Talk to me about your favourite restaurant ever

[burntpinky]

Posting for traffic but just that: what is your favourite restaurant ever and why?

DH and I are well into our food (and it shows unfortunately!!) and now that we have a DC are going to do 1-2 weekends away per year, just us, to indulge in our favourite pastime (DC will be well cared for by nana whilst we are away - she was a foster carer for over 40 years until recently!)

Our current favourite is Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 which we've been to several times. Also been to Hand and Flowers, which was nice, but wouldn't rush back. I went to Chez Bruce (pre DH) YEARS ago which I enjoyed and The Square which was supposedly 2 M* but I didn't enjoy. Have also tried The Ritz (not great) and 15 by Jamie Oliver (set lunch menu which was fabulous).

Would love to try Black Swan at Oldstead and Le Manoir, but certainly Le Manoir will have to be an extra special occasion as it is so pricey.

So whilst we do love those sorts of restaurants, we also like less fancy too - Rojano's in Padstow being another favourite, Cornish Arms but we also have a local pasta restaurant - dishes are a tenner and the chef also provides the table service but it's so tasty and we love it (he's Italian).

Basically we just love food! (and reading menus and cookbooks is an obsession).

We love to travel just for a restaurant so please hit me with your favourites and why

Le Manoir is amazing

My favourite local is the King's Head in Teddington, it's part of the white brasserie chain and it's fantastic. You can't order a bad meal in there.

Also liked Cinnamon Club and Gymkhana for indian food

Does anyone know of a good indonesian place in london? Not meaning to hijack you op

Hudson's Steakhouse in Bath for the best steak ever.

The Whitebrook near Monmouth is lovely - rooms a bit over priced but the food well priced - 1 M* I think.

Also Le Champignon Sauvage in Cheltenham was great when I went (about 8 years ago now)

DF and mine is a place here in Ireland. it's a gastro-pub though. THE most amazing food we have ever tasted, fabulous menu, the most lovely atmosphere and the staff and service are just outstanding. absolutely amazing. and the prices are extremely reasonable too. they have won a couple of awards too!! we used to live 30 mins from it, now we live 4.5 hours so we haven't been for a few years. we always say that we will travel up one weekend and stay in a hotel or b&b and eat there again!

castlecutie
What's it called ?

Shamelessly place marking

I always enjoy the oxo tower but that's more for nostalgia than anything else

Can't believe I'm the first to highlight this with a snigger

It's not a posh place, and reading all these recommendations on here I feel embarrassed posting, but V Rev in Manchester is amazing. It's vegan, but don't let that put you off! My husband isn't vegan and he loves the food. It's imaginative, flavourful, always absolutely delicious and the staff are fantastic.

The real Greek in Covent garden and a tiny tiny restaurant and rum bar in whitby.

The Vincent Rooms at Westminster Kingsway College. Try the set lunch in the Escoffier Room £29.00 for six courses, £58.00 with wine flight.

@ShinyMe unfortunately the Agacan has gone downhill in the last couple of years.

However, agree that the food used to be some of the best

OH NOES @HouseofGoldandBones, that's tragic. I have such good memories of the pilic special soaked in garlic.

@beanaseireann it's Lennon's in Dundalk. I see you're Irish too!

OP I don't know if you've been to Cheltenham but Le Champignon Sauvage, Lumiere, Purslane and Kibou Sushi are all wonderful. You could have a great gourmet weekend

Thank you.
Next time I'm up that way I'll pop in.

Oh my gosh, logged off to watch a bit of Succession and had loads of replies! Sorry not got chance to reply but thanks so much all! I will be making a list!

On my food trajectory, just had a magnum double caramel. I’ll never be a size 8 again but I prefer a bit of wobble and tucking in!

I really enjoyed the Witchery in Edinburgh for the whole dining experience. Been three times and never disappointed.

Benares
Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley
Elystan Street (we took 9 year old DS as well and it was perfect for him too)

Enjoyed the Fat Duck but as an experience rather than the food. Le Gavroche was too rich for me.

And any of the Parisian restaurants in spectacular hotels - we're going to another one as our Christmas present to ourselves and can't wait!

Oh, and if you want a weekend away out if it, go to Dorset - if you stay in Studland you've got Pig on the Beach, and then can go to the Square and Compass pub as complete antithesis - but both lovely in their own way.

In London, Daphne’s, Scott’s and The Ivy ...

Edinburgh is brilliant for food:

Martin Wishart or the Kitchin for Michelin stars
Castle Terrace, the Honors or Ondine otherwise.

Or what about Belfast? The Ox is amazing, and has a star now too.

A few stand out places we have enjoyed recently :

Menu Gordon Jones in Bath - fantastic food and friendly staff
Restaurant 22 in Cambridge
Core by Clare Smyth in London

The Great Room @The Merchant in Belfast. Food is amazing. The Room itself is jaw dropping: www.themerchanthotel.com/bars-restaurants

Ooh, Cambridge reminds me - Midsummer House is lovely too.

The two best places I have eaten recently were The Clove Club in Shoreditch and The Fordwich Arms in Kent.

@WhyBirdStop can you remember the name of the village? We’re off to Crete in October (though with DC) so might be a good stop for lunch?

@HenSolo - haha re the cocktails - sounds like something we would do too!