The Gourmet Kitchen - Doncaster

I was fortunate enough to enjoy another fantastic meal at The Gourmet Dining Room last night. The experience was flawless from beginning to end. The standout dish for me was the amuse bouche, a cheese and onion tart. I absolutely loved it - the pastry was buttery and crumbly, and it was bursting with cheesy flavor. The meal started with warm bread and butter, followed by the cheese and onion tart, a tomato salad with tomato gel and Caesar dressing, halibut with a delicious tuile, tender beef with smoked cauliflower puree, a tropical fruit palate cleanser, and a trio of chocolate. I was so impressed by the food that I forgot to take a photo before digging in! As a bonus, they also give you a little gift to take home, which I believe was a flapjack. The atmosphere was delightful and lively, and the service was excellent. You can bring your own drinks, but glassware is provided. Thank you, Michael and Toni, for a wonderful dining experience!

The experience at The Gourmet Kitchen was amazing. Brilliant food and service, will definitely recommend! Thank you for a lovely evening.

One of the best meals we have ever had and we are no Spring chickens). The whole thing runs smoothly, despite the fact only two people are doing all the cooking and serving. A real boost to the area. Not surprisingly it is difficult to get a booking, but apparently they are trying to change the procedure. If you like your food this is a must try experience.

I can not recommend this amazing gourmet experience enough. The chef and his wife are knowledgeable and take time to explain every aspect of each dish and how it’s paired with the following course. Its a hidden gem in Yorkshire and in my humble opinion the best evening you could wish for. If I could rate this higher than a five star I would. Regards Terry and Kerry

The welcome we received was pleasant, although not very personal, and our details were not checked, which was surprising considering how difficult it was to secure a reservation. The restaurant is not licensed, so guests are welcome to bring their own drinks. My husband and I brought two bottles of champagne, but we were not offered an ice bucket and were given standard wine glasses instead of flutes. The food was served promptly, starting with an amuse bouche of butternut squash veloute with a creamy accompaniment served in egg boxes. The chef explained the dish himself, and it was delicious. The second course, an aged rice dish reminiscent of a soupy risotto flavored with parmesan and espresso, was my least favorite. I found it poorly presented and the coffee flavor didn't come through well. The third course, a beautifully cooked lamb cutlet finished on a barbecue outside, was accompanied by flavorful lentils. However, the broccoli that came with it was plain and could have used some additional flavor. The dish was not explained to us. The fourth dish, which I initially thought was eel, turned out to be smoked eel and was served with beetroot. This was one of my favorite dishes of the night. We were served two desserts: a warm chocolate foam with orange sorbet and a deconstructed rhubarb custard with pink meringue pieces, both of which were delicious. The bill was not presented to us, so we followed the lead of other guests who left cash on the table as they left. My husband had a nice chat with the chef, and I joined in after a visit to the restroom. The chef was very knowledgeable and skilled with flavors. Overall, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of personality in presenting and explaining each dish. The experience felt somewhat impersonal and lacked interest. I believe guest interaction is crucial, so my tip would be for the restaurant to take the time to engage with guests, even if it means spending less time in the kitchen. I did not give a perfect score due to the presentation and slightly underwhelming flavors in some dishes. I believe that in fine dining, every element of the dish should be bursting with flavor. Despite this, we had an enjoyable evening and would return if we are able to secure a reservation.