An upmarket French-inspired wine bar and restaurant is the latest Kent addition to the Michelin Guide – marking a remarkable comeback for its owner.

Inspectors lauded Sète in Cliftonville, Margate, for its “lovingly run restaurant” where “nothing is overworked” in a blurb on the prestigious list.

Having only opened as a restaurant in July 2023, Sète is the newest eatery in the county to feature on the guide – joining Angela’s, Bottega Caruso and Sargasso as Margate’s representatives on the list.

On hearing the news, owner Natalia Ribbe said: “It has been quite the journey.

“I’m so proud of the team, it’s a real effort from everyone and it couldn’t be done without them.

“It’s been an amazing first year and it’s insane to have a restaurant in Cliftonville on the guide.

“I’m just so proud and happy.”

Taking sole charge of the restaurant, the 38-year-old has seen the business grow rapidly since it first opened as a wine bar and bottle shop in October 2022.

She is aided by head chef Billy Stock, who was previously at the helm of Wickambreaux’s Rose Inn – another spot featuring on the Michelin list.

The duo have set about creating menus which take inspiration from Europe with heavy influence from France and Britain.

With experience in New York, London and Vienna, Ms Ribbe says she was keen to open Sète after finding a gap in the market for wine bars in Margate.

In a glowing summary of the eatery, Michelin bosses said: “A characterful, bow-windowed former sweet shop is the home for this lovingly run restaurant located on the road between Margate and Broadstairs.

“In a fairly small space, the passionate team have managed to combine a restaurant, a wine bar and a bottle shop.

“The kitchen fuses some classical French techniques with a distinctly British, produce-driven approach, where nothing is overworked and the natural flavours of a few key ingredients are the driving force.

“The blackboard-written menu is ever-changing, but expect the likes of curried lamb mince or braised squid and peas.”

It marks an astonishing return to a high level for Ms Ribbe – who lost a previous restaurant business after falling foul to a con artist who robbed her of £50,000 in 2022.

Her and then-partner Jackson Berg had been in charge of Barletta, a flourishing eatery trading out of Margate’s Turner Contemporary, since 2019 before the company bank account was emptied as part of a sophisticated scam.

Posing as her bank via phone with access to her data including her home address, various bank account details, and other sensitive financial information, the fraudulent criminal was able to transfer funds out of the account – leaving the couple devastated.

Talking to KentOnline in January, Ms Ribbe confessed she had been lulled into a false sense of security.

“You think - ‘Why on earth would I do that?’ - but they put you in a panic bubble. It was just awful,” said the 38-year-old.