This month, Margate’s much-loved Dreamland pop-up, Barletta, will set up a new permanent home on the popular seafront with the opening of their all-day dining restaurant and shop under one roof within Turner Contemporary, Margate’s hot spot art gallery.
Co-founders Natalia Ribbe (Ladies of Restaurants) and Chef Jackson Berg (Kettner’s, Xiringuito) have lovingly created Barletta to be a true celebration of the couple’s travels and favourite places to eat, taking inspiration from Sicily to LA, Berlin to Marseille.
Set against the most desirable backdrop in Margate with harbour views, Barletta (named after a small seaside town in Puglia) at Turner Contemporary will bring a touch of the Mediterranean to Margate with a seasonally inspired menu that champions the very best of British and the Mediterranean.
Communal dining by day followed by a more intimate restaurant affair by night, Barletta guests will be spoilt for choice. Whether it’s for a pre or post gallery casual coffee, a sandwich on-the-go, leisurely lunch or a destination dinner date, diners can expect exceptionally curated dishes from Chef Jackson Berg that celebrate some of the area’s finest farmers, native breed suppliers, brewers, wine merchants, coffee roasters and fishermen.
A relaxed all-day style menu, available from mid-morning, will see a counter filled display of homemade cakes and pastries, courtesy of resident Pastry Chef Emma Tillyer alongside a host of casual lunch options including freshly made sandwiches and salads.
For something more substantial, lunchtime also offers Max’s crispy fried chicken sandwich with lashings of hot sauce, melted cheese, fries and pickles; Italian sausage ragu with handmade tagliatelle, broccoli and white wine ragu and creamy Gorgonzola risotto with crunchy walnuts and egg yolk.
From 6pm, dinner is served in the restaurant. Kick things off with a selection of ‘Rockefeller’ oysters; truffled mushroom and Coolea gougeres and anchovies, ricotta & shallot toast – a firm favourite, followed by starters of steak tartare complete with bone marrow & parsley butter toast; spiced carrots, a signature dish, topped with yoghurt, a generous sprinkling of hazelnuts, parsley oil and confit cod cheeks with sweetcorn, brown butter and chives.
Moving through to mains: slow braised Swaledale lamb shoulder ragu served with cavatelli, parmesan and breadcrumbs; red-legged partridge accompanied with crab apple jelly, parfait, juicy dripping toast and watercress; delicately baked monkfish with spinach in a brown butter sauce; salt baked celeriac with caramelised cauliflower squash seeds and wonky parsnip farm salad and grilled Dexter onglet for two served with pommes aligot and a creamy peppercorn sauce.
And if room permitting, soft and spongy brown butter madeleines with roast plums and plum stone cream round things off nicely as does the must-try heritage apple tarte tatin with brandy caramel and crème fraiche.
A wine list focusing on regions in and around the Mediterranean with a few surprises in between will be underpinned with natural, bio dynamic options as well as well-known classics, alongside a concise cocktail list including Gibson martini and Talia 75, Barletta’s take on a French 75 with an Italian twist.
Co-founder Natalia Ribbe commented, “Following the success of our summer roof top pop-up, we felt it was the right time to root ourselves in the community even more. Jackson and I love everything about the vibe and scene in Margate.
“Setting up shop within the beautiful Turner Contemporary in such a prime seafront location was the perfect opportunity for us to share everything we love about food and drink with the local community and visitors alike. We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome guests to our new home!”
Barletta at Turner Contemporary will also house a quarterly changing series of local artists’ work on rotation as well as a small deli selling local produce and shop for every day browsing.
