Meet the owners

Meet Matthew

Elegant modern cuisine, delicious Lindisfarne oysters and amazing Champagne are amongst the delights on offer at Cambridge’s Trinity Restaurant, as owner Matthew Marshall explains…

You’ve owned Varsity Restaurant previously as well as Trinity; what first attracted you to the restaurant business?

Unfortunately, Varsity fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic, and we were forced to sell. Fortunately, however, Trinity continues to thrive in the post-pandemic era.

I first got into hospitality when I moved back to Cambridge after serving in the military. At the time, I was living in Cambridge and working in London, so I took a part-time job bartending at the Depot restaurant on Regent Street (for those that can remember it!) in hopes of meeting more people around town.

After about six months, I realised that I enjoyed the industry and decided to make it a full-time career as a cocktail bartender at The Vaults, which just happened to be next door to what is now Trinity. From there I went to Browns as a waiter and on to work with Cambscuisine where I became a restaurant manager.

What inspired you to launch Trinity Restaurant and when was that?

We opened Trinity in June 2017. The inspiration for Trinity came from the fabulous Riddle and Finns in The Lanes in Brighton. I was amazed by the quality of the oysters and the variety of seafood on offer and thought Cambridge would benefit from something similar.

How would you describe the look, ethos and style of dining at Trinity?

We describe Trinity as an ‘elegant modern restaurant serving fabulous food in relaxed surroundings’. I think that sums us up well. We want people to enjoy fine, creative dining in a comfortable atmosphere with experienced and friendly staff.

What are some of your bestselling dishes to tantalise our tastebuds?

Currently, the roasted stone bass, bacon compote, and tomato preserve starter leaves most patrons wanting to lick their plates. An excellent vegetarian dish is the slow cooked celeriac, hummus, red onion starter. For mains, it is hard to go wrong with the sustainable seafood bouillabaisse or the confit rabbit and potato terrine, with cauliflower purée.

We hear oysters are a speciality – can you tell us more about this delicious offering?

We are very proud of our new suppliers, Elegant modern cuisine, delicious Lindisfarne oysters and amazing Champagne are amongst the delights on offer at Cambridge’s Trinity Restaurant, as owner Matthew Marshall explains…Lindisfarne Oysters. Their farm lies on the site of the oyster beds established by the monks of Lindisfarne Priory in 1381. We offer raw oysters for the professional oyster eater, a dressed oyster, and a baked oyster. These offerings change with our seasonal menus.

Where do you source your ingredients?

Since opening, we have used the fabulous Burton’s Butchers of Saffron Walden. Our fruit and vegetable offerings come from Kale & Damson in Papworth Everard, and our fish comes from the family-owned Stickleback Fish Company in Hertfordshire.

Your restaurant Champagne card is very impressive! Is Champagne your passion?

I love Champagne! And I have been very lucky to have visited Champagne, and in particular, the vineyards of Joseph Perrier courtesy of the wonderful people of Cambridge Wine Merchants. We have everything from entry level grower Champagnes from Pierre Bertrand to the finest Grand Marque Champagnes.

What do you think makes Trinity Restaurant unique?

There are several fantastic independent restaurants in Cambridge, not one of us is like the other. At Trinity, the Head Chef, Kareem Roberts, has the creative license to produce unique and innovative dishes, and the staff, many of whom I have worked with for over 20 years, provide the guests with a truly memorable experience.

Finally, what do you love about being an independent business in Cambridge?

It is tough being an independent business in Cambridge, especially in the hospitality industry. I am sure your readers will be familiar with the pressures we face. I have nothing but praise for the support from the local council and the consistent promotion and support from Cambridge BID.

Trinity Restaurant is at 15 Trinity Street, Cambridge. Find out more at trinitycambridge.co.uk