Modern British · Moreton, Ongar, Essex
40/50
Visited October 2026
The Dog & Pickle
The club’s evening at The Dog & Pickle in Essex: a two-AA-rosette kitchen cooking generous modern British food, scored 40/50.
Read the reviewEvery plate. Scored.
Fine dining, honestly reviewed. BTNDC stands for Boys Thursday Night Dinner Club: a group who have been eating out together and reviewing every meal in detail across the UK, with notes on atmosphere, service and culinary quality for every kind of table.
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Core by Clare SmythModern British · 4949/5002
Restaurant InterludeModern British · 48.548.5/5003
Kitchen Table @ BubbledogsTasting Menu · 4848/5004
CorenucopiaModern British / Luxury Bistro · 47.547.5/5005
A.WongChinese · 4747/5006
TristansModern European · 4747/5007
The Fordwich ArmsGastropub · 45.545.5/5008
Salt Shed – BrightonSmokehouse · 45.545.5/50
Core by Clare SmythModern British · 4949/5002Restaurant InterludeModern British · 48.548.5/5003Kitchen Table @ BubbledogsTasting Menu · 4848/5004CorenucopiaModern British / Luxury Bistro · 47.547.5/5005A.WongChinese · 4747/5006TristansModern European · 4747/5007The Fordwich ArmsGastropub · 45.545.5/5008Salt Shed – BrightonSmokehouse · 45.545.5/5003 / The reviews
Latest visits
Modern British / Luxury Bistro · Chelsea, London
47.5/50
Visited 24 September 2026
Corenucopia
Clare Smyth’s Chelsea bistro sets a 47.5/50 standard for the club: a warm room, unhurried service and cooking that lets good ingredients speak.
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Persian Kababi · Soho, London
40/50
Visited 17 September 2026
Berenjak – Soho
Berenjak brings the charcoal grill and the bakery to Soho: smoky kababs, generous bread and a buzzy little room, scored 40/50 by the club.
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Korean BBQ · Merton
43.5/50
Visited 13 February 2026
Ssam Ssam
An absolute standout in Merton: lively without being chaotic, generous without losing focus, and built around the pleasure of cooking at the table.
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Country House · East Grinstead, West Sussex
39.5/50
Visited 14 November 2025
Gravetye Manor (2025)
An exceptional fine-dining experience where a centuries-old manor, estate-grown ingredients and gracious service create complete escapism.
Read the reviewSteakhouse · Brighton
45.5/50
Visited 30 October 2025
Salt Shed
Bold, vibrant and unapologetically centred on exceptional meat cookery. Salt Shed delivers the kind of generous Brighton energy that makes a long lunch disappear.
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Fine Dining · The Ned Hotel · City of London
43/50
Visited 2 October 2025
Lutyens Grill – The Ned Hotel
Tucked inside The Ned, Lutyens Grill pairs an opulent setting with confident classics. Refined technique and warm hospitality make the room feel indulgent rather than stiff.
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Caribbean · Portsmouth
41.5/50
Visited 31 July 2025
Natty's Jerk
Food that warms the soul and stays in the memory: smoky, spiced and full of generosity, with the sort of easy welcome that turns a meal into an occasion.
Read the reviewModern British · Notting Hill, London
49/50
Visited 24 July 2025
Core by Clare Smyth
A masterpiece of modern British fine dining, where precision never becomes cold. Core turns exceptional ingredients into a quietly emotional, deeply memorable experience.
Read the reviewModern British · London
42.5/50
Visited 22 May 2025
Sael
High ceilings, leather banquettes and Britpop in the background set the stage for a modern brasserie with energy, confidence and a reassuringly broad menu.
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Modern British · St James's Market, London
44.5/50
Visited 24 April 2025
Fallow
Fallow’s ingredient-first cooking is inventive without becoming precious. It is a room with a point of view, generous portions and a genuine sense of fun.
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Steakhouse · Oxted, Surrey
34/50
Visited 27 March 2025
Cattle & Cocktail
Part modern steakhouse, part lively cocktail bar, Cattle & Cocktail balances serious beef with a relaxed, sociable atmosphere made for settling in.
Read the review04 / The journal
From the journal
Editorial
Are Michelin Star Restaurants in the UK Worth It? We Scored 105 of Them to Find Out
I still think about the first Michelin-starred meal I had in the UK. Twenty minutes in, I was doing quiet maths on the bill... and then, slightly to my own surprise, deciding I did not care. That evening earned every pound. Six months later I spent roughly the same somewhere with two Stars and left oddly flat. Same accolade, completely different feeling.
Read story
Guides
How to choose your next great meal
A practical BTNDC field guide to choosing the right room, the right mood and the right kind of appetite for the occasion in front of you.
Read storyEditorial
Core by Clare Smyth: what makes the table work
A masterpiece of modern British fine dining, where precision never becomes cold. Core turns exceptional ingredients into a quietly emotional, deeply memorable experience.
Read story05 / Our approach
Good food deserves the full story.
01
Honest
A clear point of view, rooted in what was actually on the table — never a star rating without substance.
02
Detailed
We notice the room, the welcome, the rhythm of service and the last bite, so you know what to expect.
03
Wide-ranging
From sizzling Korean BBQ and Caribbean jerk to manor-house tasting menus and modern British bistros.
