A NEW restaurant boasting a 13-course taster menu has opened in Poole.
Thirteen in Ashley Road welcomed its first diners in across two soft launch nights on Friday, September 8, and Saturday, September 9.
Described as a “fine dining tasting restaurant”, the Thirteen hopes to make its mark as it joins Dorset's culinary landscape.
The business has been launched by the Naik family, with Frances, Elisabeth, Alex and Hem all playing a role in its operation.
Alex, who won ‘Dorset Chef of the Year’ in 2018, is already cooking up a storm in the restaurant’s open kitchen.
He combines seasonal locally sourced and freshly foraged ingredients - where possible - with innovative cooking techniques in showcasing his contemporary British cuisine.
Guests can even be part of the action by watching the food being prepared and plated up from the ‘chef’s table’.
A unique feature of Thirteen is its 13-course taster evening menu, made available with wine pairing.
In the day, the restaurant serves an a la carte menu which is said to “reflect” the 13-courses on offer in the evening.
The owners provided an example of a three course lunch on offer, which included a starter of wood pigeon, celeriac, bramely apple and hazelnut, a main of turbot, truffled pomme anna, romanesco and bay bolete jus, and a dessert of poached pear frangipane, port sorbet and sherbet shortbread crumb.
Speaking to the Daily Echo, Frances and Elisabeth said it had “always been a dream” for their family to start a restaurant, but their plans were halted by the Covid pandemic.
They also knew they wanted to stay on the south coast, and find a venue partway between Bournemouth and Poole.
Elisabeth added: “We wanted a stylish restaurant with a relaxed ambiance.
“It’s a fine dining tasting restaurant and a dining experience”.
The pair also said the soft launches had been a success, and that they received a “very positive” reaction from diners on both nights.
Thirteen officially opened its doors on Wednesday, September 13.
For more information visit thirteenrestaurant.com
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