Ynyshir topsWelsh five in best 100 restaurants
FIVE Welsh restaurants have been ranked among the country’s 100 best places to eat, according to a new food guide.
Published today, the 2018 edition of Harden’s Best UK Restaurants, dubbed the country’s most comprehensive cuisine guide, listed the venues among its pick of must-visit homegrown eateries.
Based on one of Britain’s most detailed surveys of regular restaurant-goers – 8,500 participants contributing some 50,000 reviews – this annual poll of diners gave special mention first and foremost to Ynyshir in Eglwys Fach, near Machynlleth, ranking it in 15th place.
Tucked away between the golden sands of Borth Beach and the rugged mountains of Snowdonia National Park, Ynyshir was once owned by Queen Victoria as a hidden retreat.
The current holder of a Michelin star and 5 AA rosettes, this destination restaurant’s kitchen is headed up by chef Gareth Ward, whose style is influenced by the flavours and techniques of Japanese cuisine.
It’s described by Harden’s as ‘highly recommended and indecently tasty’.
It adds ‘take a pilgrimage to this gorgeous house for a gastronomic experience like no other – worth every penny’.
Next, coming in at number 38, is Tyddyn Llan in Llandrillo, Corwen.
Highly placed in the Good Food Guide, and Good Hotel Guide, it’s had a Michelin Star since 2010.
‘Outstanding cuisine, laid back style and lovely staff’, say Harden’s.
Llangoed Hall in Llyswen, Brecon – the winner of Three AA Rosettes, Visit Wales Gold Award Winner 2014 and The Sunday Times Country House Hotel Of the Year 2014-2015, amongst others - takes the 49th spot.
Its ‘old-hall decadence and exquisite cuisine’ are name-checked in the guide, while Penarth’s Michelinstarred Restaurant James Sommerin is praised for its ‘excellent quality ingredients, which are elevated to another level by the chef-patron and his friendly team’. It figures at number 74. Last, but not least, is the The Whitebrook in the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire. Formerly known as The Crown at Whitebrook, it bagged a Michelin star in 2014 – just 11 months after reopening under new head chef Chris Harrod.
Harden’s call it, ‘a foodie gem, with locally sourced and foraged cuisine’, ranking it at 76.
And lots of other Welsh restaurants feature in a general run-down of top scorers, including Checkers in Montgomery, Pale Hall Hotel Restaurant in Bala, Fairyhill in Reynoldston, Cardiff ’s Moksh, Sosban and The Old Butchers in Menai Bridge and Pysgoty in Aberystwyth.
Meanwhile, the capital’s Bar 44, Curado, Deck, Grazing Shed, Mint and Mustard, Purple Poppadom and Vegetarian Food Studio are all judged as providing very good value for money.
But the coveted top eating spot in the UK is given to a £385-a-head sushi restaurant in London called Araki.
Based in Mayfair, the nine-seater recently gained three Michelin stars, beating off hot competion from Bristol’s Casamia and The Ledbury in Notting Hill.
Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2018, £15.99, is available now from Waterstones and Amazon.co.uk, and from www.hardens.com