get a reservation for Stark - given only 6 people can currently eat at any one time. Amazing food with fantastic wine pairings. Would highly recommend.

Another fantastic Michelin restaurant in Kent. Stark is incredibly intimate, with the opportunity to witness Ben carrying out his craft with an attentive waitress. Fully recommend this restaurant.Top music taste too; can’t beat a bit of Twenty One Pilots and Kings of Leon.Thanks, I’m sure we will visit again.

Overwhelmed by the whole experience. The food is exceptional and we were especially blown away by the pork, yolk, corn dish.. The new restaurant is stunning and very quirky, the service is friendly and relaxed. Feel very privileged to have been lucky enough to visit this unique place and to be given the time to chat with Ben and Cleo. Cant wait for the book release and to return again some time very soon!

Amazing... had the most wonderful tasting menu at stark. Cleo was lovely, the food was stupendous and a lovely chilled atmosphere.

This is one of the best eating out experiences we have had.The food was wonderful, the service was welcoming, friendly and efficient and the atmosphere was intimate.This is a small restaurant and with covid safe regulations in place we were two of the six diners allowed. Despite the safe social distancing, it felt as if we were with friends and the guests of a chef and his waitress who just wanted us to enjoy good food in good company. You get no choice as all that is available is the six course tasting menu, but be assured that the chef, Ben, knows his stuff and will treat you to cooking at its best.If you enjoy good food cooked to michelin standards but at a reasonable price then this little gem is a must!We'd almost rather keep this place to ourselves, but the quality will ensure that it makes a name for itself.

Amazing chef,amazing menu great value please go and try you won’t be disappointed can’t wait to go again!!!!!

This is another great review of an intimate beautiful restaurant, with a great chef and a very good front of house.The food.... well what can you say... well presented, visually appealing, and most of all, absolutely a taste sensationEach dish has a different dimension, from the mackerel starter to the delightfully tender and tasty Bass

I visited Stark with my partner on the 22nd of February and had a very lovely meal. Despite us having to rush out the door after finishing our meals to catch a rail replacement bus (which we made in time, thank you!) the service was never rushed and we were made to feel at home right away. While the restaurant does not cater to dislikes, allergies or dietary requirements - ordinarily I have an intense dislike of mushrooms - the flavours were so incredibly well balanced that even I enjoyed the second course of chicken, mushrooms and yolk! My partner, who I would consider a bit of a foodie, was excited to try a restaurant that is unapologetic in its approach to food and he was not disappointed! Would recommend and love to come back again in the near future.

Beautifully intimate restaurant. Incredible food. Amazing service. Incredible night from start to finish.

One of the best eating experiences we have had in a long time. The food was exceptional & the service was fantastic. The price was surprising for the quality of food we had. We even had a chance to speak with Ben after he finished cooking. Which was a real treat for a foodie like me. Thank you for an awesome experience!

We came here for our first time about 1.5 years ago, it was great then and it's great now. (even better than before, didn't think that would be possible). Every course was exceptional with some very unusual flavours that completly worked, such as beetroot, goats curd and rhubarb which was a dessert! Very different but very nice. Still find it hard to believe that the food is executed by Ben the chef alone! Wil definitely be booking for our third visit soon.

We booked Stark as part of a weekend away treat, particularly attracted to their stance that "we don't cater for likes , dislikes" - basically you get what chefs cooking.....and this tiny 10 cover restaurant totally over delivered. I have been extremely lucky to eat in all sorts of fine dining, Michelin restaurants all over the world, I usually go for the tasting menu, and generally I come away really loving one course, liking the others and think meeehhh about one or two courses. With Stark there were definitely two courses that have made it onto my death row last meal list and of the others, well they were all outstanding. We went wine matching but only for one and shared ( the glasses were generous and that was more than enough for two) and that really enhanced the meal.This is one chef & one server restaurant - its tiny with the chef cooking in the restaurant where you are sitting and it feels like a Michelin star private dining experience. This is worth a special trip to come to, and there are lots of very comfortable local 4 star B&Bs to stay in within walking distance. We will be back

Can’t recommend enough getting the wine flight paired with the tasting menu, it made the experience! We loved everything about dining here.

What a delight, great food in intimate surrounding, only ten places. Very good and friendly service. £60 for six courses and £30 for the flight of wines. This is excellent value. Apart from the excellent food the imagination of the chef is amazing. You have to go. They are very reserved about their recent Michelin star but they deserve it.

I can completely understand why this place has a Michelin Star!Every dish that came out was delicate and rich at the same time. Brilliant concepts, brilliant design and brilliant execution on 6 different plates.Can’t recommend this enough to people, as from my point of view at the price point this is an absolutely steal!Can’t wait to go back

Went for the first time as a group of four and absolutely loved it. The food was incredible, the service was impeccable, and we can't wait to go back! Due to the nature of the restaurant there are no alternative menu options, so if you have any allergies or strong dislikes you may wish to bear that in mind before booking. That said, the food is unlike anything you've had before so if you can go in with an open mind you might surprise yourself (a so-called fish-hater amongst our group said the mackerel was one of his favourite dishes). The menu changes all the time so you'll never know what you're going to get until you arrive, but that's part of the fun! It's not a cheap night out, however £60pp for a Michelin star tasting menu is exceptional value. We opted to add the wine pairings for an additional £30pp, which I would really recommend doing. Fantastic little restaurant, would absolutely recommend.

What can I say, a truly amazing experience from start to finish. Without doubt the greatest and perfectly executed food I have eaten for a very long. The wine pairings was again truly excellent. I waited a long time to be able to come and enjoy the experience of Stark, 340 mile round trip was worth every second. I will hopefully be back very soon.

We enjoyed another fabulous meal at Stark last night. The quality of the food produced in the small kitchen is truly fabulous. Enjoyed the wine flight too. Cannot praise Stark enough.

Had to book 6 weeks in advance and hardly find a place. This 10 sited time ppace is mind bogglingvtonthe tastes buds. Every course was stunning. Youngvcheff works all by himself and brings pure magic off his 2 hands balanced and full with amazing delicate flavour...WOW WOW WOW .BEST 1 STAR MICHELIN STAR

This was our fourth visit, this time with friends who hadn’t been before. As ever the food was simply stunning and the wine pairing faultless. Service is attentive and they always take time to explain each dish. We’re so lucky to have such a fantastic restaurant on our doorstep. Can’t wait to go back.

We'd never heard of Stark until we read the young chef just got his first Michelin star so we booked a table.

Had wanted to try for ages but never got around to it, finally booked for a joint birthday celebration and it was awesome! Looking on the booking bit now, they have nothing for the next 60 days! Glad we got in before their award!

No surprise Ben and Sophie were awarded a Michelin ⭐️ Fantastic food with excellent wine pairing. 60 days here we come. Well worth waiting for. Thanks again x

Went here a couple of weeks ago and the announcement that they’ve just got a Michelin star is not a surprise. It’s a set menu and one of the things we had I wouldn’t have ordered normally but that’s the point. It was delicious and takes you culinary places you wouldn’t normally go. It’s informal yet the food is outstanding. Well done Ben and Sophie.

This was our third visit to Stark, this time taking along my brother and his partner. All I can say is this tiny restaurant just keeps on getting better and better. Each course again was incredible, both visually and taste, for once my brother was speechless!! Service, by Cleo, was discrete but friendly and Ben, the owner/chef, was happy to chat with us at the end of the night. Thank you Ben for another wonderful evening.

I can be hard to please. The food, wine and service are a perfect balance. Left so happy. Going to be hard to top. Don't be put off by the fixed menu or you lose out.

It’s not often that you find food so exquisitely and expertly balanced and cooked. It’s well-presented too although I’m not a fan of stoneware. Whilst we loved the 6 course no choice menu and very well-chosen wines to accompany, some picky diners might find this problematic. Let them go elsewhere. This is a unique and wonderful venue.

Second visit to this restaurant and the food is fantastic but my only negative is that it would be nice if the chef interacted with the diners or even brought some of the food to the table.

Six courses, each remarkable for their taste and presentation, delivered to the table with an explanation of their main ingredients by Clio, who was waiting tonight. The flavour combinations are so well thought out and marry beautifully.

A really great little find. Delicious grub, great staff and very attentive. Recommended to anyone in the area. We will be back!!

We went as a group of four. They only have 10 seats available so you really need to book in advance. One table of 4 and the rest were couples. They do have a small scope to move the tables if your group was bigger but where they would it not I dont know. The decor is lovely and there is the chef and one waitress. It's a taster menu so you cannot have anything other than what is on the menu for that deasy. We started with tiny home baked sour dough bread which was hot and just delicious. Then 6 courses of just amazing food. At £60 a head it was expensive but worth it. Very limited wine choice but then that didn't bother us as they had what we liked. Bottles of wine are £24 upwards or £7 upwards a glass. Due to the price it would be a special occasion venue for us but I would definitely go back again and I would definitely recommend you try it.

Set tasting menu was only option but outstanding. There was an opportunity to advise on allergies/ preferences at the time of booking, however. Attentive service by the chef's partner. Advance booking essential! Finely balanced menu of seven courses with matching wines offered.

I love the tiny quirkiness of this amazing little gem. Well worth the trip to the seaside. The food was innovative with out the pomposity that can be off putting in some other fine dining places.

Lovely that. Really tasty, really nice, real yummy. I would highly recommend I enjoyed every minutes

My daughter and son-in-law went there for their anniversary and to quote 'It was the best food we've ever eaten' and 'lush' and 'proper tasty'. I was very glad I had booked it for them. I chose the wine included option and they were really impressed with all of it. So thanks to Sophie and Ben for making the whole experience wonderful.

My daughter found this restaurant purely by chance, we were lucky enough to have dinner in this unusual quirky place. What can I say excellent food excellent wine all served with a smile and everything in the dishes fully explained.

We had such an amazing evening at Stark. The food was to die for, and the service delightful. We had the chance to chat with Ben and Sophie the hard working owners at the end of the night, and they were lovely. One of the most memorable meals I’ve ever had. Quite how they manage to provide food of this standard for ten people per sitting, with just the two of them is beyond me!

A table for four and three tables for two and that is it, plus a toilet these days, surprisingly private though rough and ready as far as the decor goes - junk shop chic perhaps. Chef cooks in full view and his wife waits table both charming but this is a restaurant and everything is about the food - one word - wonderful - small plates and each exquisite. No recommendations as you eat what you are given with no allowance for allergies or preferences. £295 for four with £45 for wine. Must go again!

Having wanted to visit stark since it had opened but not having the opportunity we finally booked a table one Saturday and was not disappointed. A six course tasting menu with every dish a real delight. Service by the lovely Chloe and food by Ben I really cannot recommend this more. The only downfall you must book but we’ll worth the wait.

Loverly first visit to Stark and can see why it’s easily the best restaurant in the area. Each course is exquisitely presented and the wine paring was both imaginative and well thought out. The service was great and well paced. Highly recommend.

We have just returned from a wonderful experience. The menu is presented at the table, but it only gives you a taster of the dishes,it doesn’t reflect the complexity of each dish! The six courses are absolutely fantastic and I find it hard to describe them, except to say they are truly amazing and how any one can come up with the imagination amazes me. We have eaten at several michelin restaurants but this surpasses them, we cannot wait to go back. The dishes were challenging and interesting

Can't recommend this restaurant highly enough.

Our second visit one Thursday evening. This is a fixed taster menu - Food was absolutely exquisite with lots of interesting flavours and combinations, relaxed and cosy atmosphere. Booking is needed but if you look for Mid week you can get lucky and not have to wait too long. Highly recommended.

My partner and I visited a couple of weeks ago and oh my the food was really fantastic, the wine pairing exceptional and the service on point! We left full and tipsy! Cannot wait to return!

I took my boyfriend to Stark for his birthday and we both absolutely loved it. It was perfect for a special occasion - the food and wine were excellent, the service was lovely, and the fact it only seats 10 people made it feel extra special. It's amazing value for money well worth a trip to Broadstairs for. I've recommended Stark to family and friends and would love to go back sometime. Thank you very much Sophie and Ben!

We came here to celebrate my husband’s birthday and it was an absolute treat! 6 courses with optional wine pairings (at extra cost), the food was delicious and changes according to what is in season. You are presented with the day’s menu (fussy eaters beware or anyone with a food intolerance to note) which are cooked to perfection. The restaurant is tiny and I mean tiny with only 8 covers! So you have to book 90 days in advance and bookings open at midnight. If you want your choice of slot, book at midnight as I waited until I was on the train and only 2 slots were left on my husband’s birthday. As we were travelling from London, we stayed overnight and there is a choice of accommodation or take the high speed train from St Pancras. A fabulous meal to celebrate my husband’s birthday.

We visited this restaurant a couple of weeks ago, having tried to book for some time ; I'm really glad we did. I have been described as a fussy eater (!), but the 6 course menu, with pairing wines, was off the scale. Excellent service as well-Highly recommended.

i have dined at STARK twice. Both times the food was absolutely stunning....Chef Benjamin knows his stuff, everything down to the bread and butter is made in house from fresh and seasonal produce, this is reflected in the ever changing menu! Sophie is a lovely host!

A fantastic meal - some absolute delights (one surprisingly good - thought I would not like it) and a nice candid chat with the chef afterwards. Will definitely return.

Fabulous 7 course taster menu with wine flight. Very cosy restaurant but staggered dining times ensures a very personal experience and lovely evening.

Went for birthday meal for my husband. Can’t really put into words how great the food was. Small, delicious plates! Each course was unique and so tasty! Small, intimate restaurant with great food which speaks for itself! Highly recommended!!!!!!

We booked well in advance as we were advised my many friends, which is a sure sign its good. We weren't disappointed! The welcoming service was top notch, great atmosphere in such a small restaurant. The food was superb! cant wait to return.

Second visit with friends down from London. Amazing food,service,wine and beer. We forgot how good the flavours were. It’s a really truly gastronomic experience that leaves you wanting more. The beef dish was amazing.

Another visit to Stark with friends. The fact you have to book well in advance only means that anticipation builds as the day of the meal approaches. With only one table for 4 you need to book early. The small restaurant is welcoming and Sophie does a great job front of house, ensuring customers are happy, get drinks orders met etc., and understand what each dish is, all without being too intrusive. The food was again excellent, with great flavors, textures and presentation. I have had great meals elsewhere, but Ben's great skill is in bringing together so many great flavors and textures into each course. Surprisingly I have now had 12 courses at Stark and have really enjoyed each one, despite not "choosing" any of them. Ben somehow manages to take ingredients which mean you would not normally order a dish from an a la carte menu, and make them into delights you would happily have again. Some wonderful plates and bowls are used to serve the food which adds to the enjoyment.

This first, but not last, visit was a treat to be savoured. From the moment we entered this small delightful restaurant we were made to feel at home. Each individual dish, of which there were six, was beautifully presented and made our taste buds work overtime. Definitely a restaurant for a quiet unhurried evening meal in a lovely friendly atmosphere. If further recommendation was needed two other diners had specifically travelled down from London by high speed train just for the evening to dine at the restaurant and this was their third visit!

We very recently visited this beautiful restaurant with family, and we are so pleased that we did. It is the kind of place that reminds you how good food can be. The restaurant is very small, which is perfect for what they are trying to achieve. The result is that you truly do get a personal experience. Sophie, who is front of house, is very warm and inviting but not in an over the top and fussy manner, just natural. As a result you feel very comfortable and relaxed in a way that sometimes you don’t feel when visiting other high end restaurants.

what a delight, definately recommend this place, well be back again very soon and bringing our friends along to try too

Always blown away by Bens dishes. Just voted a chef to watch by the Good Food Guide the taste combinations are divine. Sophie is a great front of house and welcomes you like good friends. With only 10 covers it can be hard to get a table especially if you want the one table for 4. However it's worth well worth persisting.

Fantastic food, a real experience. Do not normally go high end dining but loved this experience. Was a weeknight so did not try the wine pairings. Have been recommending to everyone looking for a special meal locally.

This is unquestionably the smallest established restaurant I have ever visited. Ten covers is the max.

Decided to try this with friends....sounded so exciting!!

I went as a solo diner having heard so much about this place I was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype. I was happy to be disappointed. I loved all bar one of the dishes and the last dish I couldn't fault it was 100% down to personal taste having said that I did almost polish that dish off as well. If that's not a compliment to how truly wonderful the food was I don't know what is. Service was lovely not too in your face but checking that I was enjoying my food. Was the first diner for the evening and Ben was lovely chatting to me to keep me company before my food arrived (even when he was super hectic he would give me a little nod to see how I was enjoying it all). I tried the accompanying wine selection and again the last 2 were a bit sweet for my personal taste but that was just me otherwise they went with the dishes nicely and I enjoyed them very much.

Worth the wait, what a treasure! Delicious supper, relaxing, discreet friendly service which is so refreshing (can’t stand places where I’m being constantly asked if the food is ok) and every dish presented beautifully. Would highly recommend and will be back!

Most years we have a week's holiday on the Kent coast in late October. We enjoy good food and wine so when we heard about Stark early in 2017 we wanted to book, but after the national reviews it was sold out until Christmas. We tried earlier this year but the owners advised they had closed October bookings as they were looking at doing something different. It seemed it wasn't meant to be. However about 10 days before travelling we got an email from Sophie saying they were going to be open so we booked immediately. Having had hit and miss set menu experiences this year we were not sure what to expect but it was definitely the best of the year by far. The food is simply superb and amazing value at £55. While the wine list is limited we found the pinot noir excellent and great value, its partner sauvingon was also very good so we'd say short but very well sourced and of course there's always the wine flight if you want variety matched to the food, again that it is well priced. They do now have an ingenious use of the space toilet and overall it was a wonderful experience that was worth the effort and wait. Cannot recommend highly enough and we will definitely be booking next time we're in the area. Well done to the Crittenden's (and Ben the chef in particular) for creating this great little place in Broadstairs.