Montrose Restaurant - Tunbridge Wells Review

Montrose Restaurant
15 Church Road
Southborough Common
Southborough
Tunbridge Wells
Kent
TN4 0RX

Phone 0871 962 4921
Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras

Type of Cuisine Modern European
Chef Richard Hards
Number of Covers 40
Price Range £££££

Lunch 12.00 - 2.30pm Mon-Sat (5.00pm Sun)
Dinner from 6.30pm Mon-Sat

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Review of Montrose Restaurant, Tunbridge Wells

'Fine Dine, Fine Wine' is the rallying call of the Montrose Restaurant, set up in Tunbridge Wells by a group of like-minded food and wine professionals with the aim of creating a unique boutique experience in West Kent. Named after the famous French vineyard in St Estèphe, it occupies a cleverly updated late-Victorian house by Southborough Common.

Chef/patron Richard Hards buys locally where possible and changes his menu each month to produce a mix of traditional and eclectic modern dishes with a European slant. Starters of seared wood pigeon salad with roasted butternut squash or smoked haddock, pea and saffron risotto could give way salt-baked fillet of local trout on wilted spinach with toasted almonds and salsa verde or lavender-crusted rack of Renhurst Farm lamb with caramelised balsamic onions, devilled kidney and rosemary macédoine potatoes.

To finish, there are French-inspired desserts including a trio of crème brûlées, hot chocolate fondant, and caramel banana tarte Tatin with coconut ice cream and banana wafers. Otherwise, investigate the cheeseboard. On Wednesdays nights, steak is the star of the show.

The highly impressive wine list covers Burgundy and Bordeaux in depth (including, of course Château Montrose), and also gives space to some carefully chosen selections from elsewhere. Choice is extensive, and fine vintages rub shoulders with wines for everyday quaffing - including plenty by the glass.