insideKENT Magazine Issue 50 - May 2016 | Page 121

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Sevenoaks cont.

Emmetts Garden

The Vine Restaurant

Sevenoaks Museum
There are over 3,000 different objects to discover
within the museum (located in the main library).
They include local archaeology and fossils, World
War I and II artefacts, local photographs and
paintings, tools of the blacksmiths, printers, tailors
and other trades, and more.
Emmetts Garden
Found in Ide Hill, just minutes from the town
centre, Emmetts Garden is six acres of gorgeous
plants, shrubs, and lawns, and is a wonderful
way to while away the time enjoying the beauty
that man and nature combined can bring to the
world.
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens
A treat for the whole family, this fantastically fun
garden is full of excitement from world-class
British sculpture, links with Darwin, den building,
secret pathways, superb views over the Downs,
and of course the elusive yeti! Try to spot him as
you enjoy the garden. Afterwards, you can take
tea in the Riverhill Café – everything is homemade
and the ingredients are locally sourced.
Bradbourne Lakes
Created in the 18th century by Henry Bosville,
Bradbourne Lakes is a lovely park featuring a
number of ornamental ponds and waterfalls.
These were made using a tributary of the River
Darenth. Today Bradbourne Lakes is a great
place for a stroll, a picnic, and some quiet
reflection.

Giggling Squid

Dining Out
Sevenoaks has a wealth of restaurants to choose
from, each one catering to your personal tastes
and giving you a memorable experience.
The Vine Restaurant
Located directly opposite the famous Vine cricket
ground and with a lovely conservatory addition
to the building, The Vine serves delicious
breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Food such as
lobster thermidor tartlets, eggs Benedict, and
fresh dressed crab with fries adorn the menu,
and the Sunday roast here is a special treat!
Banana Leaf
A one-time pub that had seen better days, the
Banana Leaf is now a thriving, exciting Indian
restaurant with innovative dishes and an extensive
wine list. There is also live music on occasion,
and the chef offers fascinating Indian cooking
classes. Dishes include duck shakooti (supreme
breast of Barbury duck in a full flavoured masala,
roasted star anise, javantri, fenugreek, red goan
chillies, coconut and cinnamon), shaktari (made
with chicken, lamb or king prawns, this is a
Bangladeshi dish which is crisp, hot and tangy),
and ragda pattice (pan-fried spicy mashed potato
cake served with a tangy dried
chickpea masala).
The Chequers
There is a huge choice of food to be had at The
Chequers with both a lunchtime and evening
menu. Everything is freshly prepared to order in
the kitchen, and the seasonal ingredients are
sourced from local producers. The extensive
menu covers wonderful pub food classics along

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Riverhill Himalayan Gardens © Visit Kent

with new favourites such as hunter’s chicken
ciabatta or locally sourced slow-roasted ciderbraised pork belly.
Giggling Squid
The Giggling Squid offers simple, rustic Thai food
that is sumptuous, fresh, and vibrant. With
everything cooked from scratch by authentic Thai
chefs, your meal here will always be something
to look forward to. Food includes Thai ‘tapas’,
Thai steamed mussels, prawn ma kham, pad
cha, and paneang curry amongst many other
mouth-watering dishes.
Cote Brasserie
Cote Brasserie has everything anyone could want
for a great night out – exceptional food, friendly
service, and a relaxed atmosphere. With attention
being paid not only to the food but to the interior
design of the dining room as well, you can feel
well fed and comfortable; a powerful combination.
Food includes asparagus risotto, pan roasted
pork belly, tuna carpaccio, and a decadent
chocolate fondant.
Rafferty’s Café
“Simple, fresh food at its best” is how Rafferty’s
describes its menu, and it couldn’t be more
accurate. With dishes including filling breakfasts
(pancakes with various toppings, smoked salmon
bruschetta, and bacon and eggs, for example),
fabulous brunch and lunch meals (chicken and
chorizo ciabatta and lemon orzo pasta salad are
just a taste of what they do), a children’s menu
(sausage sandwiches, beans on toast, and much
more), and hot drinks including perfectly roasted
coffees, Rafferty’s is a great place to go for some
me time.