On the 25th of June, I entered into a very one-sided relationship with a plate of maitake mushrooms. It was far too brief, but beautiful enough to leave a tear in my eye as I approached my last bite. A brutal ending. This eight course tasting menu with non alcoholic pairing was the best lunch of my life. I took photos like an obnoxious food blogger in the early 2000s, absolutely shameless. It didn’t matter to me because I was entirely engrossed by this experience from the second we entered (tripped) into the restaurant to the moment we left. Everything about this was incredible. Each mouthful brought either a huge smile, or an inquisitive, “what is that sharp/soft/rich flavour?!” I left the restaurant industry after 25 years because I’d had enough and wanted to have babies. But if Kirk wanted to open a Plates in Yorkshire, I could always just sell my kid.

I couldn’t wait to visit Plates, a vegan Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant in London. At first, it was tough to get a reservation since I booked my trip quite late, but persistence paid off—I finally snagged a seat at the Chef’s Table, which is always my favourite spot. I love watching the team in action behind the scenes. Lunch began with a lovely martini made with Cambridge gin, extra dry vermouth, and yeast garum. I was taking my time with it, and the team kindly offered to re-chill it—such a thoughtful touch that goes beyond standard service. The food was phenomenal. My standout dish was the barbecued maitake mushroom with black bean mole, kimchi, aioli, and puffed rice—flavourful, balanced, and beautifully presented. Everything about the experience was exceptional: the pace of the meal, the friendliness of the staff, the calm, elegant atmosphere, and the fact that Chef Kirk Haworth was personally attending to guests, making each of us feel welcome and appreciated. The wine pairing was also a highlight—each selection perfectly complemented the dishes. I was especially delighted to find a Greek wine from Magoutes on the list. Truly a memorable and elevated dining experience. Highly recommended!

THE BEST VEGAN MEAL! This is simply perfect! We were blessed to sit at the chef’s counter watching Kirk and his team in action. The service was impeccable. The food is outstanding. We went for menu two, my advice is to get this as our absolute favourite dish—lion’s mane—was on this menu. Every course is incredible. The bread is like nothing we’ve ever tried, both mushrooms dishes are a delight, the pre-dessert is some kind of culinary wizardry, and the finale dessert is every bit as good as we hoped for. I loved the tea infusions too, particularly the cocoa bean one. We can’t wait to be able to get another reservation.

Came to celebrate 30th wedding anniversary. Had emailed back last August trying to secure a booking for this date and was pleased to have been able to come here when the booking opened back in Feb. The whole experience was faultless. Food was amazing and blown away just how great the textures and flavours were. The lions mane was the highlight for me. Even better Kirk delivered some of the courses to us and such a humble genuine guy with it. Wishing you continued success and would love to return again. Epic

A truly unforgettable experience at Plates I had the pleasure of dining at Plates for lunch on April 6th, and it was nothing short of extraordinary. We sat at the chef’s counter, which made the experience even more special — watching the artistry unfold in front of us added a sense of connection and wonder to the whole meal. We chose the 8-course tasting menu, and we couldn’t have been happier with that decision. The portion sizes were perfectly balanced — we left feeling fully satisfied, but not uncomfortably full. It was exactly the right amount of food to truly enjoy each dish without being overwhelmed. I was there with a non-vegan friend, and we were both absolutely blown away. The flavours were bold, refined, and completely unique — not just exceptional for vegan food, but exceptional, period. Each course was beautifully presented and full of creativity and depth. It truly felt like dining on a higher level. Even my friend, who usually eats everything, was deeply impressed and enthusiastic the entire time. Plates is a place where anyone — vegan or not — can experience the full potential of plant-based fine dining. To top it all off, Chef Kirk came over to greet us. Despite clearly being very busy, he was warm, kind, and welcoming — a gesture we really appreciated. If you’re in London and love great food, Plates is an absolute must!

We were lucky to get a spot at Plates for our anniversary. Plates is a one-of-a-kind experience, truly. The service was fantastic, the food spectacular. We paired the 8-course menu with the non-alcoholic drinks and were blown away. A tear or two might have been shed at the flavours and hospitality of the staff. On our walk home I thought: “I don’t want to brush my teeth tonight to keep the flavours in my mouth!” Thank you Plates team for a dinner we wont forget

A wonderful experience with the food as centre stage which brought a cascade of superb textures and flavours. Topped by excellent service and a relaxed intimate atmosphere. An extra special touch came from Alex the sommelier who talked us through some exquisitely different wines. Highly recommended for a memorable meal out.

We had the most unreal dinner experience at Plates. The food was so unique and delicious and each plate, somehow, kept getting better than the last. The final dessert has to get a special mention, I’ve never had anything like it! The staff were so lovely and helpful. So happy this is practically on our doorsteps and can’t wait to come back and bring my family! Thank you guys so much for the most incredible dinner.