Hardens Guide to the Best Restaurants in Whitby
Hardens guides have spent 33 years compiling reviews of the best Whitby restaurants. On Hardens.com you'll find details and reviews of 53 restaurants in Whitby and our unique survey based approach to rating and reviewing Whitby restaurants gives you the best insight into the top restaurants in every area and of every type of cuisine.
Featured Whitby Restaurants
1. Restaurant 8 by Andrew Sheridan
British, Modern restaurant in Liverpool
16 Cook Street - L2
Native Liverpudlian Andrew Sheridan upped sticks from Brum to relocate ‘8’ to a Victorian building in the city centre (next to the original Cavern Club) in April 2023. Seating is at one of two counters for, appropriately, eight diners; the lighting is low; much of the décor is black or slate-grey; and the level of ambition in the cooking is high, with the aim of delivering ‘an immersive sensory experience’. The eight courses (for £110 per head) are of very diverse inspiration and there’s also a wine pairing option (for £80 per head).
2. The London Carriage Works, Hope Street Hotel
British, Modern restaurant in Liverpool
40 Hope Street - L1
“Superb food… comfortable surroundings, friendly but not obsequious staff, a very decent wine list, reasonable prices…” – this boutique hotel dining room (named after the original 1860 business that occupied the premises) was part of the early wave of culinary reinvention to hit ‘The Pool’ and opened in 2003. It’s often overlooked nowadays, but reports this year suggest unfairly so.
3. The Inn At Huxley
British, Modern restaurant in Huxley
Huxley Lane - CH3
A Family VisionThe Inn at Huxley is situated in the quaint village of Huxley, near Chester, West Cheshire and was lovingly bui...
4. Nord
Scandinavian restaurant in Liverpool
The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street - L3
“A strong new opening with great food!” – in a Sixties-tastic building that used to be the HQ for Littlewoods (once home to the football pools), Liverpudlian chef Daniel Heffy (ex-Secret Diners Club & Buyers Club) returned from Stockholm to helm this ambitious newcomer. It opened in April 2023 – rather late in the day to generate feedback in our annual diners’ poll – hence we’ve left it unrated, despite one very upbeat early-days report (and the Liverpool Echo and the Confidentials have both waxed lyrical about it).
5. Salt House
Spanish restaurant in Liverpool
1 Hanover Street - L1
“Still serving great tapas with some influences from different countries” – this bright modern café opposite John Lewis is a well-known standby in the city, with the main drawback being that “the noise-level can be difficult at busy times”. Opened in 2010, it was the first peg in a local chain that nowadays incorporates Hanover Street Social, Bacaro and Bouchon.
6. Lawns Grill, Thornton Hall Hotel & Spa
International restaurant in Thornton Hough
Neston Rd - CH63
2023 Review: A lot of water has passed under the bridge since 2019 when Boris Johnson and former Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, met for crunch post-Brexit talks at this posh hotel & spa out on the Wirral. On limited feedback, ratings for its grill are good all-round, but more plaudits go to the rather dramatically named ‘Great Wirral Afternoon Tea’ – a “well thought-out offering with good choice of sweet or savoury options” that’s “particularly nice on the terrace or lawn”.
7. OXA
restaurant in Birkenhead
1 Rose Mount, Oxten - CH43
Fine dining in relaxed neighbourhood restaurant setting, Open in Oxton serves a sophisticated tasting menu with optional drinks pairing. Ingredients are locally-sourced and treated with respect. Diners enjoy a casual chef-led experience. ...
8. Artezzan Restaurant & Bar
Mediterranean restaurant in Chester
33 Pepper Street - CH1
ARTEZZAN TAKES AN HONEST APPROACH TO MEDITERRANEAN INSPIRED FOOD SERVED IN A MODERN, FRESH, FEEL-GOOD WAY. OFFERING A UNIQUE DINING AND DRINKING EXPERIENCE CELEBRATING AN AUTHENTIC MEDITERRANEAN TASTE....
9. Vetch
International restaurant in Liverpool city centre
29a Hope Street - L1
Vetch is a fine dining restaurant with a casual atmosphere serving great food accomanied with great service.Situated in the georian quarter of Liverpool in a beautiful grade 2 listed building with large windows offering plenty of light the restaurant is both modern an...
10. Sticky Walnut
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
11 Charles St - CH2
“We had heard the hype and were very pleasantly surprised that it lived up to it!” – Gary Usher’s original venture in his nowadays-famous Elite Bistros group occupies the gentrified suburb of Hoole outside the city centre. “A small menu of reliably tasty food is provided by engaging and knowledgeable staff”, “It’s only small, so it could get a bit awkward if it was quiet, but it always seems to be bustling. I really like it here!”
11. Porta
Spanish restaurant in Chester
140 Northgate Street - CH1
“You feel like you’re in Madrid or Barcelona in these really authentic tapas bars” from Joe & Ben Wright – “the vegetable dishes are especially strong”. The three branches – in Chester, Altrincham and Salford– have proved so popular that the brothers closed down their original Chester bistro, Joseph Benjamin, three years ago to turn it into a larger Porta.
12. The Forge
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
Hotel Indigo, Grosvenor Park Road - CH1
Feedback is more limited than we would like, but is enthusiastic over this grey-hued boutique hotel dining room, run from afar by game expert Mike Robinson. Chef Dan Regan oversees the preparation of a menu that majors in 40-60 day, dry-aged beef steaks from a selection of sirloin or ribeye cuts.
13. Arkle, The Chester Grosvenor
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
56-58 Eastgate Street - CH1
Chef Elliot Hill has big shoes to fill at this well-known dining room, which is one of the North West’s most consistent culinary icons, having held a Michelin star under Simon Radley from 1998-2021 (at a time when such recognition was thin on the ground in this and neighbouring counties). Lacking natural light, this stately chamber sits deep within this unusually grand provincial hotel, which is owned by the Duke of Westminster, and is right next to the city’s emblematic Eastgate Clock on its medieval walls. While acknowledging that it’s “pricey”, all reports are very positive on the start he’s made with a “scrumptious five-course tasting menu”; staff who “make you feel valued and well looked after”; and the “elegant, comfortable and quiet (but not too quiet!)” interior. “An incredible, if expensive, experience” that’s “well set to regain his predecessor’s accolades”.
14. La Brasserie, Chester Grosvenor
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
Eastgate - CH1
In the shadow of the Eastgate Clock, this glam pavement-side brasserie (the second restaurant in a fine old hotel in the city centre) makes a luxurious spot to break from retail therapy in this shopping-mad city. There’s a “varied menu”, and although results have been “up and down” over time, locals say that “of late it’s much improved”. Top Menu Tip – “always oysters” (served with a selection of Champagnes).
15. Upstairs at the Grill
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
70 Watergate St - CH1
2022 Review: USDA steaks and other meaty treats – alongside a Manhattan-esque vibe – have won local renown for this swish steakhouse in the city centre. Closed for much of the pandemic, in October 2021 the venue finally announced its return via Instagram and its website: “You may have noticed some building work taking place over the last couple of months…we are beyond excited and thrilled to finally announce that we will be back in the New Year… We have some exciting plans to transform our iconic home in the Olde Custom House Building… Our team of chefs and bartenders are already hard at work behind the scenes developing an exciting new food and drink menu… don’t worry, your old favourites will still feature!”.
16. 1539
British, Traditional restaurant in Chester
The Racecourse - CH1
2021 Review: “With stunning views over Chester Racecourse” (“book early to be sure of a window table”), this well-established venue marries “fine wines and food” and, so long as you “don’t go on race days”, there are “usually quiet areas for those important business meetings”.
17. Architect
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
54 Nicholas Street - CH1
This Georgian pub near the city’s picturesque racecourse, from the Brunning & Price stable, is popular for its “wonderful location and comforting decor”. Reports on the food are more muted, although “if you like fish ’n’ chips you’ll love it – they offer more combinations of batter/fish/sides than most places”. It was built by prominent Chester architect Thomas Harrison as his own home – hence the unusual name.
18. The Chef's Table
British, Modern restaurant in Chester
7-15 Pepper Street Row - CH1
2021 Review: “Small but perfectly formed” – this “tiny place with an open-plan kitchen” tucked away off Northgate Street serves “wonderful food” with “great depth of flavour” and “you’re really well looked after” too.
19. Moules A Go Go
International restaurant in Chester
6-12 Cuppin Street - CH1
2021 Review: “A long-term favourite which has been going for decades” – in recent times now decamped to La Tasca's old digs from its original home in The Rows – it boasts “plush and trendy” décor; “the moules marinières are wonderful and there are nights dedicated to surf and turf or lobster”.
20. Woo Tan Scran
Vegan restaurant in Liverpool
109-111 Lark Lane - L17
2022 Review: Liverpool’s first vegan chippy – a plant-based Chinese venture on Lark Lane – opened in November 2019 serving noodles, rice dishes, spring rolls, etc, alongside more traditional dishes like battered sausages and chip butties. For grab-and-go it’s going down a storm in The Pool!
View full listings of 53 Whitby Restaurants
Popular Whitby Restaurant Searches
Whitby Restaurant News