Extremely confusing and disjointed narrative and plot line (but often left me wondering, 'What plot?') The setting and descriptions of food were very well done - the vibe and feel of a Michelin-starred restaurant kitchen was there, very much 'The Bear' in tone and feel. But it's the story itself that was confusing and going nowhere, sadly

Really enjoyed this one, well written dark but funny it’s a novel that was different to the usual out there and was enjoyable to read. A must read for anyone wanting something tense and thrilling but different!!

I loved the concept of this book and the way each chapter introduced a new set of diners and glimpses into the back of house. There is an underlying sense of unease with a variety of incidents in the kitchen seen through the eyes of a waitress who is hiding and presumed a "no show". Although I initially enjoyed the way the book was presented, as it went on I struggled to really connect with the book and it started to feel more like a collection of short stories rather then one cohesive novel. The One with the Knife Accident, The One with the Champagne Cork Assaulting a Customer, The One with the Allergy, and so on. I loved the food descriptions the book made me salivate but overall the shifting moods and multiple plot twists read like a bad wine flight that diverted instead of complemented the food and I left this restaurant hungry with a quick drive through MacDonalds on the way home.

It made me think about Too Many Cook by Rex Stout (don't ask why) and it's a sort of compliment as I'm a fan of Nero Wolfe,
Well plotted, fast paced, entertaining. Liked the characters and the style of writing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I love everything food related - reality TV, cooking shows etc and as soon as I read the summary I knew I had to request this!! It sounds right up my alley and it didn't disappoint. It wasnt what I expected but I still couldn't stop reading

I tried to fall in love with this, it felt like the film The Menu but I really couldn't get into it. The different back stories didn't really feel connected properly to the main story that was being told.

This was a really well written, smart and funny novel. Dark at times I found it an interesting and exciting read - and the descriptions of the food were quite marvellous. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a mixed bag - really loved the concept and the start but it got really strange towards the end... Not sure I would recommend.

Test Kitchen has a unique flavor, reminiscent of Japanese literary fiction with its intriguing strangeness. The novel revolves around Midgard, the restaurant everyone aspires to visit, known for its experimental flavors, innovative presentations, and the living ash tree at the heart of the dining area. Set on a Tuesday night—typically a quiet time for most restaurants but not for the perpetually booked Midgard—the story unfolds from the perspectives of both the waitstaff and the diners, seamlessly shifting between them as events play out almost simultaneously.

The narrative, primarily told through the peculiar viewpoint of one of the waitstaff named Marley, unravels slowly, lulling you into a false sense of predictability before delivering unexpected twists. The novel is darker than anticipated, adding a rich depth to the experience. Its unique structure and atmospheric tension make Test Kitchen an intriguing and highly recommended read.

A story told (mostly) through Marley, a waitress at the Michelin starred restaurant, Midgard. She is unable to move or speak and can only observe the evenings service. Each chapter begins with a different table and offers a story of the diners. Chapters then finish with happenings in the kitchen and Marley telling her story while trying to figure out what has happened to her.
This book was a bit strange and it took me a while to get into once I understood what was going on. Some of the diner’s stories were intriguing but others just left me confused and I thought they impeded the flow of the story. There were some funny bits and equally some dark bits to the narrative.
The descriptions of the food were mouthwatering and I think it all connected quite well to explain the events that led Marley to this night. The ending was a bit of a let down as it was so abrupt.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this rather unique book.

This book was very odd. I expected a foodie book. The blurb said something about it being for fans of The Bear and I'm not sure it quite delivered that expectation. It's set in a restaurant, like The Bear and has a quirky cast of characters but that is about as far as the similarities go. The narrative structure was definitely interesting: each chapter focuses on one of the courses on the tasting menu and one of the parties in the dining room. There is an underlying creepiness throughout as the narrator is both all seing but also trapped in a weird space in the kitchen unable to move and yet undiscernable by the other characters. The culmination of this mystery is slowly dragged out keeping the reader guessing. It's an interesting read, an odd read, but I kept reading.

It took me a two or three attempts to read Test Kitchen, I think I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it on my earlier attempts but then when I picked it up again, it grabbed my attention almost immediately and I raced though it.
The book is set over the course (!) of one evening in a Michelin-starred London restaurant. It is difficult to categorise this one, a blend of genres and highly original. If you enjoy The Bear, you will love this. Its tense and dark, the food descriptions are mouth watering, the characters are believable despite some of the circumstances and while this was reminiscent of some contemporary Japanese fiction, it also felt deliciously fresh .

Told from mulitple perspectives and wonderfully paced, this was a surprise of a read. Recommend if you are looking for something original , great writing and oh those food desciptions.

I’ve really enjoyed a number of books recently that show the behind the scenes of kitchens, whether that’s a professional one or a home one, and this gave me that in spades! A tense and exciting read, although I found the ending a bit abrupt.

I think the most important thing here is that the writing is gorgeous, ESPECIALLY the descriptions of food. I couldn’t read too much at once because it kept making me so hungry.
I loved how strange it was and the constant shifts in mood alongside the different plot twists. I loved the setting and I felt like it had a lot to say.
That aside, it also felt a little confused. The repeated snapshots of the different tables and customers lives took away attention from the main story while not really being long and deep enough to be that impactful on their own - I did enjoy them but I didn’t spend enough time with any of them for them to be that memorable.
Maybe it wasn’t the book, maybe it was just me, and I need to reread it to understand better but either I missed something or there are just too many hidden hints and convoluted explanations for the book as a whole to make a ton of sense, and work as anything more than a very fun and intriguing concept and atmosphere.

Wildly imaginative (and I do mean wildly), the fertile creativity shared in ‘Test Kitchen’ is a Big Dipper of a read. Exhilarated by the writing and laugh-aloud descriptions, the humour at times is more than dark – shocking, but perfectly captured. The glorious and original analogies will stay with you, as will the emotional pain that punctures the narration. There are a goodly number of characters with interesting stories, though at times, the unformatted and unidentified scene changes threw me off kilter, as did some of the headhopping. Overall, it was a terrific and exciting read , quite unlike anything I have read before, blended with craft, guile and originality.

Welcome to a Tuesday night at London restaurant Midgard. The kitchen is buzzing. The tables are set. And the staff and guests take their place.
So begins a rather complex narrative where the story flits between the narrator, Marley; the restaurant's newest waitress and others (staff and diners alike). I found the food descriptions to be rather amazing. Interesting to see what the workings of a commercial kitchen in a Michelin star restaurant would be like. Somewhere it is necessary to be on a waiting list for months before you are able to dine there. The plot does certain take a rather macabre turn.

I loved a lot about this book: the food descriptions which made me salivate; the vignettes of different lives with each table; the building intrigue of the unseen narrator. I did find it a little difficult to follow, but I think that was more of a me problem than the book's, with my very short attention span! This is a beautiful work of art!

"Test Kitchen" by Neil D A Stewart definitely isn't your usual story, in fact it is quite difficult to classify as it falls into many genres: short story, horror, Japanese literary fiction... an odd mix yes but this is about a high-end restaurant where the chefs are pushing culinary boundaries, much like the author. I did get glimpses of "Boiling Point" as you follow the kitchen and restaurant staff through the eyes of the new waitress (who remains as mainly an observer). You are introduced to each table, one by one and a short story about those who dine there which is then intermingled with the complicated back stories of the chefs and waiting staff. Some laughs, some horror, some confusion. Not sure 100% what was going on at some points but I definitely know that I don't want to visit that restaurant as there is some weird stuff going on there.

I loved this and found from the first page I was hooked. One day in a busy high end kitchen is interesting, but I was hooked wanting to know more about the narrator. It was engrossing and entertaining and I found it a page turner. The details in the kitchen felt authentic, and were well described. This is a perfect beach read.

I had great hopes for this book from both the cover and the description. Sadly I Found the whole thing confusing and muddly. I'm sure the book was well written, with lots of quite interesting food descriptions, but there seemed no cohesion. I'm afraid I didnt finish it.
Thank you for the chance to read this book.