Faru

Introduction

Faru is Durham’s fine dining restaurant by Jake and Laura Siddle.

While the name Faru comes from an Old English word meaning ‘Journey’, everything about this restaurant is contemporary and guests can expect innovative dishes from the kitchen.

Inside, the restaurant features an open-plan kitchen, a wine station and a cocktail bar. The décor is minimalist with soft, muted tones and a mural from Spain features across one of the walls.

A tasting menu is served Wednesday to Saturday, where guests can expect seasonal dishes expertly executed by Jake and his team. Among the crowd pleasers are Hen of the Woods, which features a chicken fat crumb and is served with a chive emulsion, pak choi and mushroom ketchup. It is finish with a mushroom dashi broth.

A crab dish – using crab caught in Whitby – uses a crispy brick pastry cylinder. Inside is white crab meat that has been mixed with crème fraiche, pickled kohlrabi and fresh lovage. On top, lovage emulsion, earl grey bergamot gel, pickled lemon discs and nasturtiums.

10-course tasting menu, £98; five-course tasting menu, £60. Set Sunday lunch menu, £38.

When it comes to drinks, Laura has travelled to places such as France and Italy to fine the finest wines to serve. Cocktails are as innovative as the food dishes, featuring drinks concocted with ingredients such as smoked bananas.