23/05/2026
First time at Test Kitchen by Josh Boutwood, and we truly enjoyed the experience.
The restaurant is intimate with only a few tables, which I personally loved because it didn’t feel crowded. Since it has an open kitchen setup, we were able to watch the chefs in action while our dishes were being prepared.
We chose à la carte instead of the tasting menu because I wanted to personally pick the dishes I was most curious to try.
For starters, we had the Duck Prosciutto on Brioche Toast. I don’t usually eat duck, but surprisingly, I really enjoyed this dish. The texture was chewy in a good way, not rubbery at all, and it was perfectly seasoned. Everything worked well together — the brioche, garlic emulsion, pickled carrots, and feta balanced the duck beautifully.
The Comté Arancini was another favorite. The risotto and cheese combination was rich but still well-balanced. Personally, I could do without the sunflower seeds because the dish was already perfect on its own.
For mains, we tried the Berkshire Pork Chop with caper mustard cream. The sauce paired so well with the pork — creamy, flavorful, but not nakakaumay.
We also had the Rigatoni with Nduja and Guanciale. The sauce itself was really good, but since the rigatoni pieces were quite large, I personally would’ve loved more guanciale in every bite.
My favorite was the Chicken Truffle. The chicken breast alone was already flavorful, but the truffle stuffing made the whole dish feel more elevated and indulgent. Truffle will always have a special place in my heart.
I originally wanted to try the Potato Pavé, but it wasn’t available that night, so we ordered the mashed potatoes instead. No regrets because it was incredibly smooth, creamy, and exactly how I like my mashed potatoes.
After dinner, we were able to visit the second floor where they cure the duck and pork, and we also got to see how they prepare the gigantic seabass. It made the experience even more memorable.
Now I understand why Test Kitchen has consistently been recognized by Tatler Dining and was recently included in the Michelin Guide selections.
Hats off to Sir Todd and the entire team for the warm service, thoughtful recommendations, and for sharing more about the food and the process behind each dish.
We truly enjoyed the experience. Definitely one of our memorable food trips with hubby this week. Have you tried Test Kitchen yet, or is it still on your list?
