Michelin-starred duo to open new restaurant in Cambridge

Cambridge is set to welcome a fresh new addition to its dining scene with the launch of Margaret’s.

The relaxed modern British bistro will be opening June 9 on Chesterton Road.

Brought to life by Sam Carter and Alex Olivier, the acclaimed duo behind Michelin-starred Restaurant 22, Margaret’s offers refined cooking in a more laid-back, community-minded setting.

A Neighbourhood Bistro with Soul

Named after a much-loved regular and friend, Margaret’s is all about generous hospitality, seasonal cooking, and intimate gatherings. Sam will lead the kitchen with his signature precision and flair, while Alex will bring her warmth to the front of house. 

The menu will showcase ingredient-led dishes that highlight the best of British produce. Sam’s background includes time working at Gordon Ramsay’s Maze and Hambleton Hall, and his passion for local sourcing is evident: cheeses from Fen Farm Dairy, vegetables from Flourish, and fresh ingredients sourced just a few miles away.

Lunch will be a three-course offering, while dinner features the full menu. Starters will be served to share—expect vibrant dishes like pea soup with fresh curds and foraged water mint, crudités with cod’s roe and chilli, and tempura monkfish with lemon and kombu.

Main courses will include Norfolk salt marsh lamb with green sauce, roasted lemon sole with fermented peppercorns, and a warm Baron Bigod tart with asparagus - each accompanied by sides such as smoked Jersey Royals and Flourish garden salad.

Desserts celebrate summer’s bounty with options like treacle tart with boozy cherries, peach and almond crumble with meadowsweet custard, and a selection of British cheeses. From the pastry kitchen, extras such as freshly baked madeleines, brown sugar canelé, and Pump Street chocolate round out the meal.

Sundays will bring a classic British roast to the forefront - choose from sirloin of ex-dairy cow or Old Winchester pie, served with all the trimmings, followed by a rich sticky toffee pudding with salted miso caramel.

Restaurant 22

Just a few doors down from Restaurant 22, Margaret’s retains the same warmth but in a more casual, inviting bistro setting. Designed by Alex and the team, the space features natural materials, clay-plastered walls, oak floors, marble-topped tables, and plush banquet seating in tones of blush, burgundy, and soft white. The open kitchen keeps the connection between guest and chef central to the experience.

Written by Abi Kinsella