Best Local Restaurant
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Margaret’s

Cambridgeshire, Cambridge - Modern British - Restaurant - £££

A modern British bistro to bookmark

Overall Rating: Good

Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area? Good

Deliciousness:How delicious is the food? Good

Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general? Good

Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment? Good

The bistro alternative to Sam Carter and Alex Olivier’s acclaimed Restaurant Twenty-Two (just two doors away) is casual and cosy but feels expansive, helped along by service that is utterly charming. It’s appreciated for being open all week, ‘unheard of for a little independent like this,’ and for making fine dining accessible and neighbourly. It’s bound to win you over. The food, based on first-class seasonal and local ingredients, is sophisticated and comforting rather than experimental and challenging. It nourishes, gratifies and cheers, from the opening rosemary and sea-salt focaccia and sublime snacks to the finale of just-baked madeleines, and from the ‘unmatched’ Sunday roasts (‘who doesn't want ox cheek inside their Yorkshire pudding’) to a set lunch menu that feels like Cambridge’s best. Settle into the window seats and watch the world go by or book a booth on the upper tier to glimpse the kitchen action. As for drink...

The bistro alternative to Sam Carter and Alex Olivier’s acclaimed Restaurant Twenty-Two (just two doors away) is casual and cosy but feels expansive, helped along by service that is utterly charming. It’s appreciated for being open all week, ‘unheard of for a little independent like this,’ and for making fine dining accessible and neighbourly. It’s bound to win you over. The food, based on first-class seasonal and local ingredients, is sophisticated and comforting rather than experimental and challenging. It nourishes, gratifies and cheers, from the opening rosemary and sea-salt focaccia and sublime snacks to the finale of just-baked madeleines, and from the ‘unmatched’ Sunday roasts (‘who doesn't want ox cheek inside their Yorkshire pudding’) to a set lunch menu that feels like Cambridge’s best. Settle into the window seats and watch the world go by or book a booth on the upper tier to glimpse the kitchen action. As for drinks, the well-curated wine selection does an agile job of satisfying the novelty-hungry as well as traditionalists, but they already had us at the aperitif stage – every cocktail has a spot-on alcohol-free version.

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A Paver

20 April 2026

Using locally sourced produce, named after a local regular, and with a warm, inviting and upbeat vibe. They treated us like special guests and family at the same time. Amazing simple but exquisite food.

T Morris

20 April 2026

The quality of the food is exceptional! I love the seasonal menu and celebrating good British produce and smaller suppliers. Each time I’ve eaten there it’s just been better every time. The staff are so welcoming and...
The quality of the food is exceptional! I love the seasonal menu and celebrating good British produce and smaller suppliers. Each time I’ve eaten there it’s just been better every time. The staff are so welcoming and genuinely want you to have a wonderful time and experience. The way they serve the menu is exceptional, I love all the different starters and different flavours. With life being such a rush and it becoming so normal to dive in a grab food, it’s so refreshing to slow down and e...
The quality of the food is exceptional! I love the seasonal menu and celebrating good British produce and smaller suppliers. Each time I’ve eaten there it’s just been better every time. The staff are so welcoming and genuinely want you to have a wonderful time and experience. The way they serve the menu is exceptional, I love all the different starters and different flavours. With life being such a rush and it becoming so normal to dive in a grab food, it’s so refreshing to slow down and enjoy the taste of everything. Honestly it is such a gem!
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K E

16 April 2026

It's walkable distance to Cambridge town centre and close to the river and Midsummer Common for a post-lunch amble! The restaurant is small but doesn't suffer from tables being within inches of each other, the layout is ...
It's walkable distance to Cambridge town centre and close to the river and Midsummer Common for a post-lunch amble! The restaurant is small but doesn't suffer from tables being within inches of each other, the layout is well thought out to allow privacy without impairing the ambiance. The quality of the food is outstanding, it's fresh and the menus are interesting without being too complicated. The fixed food menu offers super value. The staff are so friendly and well informed. If they don't kno...
It's walkable distance to Cambridge town centre and close to the river and Midsummer Common for a post-lunch amble! The restaurant is small but doesn't suffer from tables being within inches of each other, the layout is well thought out to allow privacy without impairing the ambiance. The quality of the food is outstanding, it's fresh and the menus are interesting without being too complicated. The fixed food menu offers super value. The staff are so friendly and well informed. If they don't know the answer (unlikely) to a question about the menu or wine list, then they find out. They were even able to tell us where the light fittings came from! This is a small, charming, comfortable restaurant that delivers top quality delicious food and deserves your consideration. We went for a special occasion, but we'll be book again soon just because!
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B Foo

15 April 2026

Lovely food, carefully prepared and served in a friendly, pleasant way. I’ve been twice: once for lunch, once for dinner, both quite different and interesting menus and both good. For dinner we were a table with 3 different dietary allergies all dealt with very calmly and helpfully. Nice ambiance—Not too big and reasonable space between tables, just right for comfortable conversation. Well within walking distance!

C Haigh

15 April 2026

The food is superb and the service is attentive but not intrusive. We had a vegan in our party and it's possibly the best vegan food she's ever had. Nothing was too much trouble, and she was never made to feel as if her veganism was an inconvenience and at no point did she feel she was missing out. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough.

A Paver

30 March 2026

Local produce, personalised experience, amazing staff, the decor is lush and they even named it after a local customer!!

I Woodger

18 March 2026

The more casual sister of Michelin starred Restaurant 22, Margaret's is exactly what I hoped they'd open. He restaurant is cosy but feels expansive and every penny is well spent. We've been for two different set menus an...
The more casual sister of Michelin starred Restaurant 22, Margaret's is exactly what I hoped they'd open. He restaurant is cosy but feels expansive and every penny is well spent. We've been for two different set menus and the attention to detail, the care in the cooking, the knowledge of the staff are all phenomenal. While prices are higher than your average local restaurant, the experience is still both affordable and pleasurable - you don't begrudge the price for a second. I really love their ...
The more casual sister of Michelin starred Restaurant 22, Margaret's is exactly what I hoped they'd open. He restaurant is cosy but feels expansive and every penny is well spent. We've been for two different set menus and the attention to detail, the care in the cooking, the knowledge of the staff are all phenomenal. While prices are higher than your average local restaurant, the experience is still both affordable and pleasurable - you don't begrudge the price for a second. I really love their attitude to their menu and to making fine dining accessible and neighbourly. Although I live the other side of Cambridge I am always willing to walk their way and know I'll be welcomed.
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E Parry-Williams

14 March 2026

The food is exceptional, beautiful and delicious and sourced from local butchers and farms. There’s always a smile welcoming you and the chefs serving your food and explaining the dishes makes it extra special. I have been a few times and will continue to.

G Yorke

14 March 2026

Such a friendly team! Open SEVEN days a week, which is unheard of for a little independent like this. I completely understand why places only open on Wed - Sat, but it is honestly life-changing to have something of this quality available early in the week. Seasonal. Comfortable. Just the best vibes. Great value lunch menu too, making it accessible to all.

R Holden

13 March 2026

The BEST little gem in Cambridge. Our go-to place for lavish Sunday lunch. We love settling in at the window seats and watching the world go by. The snacks are sublime and really thoughtfully curated. And who doesn't want ox cheek INSIDE their Yorkshire puddings? Staff are warm and knowledgeable. Drinks list is stunning. Decor is elevated yet cozy. It's faultless.

C Martin

13 March 2026

Brilliant cooking of a seasonal menu. Always something to surprise you. The Sunday roasts are exceptional. Top class service which is always friendly & welcoming. Good selection of vegetarian/vegan options & no/low alcohol selection. Fairly priced.

R Swan

13 March 2026

The food is seasonal and based on hearty, wholesome and flavourful food. The interior is minimal but very well designed. The service is very smooth, and the staff is very knowledge about the wines and pairings recommend. Highly recommend for a good night out.

VENUE DETAILS

18 Chesterton Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB4 3AXGB

01223 375071

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OTHER INFORMATION

Family friendly

New events are coming soon

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