The Poet at Matfield

We had the a la cartel menu for lunch on Valentines Day (booked last minute) and we had a superb meal. The fish dishes (Cod and hake) we’re both outstanding. Friendly and attentive service. We will definitely go back!

An amazing value for money experience (tasting menu and paired wines) set in a lovely pub surrounding with brilliant service.

Excellent food and ambiance , the service was great and we would definitely return

Always fanstasic quality food and service. Best Sunday lunch I’ve ever had.

I went here for the first time with my partner for lunch on a Saturday to see whether we liked it, prior to taking my son and daughter-in-law there next week. The food was excellent and the menu most interesting. It is a small but very comfortable dining room and the service was very helpful and interesting. The only problem is the very small car park, so we had to park in a side road. We are definitely going again.

We always enjoy going to The Poet as service is always attentive, but not overbearing and the food, without fail, delivers!

Lovely small olde worlde pub - friendly staff - very tasty food - the posset off the set menu was the best I've ever had! Will try the tasting menu next visit for sure.

Sunday lunch was excellent. My smoked haddock fishcake starter was tasty. Very good pork main - loads of vegetables!! Very good cauliflower cheese. Nice Rioja by glad and rounded off with very ample and good cheese board.

Our visit on Saturday was our second visit. The first time we had the set menu and the second time al a carte. Although both were delicious the al a carte menu is a step change in quality and definitly worth the money. The suggested wine pairings were perfectly matched. The courses did come a bit too quick for us - amous bouche, starter and main all delivered within 20 minutes of us arriving so we did feel a bit rushed and wasn't able to finish the wine pairings in time, ending up with 3 different glasses of wine each on the table. However things did slow down after we commented about it so we were able to relax and enjoy the meal.

The service was excellent, attentive without being at all intrusive. We had a late lunch, booked in at 2pm. We were never hurried in any way, ( it was a leisurely lunch), the waitress and the manager, made us feel that there was no rush, after we apologised for keeping them late; in view of evening service. The food was delicious, beautifully presented. We will be returning.

The Sunday lunch was incredible probably one of the best we've ever had. We will be back!

Another fantastic meal at our now favourite Kent restaurant! Made a special birthday celebration really great!

We went for Sunday lunch and it was superb
And staff exceptional

Had a great time and amazing food. Lovely place. Would recommend to anyone.

Excellent as always

Lovely low beamed restaurant
Excellent friendly service
Delicious beautifully presented food
Would not hesitate to recommend and hope to return again soon

Superb, every time. Keep up the good work! Top quality food, served in an ambient and tasteful country pub.

Stopped off at The Poet last Tuesday having booked on line the day before. Food presentation, service and ambiance was superb. We will return.

This is the 3rd time we have eaten at The Poet and it is consistently great, both food and service are excellent and the pub/restaurant has a really nice feel to it

It is definitely our go to place now - we will be returning on a regular basis as it is the best we have been to since moving to the area. The menu offers something different to the norm and all done to a high level at a good price

A lovely old building has been charmingly decorated as a fancy restaurant without losing his character. Staff is well trained and is very attentive to provide a warm and structured service (food served in white gloves...) but without losing its authenticity and local touch . Bar at the entrance is a bit limited in space but is a nice introduction to the atmosphere...helped by the good selections of cocktails (and gins!). If service and ambiance is a delicate balance between local/old and refined/ fancy...the food is not. Amazing taste, delicate combinations and great presentation (without being pompous). The wild mushrooms and truffle veloutee was amazing (perfectly balanced without letting the Parmesan overpowering the hens egg or the mushrooms). Even a simple Caprese was made special by the chef (aubergine and green olive tapenade were a spot on addiction). For being a menu that caters poorly for Vegans they were very flexible in providing a solution (WELL DONE!). Instead of Halloumi the cherf cooked a King Oyster Mushrroms and made the Rosted baby cauliflower a plate to die for. Dessert has no much "light" option... but the the apple tartatin was a well deserved calorie overload. Wine menu is a bit short and missing big names. WIth the quality of the food so high I would have happily paid for a Tignanello. Will certainly come back to the Poet. Amazing food.

Great atmosphere, outstanding food and lovely staff

Lovely intermit dining experience. Wonderful vegetarian offering. No vegan dish on the menu, which was a shame (especially in January). Would like to try other vegetarian dishes in the future.

The first thing is the professional but very friendly welcome. The Poet has a lovely warm ambience about it, and tables are a good distance from each other. The staff were ALL professional, quietly efficient and attentive. I love good service! But also one of the best meals we’ve had in a while, and I heard someone else say that on another table! Just a really nice evening with really good, well presented food. Mashed potato was amazing!!! Highly recommend it.

The Poet never disappoints. It's a foodie's paradise that changes its set menu with the seasons and keeps you coming back for more. Soup? Delicious. Short rib? Phenomenal. Sticky toffee pudding? Knockout. Bring on the spring menu.

Outstanding food and top service (very friendly and dealt with my special dietary requirement with no fuss at all). Can’t wait to go again.

The loveliest restaurant I’ve been to for a long time. Have the velouté and the soufflé (not together) you won’t regret it.

This was a gift from my daughter, we thouroughly enjoyed our deliscious starters and the roast was lovely with the exception of it being a bit cold, which was odd as the plate was hot. Also a couple of crying children were a bit annoying.

This was a first for me, after a friend recommended The Poet for dinner. Two of us dined. The staff were friendly and helpful, although there was a little delay between receiving the bill and actually paying for it. Dinner was lovely. I had the duck. Cooked a little over then what i woud usually have but still the flavours were great. I then had the chocolate pot - amazing! Only criticisam i have is that the bowl had a chip in it, something i would not expect at an establishment providing an excellent quality of food. The beef amuse bouche was stunning, i could have had more as a meal!

Absolutely fabulous will be back! Food and wines were delicious

Excellent food and fantastic customer service throughout. Nice touches with little in-between course treats. And although of the the fillet steaks was not right, the issue was resolved quickly , with no fuss, and without even asking, so it did not detract from the occasion in any way. Well done! Highly recommended.

The food is outstanding. Beautiful presentation and obviously prepared with genuine passion and understanding. A true gem that deserves a Michelin star

From the confirmation call right down to getting our coats to leave the service was impeccable and we were made to feel very special. We ordered the special steak night deal and it was sublime! The wine was delicious and we even sneaked a pudding after even though we were full and it was spectacular. Our waitress was lovely and both male staff were pleasant and discrete. 10/10!

Absolutely outstanding food with service to match! Can't wait to go again!

been twice now will make this a regular trip well worth the 30 minute drive food is unbelievably good can highly recommend ,service is impeccable

Anyone who appreciates delicious food (often locally sourced) and friendly service will love The Poet. It has a refined yet relaxed atmosphere, and the quality of the food is outstanding. There is a creativity and a passion that comes through in the chef's cooking and the beautiful result on the plate... And then the taste is sublime - every time. Thank you - we feel so lucky to live nearby!

Every effort is made to make sure you have a special meal and experience.

The food is exciting without compromising on flavour and the service is outstanding.

Love, love, Love! The service, the food, the ambience! Best restaurant in Kent by far!!

Impeccable service and a fantastic meal, chic for recommend enough and I cannot wait to go back!

Sunday Roast menu is really quite reasonable. 23.95 for 2 courses or 26.95 for 3 courses (Dec2018)

The service was impeccable. And the food was top quality. I had the roast beef, my other half had the lamb. Both were presented perfectly with side orders of roast potatoes, greens, carrots, cauliflower cheese and red cabbage all included in the price. No need for an upsell.

The drinks prices are not too spiteful either.

On the whole. A great Sunday roast. Will definitely be revisiting!

We went for a Sunday lunch and were thoroughly impressed. The food was exceptional and we’ll certainly be back again. Highly recommend.