Modern British bistro Margaret’s to open in Cambridge
Margaret’s, a modern British bistro, will open on 9 June on Cambridge’s Chesterton Road.
The younger sibling to the nearby Michelin-starred Restaurant 22 from co-founders Alex Olivier and Sam Carter, it will focus on offering locally-sourced ingredients in a relaxed setting.
Margaret’s is expected to showcase the same produce and cooking style as Restaurant 22, but, the founders say, with a more laidback approach to the set menu.
Chef-owner Sam Carter will run the kitchen and create the seasonal menu, while the intimate dining room will be Alex’s domain.
Margaret’s is described as offering “uncomplicated dining with a casual yet considered menu that will move with the seasons”.
Sam honed his craft at Michelin-starred restaurants including Gordon Ramsay’s Maze and Hambleton Hall.
His cooking is focused on local suppliers with cheeses sourced from Fen Farm Dairy and vegetables from the Flourish farm, just a few miles down the road.
Main courses will include a choice of Norfolk salt marsh lamb rump with green sauce, roasted lemon sole with fermented peppercorns and warm tart of Baron Bigod and Abington asparagus, served with smoked Jersey Royals, Flourish salad and fresh tomatoes with basil and English cold-pressed rape seed oil.
Dessert will focus on summer fruits, with treacle tart and cherries, and peach and almond crumble with a sweet custard, and Lancashire bomb and Calverley’s malt loaf for those less sweet-toothed.
Each Sunday will see the classic roast take centre stage.
The drinks list will be curated by Georgia Goddard with support from Delroy Masunda, following a similar philosophy to the menu with a focus on wines from nearby Thorne Wines and Cambridge Wine Merchants, and beers from Baron Brewing.
The wine list will feature everything from vinho verde to Champagne and skin contact gewürztraminer, as well as a reserve list of rare, unique bottles.
A cocktail menu will also be offered.
Co-founder Alex Olivier said: “We are so excited to be bringing Margaret’s to the local community.
“The name itself takes inspiration from a beloved regular and a dear friend. Here, we want to offer the same warm atmosphere as what we offer at Restaurant 22, encouraging our diners to gather over leisurely lunches and celebrate special occasions.”
Co-founder and chef-owner Sam Carter added: “We’re proud to be using fresh, high-quality ingredients and celebrating local suppliers, including Fen Farm Dairy for cheese, and vegetables from regenerative farm Flourish.
“Akin to Restaurant 22, we are dedicated to showcasing the same exemplary produce and refined cooking, but with a distinctly refreshing and laidback approach to the set menu.”
The lunch set menu will be £45 per person, and the dinner set menu will be £65 per person from Monday to Thursday and £75 per person on Fridays and Saturdays. The Sunday roast set menu will be £65 per person.
Visit margaretscambridge.co.uk.
