We’re very lucky to have an incredible dining scene right here in the UK, however eating out at some of the country’s most lauded restaurants can quickly add up. If you’re seeking really noteworthy food without the scary prices, then these Bib Gourmand restaurants cost around £25pp per meal and make for a pretty good place to start…
Bao, London
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This pared-back Taiwanese spot in the heart of London’s Soho has earned a Bib Gourmand award every year since 2016, so it must be doing something right! Here, they serve up delightful cloudlike bao buns packed with melt-in-the-mouth fillings, such as the classic pork belly, as well as impressive small plates including scallops served in their shells, moreish fried chicken, and an Insta-worthy pig blood cake with a soy cured egg on top. There are a number of other outposts across the capital now, and each menu offers something a little different… If you really want to make a day or night of it, then you can hire a traditional karaoke booth and sing for your supper!
The Flint House, Brighton
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This Brighton Lanes restaurant is part of the same family as celebrated Sussex pubs The Ginger Fox and The Ginger Pig, however with a second-floor terrace and cocktail bar, The Flint House is a slight move away from the group’s usual format. A menu section titled Fried/Toast/Snacks offers indulgent bites including ham and gruyere croquettes and smoked anchovies and soft boiled eggs on toast. Meanwhile, main course options consist of generous and flavourful plates of meat, fish and vegetables that can be accompanied by your choice of sides such as fried broccoli with chilli, lemon and crispy onions and crushed new potatoes with miso seaweed butter and chives. We doubt you’ll leave here still feeling peckish…as Observer restaurant critic Jay Rayner put it: “it’s about solid dishes that don’t sacrifice substance for looks”.
Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath
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The group behind this wine shop and bistro owns another four pubs and a restaurant, but there’s something especially charming about this snug spot. Its interior has a rustic charm that makes you feel immediately warm and comfortable—think Chesterfield sofas, slightly worn-out wood finishes, and marble-topped window counters perfect for people-watching. In addition to its obviously impressive array of wines, the menu features punchy small plates such as salty anchovies on toast, crunchy courgette fritti and traditional Bath Chaps (cured and cooked pork cheeks) with tangy Bramley apple on the side.
Iberico World Tapas, Nottingham
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Nottingham hides a labyrinth of caves beneath its pavements, and these can be explored via the Museum of Justice in the historic Lace Market. This impressive structure also hides another local gem: an exquisite Spanish restaurant that sits beneath its atmospheric Grade II-listed vaulted ceilings. This intimate eatery has retained a Bib Gourmand award since 2013, boasting an array of tempting tapas dishes, as well as a brilliant express menu (bread, pickles and two tapas for £17.95) that keep luring locals and tourists alike. You’ll find plates on the menu that have been on there since it opened, like the inside out chicken wings, while exciting new additions pop up on the regular.
Root Bristol
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Bristol is well known for its excellent plant-based restaurant scene, however Root—which is located on the city’s trendy and indie business-focused Wapping Wharf—really does stand out from the crowd. Its motto is ‘more veg, less meat’, so you could still dine here with any carnivorous friends, however they’ll likely be blown away by all the ways in which vegetables such as roast squash and beetroot are elevated into main dishes. Don’t worry, there are still some slightly naughty options too, such as the cheddar, marmite and onion puffs and the pizzette with creamy Cotswold brie, sage and hot honey…
Root Wells, Somerset
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Root Wells is the sister restaurant of the Bristol branch, and it was opened by the head chef and manager couple in their own hometown. The ethos is the same, however the menus vary slightly. In this inviting neighbourhood spot, you’ll find comforting creations such as the signature courgette, butter beans and ewe’s curd; deep fried polenta with chanterelles and sweetcorn puree; and cheese and onion arancini with a side of date and raspberry ketchup…
El Gato Negro, Manchester
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This Spanish eatery’s glowed up industrial interiors have taken over three floors of a Manchester townhouse. There are a few different spaces to choose between, from the theatrical bar and sultry banquettes downstairs, to the rooftop space, which boasts a retractable ceiling. The former executive chef at Harvey Nichols Simon Shaw is the brains behind the Basque-inspired menu, and on it you’ll find irresistible Spanish delights such as Ibérico ham, a satisfying bikini sandwich and a fluffy, creamy traditional cheesecake. Much of the meat and fish is cooked using a Josper Grill, which gives the dishes that inimitable smokiness that can immediately transport you to buzzing, humid tapas bars of holidays past.
Plaza Khao Gaeng, London
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Plaza Khao Gaeng’s head chef Luke Pharell actually grows many of the rare ingredients found in his Southern Thailand inspired menu in his own greenhouse in Dorset. You’ll find this immersive eatery at the top of Tottenham Court Road’s Arcade Food Hall, where strip lights and plastic table cloths really give it in authentic ambience. The food here isn’t for the fainthearted…to say it packs a punch is a bit of an understatement. On the menu, you’ll find lesser-known Thai classics such as Muu Hong (braised pork belly in dark soy sauce), Gaeng Gati Gai (chicken and coconut curry with betel leaves) and Gaeng Som Talay, which is a sour orange seafood curry…