The High Street Kitchen in New Forest

Having read some very complementary reviews I though this would be a good place to take my friend to eat on her birthday. It was difficult to chose from the menu as there was a very restricted choice. Our starter was promising , tasty but small portion and quite fatty. The main course of Chicken Croquettes We’re exceptionally salty, I couldn’t eat it all. Desserts were excellent. Staff where very pleasant. With 1 bottle of SB wine at (£40) a bottle Total for a meal for 2 over £150 Certainly not cheap.

The wine list prices and white tablecloths imply high end fine dining, but the menu was just a little too limited, especially given one of the mains was rib eye and another was fish and chips. A starter of sardines was nicely cooked and worked with the chopped walnuts, but the cucumber sorbet, nice as it was, didn't really go. The chicken croquet was nicely cooked but underseasoned to my taste. If you want to spend this type of money - suggest looking at Lanes.

We visited last week and were lucky enough to sit outside in the sun. We opted for the 3 course lunch set menu, delicious pate to start and fish n chips main, had to squeeze in a pud as well. Service was perfect and presentation of the food pleasing to the eye. We even saw a bit of wildlife, a cute baby seagull which must be the best fed bird in the South. This was our favourite restaurant in Lymington by far, looking forward to the next visit. Thank you Gavin and your team.

Honestly the best place to eat for miles! The head chef/owner can tell you with no hesitation where his produce has come from, all locally sourced, as in a stones throw away! Which is a rarity these days! Great, super fresh, feel good food, the flavour is there, this is a place where you can trust the menu, safely try something new and the staff know the answers to any questions you have. Be warned, once you've eaten here, everywhere else is seriously below par!

First time here as recommended by someone from another high quality restaurant. The food is great & nothing was too much trouble. We requested, as the weather was unusually nice, if the five of us could sit outside. The tables were set & it was really nicely done. This man can cook, some of the best food we’ve eaten for a while. We will no doubt return fantastic place.

Kleine, aber sehr feine Speisekarte. Fantastisches Essen - Vorspeise (Gammon Croquette), Hauptgericht (Kalbsleber) und Dessert waren vom Feinsten. Freundliche Bedienung, schönes Ambiente. Ein echter Geheimtipp in Lymington!

What a great find - loved this restaurant. Very convenient for us as we were staying on the High St. The food was delicious - my beetroot starter was probably the nicest starter I have ever had! The whole meal was lovely and the restaurant itself is very warm and welcoming - fine dining without the stuffiness of a very formal atmosphere. Would definitely recommend and visit again when next in the area.

Mother’s Day lunch with family. We LOVE this restaurant. What we like even more is the genuine sincerity of Gavin and his team. Laura is just wonderful as the manager/front of house. Her team are all a credit to Gavin. Anybody reading this……..please don’t hesitate to go and enjoy a lunch or particularly a Sunday Roast you won’t be disappointed. It was busy today and everyone worked so hard, be patient and enjoy the lovely food that Gavin cooks. Just wish it could be something we could do every week.

Stunning food and beautiful setting. We went on Sunday and had probably the best roast (no one does roast potatoes that well!) we've had to date....and we've tried a lot. We will be back!

We live in Lymington and have eaten in this restaurant a couple of times before. We were looking forward to the ribeye steak and chunky chips as we have had this before and it was delicious, on 30 December we ordered the ribeye. I asked for salad instead of chips only to be told there was no salad and even worse for my husband no chips. We ordered roasted carrots from the very limited sides menu - carrots or cavalero Nero. No sign of any potato’s at this point. The very nice manager came over and said there were potatoes with the steak - some fancy name but essentially cubed potatoes in stock. The steak came and was disappointing - not sure how it had been cooked - it was tender but lacked flavour. To be fair we were given a plate of cavalero Nero and the very strange potatoes which did not go well with the steak. Gavin bring back the chips and salad. Simple but delicious. On the plus side the service was excellent. The front of house staff were efficient, friendly and non intrusive.

We have always loved the high street kitchen from day one but tonight was extra special. I’ve just completed medical treatment and Gavin is aware of my treatment journey. Not only did he and his team make us so welcome he cooked off menu for me at his request so I had what worked for my recovery. The care, love and respect we were shown was exceptional! What other restaurant really cares and treats you this way. Truly we are so lucky to have Gavin, Laura and this gem of a restaurant! If you’re visiting Lymington it’s a must the food is always divine! Bravo to Adam also who is a master chef in the making!

Gavin (the chef) produced the most gorgeous selection of unusual and inventive dishes for our New Year’s Eve celebration dinner. To arrive at the restaurant and have a bespoke vegetarian menu was such a delight. The pace of the dishes arriving was spot on with plenty of time between course to really savour the dining experience. This was definitely my meal of the year. Thank you to our host Laura and Gavin for putting on a truly wonderful gastronomic experience.

We thoroughly enjoyed a fabulous Sunday lunch at Gavin’s Highstreet Kitchen to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. 2 ribs of beef and 2 corn fed chickens were suitably polished off with some paired wines in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. I’d also highly recommend the pear crumble but I ate it before I could take a picture. Couldn’t help myself. I absolutely love this restaurant and we can’t wait to celebrate NYE there this weekend for a 5 course dinner. See you Sunday.

This place is fabulous, food is amazing, great service and pretty courtyard. The husband and wife who run this place are nothing short of amazing.

We had a large gathering last night at the high street kitchen and normally for a large meal you expect a standard meal. Last nights meal went above and beyond, fantastic portion size, food was outstandingly good, local produce, I absolutely couldn’t fault nothing at all. The staff are attentive, atmosphere was friendly, cleanliness was 100%. The only fault I can make is why I had not been sooner! If you want an amazing 5 star meal with friendly staff and a lovely relaxed atmosphere you must go here! Well done guys and thank you

Wow wow wow 🙂 2nd visit this evening, and even better than the first earlier on in the year. My husband and I had different starters, mains and desserts, and each one was exceptional. Aside from the food the service was faultless, and we we will forever be indebted to Laura for solving our salt dilemma 🤣 I've read a couple of reviews where people have said it's over priced - absolute rubbish, it's not much more then some of the pubs in town, and if that's your attitude then toddle on off a few doors down to Wetherspoons ! Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Went with 4 friends for dinner at 7.30pm on a Friday night. The welcome and knowledge of the menu and wine choices were shared with us and all questions answered without any rush and pure proudness if their business came through. The food was stunning and the chef even came and spoke to us and explained his 17 year old son made the exquisite lemon meringue dessert. We even ordered a 5th dessert for the table the light treacle tart. We enquired about the wine glasses and were promptly given the name and details of where we could purchase them. Also because we loved the complimentary bread and we given a loaf to take home. We cannot recommend this restaurant enough clearly passionate about the whole end to end experience and what a joy to be able to experience their passion. We will be back thank you team x

An excellent menu using locally sourced ingredients matched to a very interesting wine list. Gavin, chef and owner took time out to discuss his cooking and is extremely knowledgeable about his selection of dishes which he bases on seasonal availability. The staff were very friendly and helpful so we enjoyed a wonderful dinner. Surely the best restaurant in Lymington?

Myself, my cousin and our friend dined again at Gavin Barnes Highstreet Kitchen last night and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I’m never disappointed when I get the chance to go which just isn’t enough having a 3 year old at home. Our evening began with 2 of us choosing the gammon croquette which was unbelievable. My favourite starter there so far. The other member of our party decided he’d try the chicken liver parfait which he properly enjoyed. For main 3 medium rare ribeye steaks were demolished and Gavin and his team kindly made 2 blue cheese sauces to accompany the steaks. We added the carrots and peas to accompany our steaks which was a great addition. And finally 2 chocolate soufflés and a treacle tart made their way to our table and they didn’t last long. All was washed down with fabulous wines and to end the evening we had a great chat with the team that always tirelessly do their utmost to make sure everyone leaves happy and content. If you haven’t eaten at the Highstreet Kitchen yet I’d highly recommend trying it for yourselves. Thank you Gavin and your team.

The quality of food and presentation goes from strength to strength here. Having not dined here for a few months it’s great to see how the chef and owner Gavin continues to evolve and develop the HighSt Kitchen into the premier Lynington and New Forest dining experience without the inflated 5-star prices of others. Sumptuous gammon croquettes were followed by a succulent prime rib eye with blue cheese sauce, with a fabulous chocolate soufflé to finish. There’s a fine selection of keenly priced wines to accompany each dish, and I along with my fellow diners will undoubtedly be back here again soon. As evidenced by the geographical variety of diners eating here this evening, clearly word has spread far and wide as to the reputation of the offering, and if you’re coming to this area it’s a must for anyone who values a quality dining experience. Top marks Gavin & Team.

A first rate experience. Ambience, staff and most of all the excellent cuisine. A real chef!!!! 100 pc.

Absolutely first rate! The meal started with some tasty bread accompanied by an amazing garlic confit - I could have eaten it all night! The starters and the mains were fantastic. It’s not overly fussy but the quality is amazing. A dinner to remember. Highly recommended.

We love the food at this place. The food is always amazing. Beautiful starters and the steak was cooked to our liking and tasted delicious. We had strawberry soufflé for pudding and this was also amazing. Gav and staff are always very attentive.

I have visited this restaurant on several occasions but unfortunately on this visit it was a disappointment. My first course of ham and chicken terrine contained several strips of plastic which I discreetly mentioned to the waiter who apologised and advised the Chef. However, this...

Sorry but I don’t agree with all the glowing reviews. We dined here on a recent holiday to the New Forest and had high expectations, hoping this to be our best meal and highlight of our vacation. My octopus terrine was new to the menu...

Great Sunday Lunch. We had been before but this was our first Sunday Roast. We had Roadt Beef. Excellent meat cooked exactly as we like it, more red than pink. The starter were equally good I had beetroot with goats cheese etc, really good and...

Myself and my partner went here for dinner and we had the best evening. Great atmosphere, amazing service, and the food was PERFECT. Could not fault a thing, the owner and head chef even came out and spoke to us and checked we were happy...

The food was superb - cooked to perfection. It was the best meal I have had in 7 nights in Lymington.

Anyone that loves decent food at a reasonable price needs to come here. Gavin and Laura are passionate about what they do and every dish is amazing. The service is excellent and the ambiance is great. People in Lymington need to come and support this...

This is our favourite restaurant. Food is always amazing, service is always excellent. The wine is delicious. I cannot recommended this restaurant enough.

The restaurant was clean and the decor was lovely. The service was welcoming and attentive. That's where it ends! Before I continue I'll add that I don't usually complain about much, but this time I felt compelled to. The menu was nothing like the sample...

Excellent Sunday lunch with family for a birthday. On a Sunday they do a roast menu which suited us all. Fooled excellent, really good wine and attentive service. Will return

The independent High Street kitchen in Lymington Town Centre is superb for all occasions. Gavin, owner and head chef, delivers superb food for exceptionally reasonable prices. I highly recommend it for both lunch and dinner. And we will be back very soon with more friends...

The best food we have eaten in a long time. Lovely surroundings, fairly priced and outstanding quality ingredients & chefmanship. Highlights were lamb shank, seared tuna, passion fruit soufflé & lime tart. Utterly delicious. Will be back very soon. Well worth the 2 hour journey.

Called in for a light lunch with low expectations only to be wowed by the offering. The beautifully cooked mackerel with Isle of White tomatoes in oil on toasted sourdough was absolutely delicious. The passion fruit souffle with mango ice creme perfect, if a bit...

We had visited on a previous occasion and having brother in law and his wife visiting from New Zealand decided to book a lunch here before they returned home after a short visit to the U.K. Our don joined us from Southampton for the occasion...

We went to The High Street Kitchen on Saturday evening and were very disappointed with the menu that bore no resemblance to the sample menu on their website. The choice was extremely limited and of the few main courses on offer, one was cottage pie...

Love this place, whatever is on the menu will be done extremely well, helpful and friendly staff add to the experience, hard to fault, difficult to beat, please keep on doing what you do, my only complaint is I cant eat there as often as...

Always truly wonderful. Excellent food & great service . Every course is special. Far & away the best restaurant in Lymington. Creative courses with quality seasonal ingredients. Nowhere better

High quality food, great service, stylish decor - all round really good experience. Highly recommend the Sunday roast beef. We will be returning!

This is a restaurant with an light airy feel, with a very tasteful décor and good table arrangements. Nice artwork and plenty of staff to assist in the ordering and provision of the delicious seasonal food. To see what they offer I would suggest looking...

It's obviously satisfies many diners' tastes according to other reviews but I can only speak as I found. We were a group of 18 oldies on two tables for the 'budget' lunch at £22.50 for 2 courses or £26.50 for 3 courses including a 125...

Absolutely love the food at the Kitchen, it’s our staple place to eat whenever we come to Lymington. Staff are great and the environment matches. Such value too - fabulous place.

Have eaten here twice now, once for dinner (2 couples) and once for lunch (party of 11). On both occasions, the meals were impeccably produced and served: a menu selection catering to all palates, and each dish offering fresh local ingredients prepared to produce a...

Wonderful meal, staff and wine. Been here several times never disappoints. Everything was pretty perfect with a great seasonal menu and attentive staff. If you only visit one place in Lymington make it this place.

We went for Sunday lunch at this restaurant and had a fabulous meal. The staff were very attentive and the food was excellent. The roast beef was cooked perfectly and the accompanying vegetables and Yorkshire pudding were delicious. For pudding I had the chocolate brownie...

We enjoyed a wonderful 3 course meal here, the food was amazing and the staff very very attentive. The only disappointment was that the sample menu on the website has prices which are significantly lower than the actual menu. It was worth spending the extra,...

Wonderful lunch with friends best cauliflower cheese ever tasted! Great value lovely service . Definitely be back !

Such a pleasant restaurant. Tidy, well-staffed with a nice vibe. We visited 18th Feb for dinner and had a thoroughly lovely meal. We started with Guinea Fowl croquette (delicious) and followed by Ribeye steak (the best we've ever had) and Rump of Lamb (superb). We...

We managed to book a last minute table at The Highstreet Kitchen for Valentines evening. We were the first couple in, swiftly shown to our seats and our coats taken. The staff were friendly and informative. We enjoyed a glass of Prosecco (I don't usually...

My first visit today for lunch. The set menu was very reasonably priced for top quality food and had a good selection. We were very well looked after and lovely to support local talent. Will definitely be returning.

We went here for lunch today. My partner and I give each other a meal out somewhere nice in the new year, as part of our Christmas presents. We eat out a lot, and enjoy good food and surroundings. We had a top quality meal,...

I tell my husband that this is the best restaurant to book for date night. Decor is lovely, our waitress always remembers us, food is amazing. We are always happy and glad that we finally have a fine dining restaurant like this in our little...

Elegant surroundings, attentive service, superb food from locally sour ced ingredients. A wonderful meal, what more could you want?

Four courses that were all excellent. The halibut with hen of the wood mushroom risotto was truly awesome. I have not enjoyed a meal so much for a long while. The Chablis made the special lunch complete. Michelin quality through and through. Relaxed professional service.

Myself and 3 friends thoroughly enjoyed another visit to Gavin’s restaurant back in December. I would have posted sooner but I wrote a review from our Xmas party from the previous Sunday and Trip Advisor wouldn’t allow another review for a month. Every single time...

We went for dinner on a Saturday night. 3 different courses each so tried six dishes, a beer and a bottle of red. All were delicious - terrific food and good service.

Went for Saturday night dinner. Menu choices were very poor. If you didn't want steak there was sausage and mash, fish and chips, liver, chicken or skate- more like pub grub than fine dining but not at pub prices!

We visited again for Sunday lunch and were not disappointed. Honestly the best roast beef, yorkshire puds, roast potatoes and all the trimmings. Amazing puddings, we tried them all between us and all were great. The staff are all lovely and nothing is too much...

This is quite a new restaurant and luckily for us it's within walking distance. We have eaten here many times and can honestly say we have always had amazing food, drinks and service. The food is very reasonably priced considering the high quality. The decor...

We have to say we were a little disappointed in the choices on the menu the Friday evening we visited. The only thing I liked enough to order was Cottage pie which was £22!!!! It was a very nice one but come on Gavin that’s...

We had our running group Xmas lunch on Sunday and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Fantastic service with a rather tasty Sunday roast. Some of us had the rib of beef, others went with the Turkey and 2 enjoyed the fish. We were 11 adults with...

Huge Sunday lunch party with noisy cheery guests, so not every restaurateur's dream - but chef Gavin Barnes and his impeccable staff rose magnificently to the challenge. Out came each course simultaneously served so nobody was left waiting - a brilliant piece of kitchen logistics...

Every dish could compete with any gourmet restaurant. The Seared Salmon and the Rib of Beef were both full of flavour. I definitely nrecommend the Sauvignon Blanc from the wine list. Nice casual atmosphere and chef and staff dedicated to a great customer experience. Exceptional...

We booked this restaurant without too much expectation on a weekend stay in Lymington. All I can say is WOW! It was the best meal we have had in a long time. The flavours were amazing from starters through to dessert. The stand out dish...

The waitress needs more training - clearly for front of house as she was very pretty. Pretty hopeless at answering any questions relating to allergies or how the food was cooked. We waited an hour for our food. The main's were very sparse in number...

The food was high quality cuisine, all of the dishes were fantastic. My wife is vegetarian and although the menu is concise, my wife felt the dishes were great. Some restaurants have vegetarian food as a side line and she often feels short changed. But...

We went out for dinner on Saturday at 6pm, Starters were good, I had beetroot salad. The main's were very disappointing , I had fish soup, 2 tiny pieces of fish and 2 scallops and a broth which was ok for £22!. My husband had...

Very nice restaurant and nice ambiance inside Food very good and flavoursome, ribeye steak was amazing tender and cooked perfectly and highly recommend the deserts Couple of things to improve on Staff attention to the customer and more choice of sides to go with dishes...

Thank you so much to Gavin and Laura for accommodating us last Sunday for lunch, it is rare to find this essential mix. We look forward to our next visit…soon😃

We went for lunch and had the set menu which was really excellent and very good value. Staff very friendly and helpful, the presentation of the dishes was outstanding. Relaxed feel to the restaurant not stuffy or pretentious in any way. It’s all about the...

Second visit, food just as good as well as great service from Sophie. We had beautifully presented starters and delicious steaks, fish and chips and lamb rillet, strawberry soufflé and chocolate tart. One bottle of wine came to £55 per head including tip. Well worth...

Just had a fabulous Sunday lunch at the Highstreet Kitchen. Food is to die for. Succulent and tasty roast beef, yorkshire pudding, roasties and veg followed by a lovely warming crumble and custard. Service friendly and efficient. Highly recommended. We’ll be returning

Booked a last minute dinner mid week to celebrate exam results. We were 15 minutes late, my wife called twice to let restaurant know in advance but no answer. On arrival waitress was very unhappy and quite rude to my wife because we were late....

Food excellent, main front of house very good. However the Manager appears to have very young staff working in the restaurant and they kept apologising for getting things wrong. The liver and black pudding was off the chart! We asked for a dessert menu and...

6 of us lunched there on a Saturday; our first visit. Friendly welcome and service generally good. Food quality was very good with good presentation. Portion size perhaps a little small, but beautifully cooked. Prices for the set menu were ok, but a la carte...

We ate there tonight and it was good. The starters were lovely and the main courses were very good. I chose wrongly, wishing I had chosen the liver, rather than my plaice, which was ok, but plaice. The desserts were unbelievably good, but I had...

Our first visit after reading something on a separate Instagram post, but will certainly be a regular place to eat in Lymington from now on. The restaurant is light and airy with plenty of space around tables, we liked the subtle interior colours and plush...

Went for a Sunday roast today with family. The food was delicious, service excellent and atmosphere friendly and welcoming.

Great new addition to Lymingtons restaurant scene. We had lunch here a few days ago and I have to say the food was exceptional. Service provided by a young and enthusiastic team who really took pride in what they were doing which is rare to...

One word - sublime ! I'm not going to talk about the food, because as you would expect from a fine dining restaurant it was amazing. Three things stood out for me. Firstly, after being seated at your table you are given a carafe of...

We had been recommended to the High Street Kitchen in Lymington and when we went there for dinner with friends we were not disappointed. The choices on the menu were excellent and reflected what was fresh and available locally. The dishes served lived up to...

How lucky we are to have Gavin and his super friendly team bring to Lymington a dining feast born from delicious creations that excite the taste buds! Our first visit was a wonderful experience, we are about to book again taking friends with us where...

We have had several lunches here since Gavin Barnes opened his restaurant a few months ago. It is now our favourite restaurant. Each dish is full of flavour using fresh local produce. The service is friendly and welcoming and the decor is modern and tasteful....

We booked on line and arrived looking forward to trying a new restaurant in Lymington. Busy for a Tuesday evening, nice selection on the menu. We had the beetroot and goats cheese and the mozzarella and Isle of Wight tomato starters, both were fresh and...

Enjoyable evening and very tasty food but let down on a couple of things. I had the beetroot and goats cheese with aged balsamic vinegar starter. It was good but couldn't taste any balsamic. I asked about this and was assured it wasn't missed but...

Such a lovely evening! We booked a table quite early (630pm) and we were worried it would be empty but were pleasantly surprised that quite a few tables were already occupied. We asked to have a drink in the courtyard patio and ended up dining...

What a treat. Great food, great service in a fantastically relax atmosphere. Our table of four arrived at 7pm for some pre dinner drinks and were made to feel welcome from the time we walked through the door until the time we left at around...

Excellent. What a refreshing surprise- excellent staff - quality service throughout, excellent food and drink. We will return and will recommend!

Great food and great service. The portions were ample and there were some really nice choices on the menu. The only down side was a lack of alcohol free drinks. This is a problem in many places but perhaps worth considering offering kombucha or similar?...

Amazing food and 5* service, well looked after, will we return absolutely, we usually prefer a bit more relaxed atmosphere but it’s definitely a return once a month so on that note see you next month 😊 Luke and his happy satisfied family

Superb food! The sautéed Calves liver was delicious and the mashed potato that was with it was bliss! Huge desert selection! The parfait and the cheesecake were very yummy indeed. The decor was lovely inside. Great wine selection. The service was attentive and we were...

We enjoyed a quiet lunch today, wanting to try this new restaurant near our home. We were not disappointed. A small menu but absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. Friendly & knowledgeable servers. A greeting with the Head Chef. A great dining experience we will look...

Sadly very disappointed! Menu very limited with only one vegetarian dish and one fish dish apart from battered fish and chips. Very different to what was advertised online. Burnt toast to start which was replaced in fairness but only after asking. Vegetarian dish of risotto...

We had an excellent meal with friends at this new restaurant; the food was delicious and the service was friendly and prompt. We will be returning soon!

We thoroughly enjoyed our second visit to The Highstreet Kitchen and needless to say we weren’t disappointed. We cannot fault Gav and his team and his food is delightful. All 4 of us chose the rib eye for main and it was just sublime. I...

I’ve been looking forward to trying this new restaurant in Lymington and was not disappointed! 4 of us went on a Saturday evening and thoroughly enjoyed our evening .. we were made to feel really welcome from the first moment we stepped through the door...

My first visit and won’t be the last ! Excellent food and a great choice of wines, staff were very welcoming and surroundings lovely, I would highly recommend it you won’t be disappointed!

Gavins reputation goes before him, so could wait to try his new restaurant, I was not disappointed and cannot wait to take other friends there The food was excellent and the service spot on A very pleasant evening was had and one I hope to...

We had previously enjoyed dining with Chef Gavin Barnes at Hotel Terravina in Ashurst New Forest, so it is with some excitement that we can now dine locally in his Lymington restaurant. Last evenings meal was quality and accompanied by some fine wines. The menu...