Artichoke

Artichoke is a neighbourhood restaurant in Old Amersham that first opened in August 2002. It offers tasting menus and set-lunch options alongside an à la carte Artichoke Menu, and the tasting menu is designed to be enjoyed by the whole table. The restaurant earned a Michelin Star in 2020 and has been recognised in the UK Top 100 Restaurants, the Good Food Guide Top 50 and as AA Restaurant of the Year for England 2013–2014. The interior, influenced by Scandinavian chic and designed by Fiona Johnston Parke, complements original features of the 16th-century Grade II listed timber-framed building. Soft muted tones of walnut, greys and pale lilacs sit alongside amethyst glass and local handcrafted pottery to create a seamless, welcoming space that marries contemporary design with historic architectural details. The kitchen produces innovative, refined modern British cooking with a strong emphasis on seasonality, using free-range produce and many ingredients foraged from surrounding hedgerows, woods and seashores. The team work closely with high-quality artisan producers and local craftsmen to underpin the restaurant’s ethos and constantly evolving, seasonally changing menus. Menus change according to ingredient availability. Laurie Gear is Chef Patron; the restaurant is led and owned by him and his wife Jacqueline. Specialties include roast stone bass, confit leg of Adlington English Label chicken, broccoli velouté, butter-poached leek and strawberry set cream.