Bosses at a Kent restaurant have been left stunned after being awarded a second highly prestigious Michelin star.
Hide and Fox in Saltwood, near Hythe, was given the hugely impressive accolade following a Michelin Guide unveiling event yesterday.
It is now just one of 39 restaurants across the UK to boast multiple stars – and is the only such eatery in Kent.
Run by Allister Barsby and Alice Bussi, the restaurant only opened in June 2019 and was awarded its first star in 2021.
Reacting to the news on social media, the pair said: “Overwhelmed doesn’t quite describe the feeling.
“Our little neighbourhood restaurant has been awarded two Michelin stars!
“Thank you to our amazing team who work so hard to produce our food, make our guests feel so welcome and give the best service possible.”
Bosses at the guide said: “Allister and the team’s cooking is packed full of delicious produce, cooked with due respect to deliver dishes that succeed on every level.
“The Inspectors especially loved the Brixham crab with crab jelly, tandoori and pickled vegetables.
“The service is equally endearing, helping to create an experience that is a true delight.
“There is no small amount of skill on display from the chefs, with dishes that are exquisitely crafted and deliver fabulous flavours and textures, be it an exceptional raviolo or glistening turbot.”
As well as its position on the guide, it also has three AA rosettes and regularly features highly on lists ranking the best fine-dining experiences in the country.
It offers five-course tasting menus for £85 (plus wine pairing for £68) and eight courses for £115 (with wine pairing for £90).
The coveted guide dates back to 1900, when tyre company Michelin decided to create a guide to encourage car sales, which would in turn boost tyre sales.
It first began to offer stars out to restaurants in 1926, before establishing the three-star system it continues to operate today in 1931.
It has since become a symbol of quality and honour, while the fortunes of restaurants reviewed can be significantly altered by the views of the critics.
Ms Bussi previously told KentOnline being on the guide “definitely plays a part in attracting customers”.
“But showing your clientele and your guests that you can keep doing what you do, both in terms of consistency and delivery, is everything,” she said.
“If you give a guest a nice experience, something special, they will come back.
“We’ll keep doing what we do while staying aware of what’s going on and it’s important to reinvest money into the business to improve the facilities and look after the team.”
Elsewhere on the list, three Kent restaurants retained a star.
The Bridge Arms in Bridge, The Fordwich Arms in Fordwich, both near Canterbury, and The Sportsman in Seasalter have been recognised once again for “high-quality cooking”.
Sargasso in Margate retained its Bib Gourmand for “good quality, good value cooking” while nearby Angela’s and The Small Holding in Kilndown were rewarded with a Green Star.
Michelin says it is “an annual award which highlights restaurants at the forefront of the industry when it comes to their sustainable practices”.
