Core by Clare Smyth

Core by Clare Smyth is a three-Michelin-star restaurant at 92 Kensington Park Road in Notting Hill, west London, England. Chef Clare Smyth, a Northern Irish cook who previously led the kitchen at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, opened it in 2017 and became the first British woman to run a restaurant with three Michelin stars. The cooking is modern British, built on carefully sourced produce from farms, fishermen and growers across the British Isles, with an emphasis on sustainability and minimal waste. The most emblematic dish is the potato and roe, a dish of Jersey Royal-style potatoes with seaweed butter and trout or caviar roe that has become the restaurant's calling card. Other recurring dishes include lamb carrot, a take on a classic hotpot, and refined desserts. The tasting menu is the centrepiece at dinner and lunch, supplemented by a shorter à la carte option at certain services. The dining room is elegant but warm, with pale tones, an open kitchen window and attentive but unstuffy service; dress is smart, and jackets are not strictly required. Noise levels are low and conversation is easy. The wine programme is extensive, with a broad cellar, pairings by the glass and non-alcoholic options. Reservations are essential and are typically released weeks or months ahead, with weekend and evening slots the hardest to secure. Prices are at the top end for the United Kingdom, with tasting menus costing roughly £200 or more per person before drinks and service. Lunch is generally the more accessible way to experience the cooking. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.