insideKENT Magazine Issue 49 - April 2016 | Page 41

FOOD+DRINK

LUCKY NUMBER 7

KENT RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR:

Googies

There are seven days in a week, seven continents and seven colours
of the rainbow. Apparently, seven is the world’s most popular
‘favourite number’, and after seven years of business, Googies
Restaurant, Bar & Coffee House has scooped the coveted Restaurant
of the Year Award at the 2016 Taste of Kent Awards.
BY DONNA MARTIN

I’m no stranger to Googies, having first visited
shortly after it opened in 2009 by tecchie-turnedfoodie Keith Holland. Being local to Folkestone
and somewhat new to the area, I hankered for
a great café restaurant, and one that didn’t offer
pretentious pie on the menu.
If you enjoy café culture, you know what I
mean – those establishments focussing more
on their designer wallpaper and cocktail names
than the actual food, drink or service.
Yes, Googies is trendy, but trendy in a good
way – trendy without the edge of snobbery. In
seven short years, I’ve watched Googies evolve
from a small, casual café to a bumpin’ full-service
restaurant offering the very best of Kent, using
produce from just a few miles away, including
their sought after free-range grass-fed Dexter
beef from nearby Alkham Valley.
I have to admit, it had been a while since
I visited Googies – you know, life and kids and
work and all that. When I heard Keith had made
the decision to expand the restaurant (to double
its former size), I jumped at the chance to visit
in the run-up to March’s Taste of Kent Awards.
One thing I’ve always loved about Googies
is its unique combination of Kentish fare with an
American twist. Being a Bostonian, I do love a
good root beer float and fluffy pancakes (together
or separate, either way works for me), so seeing
those on a menu will win me over in no time.
I wasn’t there for the pancakes, and didn’t
get my root beer float fix, but I didn’t feel any
disappointment. How could I when instead I was
able to dive into a Googies signature Houdini
burger? The Dexter beef makes all the difference

– the most flavourful, tender burger, freshly ground
and hand-pressed in their kitchen every day –
topped with halloumi and mushrooms between
a soft Brioche bun.
Googies offers a burger for every personality:
Minimalist? Try the Classic (red onion and Russian
dressing). Adventurous? Order the Moroccan
(Merguez sausage, halloumi, harrisa and mayo).
Rebellious? How about the Outlaw (BBQ sauce,
maple-candied bacon and Monterey Jack
cheese). Head chef Greig Hughes is never short
of creative culinary ideas, which helped land
Googies a finalist spot in this year’s National
Burger Awards for his Dexter Devotion Burger.
But it's not just about burgers at Googies.
Tickle your taste buds with one of their smoked
meat dishes – from smoked brisket to BBQ pork
baby back ribs – and don’t forget to start with
a moreish serving of rib tips with pickled
watermelon, or smoked buffalo wings with blue
cheese dip. Or, indulge in one of Googies’
American-inspired dishes – their Big Apple Hot
Dogs are fantastic, and the smoked Boston
baked beans are a must (I would say that, coming
from Boston, but really, you have to try them).
If you’re that person who needs to be the
envy of the table, try one of the Dexter Steaks
– either the 8oz