Over the past year, we’ve brought you weekly reviews from restaurants, cafes and takeaways all over the county.

Some were new, some already top-rated and some quirky, all coming under the scrutiny of our Eat My Words series.

While a few didn’t quite meet the mark (who puts cheddar with a Greek salad?) others came out on top.

Here, we’ve rounded up the best 11 restaurants we’ve visited in 2024.

Each visit gets a total score out of 25, ranked on food, drink, decor, staff and price.

Several eateries nailed a 22/25 this year and, in the interest of fairness, we’ve included all of them and added an extra entry to the list.

First up is a curry house with rave reviews.

Gurkha Fire in Chatham is Medway’s best-rated restaurant on Tripadvisor.

Reporter Sean McPolin said it was some of the best food he’s had in Kent but was left “frantically trying to grab his pint” after some spicy chicken bites.

Gurkha Fire got a perfect score for food, but at £92 for a curry and drinks, the price let it down.

Another 22-pointer was a quirky cafe where you can buy handmade cups and plates.

Nikki White said this venue in Ryarsh, West Malling, was difficult to leave, adding: “Quite simply it is a place to stop and breathe.

“It’s peaceful, calm and the moment you sit down, you feel your blood pressure slow.”

The Nuttery Cafe got full marks for staff and decor.

Moving over to east Kent now, where Chris Britcher said eating in this corner of the county was like “being on the Amalfi coast”.

Believe it or not, he was describing Ramsgate Boating Pool.

On a sunny day in May, this place wouldn’t have looked out of place in a holiday brochure and for what it lacked slightly in quality food it made up for with stunning views.

Chris gave it five stars for decor and staff.

The next to get a total score of 22/25 was a rather unusual venture - Vintage Lindy Lou in Crayford.

This tea room has bathtubs for seats and teacups hanging from the ceiling.

Reviewer Sam Lawrie said the unassuming exterior was nothing to prepare her for the trinkets and bric-a-brac inside.

Despite not being a fan of the fillings, she enjoyed the sandwiches and loved the cookies, rating the food a four out of five.

Fours were also given for and drink and price, with the quirky decor and helpful staff getting full marks.

Back with Chris in Thanet again, and this time he was at a national chain.

The demise of Debenhams left gaping holes in many shopping centres, and the gap in Westwood Cross Shopping Centre has been filled by the Riparo Lounge - a Lounger’s venue.

Part bar, part cafe and part restaurant, he was worried it would be a Jack of all trades but a master of none.

His selection from an enormous menu paid off and he loved the whipped feta and salt and pepper squid.

The scores were four for food, drink and price, and five for decor and staff.

Finally, for those scoring 22, reporter Max Chesson visited Smoke and Co in Ramsgate in February.

He referred to himself as a “savage” as he tore into an enormous sharing plate of meat.

Sliced beef brisket, smoked pulled pork, jalapeno smoked sausage, smoked ribs, smoked pulled brisket, smoked chicken and smoked mac n’ cheese proved a hit for £50.

A ‘skeleton crew’ of drinks knocked it back to a three, but decor, staff and food were given full marks.

We’re in the top five now, with the next four venues receiving 23/25.

First up is a venue in an area once named the coolest in the UK, which is also one of the most deprived in the country.

I went to Mori Mori in Cliftonville earlier this month to try out their Japanese dishes and was impressed.

The ramen, pickles and gyozas were a delight, and the miso soup even cured my Christmas party hangover.

It was named as one of the best local restaurants in the UK by the Good Food Guide, and I could see why, giving it top marks for food.

Price and drink also scored a five, with fours for decor and staff.

Staying in east Kent, The Blue Pelican is serving up some of the “best cooking anywhere in Kent” from its open kitchen, according to reviewer Rhys Griffiths.

He tried dishes such as lamb hearts, pork collar and mushroom broth at this Japanese-inspired restaurant in Deal.

On the staff, Rhys said: “The team have created something absolutely splendid here on the Kent coast.

“Service was light-touch yet attentive, and the ability to watch masters of their craft executing such exquisite dishes before your very eyes makes the experience all the more special.”

The Blue Pelican scored five stars for food drink and staff, and four for decor and price.

Back with Chris Britcher and he was in Thanet again, this time at a seafood specialist with a spot on the Michelin Guide.

His hard-to-please father proudly announced that Kebbells in Broadstairs “could be the best restaurant we’ve ever been to”, but it just missed out on making the Eat My Words top spot for 2024.

Chris praised the sharing dishes such as seabass, burrata with figs, mussels and prawns.

He put it simply: “Every. Single. Dish. Is. Fabulous.”

Chris even said the truffle brie was “melt-in-the-mouth died-and-gone-to-heaven good”.

High praise indeed.

As you’ve probably guessed, Kebbels got five stars for food. It also got the highest score for decor and staff.

Over in Snodland, Nikki White tried Angelina’s for the most important meal of the day.

In a former CoOp, it's a British and Medditerainian fusion with Shakshuka baked eggs and a classic full English on the menu.

Nikki went for the former and said the tomatoes were rich with a sweet tang and the spiciness gave a mouth-tingling kick - but not so much it turned your lips numb.

Her husband also raved about his eggs benedict, and the waiters were friendly, attentive but discreet.

She gave Angelina’s full marks for food, decor and staff, and despite being “pricey for Snodland” cost got a four along with drinks. This is the last of our venues scoring 23/25.

We’ve clearly sampled our fair share of the county’s top cuisine over the past 24 months. But among the accolades, one unassuming venue came out on top.

Drumroll, please…

The best restaurant we’ve tried in Kent this year is West Street Tapas on the Isle of Sheppey.

While Queenborough might not seem like the foodie capital of Kent, this Spanish-style eatery run by a micropub on the harbour blew reporter Joe Crossley away in May.

He gave it a sparkling 24/25, and loved his visit - if you couldn’t already tell from the photo.

So good was the food here., Joe said the battle to finish all the dishes was a fight he was happy to take on.

He, his mum and dad shared plates such as patatas bravas (which he would happily eat every day of the week), pork belly, chorizo, calamari and many more.

The venue opened in 2022 and is owned by the Admiral's Arm Micropub just next door.

Joe gave this restaurant a perfect score for every category besides decor, which lost one point for uncomfy chairs.

He is not the only diner who loves West Street Tapas, which has a glowing 5/5 on Tripadvisor.

Of course, every review is subjective and if your favourite restaurant didn’t make the list, do not be disheartened - there are hundreds of venues we’re yet to visit.

But, we hope this list can give you some inspiration for your next meal out.