My first thought towards this dining experience over a week ago was I wouldn't even wade into the…read moreenthusiastic mostly 5-star rating of a French styled restaurant in a fairly small town in Northern rural England. Just let it go. So here's what is bothering me, and I have strong feelings about this: the beef bourguignon. It's not rocket science to make this dish, and its base is a rich, savory beef broth mingled with things like onions, carrots, shallots, herbs like thyme and rosemary and possibly other spices to the chef's liking. Happen to know a bit about the dish because I've been making it for years. It's all about the broth to this diner. And to be fair, I once had a sadder version of the dish in Paris long ago. So how hard is it to make? Well, apparently the chefs in pubs and similar dining spots along the way are able to craft outstanding versions of their steak and ale pie that are simply outstanding in their robust beef taste. If those chefs can make that dish so well, so savory, why can't something similar be applied to beef bourguignon? I maintain the broth in starting the cooking process was simply not up to par. Lacking in richness, the beef was over-dried, suggesting it had been sitting too long or just wasn't prepared correctly. Instead of baby potatoes, a side of mashed potatoes sat off to the side of the beef and broth. Sorely lacking in the amount of butter needed and low on salt, it was an unpleasant and uninspiring addition that added nothing to the dish. The salad that proceeded the meal was listed as shrimp and mango. Out came baby shrimp with the rubbery taste of just thawed, mixed with mango, then a massive amount of Thousand Island like dressing drenching it all with a few chives atop. Not a great effort. Kudos for offering a true French Malbec from the Southwest corner of the country, the black wine, but this one was pedestrian and was served in the kind of wine glass that screams cheapest serving ware possible with its thick rim around the top. I can commend the staff which was professional and on top of it on a busy Friday night. Beyond that, this is a pass for me. Should have stuck to a local pub serving traditional countryside pies as the ones I've had along the Coast to Coast walk, my reason for being here, have all been outstanding.

Thanks to Emily B's brilliant local knowledge we ended up here early-ish on a Saturday night to…read morebenefit from their pre-1830 set menu which at £15 for 2 courses and £18 for 3 is great value for the quality of the food. I had a nice crab cake to start and only had slight food envy of my bf's delicious deep fried brie (yeah would def get that next time). For mains I had a fantastic rich and beautiful cooked duck leg and then a classic creme brulee to finish. Bf had the beef bourguignon which he loved and was still commenting on days later. On the sides front I would recommend the creamed leeks and green beans (in garlic butter), only thing I wasn't so keen on was the ratatouille. Service was very good and I love the design of the restaurant which involves a fake outdoor pavement seating area!

We take my in-laws to Simply French whenever they come to town. The prices are reasonable, the…read morefood is excellent and it's a nice walk along the quay to get there. This would be a nice place for a date, actually! It's cozy and intimate inside and quiet enough to chat. The staff is really friendly and the owner, Rob, always has a big smile for us when we cross paths (in the restaurant or just around town!) If you're going for a lunch date, try Quite Simply Food instead. It's a little cafe by the same owner and it's excellent also.

Excellent service, tasty food, delicious drinks & great prices…read more We highly recommend. We

Prebook in advance to avoid disappointment!…read more I booked this for our anniversary meal. Despite turning up on time we had to queue outside for at least 25 minutes with several others waiting for people to finish their meals. Once inside the waiter was super apologetic, and you could tell he needed a drink himself. The restaurant was very cosy with interesting pieces of art on the walls. A nice very traditional feel about the place. Anyway the starters consisted of various seafood and meat dishes to which you can size up as a main on average pricing of £7 to £15. I had the pork cheeks and himself the clam spaghetti. While we waited we were presented with canapés consisting of cheese and carmalised onions..the other truffle oil on crackers. These were a very tasty treat. The spaghetti was well made and the sauce light smothering the tiny clams. My pork cheek was super tender, and it lay perched on perfect mash, panchetta, black pudding, pickled onions in a tomato broth. Various bits of bread was also served to mop up this juice. Only criticism clam meat is sooo small in this country so not worth the battle against the shells for such a tiny reward. For mains I had the seafood special which was a bowl filled with mussels, clams, scallop, king prawns and longuistines swimming in a broth and fresh pasta. This was super tasty, cooked to perfection and presented nicely. My only gripe was I only had one at most two scallops. My other half chose the lamb which again was super tender, in a homely bed of mash, sauce and root vegetables. Super simple dish but everything was cooked perfectly. I was feeling quite full but the orange panacotta with orange sorbet was too tasty to miss. It didn't disappoint. Overall despite the disappointing beginning the service was impeccable and food really tasty. However I did expect a bit more in terms of creativity considering this was a Michelin star restaurant. Definitely worth a visit if you enjoy your seafood especially.

L'Enclume - Cartmel, Cumbria, England Visited Spring 2025…read more There are places in the world that don't just serve food -- they tell stories. L'Enclume is one of them. Tucked into the sleepy stone village of Cartmel, this restaurant doesn't announce itself with grandeur or flash. No need to. The experience unfolds slowly and deliberately, like the first warm day of spring back home in Georgia -- quiet, confident, full of promise. I came with my daughter and my father, a three-generation table on a grey and rainy English afternoon. What we found inside was something close to sacred. Every ingredient -- and I do mean every leaf, sprig, blossom, and shaving -- is grown just up the road on their farm. It's not farm-to-table because that phrase gets thrown around too easily. This is farm-as-table. Soil to plate, with nothing lost in between. Frankly I'd eat the dirt! The food isn't flashy. It's not even trying to impress you. What it's doing is whispering to you, reminding you how a carrot should really taste, how a beet can surprise you, how even the garnish -- a single flower petal, a delicate frond of dill -- has a place, a purpose, and a story of its own. Every element on the plate has been handled with the kind of care I've only ever seen in kitchens where respect runs deeper than ego. It's the same kind of care you see in a chef who's shelling peas from their grandmother's garden, barefoot and sun-warmed. Do yourself a favor and get the cheese trolley. I don't care how full you are. This isn't a board. It's a full rolling altar of British dairy. We ate our way through it like pilgrims. The wine pairing? Thoughtful and subtle. Not a single pour felt showy or out of place. Just another thread in a tapestry that had already been so patiently woven. And if you have favourites, as my father does, they will expertly deliver what your palet craves. And let me say this plainly: the service is beyond reproach. It's the best I've encountered anywhere. Period. There's grace in the way they move, in the way they speak, in the way they listen. You're not being served. You're being cared for. And there's a difference. They knew the dishes, yes, but they also seemed to know us -- when to engage, when to leave space, when to laugh, when to refill. It's a rhythm, and they've mastered it. Chef Simon... you have done well! I won't attempt to describe each dish. That would be like trying to summarize a novel by reading off the chapter titles. You'll have your own experience -- as you should. I've eaten all over the world. Some places show off, some feed your belly, and a few, like this one, feed your soul. L'Enclume is England's high temple of ultra-seasonal cooking. It's a restaurant that respects the land, the hands that work it, and the guests lucky enough to sit at the table. And if I'm ever blessed enough to return, I won't hesitate. I'll go in hungry, and I'll leave humbled and happy.

First of all the restaurant is amazing great food the food just melted in her mouth so flavorful…read more And whenever you got up to go to the restroom, they fold your napkin again and make it look brand new. Glorious variety of wines. The staff was amazing being so nice and presented dishes expertly. Also with the fancy food you can add an additional cheeseboard at the end and it's the best restaurant I've ever been to. If I could. /10!

In my opinion one of the finest french restaurant in the north.Taking inspiration from some of…read moregreat dishes of La Gavroche. Had a fantastic evening in November 2011, the team provided the perfect festive lunch, the monkfish thermidor was fantastic. Strongly recommend potted shrimp starter. If you enjoy great French food, then Chez La Vie could not be recommended more highly. The wines available on the wine list are truly fantastic from the house wines to the finest red & white wines, there is something for every budget.

We used to love eating here but it is no longer open.read more

If you're familiar with popular astronomy concepts, you might appreciate the following statement:…read moreKendells Bistro exists almost wholly within the Goldilocks Zone of the restaurant universe, a phenomenon that's expected to be possible, but only encountered an infinitesimally small fraction of the time. The restaurant's interior is cosy and charming, dark and candlelit. It borders on being romantic, but doesn't take itself so seriously that it'll dissuade diners who aren't coming in as a couple. Its location is central, but not -in- the city centre. A mere handful of minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Briggate and Leeds' shopping meccas, one can readily walk to this bistro, but it's offset enough to deter the masses. And during the early evening hours (I believe from opening time until 2000 the night we visited), you can take advantage of their 2-course, 3-course, or 3-course and a half bottle of wine offers for between £17-25; it's a bargain, no matter how you slice it. The only thing that's absolutely excessive is the portion size for each of the dishes. My salad with rich, hearty bacon chunks and a perfectly poached egg on top was enough to sate my hunger. Then, when the cassoulet main arrived, I got -maybe- halfway through it before deciding I was completely stuffed. The cassoulet (featuring duck leg, sausage, -and- pork loin) was hearty and richly flavoured. By itself, it was a monstrous serving. That's ignoring the delightfully piped and plated potato mash, carrot mash, and mounded broccoli. From start to finish, I couldn't think of a single thing to improve about the experience. Kendells was readily the most noteworthy dining experience I've had in Leeds yet, and ranks highly amongst any gastronomic adventure I've embarked upon throughout Europe, generally!

if you go here, make sure you try the Supreme de Volialle L`Estragon. It's a really lovely dish…read morethat is part of the tea time menu. As they state 'Everything stops for tea.' The menu is priced at £21.95 - if you include half a bottle of wine into the menu (which of course, you will!) and you can pick from starters like, Gratin Lyonnaise, Saumon Marine A' la Aneth and Pate Maison. The mains consist of; Porc Boulangere, Confit Du Canard, Saumon en Croute and the likes. One of the best parts is of course dessert...pick from Petit Pot au Chocolate, Tarte aux Citron, Creme Brulee and Fromage. Nobody does Creme Brulee like the French so I'd recommend this! This is a great place to go before going to the theatre to see a show or even just to kick back and relax after a hard week.

Much like the language used in alot of my reviews the menu here is a Anglo-French fusion. True fine…read moredining options are actually not as common as you think. Majority of restaurants that claim to be fine dining are anythjing but. While I have never been a big fan of "fine dining" in the first place I have dined at enough decent fine dining restaurants to know the difference. I like the fact that they are spreading their wings and pushing the boundries a little bit by having a gourmet night with different cuisines once a month every month. French gourmet evening in August, Thai is spetember, British in October and Indian in November. Good stuff Trufflets. I purposefully skipped past majority of the options on the menu and went for the home-made char-grilled beef burger, cheddar, salad and gherkin in ciabatta, with string fries and coleslaw. To test the menu in my opinion you have to try out something from the menu that you know best and have tried in copious amounts in other restaurants. This way you start to build a portfolio of dishes in your mind. I am here to report then that their Beef burger was not bad indeed. The gherkins was a surprisingly nice touch.

High quality food that won't disappoint. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. The only downfall is…read morethe expensive price.

The best food that I had the privilege of eating out on my very first visit to the UK! It was…read moreabsolutely delicious and the staff are very friendly. I can't wait for an opportunity to come back again! :)

From the owner: A La Carte Menu Lunch time/early bird menu…read moreSpecials board Christmas menu

Fab yoo luss dahling…read more Beef bourginon - best I've had outside of Paris. Delicious Pinot and a classy Chateau Neuf De Pape. Excellent staff and lovely interior. Just go there. You'll not be sorry.

The latest addition to the Ilkley eating scene. It would be rude not to try it. Part of the recent…read morerefurb of The Crescent there is a nice pub next door with some local real ales and a good selection of wines by the glass. Our table in the Bistrot was ready spot on 9.00pm despite it being a very busy Saturday evening. We did reject the first table on offer as it was right by the front entrance with lots of passing traffic. The table we were finally settled on was away from the main restaurant in a pokey corner - it seemed the locals/regulars had pre booked the best seats in the house. (Clearly they all read Michael Winner in the Times on a Sunday and follow his lead of selecting tables.....) Onto the food - quite a small menu and a bit dissapointing for vegetarians - if you are vegan don't even bother. I was tempted by the Baked Camembert which we all shared as a starter - make sure you order extra bread, the portion that comes with the cheese is no where near enough. Mains were Duck - devoured and thumbs up, Crayfish Risotto - another empty plate, Beouf Bourguignon - a huge thumbs down, very fatty - Goats Cheese Salad for the veggie - as nice as a Goats Cheese salad can be. Overall we had a pleasant evening out, good wine, good company, pleasant ambience - despite the corner setting of our table. I would say give it a go, just avoid the Beef.