Where to Get the Best Christmas Dinners in Yorkshire
Festive feasting
TOMAHAWK
Branches Yorkshirewide
tomahawk-steakhouse.co.uk
With restaurants across Yorkshire, Tomahawk Steakhouse specialise in the finest Himalayan salt dry-aged steaks, alongside Wagyu and other meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Throughout December enjoy a Christmas menu including garlic bread, crispy squid, prawn cocktail or Parma croquettes to start, followed by traditional roast turkey, Korean fried fish, dry-aged rump steak or the festive Parmo. Round your meal off with a delicious seasonal dessert – we’d choose gingerbread crème brûlée with cinnamon shortbread.
SKOSH
98 Micklegate, York YO1 6JX
01904 634849
skoshyork.co.uk
For contemporary British cooking with an international influence, look no further than Skosh this Christmas. This dining room with an open concept kitchen is designed specifically to create a unique experience in which to enjoy uncomplicated yet refined dishes. They serve eclectic food in the form of snacks and small plates, allowing you to graze as you go, or if you prefer, being served course-by-course for a complete dining experience. The detailed wine list includes seasonal cocktails and a selection of local and international craft beers. What more could you want?
THE OLD VICARAGE, SHEFFIELD
Ridgeway Village, Sheffield
S12 3XW
0114 247 5814
theoldvicarage.co.uk
This award-winning restaurant is in a typically solid stone-built house just outside Sheffield. What may seem slightly mundane on the outside is home to an exciting, internationally recognised restaurant with a truly modern menu full of unexpected flavour combinations, under the guidance of Tessa Bramley and her talented kitchen team. All the fresh produce used here is grown in the kitchen garden or sourced from nearby farms and Tessa is committed to foraging for wild produce, focusing on sustainability, zero waste and a garden-to-plate ethos which she followed long before it became a trend in the industry. The menu is constantly changing but expect to find dishes such as roast fillet of Peterhead cod and saddle of lamb from Denby Dale.
THE OLD SAWMILL CAFÉ
Riverside, Clapham LA2 8DS
01524 237788
Enjoy all the magic of the Winter Wonderland at Ingleborough Cave, follow the elves through the fairy-lit passages and meet the great man himself in his magical grotto underground before you head to The Old Sawmill Café for some no doubt much-needed refreshment. Alongside great coffee and homemade cake, there’s an ever-changing seasonal menu where you’ll find everything from soup and toasted panini to beef shin pappardelle and truffled wild mushroom linguine. This dog-friendly space also has a lovely garden should the weather stay kind.
KENDELLS BISTRO
3 St Peters Square, Leeds
LS9 8AH
0113 243 6553
kendellsbistro.co.uk
Find a slice of Paris in the centre of Leeds at this popular bistro which serves consistently good food at great prices accompanied by a decent wine list. Its scrubbed candle-lit wooden tables make for a relaxed dining space and the blackboard menu contains French classics alongside seasonal dishes.
BANTAM
8 Bridge Street, Helmsley
YO62 5BG
01439 770479
This neighbourhood restaurant is co-owned and run by Yorkshire natives Sam Varley and Shane Leadley, both of whom have impressive CVs from working in well-known restaurants worldwide. They’ve bought their experience to this corner of Yorkshire where they serve imaginative food prepared from scratch, with a wide selection of daily specials and sharing plates paired with low-intervention wine in a friendly, informal setting.
HIDE & HOOF
Delph House Farm, High Flatts, Denby Dale HD8 8XY
01226 762551
yummyyorkshire.co.uk
Using only the best quality ingredients from more than 30 handpicked producers from the surrounding area, Head Chef Chris and his team in the kitchen at this popular all-day dining destination (11.30am–4.15pm) create delicious dishes all served in the relaxed restaurant. From a celebratory Yorkshire breakfast and festive afternoon tea to special Saturday Christmas dining nights, Hide & Hoof Restaurant at Yummy Yorkshire pride themselves on showcasing the very best of Yorkshire. Eat in the restaurant or one of the heated booths outside which seat up to six adults (dogs are welcome here). With four special Christmas dining nights in the run up to Christmas be sure to book and enjoy a three-course menu which includes treats such as sage and onion pork bon bons, and a traditional Christmas dinner followed by stollen bakewell, served with caramel sauce and Baileys ice cream.
SOUTH STREET KITCHEN
19–20 South Street, Sheffield S2 5QX
07763 678858
southstreetkitchen.org
This independent, not-for-profit, community-driven café is a must-visit for a laid-back dining experience. At South Street Kitchen the menus take inspiration from middle-Eastern food and seasonally available produce, while being both plant-based and sustainable. Choose between brunch and lunch every day, a weekly small plates menu on Friday and Saturday evenings, and a once a month international supper club where they showcase cuisine from around the globe. For the festive season they are also hosting a winter solstice event with dishes such as cauliflower and pine nut profiteroles, crispy roast potato terrine and mulled cranberry granita all served in sharing-plate style.
MELTON’S
7 Scarcroft Road, York YO23 1ND
01904 634341
meltonsrestaurant.co.uk
This intimate restaurant is owned by Michael Hjort and his wife Lucy. Michael trained with the Rouxs and although the kitchen is now run by Head Chef Calvin Miller who has worked with Michael for over 10 years, (Michael now runs Melton Too) you know his dishes will be good, modern British, and delicious. There’s a tasting menu with a short a la carte offering too. It’s a relaxed and informal space with an ever-changing and eclectic wine list of more than 120 wines all carefully chosen by Lucy. One of York’s leading restaurants, it’s a special place for a special occasion.
ERIC’S
73–75 Lidget Street, Lindley HD3 3JP
01484 646416
An award-winning, fine dining eatery, Eric’s seasonal menus are crafted with flair and imagination, with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients. There’s a bar area perfect for pre-dinner drinks and the smart dining room has art by Yorkshire artists on the walls. Chef/proprietor Eric’s passion for food is clear and this Christmas you can enjoy a host of seasonal treats, from a special Festive Brunch to a Festive Afternoon Tea, carefully concocted Christmas cocktails and a special menu which includes turkey with all the trimmings.
THIRTY NINE KITCHEN AND BAKEHOUSE
39 The Grove, Ilkley
LS29 9NJ
07943 704543
39thegrove.co.uk
With a new look and a new menu, there’s no better time to visit the independent, family-run Thirty Nine Kitchen and Bakehouse. The mission here is simple; to lead with taste and a focus on food, while using ingredients and suppliers which are as local and as sustainable as possible. Expect a selection of breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes, including creamy truffle mushrooms on sourdough toast, curried white crab and prawn salad and eight-hour slow roasted pork shoulder sandwich, as well as homemade cakes and bakes, barista coffee, smoothies and milkshakes. They also do seasonal specials so be sure to pop down and try out their Winter offering while it’s available.
HOMESTEAD KITCHEN
Prudom House, Goathland
YO22 5AN
01947 896191
thehomesteadgoatland.com
Chef Peter Neville presents a small but perfectly balanced menu of exceptional seasonal dishes at his new family-run restaurant and first solo venture in Goathland. Relaxed and low-key, the menu might just feature three dishes at each course, but all are beautifully presented and professionally executed. Expect to see lots of local producers on the menu, from Botton creamery to Radfords butchers in Sleights, and vegetables, fruit and herbs from the Homestead’s own garden with plenty of interesting and inventive touches to make each dish a delight. Not to mention, with the restaurant situated inside a converted 18th century farmhouse, the homely atmosphere and great sense of community does much to add to the dining experience and this is definitely one to watch.
THIMBLEBY ESTATE
Northallerton DL6 3PY
01609 883401
thimblebyshoot.com
Surrounded by thousands of acres of stunning countryside, Thimbleby Estate is an idyllic rural setting at this time of year. Following a day breaking clays at their shooting ground, you’re sure to work up an appetite but don’t worry as they’ve got plenty of delicious options to refuel on. From festive sandwiches to a full three-course Christmas meal, as well as a vegetarian option too, there is something for everyone. Plus, with an estate-to-plate ethos, much of the fruit and vegetables they use are grown right there in the estate garden. You can’t get fresher than that!
NO.1 BY GUESTHOUSE, YORK
1 Clifton, York YO30 6AA
01904 644744
guesthousehotels.co.uk
Christmas is a big deal at this super-stylish hotel. With plenty of festive breaks on offer it’s a great place to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. But you don’t have to stay over (as tempting as it is) to share in the festive spirit here, where the kitchen and bar team work hard to create a sustainable, season menu showcasing Yorkshire produce. From the Old Fashioned Parkin cocktail served in the cosy bar, to a festive afternoon tea served in the Marmalade Lounge, traditional Sunday lunch or dinner in the elegant restaurant, attention to detail is what makes No.1 by GuestHouse a must-visit this Christmas.
LIME TREE INN
Branton Lane, Great Ouseburn, York YO26 9RS
01423 324100 thelimetreeinn.com
Located in the beautiful village of Great Ouseburn, The Lime Tree Inn is a family-run country pub with seriously good food and relaxed, friendly surroundings. Inspired by the rolling landscape around them, husband and wife team Rob and Heloisa Mitchell have ensured that the menu is locally-sourced, the ales handpicked and the welcomes plentiful. For the month of December this includes a special Christmas menu with dishes such as duck hash with smoked bacon crumb to start, rolled breast of Turkey with all the trimmings to follow, and gingerbread and spiced latte parfait to finish.
THE STATION CAFÉ BAR
Station Yard, Richmond DL10 4LD
01748 825967
thestation.co.uk
This popular Café Bar is celebrating Christmas in style this year. From 26th November until 23rd December you can enjoy a special Christmas menu served daily between midday and 8pm, and choose two or three courses to share with friends and family. The relaxed all-day dining space showcases the best local produce so whether you’re taking a break from all the festive events at The Station, or just want to kick back for a while, this is where to head. A Festive Afternoon Tea is also available with the option of adding a glass of deliciously warming, festive mulled wine to get you into the Christmas spirit.
THE PICKLED SPROUT
1 John Street, Harrogate
HG1 1JZ
01423 706700
This popular dining destination in Harrogate calls itself a botanical restaurant and bar. With a menu packed with hearty European favourites mixed in with delicious superfoods, this is where you’ll find everything from salmon tacos and harissa cauliflower steak to crowd-pleaser house burgers, all accompanied by an extensive cocktail and wine list. Sunday roasts here are something of an institution and are served all-day through to 9pm.
FORAGE
2–4 Little Stonegate, York YO1 8AX
01904 437564
forageyork.com
This Christmas dine beneath the fairy lights as Forage becomes a Winter Wonderland. This neighbourhood restaurant and late-night bar is moments from the cobbled streets of Stonegate. Serving contemporary European cuisine cooked over fire, they use locally-sourced and foraged ingredients to add exciting, fresh, and eco-friendly flavours to their dishes. Their festive menu is brimming with seasonality and a Forage twist of course. From spatchcock partridge and delicate beetroot cured salmon gravlax to indulgent turkey or sprouts with pancetta and black garlic, feast properly this season at Forage.
THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN
68–78 Vicar Lane, Leeds LS1 7JH
0113 243 2376
themanbehindthecurtain.co.uk
Leeds’ only Michelin-star restaurant is named in honour of the sorcerer in The Wizard of Oz, and chef Michael O’Hare is certainly seen by many as a wizard in his kitchen. It’s a high-concept restaurant and food here is as much about the artistry as the culinary experience, which is, of course, exceptional. Michael and his team cook in front of diners, which adds to the magic of a restaurant where the walls have been deliberately left bare to allow creative diners to draw on them. The 12-course degustation menu encompasses a multitude of amazing culinary skills and each course is brought out by the chef who created it.
