The story
Kitchen Table, at 70 Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia, London, is a modern British restaurant that holds two Michelin stars (2026). Chef James Knappett and his team cook a daily changing tasting menu in front of guests seated around the kitchen.
Each course centres on a single ingredient, such as oyster, truffle, scallop or deer. The produce comes from independent suppliers who have worked with the kitchen since it opened in 2012, including day boat fishermen and growers. A vegetarian tasting menu runs alongside the main one.
Guests sit at a horseshoe counter that wraps around the kitchen, so they can watch the cooking and hear each course explained. The room seats only 15 covers. Sandia Chang, the sommelier, guides the wine list, which is strong on Grower Champagnes. Pairings are available in wine, Champagne or soft versions, and the dress code is smart casual.
Recognition
Details
History
Excellent cooking
Husband and wife team chef James Knappett and sommelier Sandia Chang worked in world famous restaurants Noma in Copenhagen and Per Se in New York before returning to London to open this counter dining restaurant in 2012 (it’s a partnership with JKS Restaurants, which also has the likes of Lyle’s and Sabor on its books). In its first incarnation, the Charlotte Street restaurant was also home to the Bubbledogs hotdog and champagne concept, but shortly after the pandemic this was transformed into a new lounge and bar that now gives diner the option to go for a drink before or after their meal in the restaurant, which is to the rear of the space. But the number of covers has not increased, with Knappett still serving just 15 covers sat around the horseshoe-shaped bar that surrounds the kitchen, with Chang on hand to guide customers through the restaurant’s eclectic wine cellar. Few chefs push harder than Knappett, who uses exceptional ingredients to create an ever-changing menu of small but perfectly formed, beautifully balanced dishes that make use of wide range of cooking techniques. Kitchen Table won its second star in 2018 and a third one must surely be in Knappett’s sights.
3 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Location
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