Review on The Cliffe at The White Cliffs Hotel
An exciting venture from the team behind nearby Wallett's Court, the Cliffe Pub & Kitchen is the 'beating heart' of the White Cliffs Hotel in the centre of delightful St Margaret's at Cliffe. It's a cool uncluttered dining room that is equally popular for light lunches and fully-blown evening meals.
The kitchen is headed up by Gavin Oakley (culinary supremo from Wallett's Court), who brings his own brand of creative modern cooking to proceedings. A passion for 'local, free-range, organic and sustainable' ingredients underpins his efforts and it shows in his seasonal larder: here you will find Kentish asparagus, Romney Marsh lamb, St Margaret's Bay lobsters and other fish from the coast.
Offering a charming relaxed environment, diners choose their menu from the blackboard and can eat either in the dining room or the bar. Among the vivid modern dishes, you might opt to start with the Bere Wood pigeon with black pudding, onions and Madeira or rope-grown mussels in Kentish Pip cider with thyme. When it comes to main courses, meat fans will enjoy the Fowlers game pie consisting of venison, boar pigeon and partridge in port with juniper berries, wild mushrooms and buttered mash, or there's baked Deal cod in a Chapel Down cream sauce with carrot and leek spaghetti. Completing the picture are desserts such as Eton Mess with jammy Autumn fruits and sticky meringue or Black Forest chocolate brownie paired with black cherry ice cream. To drink choose from an eclectic selection of locally brewed beers, juices and global wines. At weekends The Cliffe often features live music from the flourishing local music scene.
The hotel itself is just ten minutes drive from Dover, yet still ranks as one of White Cliff Country's best-kept secrets. It's centred around an archetypal Kentish weatherboarded inn that has been sympathetically upgraded to a luxury venue complete with a 'micro spa', conference and wedding facilities and a delightful walled garden full of roses.
The Cliffe at The White Cliffs Hotel is also featured in: Good Food Guide, AA Guide
Rate this RestaurantCuisine
Modern British
Chef
Gavin Oakley
Restaurant Opening Times
Breakfast: 7.00 - 10.00am (8.00 - 10.00am Sat & Sun)
Lunch: 12.00 - 5.00pm Mon-Sat
Dinner: 6.00 - 9.00pm Mon-Sat
Accepted credit cards
Visa, Master Card