He’s the chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and loves eating out, so it seemed only right that we ask Sir Gary Verity to recommend his top spots to savour a taste of Yorkshire.
Yorkshire is absolutely bursting with fabulous places to tantalise your taste buds.
We’re lucky to have some of the best chefs in the country using a huge array of home-grown and locally-sourced produce to create simply stunning dishes.
I’ve had the pleasure of sampling the food at many fantastic eateries across the whole of the county from which it is very hard to choose just five, but here are some of my suggestions for a great culinary experience in North Yorkshire.
Mr P’s Curious Tavern is a fantastic, quirky restaurant with a friendly, lively atmosphere serving dishes from around the world.
Mr P’s – named after the brains behind it, Michelin-starred chef Andrew Pern – occupies a fabulous position in the heart of York, nestled amongst the smart shops on Low Petergate and in the shadow of the city’s Gothic Minster.
In keeping with historic York, the Grade II-listed building is reputedly haunted and its peculiar décor adds to its curious ambience.
The tapas-style menu invites you to take a trip around the world as you pick and mix from the selection of small dishes – from fresh shellfish and seafood, to oddities like Haute Dogs, Croque M’Lad or M’Lass – and although the inspiration behind the food is international, the food is made with Yorkshire produce.
Crab and Lobster, Asenby, North Yorkshire
The Crab and Lobster offers a range of stunning settings in which you can enjoy the award-winning food.
With a cosy main restaurant, a bright and airy pavilion and sun-trapped terrace, there’s a perfect location for any occasion – whether it be a light bite to eat during the day or a romantic candle-lit meal in the evening.
Since it opened in 1991, the ‘Crab’ has offered a variety of gourmet dishes from fresh, local seafood to traditional English fare, and its menu has attracted people from all over the world to dine and take in the experience.
William and Victoria, Harrogate
With chandeliers hanging from high ceilings and opulently dressed windows, William and Victoria is a really stylish experience, and the restaurant embraces a passion for tradition and excellence.
The family-run eatery, owned and managed by the Straker family since 1982, is located in the heart of Harrogate on Cold Bath Road and offers a characterful wine bar downstairs, and a spacious dining area upstairs.
Fondly known as ‘Will & Vics’, the eatery is something of a Harrogate institution, popular with locals as well as visitors to the spa town who return time and time again.
What keeps them coming back? It must be the restaurant’s local, seasonal produce and extensive menus offering a mouth-watering mix of modern trends and good British cooking – with portions to suit Yorkshire appetites.
It could also be the extensive wine list boasting more than 70 varieties to satisfy every palate.
If what you value is a beautiful setting, the Durham Ox is a great choice.
It’s situated on an ancient Celtic track-way leading from Scotland to York, and the building is 300 years old.
It boasts panoramic views over the Vale of York to the south, where you can see the towers of York Minster.
If you manage to tear yourselves away from the stunning scenery, head into the restaurant to enjoy a sight equally as beautiful – delicious dishes of locally-sourced meats, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood, with menus that change with the seasons.
And after making the final for Best Inn, Best Food Pub and Best Chef at the Great British Pub Awards this year, you don’t have to just take our word for it – The Durham Ox is a must-visit.
‘Character and comfort’ is how The Bruce Arms in West Tanfield describes itself, and this promise really does deliver in spades.
It started life in the 18th-Century providing refreshment to those travelling by coach and horses through Wensleydale, ‘over the top’ to Kendal in the Lake District – and ‘The Bruce’ has managed to capture this tradition for visitors today.
Its log fires create a cosy, warm atmosphere and you can dine in the stable yard in summer.
While we can all appreciate history in décor, thankfully the dining experience has moved on since the 1700s – and the restaurant’s chefs create a mix of classic and innovative dishes using North Yorkshire’s abundance of quality fruit, veg and game from local suppliers, allotments and even woodlands.
For more information on the restaurants featured and for more inspiration, visit Yorkshire.com
