TEESSIDE ’ S BEST RESTAURANTS
Bestaurants !
9th ( 11th ) The Waiting Room , Eaglescliffe It ’ s easy to understand why The Waiting Room was named the UK ’ s best restaurant by the Vegetarian Society . A busy little restaurant across the road from Eaglescliffe Station , it serves homely vegetarian cuisine within what was once a terraced house . Entering our top 10 for the first time , it ’ s again the only vegetarian restaurant making the final cut . The eatery was established by Jenny and Dave Harding in 1985 . There ’ s also a drinks bar in the old pharmacy next door , serving specialist Waiting Room cocktails and craft ales .
6th ( 5th ) Cena , Yarm Cena is a wonderful venue in which to enjoy a special meal in a cosy and intimate dining space . Located on Yarm ’ s bustling High Street , this chic eatery offers authentic Italian cuisine with vegetarian and vegan options . Another owned by Marcus Bennett and Jonathan Hall .
3rd ( 6th ) The Crathorne Arms , Crathorne Our winner in 2016 and 2020 , this muchlauded pub and restaurant , situated in the quaint village of Crathorne , returns to the top three . Wowing voters with impressive seasonal menu choices prepared with love , backed by a grand selection of fine wines and real ales , Eugene and Barbara McCoy always go the extra step , ensuring the warmest of welcomes and providing affordable and impressive set menus for special events .
8th ( 19th ) The Devonport , Middleton-One-Row Serving classic pub dishes such as fish and chips and chicken kiev with a modern twist , The Devonport is an 18th-century hotel , free house and restaurant on the picturesque village green on the banks of the River Tees . The Devonport is one of four eateries in our top 10 owned by restaurant gurus Jonathan Hall and Marcus Bennett .
5th ( 4th ) Café Lilli , Norton A perennial favourite among Tees Business readers , Café Lilli is an established bistro-vibe café in Norton and is a go-to for locals and foodies alike , serving up contemporary cuisine with an Italian influence . Under the guidance of owner Roberto Pitalis , it offers creative dishes served in an upbeat and lively setting . Café Lilli is also loved for its live music and feelgood atmosphere .
2nd ( 1st )
7th ( 12th ) The Orangery , Rockliffe Hall , Hurworth-on-Tees The exquisite Orangery at the sumptuous Rockliffe Hall is no stranger to our poll . The restaurant offers an unrivalled dining experience , a garden-to-plate ethos and exceptional wine pairings . Choose the 10-course tasting menu to get a real flavour of the establishment , with many courses created using ingredients foraged in the Rockliffe grounds or grown in the kitchen garden .
4th ( 2nd ) Chadwicks Inn , Maltby Chadwicks Inn is a former winner and a top five stalwart in our annual poll – and rightly so . A truly British pub dating back to the 19th century and boasting a wealth of original features , the inn sits on the fringes of the stunning North York Moors . With a well-deserved reputation for food excellence , two AA Rosettes and the warmest of northern welcomes , Chadwicks Inn offers locally sourced and beautifully prepared dishes , not to mention great fun wine tasting evenings .
Muse , Yarm
Voted the region ’ s best restaurant by our readers in 2017 and 2021 , Muse was narrowly pipped to the post this time around . A continental-style café on Yarm High Street , Muse offers modern European cuisine with carefully sourced seasonal ingredients , and the resulting rustic dishes consistently appeal to diners . But we ’ re guessing owners Marcus Bennett and Jonathan Hall won ’ t mind it losing out to the winner …
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