"The food was fantastically prepared, brilliant flavours and a wonderful choice. The decor of the restaurant was superb and the service impecable, I cant recommend the Hengist enough."
Daniel

"We visited mid-week and had a set menu. The food was beautiful and the inside of the restaurant is lovely. Staff were efficent and friendly and overall we had a great experience!"
Helen

"Hengist Restaurant - Aylesford: Excellent food from an imaginative menu - good wine list - good service"
Paul

"Hengist Restaurant - Aylesford: You soon forget you're in a Restaurant in Kent, as the outstanding food, service and beautiful decor is more reminiscent of a Restaurant in London... This really is an outstanding Restaurant in every way and somewhere special to celebrate a special occasion."
Hannah - Oct 09

"For those of you that don't know, Hengist is owned by the same people (Head Chef Richard Phillips & Paul Smith) who also run Thackerays in Tunbridge Wells and Chapel Down in Tenterden. Being a regular diner and huge fan of Thackerays I have to admit to being quite excited by the prospect of what was to follow. But how was it to compare?

The restaurant is nestled on the left as you enter the High Street of Aylesford, apparently Englands oldest village, quite a quaint olde worlde high street too. You would be forgiven for missing the restaurant but for the elegant yet understated signage from outside. Those of you familiar with Thackerays will know how the building has been carefully and sympathetically restored, yet in my opinion, Hengist is on another level. The interior is simply stunning.

It is quite dark downstairs with a nice feel and stylish minimal touches, upstairs to the rear a party were obviously enjoying the use of a very pleasant room whilst we were sat in a room that ran parallel to the very impressive bar area. If I'm honest, this room was perhaps the least impressive in the building but for a magnificent modern chandelier and tasteful mirrors. However, we had only booked this Sunday lunch the day previous so we were glad just to have got a table and the restaurant was busy which is always a good sign.

We were served with a choice of bread (an apricot option and onion & pancetta) whilst we perused the wine list, deciding on an Argentinian Calafate Pinot Noir from the Sommeliers reccomendations, this was an inspired choice and quite stunning. We were also brought a canape of duck confit that really set things off. The Sunday menu really has something for everyone and we actually struggled to make a decision even though there were only 4 choices of each course.

For starters, Mrs La opted for the salmon, which was served with a caviar that I forget the name of, she described the dish as having an abundance of fresh flavours and a melt in the mouth texture. I went for the ham hock salad which was a big ballsy cylinder of delicious ham served with celeriac, the whole plate working together in unision and an absolute joy.

For mains my partner went for the Belly of 'Land Race' Pork served with an apple consomme and cabbage whilst I went for the Romney marsh lamb. Just like the starters before, the presentation was a delight, the pork accompanied by some of the finest crackling I have ever seen and Mrs La plainly savouring every mouthful, washed up with the 'Kentish apple cider jus'. My lamb was another cylinder of meaty goodness, tender flavoursome lamb cooked to perfection with pomme puree, the dish executed perfectly and elevated by the delicious black olive jus it was served with.

To finish what was already a memorable meal, Mrs La went for a chocolate parfait with ginger mousse, whilst I kept things simple with a selection of local cheeses. My partners chocolate dish was delivered with precise and clean presentation yet she soon managed to make a complete mess of the plate and made it obvious she was enjoying it. My cheese was a lovely selection and had a nice balance to it served with a generous dollop of pleasant chutney.

The waiter who served us was a delight throughout, attentive yet unobtrusive, in fact we didn't have to fill our drinks once and he ensured we were extremely well looked after, as I mentioned they were busy too.

There were only a few criticisms that I have, and they are minor. Firstly, our meals were not described to us, as they are so eloquently at Thackerays. Bear in mind this is complex cooking at its best so it is nice to know exactly how each plate is constructed. Secondly, I was not told that the biscuits for my cheese were served in the napkin placed next to me, so I could have sat there a long time not knowing. And finally, it appears that the prices on the website are in fact incorrect as it quotes that 3 courses on a Sunday are £18.50 when in fact they are £28.50, however this is all niggly stuff and easily corrected.

The bill came to £114 in total for 3 courses, a bottle of wine, water and espresso's which we both agreed was good value for exquisite food in a great setting. Overall it was an excellent experience, these guys know exactly how to run a tight ship and I would thoroughly recommend Hengist, even as a destination restaurant.

As for Mrs La and myself, well on the back of this I think a trip to Chapel Down beckons.......
"
Mr La who dine in June 2010

"Aylesford is a tiny cutesy oldie-worldie village with picturesque features and having walked through it from beginning to end must have taken less than 5 minutes! Consequently, I must say we were surprised to see a restaurant of this calibre located in such a quaint sleepy village. However, there were no complaints in the slightest, its charm leapt out and we loved what we saw.

The Co-proprietor is, Richard Phillips. I know him best for his stint on Ready Steady Cook and Saturday Cooks - both progams I love! It’s no wonder Richard had his own Michelin starred restaurant by the age of 29! His very first restaurant, Thackeray’s in Tunbridge Wells, is well known as one of the best restaurants in Kent.
From its exterior Hengist wasn’t what we were expecting but we loved its mysterious guise. As it was a fabulously sunny day we opted to eat outside in the intimate private courtyard, as this meant no one else could overlook our table, which we liked. Hengist also has a bar and lounge, private dining, a dramatic decadent Japanese Room and a Crystal Room that has a spectacular crystal chandelier centrepiece. Having peeped our heads round into the main dining area it looked substantially full so we were pleased with our alfresco dining choice. The décor was quirky and modern something that I hoped to see but wasn’t sure I would.

Once seated we ordered a glass of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, it was fresh, delicious and we could even taste the tomatoes that were described in the wine list! Before our starters arrived we sampled the separate goats cheese and smoked swordfish canapés, which were just a mouthful but full of wonderful flavours. From the starter menu my friend and I both chose the pan seared sea scallops with slow braised pork, creamed cauliflower, wood sorrel and cauliflower veloute. The entire dish looked, smelt and tasted incredible, and without a shadow of a doubt this was one of the best starters I’d had in a long time! Next our main courses arrived and I had chosen the steamed fillet of sea bass with salmon and crab mousse, tian of poached crayfish, brown crab and tomato risotto and vanilla infused fish cream. I’m so pleased I chose this; I can’t remember a time when all the flavours on one single plate have tasted so composed and utterly delicious. My friend had the roast loin of free-range pork with parsnip and sage terrine, savoy cabbage, Dijon mustard puree, slow braised pork cheeks and Kentish apple cider jus but overall my dish pipped hers to the post. After both courses had been consumed we were absolutely stuffed so to complete our lunch we opted for the coffee with petit fours. I was disappointed I couldn’t fit in a dessert but this shows the portions were more than significant and the petit fours sufficed. Overall we experienced a beautiful restaurant in a fantastic setting."
Chantelle who dined at The Hengist Restaurant in Aylesford during July 2010

"Our first visit to Hengist and we were very pleased with the friendly service and the excellent food - lovely flavours as well as delghtfull presentation.

We hope to return soon - we were celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary - just need to save up!!"
Pauline Hanson who dined @ Hengist Restaurant in Aylesford during 2010