As the descriptions of this book says, Test Kitchen is a high-stakes novel about the events happening over the course of one night at a fancy restaurant.

The setting is like that of The Boiling Point and The Bear, which draw me to this book initially, but the events and the tone are closer to that of The Menu. This book is about the secrets the characters (those in the kitchen, on the stage, customers, a critic etc) in this setting possess.

The setting 4/5
Characters 3.5/5
Plot: 3/5
Writing style 3/5

Overall, 3,5 stars.

This book was not for me, I found it difficult to follow the threads of different characters.
I am obviously not the intended target audience.

Test Kitchen reminded me, at times, of Japanese literary fiction. It has all the hallmarks of the strangeness often encountered there.

The novel is centred around Midgard, THE restaurant to go, from its experimental flavours and the innovative servings to the living ash tree in the centre of the dining area, everyone wants to go there. The story itself takes place on a Tuesday night - traditionally the dead night of most restaurants but not Midgard which is booked up months in advance.

The story is told from the peculiar point of view of one of the waitstaff but also that of the customers that night. It moves from one to the other seamlessly making it seem as though everything happens simultaneously. Its an intriguing formula and I really enjoyed it. The story told by Marley unfolds so deliciously slowly you feel like you know exactly what's coming but there are some twists along the way. Test Kitchen is much darker than I was expecting but it's all the better for that. Highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the advance review copy.

Test Kitchen by Neil Stewart is an electrifying exploration of the inner workings of a high-end kitchen in London, capturing the frenetic pace and intensity that goes into every dish. As a foodie, I found the behind-the-scenes look at the culinary world to be both fascinating and eye-opening, reminiscent of Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. Stewart's narrative is dark, tense, and at times, downright horrifying, making it a unique read that stands out in the genre of foodie literature.

The story unfolds over the course of a single day, immersing readers in the high-pressure environment of the kitchen. The characters are vividly drawn, and the meticulous attention to detail brings the setting to life, making you feel as if you are right there amidst the chaos and creativity. Additionally, the novel offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the guests dining at various tables, providing diverse and intriguing viewpoints that enrich the narrative.

One aspect that struck me was the abrupt ending, which left me with lingering questions. It felt as though some threads were left unresolved, leaving me wondering if I had missed something crucial. Despite this, the novel's immersive experience and the thrill of the culinary world made it a thoroughly enjoyable read.

For fans of The Bear, Boiling Point and The Menu, this is the perfect read to get the fix for culinary fans! I loved getting glimpses of the various diners, their background and how they got connected with each other. The ending was bittersweet, but it was certainly the icing on the cake of this Michelin-star test kitchen!

I enjoyed getting a peek into the inner workings of a Michelin star restaurant and the staff who work there. I love novels where the POV is constantly changing, and it was very interesting learning about new characters' stories throughout, but the book almost came off as rambly, and it kind of confusing to keep with at times. I have to say that I really didn't like the ending. I had to double check that I had truly come to the end of the book (I read on my kindle) because it felt so abrupt that I thought I must've not had a complete download. On the one hand, I enjoy that it was kind of left open ended, but on the other hand, I really would've preferred an ending that felt more complete.

This book! It’s just, chef’s kiss 👌

Every single time I thought I knew where this absolute feast of a novel was taking me, it would change direction or switch to another character and leave me reeling. It was incredible, Stewart teaches a masterclass on how to leave a trail of delectable breadcrumbs as he flawlessly interweaves the lives and dramas of the staff and diners with a mystery element surround a not-quite-but-also-very missing member of the waiting team.

I was really drawn to the premise of this book, and this did prove to be interesting. I liked the concept of our mysterious narrator and I felt that it was well written. I do think that perhaps it could have been executed better to live up to its full potential - overall the book felt a bit too long and could have benefitted from some editing to keep the pacing taut and engaging. A great idea that maybe just feels a little unfinished.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Test Kitchen by Neil Stewart is a tense read that conjures up the restaurant business and the people that work and eat there.

This is essentially a series of short stories, the guests at each table in a Michelin starred dining room having their own stories. The kitchen scenes remind me of Boiling Point and the descriptions of the food remind me of Gregg Wallace on Masterchef but, in this case, they are ironic. Many of the staff in the kitchen have their own complex back stories and all are held together by the mystery of the narrator.

At times this was laugh out loud funny and I enjoyed most of the stories but it really was too long and could do with some brutal editing. I can’t decide what I feel about the ending and will look forward to the book being published to learn what the general opinion is. On the whole, I enjoyed this as much for the setting as for the narrative. I just felt I was reading an unedited version.

With thanks for a review copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I tried so hard to get into this but we just weren’t clicking. The premise was extremely interesting and I really was excited to read it, No doubt it is very well written, the various foods so deliciously described that I spent most of the book hungry. But the story just wasn’t for me. It was strange but not in a good way and I had so many questions that remained unanswered.