Margaret’s is a modern British bistro on Chesterton Road in Cambridge, offering ingredient-led cooking in an intimate and relaxed setting. Created by the team behind Michelin-starred Restaurant 22, the restaurant brings the same attention to quality and seasonality but with a more casual, community-rooted approach.
The kitchen is led by Chef-Owner Sam Carter, whose experience at Maze, Hambleton Hall and Smoke informs a confident style of cooking rooted in British tradition and simplicity. The menu changes regularly, using produce from nearby regenerative farms and artisan suppliers. Cheese comes from Fen Farm Dairy, vegetables from Flourish, and baked goods from independent makers, all contributing to a menu that feels grounded and fresh.
Lunch is a three-course affair, while the evening offering expands into a longer set menu built for sharing. Dishes like pea soup with fresh curds and water mint, tempura monkfish with lemon and kombu, and pig’s head croquettes with mustard showcase the kitchen’s lightness of touch and attention to balance. Main courses highlight the quality of the produce, with options such as Norfolk salt marsh lamb rump, roasted lemon sole with fermented peppercorns, or a warm tart of Baron Bigod cheese with asparagus, all served alongside seasonal sides.
Desserts draw on the abundance of British summer fruit, with treacle tart and boozy cherries or peach and almond crumble with meadowsweet custard. For those looking to finish on a savoury note, a small selection of British cheeses is available.
Sundays centre around a reimagined roast, beginning with small plates followed by sharing mains such as celeriac and Old Winchester pie or ex-dairy cow sirloin with all the trimmings, including confit carrots, truffled cauliflower cheese and sticky toffee pudding to finish.
The drinks list, curated by Georgia Goddard, reflects the same care and sourcing ethos as the kitchen. Wines come from local suppliers such as Thorne Wines and Cambridge Wine Merchants.
The space, designed by co-founder Alex Olivier, is calm and tactile, with soft clay walls, oak floors and plush banquettes that echo the warmth of the service. An open kitchen adds to the sense of welcome, while handmade crockery by independent potters brings a quiet personality to the table.
Margaret’s offers a thoughtful, quietly confident dining experience. It is a place for relaxed celebration, lingering lunches or simply good food shared in good company. Every detail, from the menu to the design, reflects care, craft and a deep connection to its local roots.