“ad” – Why is this here?

I’m back at one of my favourite spots for a Sunday Roast, Provenance Kitchen in Whittlesford. While they have built a massive reputation for their Sunday service, I have just caught wind that they are also launching a new small plates menu. If it’s even half as good as their roasts, I knew I had to get down there and check it out.

The small plates menu will be available Wednesday to Saturday afternoons and Thursday to Saturday evenings (don’t worry, the roast dinner will still be here Sundays!)

The first thing you notice when you walk in is how bright and spacious the restaurant feels. It has a great open-plan kitchen where you can see the wood-fired oven at the heart of everything. It creates this lovely, social atmosphere where the smell of wood smoke hits you immediately.

The Menu

The new small plates menu is built around the idea of sharing. It gives you the financial freedom to really explore the menu and order as you go, with dishes arriving as they are ready. It creates a proper social vibe where you’re constantly sharing and discussing what’s on the table.

One thing that really stands out is how well they cater for everyone. The menu is heavily gluten free, with loads of options already set and almost every other dish swappable for a GF version. On top of that, the vegan and vegetarian options are plentiful.

There’s also a huge emphasis on local produce, with plenty of local mentions throughout this review that I’m sure you’ll notice. Honestly, with the menu being this inclusive and focused on quality, there is no excuse not to visit now! 🤣

Starters

We started with the Grain Culture sourdough, served with butter they actually make on-site. It sounds simple, but you can really tell the difference; it’s ridiculously creamy and has a smokey flavour.

The House Made Pork Coppa was another winner. It’s that perfect kind of sharing plate that goes with anything, especially the sourdough. Tearing off a piece of that sourdough and topping it with the coppa was simply beautiful.

Croquettes

Then came the Gloucester Old Spot pork croquettes, which were a personal highlight for me. They were absolute flavour bombs – succulent on the inside with a delicate crispiness on the outside.

The mushroom croquettes followed, and I’m calling it now – these were one of the best vegetarian dishes I have had in ages! They were incredibly earthy and loaded with Pecorino and had a slight salty flavour that worked on so many levels.

Accessible menu for all

Speaking of the vegetarian and vegan options, it’s clear they aren’t an afterthought here. Even the Flourish Farm carrots were a standout. They had a real smoky depth from the oven, and the peanuts added a salty, crunchy dimension that worked perfectly. The Flourish Farm salad kept things fresh and showcased just how good local, seasonal veg can be.

Grilled Gurnard

The seafood was just as impressive. We had the grilled gurnard, which was cooked beautifully in xo butter. It came with monksbeard that had been brought to life with a hit of preserved lemon – a really bright, sharp contrast to the fish.

Hildersham lamb

If you know me, you know I love a dish that isn’t afraid to be fatty, and the Hildersham lamb belly with garlic pesto delivered exactly that. It was stunningly rich and alive with flavour. We also tried a special of deep-fried lamb fat terrine. It was incredibly crispy with a real depth that you only get from proper wood-fired cooking.

Burger

Initially, I thought the burger looked a little out of place on the menu but Provenance Kitchen managed to make it their own. It was also hugely refreshing to see not only a thick and juicy burger (rather than a smash burger) but also a burger so simple. This is a bun, a patty, and salad with mustard mayo. There is a quiet confidence in a burger that allows the quality of its meat to do the talking – and talk it did. If you have quality meat then why drown it out in cheese and sauces?

The patty is made from brisket that’s pulled, rolled, and sliced into a massive slab, all served with a Grain Culture bun that is strong enough to hold it together.

This burger WILL be making it into my Cambridgeshire burger league table for sure!

Lamb fat terrine

For the main lamb event, the menu has actually been updated to a fried lamb fat terrine. This is a permanent addition now, and for good reason. It was so crispy with a real depth of flavour – exactly the kind of indulgent, rendered dish you want to see coming out of a wood-fired kitchen.

Local craft beer

To wash everything down, we went with a Ripchord Session Pale from the local brewery Brewboard. It’s always a win to see local names on the taps, Cheers!

An obvious conclusion

What’s great about this new menu is how inclusive it is. They’ve got brilliant vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options that don’t feel like an afterthought. It’s all about high-quality, local produce cooked over fire.

Honestly, I couldn’t fault a single dish today. Even with the flexibility of the small plates allowing you to work your way through so much of the menu, there are still things I’ve got my eye on for next time. If you’ve only ever been here for the roast, you need to get down and try these small plates – I’m already planning my return trip.