12 Fine Dining Restaurants to Visit

SAMUEL’S RESTAURANT 
Swinton Park, Masham, Ripon HG4 4JH
01765 680900
 www.swintonestate.com
Under the stewardship of Executive Chef Simon Crannage, Samuel’s has managed to win and retain three AA Rosettes. The hotel’s own four-acre walled garden is the largest such kitchen garden in the UK, and provides the raw ingredients for many of the dishes served under the gold-leafed ceiling of the restaurant. With its huge windows, high- backed chairs and candlesticks on the table, Samuel’s is the sort of place to take guests to impress – then they’ll be wowed by the food, including partridge from the estate.

CLOCKTOWER BAR & RESTAURANT 
Rudding Park, Follifoot, Harrogate HG3 1JH
01423 871350
 www.ruddingpark.co.uk
The pink glass chandelier, the well-dressed waiting staff and the decorations on the walls at the Clocktower Bar and restaurant scream decadence. But the Clocktower’s salubrious surroundings aren’t stuffy: the relaxed ambience here extends to the bar menu, where you can snack on Yorkshire tapas (including east coast goujons of fish, marinated Yorkshire feta and York ham with picalilli, sourced from within a 75-mile radius of Rudding Park). If you want to go all-out, though, order from the à la carte menu.

HIDE
Beverley Tickton Grange Hotel, Tickton, Beverley HU17 9SH
01964 543666
 www.ticktongrange.co.uk
Working closely with local producers, the chefs at Hide, the intimate restaurant at Tickton Grange, manage to showcase the nest food that Yorkshire has to offer. From beef fed on the green grass of the Wolds to fish caught just hours before, the dishes produced at Hide celebrate Yorkshire’s larder with style, panache and a touch of elegance.

BURLINGTON RESTAURANT 
The Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey, Skipton BD23 6AJ
01756 718111
 www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk
Attaining three AA Rosettes for its food, the Burlington Restaurant features seasonal and local produce prepared under the visionary eye of Paul Evans, one of the country’s most talented young chefs. The menu – based on the produce that arrives from the kitchen garden, the Duke’s estate or produced locally – is constantly changing but one thing is assured – alongside the starched tablecloths and silver service, you’ll get a fantastic meal. Paul makes the most of the vegetables that arrive in his kitchen alongside the meat and fish: his heritage beetroot, served with shallot, goats curd and watercress is a delight for the palate.

MIDDLETHORPE HALL 
Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 2GB
01904 641241
 www.middlethorpe.com
The walls in the grand dining room at Middlethorpe Hall are almost as interesting as the menu. Antiques several centuries old chart the changing tastes of the hall, while the views over the glorious gardens and parkland are also highly impressive. But the food is the star at any restaurant, and Head Chef Ashley Binder doesn’t disappoint. Each dish comes with a perfect suggestion for a wine pairing; the Homer Riesling with the squid and hand-dived scallop is our favourite.

THE WENTWORTH RESTAURANT 
The Talbot Hotel. Yorkersgate, Malton YO17 7AJ
01653 369096
 www.talbotmalton.co.uk
With patterned wallpaper, pelmetted curtains and hunting scenes and Victorian portraits lining the walls, The Wentworth Restaurant is a throwback to the grand days of dining. But the nine-course tasting menu put together by Head Chef Dan Graham is bang up to date. Start with chicken liver pâté on sourdough bread from the Bluebird Bakery, then move through hay-baked Yorkshire carrots served with homemade ricotta cheese and carrot jam, to apple tarte tatin crowned with a spoonful of salted caramel and calvados ice cream.

THE BOX TREE 
35–37 Church Street, Ilkley LS29 9DR
01943 608484
 www.theboxtree.co.uk
A Michelin-starred restaurant in one of the oldest buildings in Ilkley, The Box Tree is a dining destination for foodie fans. Executive Chef Simon Gueller combines 21st century culinary techniques and rm favourites from the past in his menus, which change daily based on the seasonal availability of the fresh produce that arrives at his kitchen door. If you’re lucky enough to see the tartare of Yorkshire deer with oyster emulsion on the menu when you visit, make sure to order it – it’s a taste sensation.

HUDSON’S 
The Grand Hotel, Station Rise, York YO1 6GD
01904 380038
 www.thegrandyork.co.uk
Named after George Hudson, the railway king, this restaurant at York’s only five-star hotel has been garlanded with three AA Rosettes. Head Chef Craig Atchinson’s tasting menu is always evolving, but can feature items such as North Atlantic stone bass served with fennel, buckwheat and a decadent langoustine bisque. It’s the best way to test out Craig’s culinary expertise at its very nest.

RAFTERS
220 Oakbrook Road, Sheffield S11 7ED
01142 304819
 www.raftersrestaurant.co.uk
Run by two friends since 2013, Rafters continues the long tradition the restaurant has held in Sheffield for delicious dishes served in style, playing with flavours (the gin and tonic marshmallow, served as an amuse-bouche, will electrify your senses). With its own dedicated vegetarian tasting menu, the variety of food on offer here is suitable for all tastes. However, to get the fullest possible experience (and the fullest possible stomach), try the eight-course tasting menu, which includes the restaurant’s signature bread box, lobster ravioli and iced banoffee parfait served with peanut butter and bitter chocolate.

THE OLD VICARAGE 
Ridgeway Moor, Ridgeway Village, Sheffield S12 3XW
0114 247 5814
 www.theoldvicarage.co.uk
For more than 30 years Tessa Bramley has overseen The Old Vicarage, constantly reinventing her menu and breaking new ground by utilising fresh produce grown in her kitchen garden or nearby farms. A Victorian church house with high-backed chairs, the dishes Tessa produces belies the traditional surroundings: the prestige dinner menu features beetroot meringue, slow-roasted fillet of local hogget, and heritage apple court perdu terrine.

THE GARDEN ROOMS RESTAURANT 
Tennants, The Auction House, Harmby Road, Leyburn DL8 5SG
01969 621146
 www.tennantsgardenrooms.com
This glorious venue houses a restaurant producing delicious Sunday lunches, brunches and breakfasts, as well as lunches from Monday to Saturday. The stupendous surroundings are the ideal accompaniment to the produce from local suppliers that forms the restaurant’s ‘Food Hero’ menus. Taking the best food of the local area means a regularly changing menu including fillet of salmon served on a bed of saffron and lemon mashed potato, accompanied by prawn and herb butter. It’s not to be missed.

THE PHEASANT HOTEL 
Harome, Near Helmsley YO62 5JG
01439 771241
 www.thepheasanthotel.com
The seasonal dishes served at The Pheasant make the most of the local produce – a key goal of Head Chef Peter Neville, who has a strong interest in foraged and wild foods. Peter uses the expertise he gained in world-class kitchens including The Star Inn at Harome to produce fantastic food for diners here. Bring a friend or family member and order the honey glazed Yorkshire duck, served with aromatic spices, caramelised endive, tempura spring onions, and plum sauce. You won’t regret it.