Dining out (and in, thank goodness) is well and truly back. We’re rounding up some of the UK’s finest and most exciting dining experiences, so that you can be sure you’re making the utmost of this new-found freedom. How many of these can you tick off?
1. Dine in the dark at Dans Le Noir, London
London is brimming with restaurants, there are new openings all the time and there’s always a hot new spot to visit. This means that getting a truly one-off experience is quite difficult. However, Dans Le Noir offers just that. This Clerkenwell restaurant will see you dining in the pitch black, an experience designed to put the focus entirely on your other senses. There are only set menus here, and the dishes are a surprise — a real culinary adventure.
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2. Enjoy the finest pub grub at The Hand and Flowers, Marlow
No foodie list for the UK would be complete without a good pub. However, The Hand and Flowers in Marlow is no ordinary pub. The pub is owned by the famous Tom Kerridge and his wife, Beth Cullen-Kerridge, and boasts not one but two Michelin stars! You’ll need to book well in advance, but we recommend visiting on a Sunday for one of their famous roasts.
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3. Tuck into vegetarian fare at Greens, Manchester
Fans of Sunday Brunch will be excited to eat at this Manchester restaurant, owned by one of the hosts, Simon Rimmer. This restaurant is entirely vegetarian and serves up some of the UK’s most exciting plant-based fare. You’ll find fresh flavours sitting alongside some real comfort food. It’s a true joy!
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4. Enjoy a pasty on the beach from Philps, Cornwall
The Cornish pasty is one of the UK’s famous foods, and we can totally understand why. It’s hearty, delicious and unbelievably comforting. The traditional recipe contains beef, potato, swede, onion and lashings of black pepper. There’s no better place to enjoy these than in their birthplace, Cornwall. We recommend heading to Philps in Hayle, which enjoys a prime location less than a mile away from the golden sands of the beach here. A pasty and the beach sounds like a match made in heaven to us.
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5. Undertake a culinary adventure at 670 grams, Birmingham
The head chef and founder of 670 grams, Kray Treadwell, was named this year’s Young Chef of the Year at the Michelin Awards — no mean feat. The food is both Asian and British inspired, and includes some seriously upscale versions of home-grown favourites. One of the most famous dishes is the Tesco cheese and onion sandwich, which led him to success during his time on the Great British Menu. Other playful options include a lime and cobra lollipop, and a version of Yorkshire tea and toast. This is fine food at its most fun. While this all sounds rather pricey, the 10-course set menu costs in at £55 — not bad value at all for a tasting menu.
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6. BYOB curry at Tayyabs, London
Eating out can be a high-end, fancy affair but it certainly doesn’t need to be to have a great night. Tayyabs in London’s Whitechapel is busy every night of the week, and is one of the city’s most recommended curry houses. It’s a no-frills spot with a brightly-lit dining room and sparse decor, but the Punjabi food on offer and the bustling atmosphere more than make up for it. The restaurant’s famed dish is its lamb chops so give those a go, and remember to bring some beer as this is a BYOB spot.
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7. Drink in the sea views at Coast, Pembrokeshire
For the past 14 months we’ve been dreaming of dining on the beach, watching the waves as we sip a glass of cold, white wine. We have to admit that we were imagining that we might do this in the Caribbean or in the south of France, but the Pembrokeshire coastline is no less dramatic, and no less appealing. Coast is a smart but informal restaurant, which boasts views out over the beach in Saundersfoot, and is all set to fulfil our seaside dining dreams. The food here focuses on using local ingredients in innovative ways.
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8. Get back to nature at the Organic Centre, County Leitrim
It’s easy to forget where our food comes from, but learning about its origins can be a truly joyous experience. The Organic Centre in County Leitrim offers day-long courses that teach visitors everything from organic gardening practises, to ways in which to find wild food, and the latest food trends. You’ll come away with a new-found appreciation for the meals you enjoy each day.
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9. Indulge in a deep-fried Mars bar from Cafe Piccante, Edinburgh
Sometimes eating something absolutely, filthily bad for you can feel like the most deliciously decadent experience. No truer is this than in Edinburgh where many of the city’s fast food joints batter Mars bars and other chocolate goods. One of the finest spots for this is Cafe Piccante, which opens late into the night and has a whole array of chocolate bars on offer. While you’re at it, why not tuck into a haggis pizza too?
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