The Kitchin

"I think it was their first lunch serving after lockdown. After almost 5 months of lock down since my last Michelin lunch I decided to fill my boots" so to speak. Over a year since my last visit to The Kitchin. Went for the Surprise Tasting Menu. Yer Ben beer, very good. Crackers, honey, rye & squid ink and crowdie dip, Not as sticky as last time. Mushroom consommé with diced mushroom, spätzle (just a couple of small ones, perhaps another couple needed?) and tarragon. Could have been a little hotter, but tasty and light. Sourdough boule and butter. As good as last time. Scallop cooked in the shell. Excellent pastry, perfectly hot scallop, sauce of cream, wine, vermouth, parsley and dill very tasty, spaghetti of carrot and I think celeriac in base. An excellent dish, well practised Kitchin Classic. Cured & braised pork cheek, peas, pea puree, broad beans, girolles, summer truffle and jus. Another excellent dish, spoon soft pork, sweet peas and beans, slightly peppery leaves (watercress?) I have had more pungent truffle before so this was a little understated. Halibut with tomatoes. Nice piece of halibut, just slightly overcooked for me at the thinner end and thicker end at point. Sweet and juicy skinned cherry tomatoes, fish flavoured tomato sauce. I think perhaps a dash of a red wine vinegar reduction, or a few capers would add a nice contrast. Otherwise very good. Venison, Perfectly blushing loin, (I would have liked a touch of salt on it) very tender, tasty shredded braised meat in pastilla, textures of neeps/swede, a smooth, a coarse and a whole baby navet/turnip and slices of white turnip, girolles and blackberries. A couple more blackberries would have been nice, although it is early season for such, and a little more jus wouldn't have gone amiss. Otherwise excellent. Raspberry Pannacotta, smooth and nice balance of sharp, sweet and acidity. A little orange zest and gingered oatmeal crumb for contrast and good light raspberry sauce/consommé. Very good. Rhubarb Crumble souffle. Hot and tasty, Got rhubarb quite soon into the souffle, vanilla ice cream well flavoured, could perhaps for a perfect world been a touch smoother, but still all very good. Coffee and "millionaires" shortbread to finish. As in my previous visit, whilst this is an excellent little tartlet to go with the coffee, I feel the shortbread buttery flavour is not prominent enough and overpowered by the caramel and chocolate. But still very good. Overall an excellent meal and I will recommend to anyone.. Service was very good all through, staff friendly and unobtrusive all masked. Tables well separated, hand sanitiser at entrance and inside. One way walkways through are floor marked."