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Hello foodie world!

(Latest update: October 2026)

Welcome to the No Expert food blog.   Our reviews cover restaurants, cafes, products and food related events. The opinions on these pages are our own or those of our dining companions. We’re not food experts that can describe the ins and outs of cooking techniques and ingredients so don’t expect autopsies on every dish we’ve ever eaten.  What we do know is what we like.

Not everyone will agree but we hope you might find our culinary experiences useful as some of these restaurants can be very expensive and maybe we will save you some time and money by avoiding the disappointing and recommending the very best.

No Expert has relocated to Kent, so you will now see us focusing on some of the excellent eating establishments and food related events in “The Garden of England”. 

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Wagamama : Westwood Cross

I don’t normally write reviews for chain restaurants, but the Westwood Cross Wagamama deserves a shoutout. It had been years since my last Wagamama visit, though I still vividly remember queuing for the UK’s very first branch in Bloomsbury, but two recent visits to our local spot completely blew me away. It’s even better than I remembered! The menu selection is fantastic, and the service is exceptionally friendly and efficient. It might be a chain formula, but the Westwood Cross team has it down pat.

 

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Franc : Canterbury

Looking for a really good place to eat in Canterbury? We found a true hidden gem, thanks to some high praise from food critics Grace Dent (click here for her review) and Giles Coren (click here for his review).

After seeing both of them rave about Franc, we knew we had to try it.

Franc is  located in the historic 1085 Tudor Gatehouse of St John’s Hospital, it’s so hidden, in fact, that we walked right past it! The ground floor functions as a wine bar, giving the entrance a relaxed feel rather than a typical French restaurant vibe. The main dining area is located upstairs via a steep staircase. Since our table was in the wine bar, we stayed downstairs and missed out on the climb.

The lunch menu wisely favours quality over quantity, offering a selection of three starters, three mains, a cheese course, and three dessert options.

I ordered the trout tartare, which was absolutely fabulous. The portion size was perfect for a starter, though it was so refreshing and moreish that I could have easily eaten another. My companion loved the tomato soup, saying it was one of the best he’d ever tasted. After a quick taste myself, I can agree it was wonderfully thick and bursting with flavour.

For our main course, the kitchen truly excelled. I deviated from the main menu to try the lamb and flageolet bean special. It arrived as a generous portion of incredibly tender meat paired with deeply flavorful beans. Across the table, the chicken and tarragon with a side of chips was a triumph. It was a perfectly executed French classic, thoughtfully modernized with the inclusion of charred little gem.

We each had a glass of sparkling Vouvray, though choosing was difficult given their excellent selection of wines by the glass.

Here’s the menu and wine lists to give you an idea of how spoilt for choice we were :-

I only wish we’d had room for the cheese course and a dessert wine, perhaps next time.

Ironically, this calibre of food feels like it belongs somewhere grander, like The Pig at Bridge Place, but we’re delighted it’s much easier to reach, tucked away in the ancient building at Canterbury Northgate.

I also couldn’t resist taking a picture of these cartoon water glasses (Smurfs and Lilo & Stitch). There must be a story there!

 

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Pizza, Pizza, Pizza and more Pizza

Ramsgate Pizza

Ramsgate boasts a vibrant pizza scene with options to suit every vibe.

For dedicated pizza lovers, CUBO Pizzeria is a standout crowd favourite, with scenic views overlooking the Ramsgate Royal Harbour.

Excellent pizzas can also be found on the menus of established local Italian restaurants, most notably Il Tricolore, Marechiaro, and Porto Reale.

If you are looking for something a bit different, a few unexpected venues serve up highly rated pizza. The Mariners Bar features its own dedicated pizza oven, Spitz Bar & Lounge has Olivia’s Pizza & Kitchen serving Neapolitan style pizza and Blackbird orders pizza from Palms Pizzeria on Thursdays, while Noa Rooftop Bar at the Granville Theatre pairs its pizza menu with spectacular elevated views, delicious cocktails and sharing plates.

However, if I had to pick just one, my personal favourite is Dough Eyes Pizza located at the Ramsgate Boating Pool.

CUBO Pizzeria, The Mariners Bar and Dough Eyes at the Ramsgate Boating Pool also do takeaway.

Most of the restaurants provide ‘leftover boxes’, so you can eat your pizza hot or cold the next day.

Margate Pizza

My recommendation for Pizza in Margate would be GB Pizza.

 

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Angela’s : Margate

(August 2026)

Return visit for a late lunch. Full restaurant for a mid week 2:15 sitting, so booking essential.

We enjoyed a starter and main course each, with the wonderfully refreshing Mackerel Tomato Salad stealing the show. The service is relaxed and accommodating; they happily encourage sharing and provide extra plates. It is a premium lunch experience, but an absolute treat.

(1st visit July 2026)

Finally managed to visit Angela’s, the acclaimed seafood restaurant in Margate, and it’s certainly worth the trip. It is a casual, laid-back spot featuring two dining areas, an open kitchen, and – much to our surprise – an outside toilet!

The daily menu is displayed on a chalkboard.

We ordered the sea bass alongside a rather lovely bottle of Ark Pinot Gris.

It is definitely worth a return visit to try more of their dishes.

 

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Seaview Restaurant @ the Sir Stanley Gray : Pegwell Bay

(July 2026)

The Sir Stanley Gray has been a favorite haunt of mine ever since they added their stunning balcony, boasting panoramic views of Pegwell Bay. While I usually stick to their excellent bar menu for a light lunch, a recent visit from friends staying at the Pegwell Bay Hotel gave me the perfect excuse to try the restaurant. After their long journey, dining right on their doorstep was incredibly convenient.

To reach the Seaview Restaurant, you simply head through the main bar area.

While the menu sticks to conventional classics, the culinary execution is impressive. Enjoying our meal out on the balcony on a beautiful evening made the experience even better. The Pie of the Day (Steak Pie) with skinny chips, and the sea bass with new potatoes were both outstanding – beautifully prepared with top-tier ingredients. Finding this caliber of comfort food within a pub chain restaurant was a delightful surprise. The attentive service capped off a wonderful night.

 

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Rooftop Bars : Margate & Ramsgate

(July 2026) 

We  visited two of Thanets rooftop bars, one in Margate and one in Ramsgate – both very different but lovely in their own ways.

The Rooftop Bar @Guest House No 42 : Margate 

With it’s stunning views of Margate Beach and the hotels highly professional service, indulging at The Rooftop Bar is a real treat. To get to the bar you speak to the receptionist at the Guest House No 42 Hotel (High Street entrance), they check if there is space. They don’t operate a booking diary for the roof, so it’s first come, first served. Be warned you do have a bit of a climb (six flights of steps). Our visit wasn’t at sunset (which is the peak time), we simply had some pre dinner drinks. They serve cocktails, local beers, and a small, quality-driven wine list where bottles generally run over £60.

Noa Rooftop Bar @The Granville : Ramsgate

There’s only one flight of (external) steps to get to Noa, the rooftop bar at the Granville Theatre. It’s not a large venue, you can do a walk in for drinks but it’s essential to book a table if you want to eat there. They serve handcrafted cocktails (highly recommend The Pain Killer), delicious sourdough pizzas and roasts in the autumn and winter.

The staff are efficient and friendly and the place has stunning sea views. There’s indoor and outdoor seating.

It’s a popular pre theatre venue.

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