To ask what the best restaurant in the UK you've eaten at is

[JonSnowsCloak]

Both high end and small/ local and Why?

I'll start- number one at the Balmoral in Edinburgh. Treated ourselves due to celebrating new house and job and it was simply amazing. We did the taster menu and it was beautiful from start to finish, tried loads of food I wouldn't normally try and the service was top notch (was expensive!). Small and local to me, Bistro Franc in Liverpool, does a Sunday wine and dine offer and every time we've been is spot on in terms of the food and really good value. Me and DP are big foodies and usually have a good read of TripAdvisor before we go.

MPW used to have the Criterion Grill in Piccadilly. Lovely food and a beautiful building but it's changed hands now. Also he had a share in a pub in a village near Newbury. The service and food were amazing.

Don't rate Sat Bains. Been twice and the food is wonderful, but there's zero atmosphere.

We once went to Claridges and didn't see what the fuss was about really, same with The Ivy. Sometimes I think the reputation outweighs the actual experience.

A good restaurant in Liverpool with a nice relaxed atmosphere is PanAm on the Albert Dock. It's not overly expensive, so it's usually our go-to if we want to eat out. Also, they do a great Post-Show menu, so when you see something at the Echo arena it's convenient to get food too.

Cady - that would really have confused the poor bloke! He only looked about 20 and wasn't English, so quite possibly hadn't heard of basil OR a Waldorf salad

The Gate in Hammersmith is fab. There's one in Islington too.

To whomever asked about Wood - it was superb, but as a veggie I didn't do the taster or indeed most of the menu, so I can only say you must make it happen for yourself!!

Weirdly as a veggie I love both gaucho and hawksmoor. The cocktails and warm peanut butter shortbread and ice cream at hawksmoor are lush.

a restaurant called Bluebells just outside Sunningdale

Aaaah we love Bluebells too, many a nice meal there. We are mourning the fact that, planning permission allowing, it may go in the not too distant future - seems bizarre that there aren't more restaurants of its level around here, given the local population.

Someone upthread has reminded me I must try the Latymer at Pennyhill Park too, had it booked for my birthday last year but work meant I had to cancel.

A few people have mentioned restaurants abroad, and I always pop up on NY threads and recommend the River Cafe in Brooklyn - such a lovely setting, fabulous views and superb food. Everyone going to NY for a special occasion should book in!

Whitney - I had birthday brunch at the Brooklyn bridge river cafe with my DH the first year we were together. It's amazing. And they brought me a special birthday pudding!! However they aren't allowed to serve booze at 11.30am (as we found out when the manager told the bartender not to give us champagne AND then had to comp the other couples who'd already ordered and been served theirs, gaaaah!).

Whoever it was up thread who asked about getting to L'Enclume - it's not local to us at all. We live in the south and it's a good 2 hour drive from where our family live, up north.

They have rooms there and we stay over in order to thoroughly enjoy the experience. Makes for a very expensive meal, though.

Clos maggiore - very romantic
Yauatcha - Asian fusion and wonderful cocktails
Ellory - Even though it has a Michelin star it’s very relaxed, staff are amazing and the food is yummy
Pollen St Social - amuse bouche very good, pretty chilled and delicious food. The duck in particular was very good
Simpson’s (Birmingham) - fantastic wine list
Sexy Fish - very cool vibe and hip. Great for celebrity spotting if that’s your thing and the artwork is fantastic
Park Chinois - amazing Asian food and live music
Hakkassan Hanway Place - very romantic if you get a corner table
Children Firehouse - cool vibes and great cocktails

RULES in London

Whatley manor -www.whatleymanor.com/eat-drink/the-dining-room/ - It's the most amazing place. We went for a meal there last Christmas and everything about it, food, service and setting, was beautiful.

For a meal with friends I love the Coconut Tree, it's a loud, chaotic Sri Lankan restaurant near us. I love it there - www.thecoconut-tree.com

My kids love a Toby carvery too, so that's become the go to for family lunches at the weekend

La Casita - not cheap but food is just amazing. Bizarrely, it can be found in Carbis Bay, Cornwall so quite a long way to go but worth a visit if you are down that way.

The thing is...a lot of these places don't do it for us as we don't eat meat (but eat fish).

J Sheeky (the oyster bar rather than the restaurant) is where we go time and again. Sitting at the bar, ordering lots of little seafood dishes and glasses of champagne. The foods great and its lovely to be able to order almost anything from the menu for a change.

Its also pitch perfect - friendly and not at all stuffy, great for a 2-5pm lunch or post 10pm supper.

Also a pub in Gairloch that did amazing fish.

The Parmesan fried courgettes at j sheekey are amazing!

Bob bob Ricard is awesome if you can get a table. So gimmicky but I love the "press for champagne" buttons!

The Shed at Dulwich😎

The Fat Duck was amazing when we went. Dinner was good, but nothing like The Fat Duck - much less of an experience.

Current favourite in Birmingham is Harborne Kitchen. Great atmosphere and food keeps on improving.

Fine dining: The Kitchin, closely followed by 21212.

For veggie food, Vanilla Black.

Best value, probably DH1.

Had the veggie taster with paired wines in Castle Terrace and The Kitchin in Edinburgh. DH had the non veggie. Both superb

Sapporo in Glasgow was a fun night out with friends

The Cauldron in Bristol, really enjoyed it.

mermaid inn, rye.

Shat myself sleeping over, tho.

@goose was it P.O.S.H in Southampton?

I think Chez Bruce is completely over-rated!

I love Trinity in Clapham - been going for years and the food is lovely. It has a star now and sadly they have stopped doing a tasting menu regularly but they DO have a super wine list which includes a section for wines they love with a minimal mark up from which we've had some amazing choices.

Loved the Fat Duck for the experience 7 or 8 years ago but not sure I'd hurry back.

The Whitebrook in Monmouthshire (Chris Harrod) topped La Gavroche for us.

No.6 Padstow, gorgeous food, reasonable price.

Have eaten at some quite high end places, and not one has come close!

Oh thank you for the NYC recommendation- we go later this year so will definitely look at the River Cafe!! Abroad, my favourite places have been Cafe Mambo in Ibiza (watching the sun go down in San Antonio bay 😍), La Toreta in Ibiza town, the Yeatman in Porto, Cips Club in Venice and not forgetting Enoteca Pitti Gola Cantina in Florence (look it up on Instagram) they do a special dinner with the owner and we had 16 wines with 8 courses and the sommelier drank most of them with us! Also in Florence L'Tuscani for the Florentine steak.

Love L'Enclume, Le Manoir, Yorke Arms.
Highly recommend The Hare at Scawton which I haven't seen mentioned yet.
Riley's Fish Shack in Tynemouth is amazing but essentially outdoors so wrap up warm - you can't book either so be prepared to queue on the summer.
House of Tides in Newcastle is overrated and I don't understand the fuss about Peace and Loaf in Jesmond either.
High Tide on St Agnes, Isles of Scilly is fabulous, but not exactly easily accessible.