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

@CherryPavlova that’s really interesting re IOW, I had never thought that was good for food

Thanks to all for your recommendations - plenty to try/add to list.

Really hoping DC ends up into food (showing good signs so far!) as would love to take him to various places as he gets older

@burntpinky Sissi I think the restaurant was neromilos. Don't get drawn in by the ones round the harbour, nice enough but not a patch on this one. The stifado is also great. I don't think it opens for lunch

@WhyBirdStop - thanks so much!

La Porchetta in Muswell Hill
And not sure if it still exists but Jack's Place in Battersea

The Three Chimneys on Skye. .

I can also recommend La Zucca in Venice. It’s a veggie restaurant (and I am a major salad dodger) but was outstanding and very reasonably priced, not like most of Venice!

Thanks also for the suggestions re Dorset and Belfast as weekends away - been to Swanage in Dorset before as an ex was from there and had some great food though can’t remember where we ate. Ex was a chef who had trained with Marco Pierre White but in those days we didn’t really have the cash for fancy, though he did take me to Chez Bruce for a birthday once.

My husband took me to Le Manoir for my 40th and truly unforgettable - not just the restaurant but the whole hotel was in a totally different level.
Thought Chez Bruce overated.
To be honest my favourite restaurant is an American chain: The Cheesecake Factory. It has a big menu with some of the best food, the bread is amazing, and of course a huge variety of cheesecake! Better than any Michelin starred restaurant I’ve been to!

Le Gavroche is my favourite.

If you fancy a trip ooop north, the Devonshire arms at Bolton abbey has a great restaurant and it’s one of the most beautiful locations in the country. I say that as a confirmed hater of Yorkshire. The staff are lovely. It’s very refreshing to have a bunch of down to earth Yorkshiremen staffing such a posh place!

L'enclume in Northumbria.
Hands down best restaurant we've ever been to, unbelievable food.

The Harrow in Little Bedwyn near Hungerford is amazing and has been for 15 years.
Not a Michelin star, but still delicious and was some of the best mussels I have ever had The Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton which has rooms as well.

Le Manoir is my favourite place by a country mile... not just for food, although that is amazing, but for atmosphere, service, surroundings too....

Sexy Fish is fun an buzzy with great food and cocktails.

The Other Naughty Piglet has fantastic food in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Benares for Michelin level Indian food.

Dean St Townhouse for food at any point of the the day and fab cocktails.

Burger and Lobster for a fun tasty meal.

Duck and Waffle for brunch with a view.... or late night cocktails...

Duck Soup for low key, French food in Soho

Mele e Pere for Greta Italian and home made vermouth (also soho)

Hare and Billet for great pub grub in Blackheath.

The Kitchin and Scran & Scallie in Edinburgh

Restaurant Martin Wishaw (also Edinburgh)

Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, for best afternoon tea ( after EXTENSIVE research 😉)

*great Italian, although I'm sure Greta is lovely!

If ever you are in Cyprus, Little Plates (or Tia Piatakia) in Limassol is fantastic www.roddydamalis.com/en/restaurant I am seriously considering booking a holiday just to be able to go back.

The Sportsman in Seasalter

Best meal ever was Geranium in Copenhagen. Truly outstanding.

Best meal in the UK is Restaurant Sat Bains but Adam Handling Chelsea is also close to that.

Loved Le Gavroche, they treat you like royalty. The Fat Duck was a great experience but very much food theatre. Core by Clare Smyth was brilliant as is The Waterside Inn.

Le Manoir I was dissapointed with, the food was good but not outstanding as I had expected.

Recently been to Kanishka which is one of Atul Kotcher's restaurants and we are planning to go back as it was really good.

A recent find is Da Terra in Bethnal Green. Truly outstanding food but at least one quite challenging dish flavour wise. They don't do a la carte, just a short or long tasting menu. If you are a foodie I'd urge you to try it, you won't be disappointed. I've attached a few photos.

Forgot to mention The Coach in Marlow. Amazing food, better than The Hand and Flowers imo, but you can't reserve a table, it's first come first served.

Best meal ever- Comme Chez Soi in Brussels
Second vote for suggestions above -Fordwich Arms in Kent, Whitebrook near Monmouth, Benares, Cinnmon Club and Scotts in London. Would add Sheekeys
Best thing about the Manoir was the extraordinary quality of the child's supper which our son, then aged about 3 had in the room with babysitter while we ate in the dining room- can't remember what we had but I can remember the taste of his mashed potato!

I think the hardest thing to find is really good but not fancy neighbourhood-type restaurants which don't cost an arm and a leg.

Ah yes the coach in Marlow is great. No reservations which I think is fab. Great concept.

Just got back from jersey and stayed at the savoy hotel in St Helier. The chef there trained under Heston Blumenthal at the fat duck. Food was amazing. And Jersey is a beautiful island too!

The best ever meal I had was at The Samling - a Michelin starred hotel and restaurant in the Lake District. As well as being fantastic food, the whole dining experience was absolutely amazing!

Have eaten at a few Michelin starred restaurants but that was definitely the best!

@Pipandmum oh yes, I do love a Cheesecake Factory - their salads (not really a salad!) are amazing! Massive portions too (which suits DH!)

Also went to a really good Persian in NYC - Ilili or something like that. Food was fab though full of poncey people

Thanks all for the suggestions!!

Sorrel in Dorking is a new favourite. Amazing food and lovely setting.