‘I’M BLOWN AWAY’: WELSH RESTAURANT NAMED IN UK’S TOP 20
AMICHELIN-STARRED restaurant serving British dishes with a Japanese twist has been named the best in Wales.
Ynyshir is the top Welsh entry in Good Food Guide 2018, which is regarded as the food industry bible.
It is one of three restaurants from Wales to make the Top 50.
Based in Eglwys Fach, Machynlleth and boasting 5-star rooms, it’s at number 12 on the list, which is topped by Restaurant Nathan Outlaw in Cornwall.
Restaurant James Sommerin, Penarth, is at number 35, while The Whitebrook in Monmouth is Wales’ third entry at number 49.
Meanwhile, the guide also lists more than 50 other Welsh restaurants outside the Top 50 which impressed the judges and among them are two new entries – Asador 44 in Cardiff and Beach House in Oxwich.
The kitchen at Ynyshir – which has leapt 28 places from number 40 in last year’s guide – is run by Michelin star chef patron Gareth Ward who creates “alternative British menus with a Japanese twist” using local produce with flavour at its heart.
Gareth told the Western Mail he was “blown away” to be the top Welsh entry in the guide.
He said: “Our ethos is that we are flavour-driven. We don’t just use Welsh ingredients but the best from the whole country. We have a slight Japanese twist but we’re not a Japanese restaurant. We like to keep the food light so that we can serve more courses so that people can have an experience of flavour.
“The Good Food Guide has always been my favourite guide and I would read it as a boy – so to be in it now is incredible.
“I’m blown away by this and feel very honoured.”
Elizabeth Carter, Waitrose Good Food Guide Editor, said of Ynyshir: “It may be a destination restaurant, but it doesn’t take long to realise that this fine country manor house doesn’t have too much truck with tradition and convention.
“Gareth Ward’s menu is a clever and meticulous no-choice affair – a celebration of local produce infused with Japanese flavours and real skill. But most of all, his cooking is about flavour.”
Michelin-starred Restaurant James Sommerin was last year’s highest Welsh entrant at 34 and has dropped just one place.
Overlooking the sea in Penarth and named AA Restaurant of the Year in Wales in 2016/17, it serves both a tasting and a la carte menu featuring dishes like Welsh lamb, 32 day aged sirloin and quail.
The Whitebrook, which also makes a return to the list, is a Michelinstarred restaurant with rooms run by Chris Harrod who prepares dishes using locally-sourced food flavoured with freshly foraged herbs.
The Good Food Guide’s Top 50 is made up of the restaurants which scored the highest marks from the judges but the guide, owned by Waitrose, also features other highlyscored restaurants across the UK, including the two new Welsh entries.
Asador 44 was opened in Cardiff in March by the team behind the Bar 44 tapas restaurants. It specialises in the Spanish ‘asador’ style of cooking.
Judges described it as “a well-run, informal restaurant backed up by faultless, knowledgeable service”.
The Beach House in Oxwich Bay, Gower, is the other new Welsh entry. It opened last summer and is run by Hywel Griffith who is passionate about local produce.
Judges say: “A brilliant new addition to the guide – a cracking restaurant for Wales in a fantastic location.”