Stark Restaurant
Good food laid bare, Michelin-Star style. Ladders and rope lights hang intertwined beside unpolished, bespoke wood-panelled walls.
Stark promises a stripped back experience, with high-end dishes skilfully prepared to create deliciously bold dishes full of flavour, un-shy of personality.
Walking past its humble exterior, it’s hard to imagine just what is waiting inside. Do you dare to be adventurous? There are some that are glued to the PDF menu downloaded from the restaurant’s website the night before, picking every dish and then changing their mind in a panic when the waiter reads the specials.
With Stark, you can skip all of that, and look forward to some good-old spontaneity. By placing your trust in MasterChef semi-finalist and Michelin-Star award winner, Ben Crittenden, you will be delivered an exceptionally presented, and equally tasteful mystery six-course menu – you might even try something entirely different, unlike anything you’ve ever had before and what’s more – it might become your new favorite.
Now one of three restaurants in the whole of Kent to boast a Michelin Star, the intimate and relaxed fine-dining experience is accompanied by an optional wine flight. The ingredients, creativity, sheer effort, hard-work and presentation are all evidence of someone who has a wealth of experience working to the highest standards in the food and drink industry.
The owners, Ben and Sophie Crittenden opened Stark following support from a start-up loan in 2016. You might be wondering where the name Stark came from. Speaking to Kent Online, Sophie said, “We happened to be watching Game of Thrones at the time and we thought it would be a clear, one-syllable word that is stripped back and simplistic.”
They strived to build their own enterprise so they could have a work/life balance with their two daughters and after years working with one of Kent’s finest chefs, Graham Garrett at The West House helping to maintain their Michelin Star Status, Ben decided to fulfil his passion as a chef and go it alone – now, both him and Sophie are the proud owners of one of the best-loved and busiest restaurants In Thanet.
“With smaller opening hours, we can have more of a family life. We’re so pleased to have been recognized – it makes it feel more worthwhile.”
Three years since the opening and after a successful experience receiving a Start Up Loan to open their first restaurant, Ben and Sophie got in touch with the Business Loans team at Let’s Do Business Finance for help to secure a new opportunity to expand the business and open their second establishment, Stark Dos.
Their mentor, Martin Menezes, helped them to draw down the funds needed to set-up and refurbish the new restaurant as well as being on-hand for advice and support, which can be vital in times of expansion.
Stark has seen a tremendous amount of growth over the years – and their bookings (open Wednesday to Saturday evenings) have soared since recently earning the Michelin-Star accolade. What started from a Game of Thrones episode is now one of the county’s finest dining experiences – it is safe to say that Broadstairs’ best-kept secret is an experience not to be missed.