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Nothing says luxury more than a tasting menu. Thankfully, the North has a whole host of options for those with a burning desire for multiple courses of high-end and invariably complex and beautiful dishes. Of course, Manchester has more than its fair share, but Liverpool, Sheffield, and – no surprise – the Lake District have some of the best around.
We’ve spent a gout-inducing few months tracking down the very best, and you can spend your time, and entire bank balance, checking them all out. If you baulk at spending hundreds of pounds on a single meal then look away now. The rest of us, who realise life is made for living, can start to plough through this master list of luxury food destinations in the North.
Here are our picks
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1. Where The Light Gets In
Ian Jones Where The Light Gets In, 7 Rostron Brow, Stockport, SK1 1JY - Visit now
Everything you heard about Where The Light Gets In is true. It’s a remarkable experience – and indeed ‘experience’ describes it far better than a simple meal. It’s certainly not a standard tasting menu, there’s an Einstein-style level of thought and detail backing up every course. You won’t leave bloated and heavy, but with a mind fizzing with ideas and a curiosity about what, if any, other restaurants can match up.
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2. Restaurant MCR
Ian Jones Restaurant MCR, Tower 12, 18-22 Bridge St, Manchester, M3 3BZ - Visit now
Is Restaurant MCR worth a visit? Without doubt. Is it one of North’s best tasting menus? On tonight’s showing it’s hard to think of anywhere else doing such complex but immediately delicious cooking. Byrne’s always been the city’s best, and now he’s back to doing what he does best, and it’s hard to imagine anyone toppling him anytime soon.
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3. Moor Hall
Ian Jones -
4. The White Rabbit
Ian Jones The White Rabbit, 1 White Hart Fold, Todmorden, OL14 7BD - Visit now
The White Rabbit is very unique, and very British. Fun and childlike excitement run through the entire menu and it’d take a heart of stone not to be charmed by owners Robyn and David. Every dish evokes a long-lost childhood memory, and each sip of the paired wine lifts it to new heights. If you’re a fan of the more well-know high-end restaurants, but want to try something more intimate and just flat-out fun, head down the White Rabbit hole.
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5. Forest Side Restaurant
North Atlantic Cod, Peas, Oyster, Dill Forest Side Restaurant, Keswick Road, Grasmere, Ambleside, LA22 9RN - Visit now
In just a couple of years, Forest Side has become one of Cumbria’s most outstanding restaurants. Suitably, considering his surname, Kevin Tickle’s tasting menu brims over with sheer fun – full of lively colours and playful imagery that enhance the brilliance of each dish. This is more than matched by the front-of-house, who are some of the most engaging and entertaining waiting staff in the North of England.
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6. The Art School Restaurant
Ian Jones The Art School Restaurant, 1 Sugnall Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 7DX - Visit now
The Art School’s tasting menu differs from most, in that rather than a series of tiny plates the dishes are fewer in number but gradually increase in size and intensity, reaching a crescendo with the masterpiece plate of Galloway beef – easily one of the top ten dishes in the North. The experience doesn’t come cheap but event dining of this quality rarely does.
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7. The French
Photos by author The French, The Midland Hotel, Peter Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M20 2DS - Visit now
Is Adam Reid at The French better than his predecessor Simon Rogan at The French? Well, the food is as stunning as ever but the overall experience tips the balance in the new boy’s favour. Adam has a better grasp on what makes Manchester tick, making things less fussy, more relaxed, and, at times, gloriously silly.
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8. Rafters
Ian Jones Rafters, 220 Oakbrook Rd, Sheffield, S11 7ED - Visit now
Rafters isn’t the kind of place you stop by for a quick bite to eat. It’s an experience that requires an entire evening, taking in elements of theatre and ideas and cooking techniques up there with Simon Rogan. It’s a credit to Sheffield, and food lovers of the North should make it a priority visit.
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9. L’Enclume
Photos by author L’Enclume, Cavendish Street, Cartmel, Cumbria, LA11 6PZ - Visit now
The name L’Enclume is a byword for upscale fine dining in the North, and recent years have seen a steady procession of its chefs leaving the nest and launching their own cutting-edge restaurants. The food at all these places is no less than remarkable, and the original still stands tall.
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10. Grafene
Grafene Grafene, 55 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ - Visit now
Grafene has gone from strength to strength in the couple of years since opening. The dishes are complex but delicious, never sacrificing flavour but always offering something interesting and exciting. New head chef Ben Mounsey might be young in years, but has a wealth of experience and ideas that ensure Grafene remains one of King Street’s best restaurants.
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