When the occasion calls for culinary theatre, tasting menus deliver in spades. Wiki Jazwinska shares five spots delivering exceptional experiences
Olive Tree, Bath
As Bath’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, expectations are justifiably high at Olive Tree – and met with seemingly effortless ease. The restaurant is tucked beneath the boutique one-Michelin-key Queensberry Hotel, where chic styling sets the scene for a smart dining experience.
Olive Tree’s Taste of the Seasons menu is available for both lunch and dinner all week and comprises seven courses that celebrate uber-seasonal British ingredients. The experience is bookended with homebaked bread and thoughtful extras, creating a palate-pleasing journey from first bite to last.
Examples of the kind of exquisite dishes served include veal sweetbread with jerusalem artichoke, Piedmont hazelnuts, pedro ximenez and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, as well as rhubarb with tonka bean, pink peppercorns and rose.
Àclèaf, near Plymouth, Devon
Diners who appreciate culinary storytelling and theatre will fall for chef patron Scott Paton’s tasting menu.
The contemporary offering at the Michelin-starred, four-AA-rosette restaurant takes guests on an interactive journey via Scott’s artful plating and imaginative twists on classic dishes and flavour combinations.
At first glance, the menu – with its one-word description of each course – is enigmatic. Yet those in the know are happy to put their trust in the hands of the accomplished chef.
Hyper-local hero ingredients shine across both the four- and seven-course menus, from Devon crab paired with juicy mango and fragrant curry to honey harvested from Boringdon hives lifted by crème fraîche and cut through with a zingy hit of yuzu.
Elevate the experience further by opting for the wine flight, where Scott’s nose for exceptional pairings shines. Then sit back and take in the beautiful surroundings of Grade I-listed Boringdon Hall Hotel.
Holm, South Petherton, Somerset
Over the past few years, a wave of London chefs and restaurateurs has rolled west, trading the bright lights for the South West’s big skies, coastlines and lush greenery. Nicholas Balfe – whose ever-evolving menus draw directly from the fields of Somerset – joined the movement at the end of 2021.
The format for the chef’s tasting menu is concise yet indulgent: a sequence of small bites that awaken the palate, followed by lighter, zingy dishes, a pasta course and a main centred on seasonal protein – often cooked in numerous ways as the restaurant sources whole animals. The magic usually concludes with a nostalgic pudding.
Foraged and homegrown ingredients play a central role, particularly in summer. Expect to feast on the likes of preserved elderflower, garden botanicals and herbs from the restaurant’s raised beds. In season, treats also include gooseberries, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries from the kitchen garden.
The addition of seven guest rooms, complete with Egyptian cotton sheets, artisanal toiletries and well-stocked minibars, transforms the Holm experience into something altogether more immersive. Make the most of alfresco dining on the terrace before retreating to a boutique room.
Book a visit to coincide with one of the morning foraging trips led by Nicholas.
Thirteen, Poole, Dorset
At Thirteen, the clue is in the name. Visit to experience a flowing sequence of 13 plates, each carefully balanced, confidently executed and beautifully presented. The cooking is modern British at heart, driven by seasonality and a strong focus on local, sustainable and foraged ingredients.
This is a family affair: head chef Alex Naik leads the kitchen, with sister Frances front of house, father Hem curating the wines, and mum Elisabeth contributing to the menu. Dial up the indulgence with the chef’s table experience, where diners take a front-row seat in the open kitchen and watch Alex and team bring each dish to life.
Dishes evolve with the season, yet one remains a constant: the legendary goat samosa.
Lympstone Manor, Exmouth, Devon
Lympstone Manor’s star status shows no sign of waning, with five AA rosettes, two Michelin Keys, a Michelin star and an AA Notable Wine List Award to its name – plus a place on LaListe’s Top Restaurants.
Chef-owner Michael Caines and his kitchen brigade craft refined tasting menus rooted in the flavours of land and sea. For a deep dive into Michael’s most iconic dishes, opt for the eight-course signature tasting menu, where intricate plates include the likes of ballotine of duck with Yorkshire rhubarb, lemongrass and rhubarb jelly, and hazelnut. Seafood lovers, meanwhile, should look to the seven-course estuary menu to feast on a bounty of coastal ingredients. Dishes such as Cornish sole with jerusalem artichoke, scallop mousseline, white asparagus, and chive and truffle butter sauce are guaranteed to delight.
Enjoyed our 5 of the best tasting menus? Discover our fave spots for alfresco feasting.
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