Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Harrogate
Hardens guides have spent 33 years compiling reviews of the best Harrogate restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 63 restaurants in Harrogate and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Harrogate restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Harrogate Restaurants
2. Sukhothai
Thai restaurant in Harrogate
17-19 Cheltenham Pde - HG1
Leeds entrepreneur, Ban Kaewkraikhot’s local outpost is a large, modern and fairly glam venue that wins praise as a “busy restaurant with very consistent cooking”. “Don’t publicise the fact that it’s your birthday!” if you don’t want a fair amount of fuss…
3. Sukhothai
Thai restaurant in Leeds
8 Regent St - LS7
2022 Review: Feedback remains limited but remains very positive for this Chapel Allerton Thai (part of a local group), which hits twenty years old in 2022.
4. Sukhothai
Thai restaurant in Leeds
15 South Parade - LS1
Ban Kaewkraikhot’s small group of Thai restaurants started in Chapel Allerton and is now over 20 years old. She has invested in the lavish styling of this city-centre spin-off. A popular venue locally for celebrating an occasion, it wins upbeat (if limited) feedback for results from its very large (200+ dishes) menu.
5. The Tannin Level
British, Traditional restaurant in Harrogate
5 Raglan St - HG1
In business for nearly four decades now (est. 1985), this stalwart operation occupies a cosy cellar space in the lower ground of a solid Victorian mansion in the city centre (with a small outside seating area for warmer days). The well-rated, traditional-ish cuisine has something of a meat and steak bias; despite the name, the wine list is not huge, but offers quality vintages from a range of countries up to a little over £100 per bottle.
6. The Alice Hawthorn
British, Modern restaurant in Nun Monkton
The Green - YO26
An “excellent gastropub-with-rooms in a delightful village” – and right on the village green, which has the rare honour of hosting the country’s tallest maypole. Yorkshire hospitality royalty John & Claire Topham, who put the General Tarleton at Ferrensby on the map, are behind its recent national hype, and added award-winning rooms to the picture in 2022. Hearty dishes make the most of local produce and “very professional” staff don’t bat an eyelid if you choose to linger a few hours. PS – they now do pizzas in the garden in summer on Fri/Sat nights.
7. The Old Deanery
British, Modern restaurant in Ripon
Minster Rd - HG4
The Old Deanery is a Jacobean mansion in the shadows of Ripon Cathedral. Acclaimed chef, Adam Jackson is surrounded by a buzz of excitement, having a collection of awards and accreditations to his name, and a list of some of the top restaurants on his CV. Ada...
8. Tharavadu
Indian restaurant in Leeds
7- 8 Mill Hill - LS1
“Don’t be put off by the outside!” – this “very popular” Keralan (a favourite, it is claimed, of India cricket ace Virat Kohli) wins a hymn of praise for its “authentic” cuisine and is “a must for fish and seafood fans”: “the meen koottan (fish curry) was a standout dish, bursting with flavour and expertly prepared. The mango lassi is also delicious. Highly recommended!”
9. Aagrah
Indian restaurant in Leeds
St Peter’s Sq - LS9
“They always go the extra mile” according to fans of this city-centre outpost of Yorkshire’s nine-strong chain of well-regarded curry houses – a family-run business established in 1977.
10. Tattu
Chinese restaurant in Leeds
29 East Parade, Minerva House - LS1
“Amazing decor, complete with cherry blossom” sets a glossy scene at this outpost of the national chain, where the pan-Asian selection adds Thai dishes and sushi to a menu backbone of Chinese dishes. Feedback was relatively limited this year, but all upbeat.
11. Fleur Restaurant and bar
restaurant in Leeds city centre
Inside the lights - LS1
Award-winning Master Chef Finalist, Great British Menu-famed chef Bobby Geetha and Team provides a stunning contemporary British cuisine inspired by world flavours.Fléur Restaurant was the finalist for best Brunch in Leeds. Reviewed as Top 3 best Bottomless...
12. The Lime Tree Inn
restaurant in Great Ouseburn
Branton Lane - YO26
A brand new country Inn, opened its doors for the first time in September 2020.The Lime Tree Inn is a family run country Inn made of seriously good food in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.Our menu is seasonal with everything made in house from quali...
13. The Ivy Harrogate
British, Modern restaurant in Harrogate
7-9 Parliament Street - HG1
2021 Review: A “bustling” ambiance that “gives a lift to the spirits” is the chief plus-point of this brasserie offshoot of the ever-expanding London luminary. Even fans concede it’s “expensive for what it is”, and “could be said to be a little formulaic”, while a couple of other reporters noted meals that were positively bad.
14. Bettys
Afternoon tea restaurant in Harrogate
1 Parliament Street - HG1
A Yorkshire “legend” – “the epitome of an old-fashioned afternoon tea room, and with a great pianist too”. “You might have a long wait in the queue to get in, but it’s worth it” for the “delicious pastries and well-filled sandwiches” served at this flagship of a family-owned business founded in 1919, now with five venues across North Yorkshire. “Places that are described as an ‘institution’ are often a stuffy, stilted let-down – Betty’s is none of the above”: “even the fish ’n’ chips are stylish”.
15. Drum & Monkey
Fish & seafood restaurant in Harrogate
5 Montpellier Gdns - HG1
This “amazingly busy” Montpellier Quarter veteran (est. 1971) is “just as good as it’s always been” – credit to Ray & June Carter, who’ve overseen it for a decade (and have also run the Sportsman’s Arms, Wath-in-Nidderdale, for three). The “very interesting and delicious menu” spotlights “fish cooked absolutely right” – “try the queenies (aka queen scallops) followed by fish pie”.
16. Royal Baths
Chinese restaurant in Harrogate
Central Hall, Crescent Rd - HG1
“Fantastic surroundings” – the owners spent an eye-watering £1.5 million transforming the Royal Baths into this upscale restaurant – and a “really nice feel and vibe at all times” set this two-year-old apart from the competition; the contemporary and trad Cantonese food is also worthwhile. “We still prefer Orchid, but this place has great decor!”
17. Baltzersens
Scandinavian restaurant in Harrogate
2023 Review: This “quirky café with wonderful cinnamon buns and waffles” offers a “real taste of Scandinavia in Harrogate”. It’s “very popular with yummy-mummies in the morning so can get a little loud, but you can buy all the baked goods from their shop just by the theatre”. Owner Paul Rawlinson’s Scandi restaurant Norse is still missed, five years after its closure.
18. Graveley’s Fish & Chip Restaurant
Fish & chips restaurant in Harrogate
8-12 Cheltenham Parade - HG1
2021 Review: “A very traditional Yorkshire chippie” which doesn’t offer anything fancy but “just good fish ’n’ chips” (the former “huge and well-battered”, and “you can go for more exotic if you wish”); “a little tip – avoid early evening when the ‘pensioners’ special menu’ is served – it will be heaving!”
19. Orchid
Pan-Asian restaurant in Harrogate
28 Swan Road - HG1
Ignore the “dated surroundings”, this well-known local institution under the Studley Hotel “continues to deliver a first-class experience” after more than two decades, and “never lets you down” with its “amazing pan-Asian cooking”, “matched by high-quality service and a good wine selection”. “Whenever we visit Harrogate we make a bee-line for this restaurant”.
20. Sasso
Italian restaurant in Harrogate
8-10 Princes Square - HG1
This “excellent Italian restaurant” is “a real treat to visit”, with a menu of “well presented food” from Emilia Romagna. Its founding chef-patron Stefano Lancellotti, a well-known figure in Harrogate, died suddenly last summer, soon after celebrating the venue’s 25th anniversary; his son Nico subsequently joined the team with a view to carrying on the family tradition.
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