Core By Clare Smyth

My generous sister-in-law bought me a gift voucher for my birthday last year, I was very excited to visit as this was a restaurant high on my list. The day finally arrived this past Saturday in late January. We arrived pretty much as soon as the restaurant opened and were greeted by the lovely and attentive staff. We opted for the Classics menu which was adapted for my wife who preferred a pescetarian menu. Even then they allowed substitutions between menus, the flexibility and ability to adapt the menu seemed so effortless but would have been difficult for many restaurants to allow. My wife swapped a main and both of us swapped our desserts to the Core-teser which I had heard great things about. The thing that struck me was the attention to detail, with truly immaculate presentation, and some of the best sauces I've ever tasted. The famous dishes, such as Potato and Roe, and the Core-teser dessert were home runs and lived up to their exceedingly high reputation. The roasted cod dish was also phenomenal. If I had one small pointer the beginning of the meal felt ever so slightly rushed but some of that is out fault as we were suitably hungry and probably wolfed down the snacks in a ravenous fashion. Overall this certainly lived up to it's sky high reputation, I must again give thanks to my sister-in-law, and if I could visit again some time soon if be very happy indeed.

Incredible art! Our experience with Core is something hard to describe - it goes beyond excellent. The dishes were one of, if not the best dishes that I ever had. We had a chance to sit at the chef’s table, which made our experience even more magical. The menu was designed with such extreme attention to detail and was truly creative. The dishes made us appreciate the identity and simplicity of each ingredient used. It all came together beautifully - the unique flavors and the presentation of the dishes. True art. We were so amazed that we had to return for another dinner.

Perfect. One of the best experiences in my entire life. Food is excellent, wine is exquisite, service is great (not stuffy and very friendly). The atmosphere is elegant without becoming excessive or intimidating. We had a special Valentine’s lunch menu and we were well fed and happy at the end. Worth trying at least once in life, as I doubt it is not going to be easy to match, never mind improving upon.

I recently passed by Core by Clare Smyth and was immediately struck by the warm, friendly atmosphere created by the team—it truly made the place even more inviting. I asked if I could try the venison at the bar, and they kindly offered me a taste. To be honest, it was absolutely incredible. Whoever created this dish is clearly extraordinary—it’s not something a regular mind could craft. This was, without a doubt, one of the most delicious dishes I’ve ever tasted in my life. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it 100… maybe more. A heartfelt thank you to everyone working there. The team is exceptional, and it's clear that the excellence of the food comes from the passion and dedication behind it. Clare Smyth, you've chosen your team well—that’s why everything is so outstanding. Thank you all so much. I truly appreciate the experience. Much love to the entire team!

The example of this restaurant proves the Michelin ratings do not have any objective reflection of reality. If this restaurant had 3 stars, then some restaurants without stars should have received 15 stars each. At Core, the service is excellent, even too attentive. Excellent tableware and wine list. But it has absolutely below the average level of food, hiding behind creative stories and non-standard combinations- which are really should not be mixed and not tasty. My wife and I were looking for something to get hooked on, but except for a couple of sauces, the food was simly mediocre. Just not interesting. Out of dozens of Michelin restaurants we have visited, this one is simply the worst - why are there 3 stars? Ledbury with 3 stars is hundreds of miles away from this restaurant in terms of taste and creativity. Certain hype around Core reminds me of queues of a hundred people for a mediocre sandwich, but there was some rapper there. Avoid this restaurant if you don't want to spend you time and money worthless.