The story
On a grassy common grazed by cattle, with the River Cam at its back, Midsummer House occupies a comfortable Victorian villa that chef Daniel Clifford opened in 1998. After two devastating floods in 1999 and 2000, the building was completely refurbished. Today the kitchen is world-class, the main house holds fourteen tables, and an open-plan conservatory offers an intimate yet relaxed setting. A window into the kitchen lets guests watch Clifford and his team at work.
Clifford’s food is elegant, sophisticated, and rooted in the best seasonal produce. The surprise set menu changes regularly, evolving with the calendar and the chef’s creativity. “Passion influences life at Midsummer House and expresses itself everywhere, seamlessly,” the restaurant says. Diners choose from three tasting experiences – the Solstice, Corpus, or Trinity menus – each presented as a sequence of imaginative, precise dishes. The Solstice menu begins with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Champagne, reflecting the restaurant’s partnership with the house.
Midsummer House earned its first Michelin star in 2002 and a second in 2004, making it the only two-starred restaurant in the East of England. It holds five AA rosettes and is listed in 50 Best Discovery. Clifford himself won the BBC’s Great British Menu in 2012 and 2013.
The wine list spans over 700 references from 36 countries. Sommeliers pair each dish with a carefully chosen wine flight, and an alcohol-free pairing menu – crafted in the development kitchen by a “juicelier” – treats infusions and extractions with the same respect as wine. Cigars are available on the terrace and garden.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
5 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Excellent cooking
For nigh on three decades, Midsummer House has been a fixture on the Cambridge dining scene, a gastronomic destination once famed for blazing new trails. With fresh eyes, a meal in the sombre-looking conservatory seems stuck in the mould of a formal 'white-tablecloth' venue where handbags get their own seat. Yet chef-patron Daniel Clifford’s brigade still serves some skilfully prepared food. If you are comfortable with the steep pricing, it remains a place to celebrate a graduation or a significant anniversary. To get the full impact of the riverside setting, have a drink in the first-floor bar – the view onto the river Cam and Midsummer Common is so lovely that visitors have suggested more could be made of this under-utilised spot. Wine flights are the failsafe option if the huge wine list defeats you, though sommeliers will help you navigate. Expect to pay handsomely, even at the lower end, where a glass starts at £18.
Location
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