BORIS BITES: Best UK Restaurants for Eat Out to Help Out

By Cosmo Brockway

With the recent news of the launch of ‘Eat Out to Help out’ initiative last week, we have put our tasting hats on and rounded up some of our favourite eateries to hot foot to, from town to country. From indulgent Indian fare to seasonal game from Scottish estates, take a tour of some of the best dining rooms in the land for a fraction of the price while helping support our economy.

Angela Hartnett’s Mayfair outpost is the cream of Italian modern cuisine – it earned a Michelin Star within four months of opening. Feel the summer sea air with scrumptious halibut, mussels and zingy exotic citrus alongside Swiss chard and ricotta ravioli finished off with buttermilk panna cotta with English strawberries. A super lunch choice as well, offering a fine menu.

www.muranolondon.com

Where the best of British produce comes to Chelsea, The Five Fields is a perennial favourite of ours. A short hop from John Sandoe Books, here are the freshest tastes of this sceptered isle coming from Michelin starred chef, Taylor Bonneyman. Stalk the roe deer, courgette and blueberry before the delicious fig leaf, gooseberry and sheep’s Yoghurt.

www.fivefieldsrestaurant.com

Star chef Jason Atherton’s first solo restaurant and a vibrant mainstay of the Mayfair dining set, Pollen Street Social is as buzzy as the name suggests. Another Michelin Star awardee, this is the place for serious but lighthearted gastronomy. Those with a sweet tooth will be unable to resist the pistachio soufflé with Madagascan vanilla ice cream and bitter chocolate.

www.pollenstreetsocial.com

Pioneers of the ‘Nose to Tail’ dining philosophy, St John eschews waste and overt consumption for a more sustainable, respectful approach to British food. Come here for an adventure of the palette – menus change daily and are available online at 11am for lunch and 5pm for supper. Highlights include the crumbed lamb and mint along with the deeply comforting devilled kidneys on toast. The puddings are sensational with the strawberry mousse English summer in a glass.

www.stjohnrestaurant.com

Tally ho to the joys of Anglo-Indian fare with a modern twist at Gymkhana, often called London’s best curry house. Set in a Georgian townhouse just off Piccadilly, this is a refined and exciting restaurant still holding its own since opening in 2013. The mouth-watering biriyani (go for the venison) is made more accessible with the scheme alongside the kid goat methi keema. Cocktail tip: choose the Silver Sip gimlet made with Hendricks Gin, jasmine & sage cordial.

www.gymkhanalondon.com

Padstow’s Paul Ainsworth at No 6, a seaside Michelin Star, this 18th-century townhouse has rave reviews for its atmosphere and food. Down the Porthilly oysters, freshly shucked and local, before sampling the organic goose liver with carrot ketchup (trust us) and the Cornish waters wild turbot with Padstow crab stick. Worth driving to from anywhere in Cornwall.

www.paul-ainsworth.co.uk/

Whatley Manor is quintessential country-house style. Sporting two Michelin Stars, this Wiltshire gem is perfect for romantic dinners and long summer lunches. The signature ‘Great British Menu 2020’ has been inspired by chef Niall Keating’s favourite childhood books and will delight grown-ups and little ones alike. There is also an excellent vegetarian menu.

www.whatleymanor.com

A celebrated restaurant in Edinburgh, No 1 At The Balmoral is old-world elegant and one of the most northerly Michelin stars in the country. Chef Mark Donald is passionate about Scottish cuisine and produce which shines through the dishes. Savour the Orkney scallops and North Sea cod with Shetland mussels.

www.roccofortehotels.com

The Walnut Tree is a Welsh wonder in the Monmouthshire countryside. Michelin-starred goodness is found at this rural inn at the cusp of Black Mountains. Cosily informal and the perfect ending to a country walk, The Walnut Tree is overseen by chef-owner Shaun Hill and crackles with fireside charm. Tackle a haunch of venison and the unexpected balmy dishes of Kerala fish curry and the refreshing cardamom kulfi – no better thing in this weather.

www.thewalnuttreeinn.com

At Loyd & Townsend Rose, we help our clients organize luxury vacations to the UK. We feature grand and opulent accommodation, including historic castles and magnificent, quintessentially British stately homes for an unforgettable stay.