Our Story
The Food
Our menus focus on the quality and freshness of the ingredients we use. Dishes are simply but beautifully presented, reflecting seasonality and sustainability. Because of this, the menus will always be changing and adapting to make the best of our wonderful local produce.
The evening tasting menu consists of 13 individual plates, starting with a series of snacks and breads, followed by a selection of larger savoury plates, and concluding with desserts and sweets.
The 6.5 plate tasting menu reflects the dishes on offer in our signature Thirteen tasting menu, and is a weekday option for those who wish to try a shorter version of our style.
On selected Sundays, Thirteen serves a 6 course à la carte Sunday lunch & dinner. Check the Sunday à la carte page on our website or follow us on Instagram for the next available dates, @thirteenrestaurant.
The Family
Award winning Head Chef Alex Naik (AA Rosette winner and former Dorset Chef of the Year) has had a passion for cooking from a young age – he was often to be found alongside his mother, Elisabeth, and grandmother during family baking sessions. He has experience garnered in restaurants around the world and applies his knowledge of these diverse cuisines to his own creativity using classic techniques. Alex has a particular passion for fishing, foraging and growing his own produce in the restaurant’s rooftop garden. Being a skilled photographer he has a keen eye for presentation.
His sister, Frances, originally studied music at university, but after completing her degree realised her passion lay in hospitality. She then gained a masters in international tourism & hospitality management. Frances has worked in several different roles from events management through to preparing new bars and restaurants for launch. She is now in charge of all communications at Thirteen and could be described as ‘the face of Thirteen’!
Co-owners and parents Hem and Elisabeth are life-long foodies so have plenty of experience being customers! During the pandemic Hem developed his love for wine by gaining his WSET Level 3 wine qualification, whilst Elisabeth is part of the kitchen team, sharing her original recipes with Alex, and becoming famed for her petit fours!