Manuka Kitchen

Over the past three years Manuka’s modern Euro cooking with a Kiwi twist has wowed locals. Owners Joseph Antippa and Tyler Martin have now opened a second restaurant in Marylebone, Salt & Honey, leaving their Fulham enterprise in the hands of others. So, does the original still deliver? The fairly minimalist decor of the cosy dining area is little changed, although a basement cocktail bar has been added; the good-value menu has also expanded, yet remains attractively concise. From this, pan-fried scallops with cauliflower purée and truffle honey was a lovely combination of clean flavours let down by small shellfish. However, a main-course special of pork belly was cooked to perfection with earthy accompaniments of Puy lentils and mushrooms; and sea bream came with a delicious truffle mash, clams and hazelnut pesto. For pudding, salted caramel pannacotta was sublime. The verdict? Manuka Kitchen has maintained its ‘great little restaurant’ status.

Manuka Kitchen is a popular all-day bistro located right in the heart of Fulham, serving seasonal, easy-going international plates alongside a host of wellness drinks, cocktails and more.

The bistro’s clean, bright, spacious interiors make it a popular choice at all times of day. Morning sun beams in through the front windows as diners get stuck into weekend brunch, whilst the evenings at Manuka Kitchen have a cosier vibe. A set of door curtains come down over the entrance, making the dining room feel intimate and homely.

Manuka Kitchen is open everyday for breakfast and brunch, serving a nice mixture of classics and some more innovative dishes. If you’re someone who just wants a good coffee and some eggs, Manuka Kitchen absolutely has you covered with dishes like Turkish eggs, eggs Benedict, and a lovely scrambled egg with courgette, shallots, chilli, harissa, mint marinated feta. We’d be lying if we said we didn’t immediately spot the Wagyu mince on toast with two poached eggs - the perfect pre-workout brunch if ever we’ve seen it. There are sweet treats too, like French toast, banana bread, and blueberry pancakes.

The lunch menu carries on along a similar vein, and there’s lots of excellent vegetable-forward cooking to try which makes Manuka Kitchen a great choice for vegans and vegetarians. Try the smoked aubergine tart, for example, or beetroot with avocado mousse, feta, and walnuts. Main courses dive straight into big, hearty flavours, with dishes like braised rabbit and chorizo pappardelle pasta, and confit duck leg with waffle, fried egg and spiced honey.

It’s worth stopping in for Manuka Kitchen’s selection of healthy drinks too, which includes lots of fresh juices, as well as wellness drinks like turmeric lattes, manuka honey-based drinks, and even a beetroot latte.