If you wanted to dine around the UK, one way to do it would be to arm yourself with the Good Food Guide.
And every year it produces a list of Britain’s 100 best local restaurants.
This year, members put forward 60,000 nominations. They have just announced the top 100 for 2024, and it’s quite an arduous process.
“We, and our undercover inspectors, have been touring the country to ensure the list is made up of the best of their kind,” editors Elizabeth Carter and Chloë Hamilton said.
Yorkshire did us proud this year, with Leeds‘ French bistro Bavette taking the title ‘Britain’s best local restaurant’.
And what about North Yorkshire, I hear you ask? Well, we have two entries in the Top 100. And here they are.
Origin Social, Northallerton
What The Good Food Guide says: “One could easily walk past Origin Social thinking it was just another café/bar on an anonymous strip with views of passing traffic and a Kwik Fit garage – in fact it is rather exceptional.
“With its long bar, substantial wine and cocktail list and a changing roster of local ales from the likes of Brew York, the Kirkstall Brewery and Knaresborough’s Turning Point Brew Co, it does feel more like a pub than restaurant but the food for such an unassuming place is surprising.
“A parade of globally inspired small plates brings imaginative and thoughtfully cooked dishes along the lines of king scallops served on the shell in a buttery, lime and ‘nduja dressing, or roast watermelon with feta, walnut and pickled shallots dressed with balsamic and honey.”
What Origin Social says: “We are honoured to be included in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants 2024.
“We are so grateful to our hard-working team, our customers who give us endless support and voted for us, and the Good Food Guide for their recognition.
“Top 100 out of 60,000 nominations is a crazy achievement! Congrats to every other establishment included.”
- Origin, Friarage Street, Northallerton York, DL6 1DP | Website
Homestead Kitchen, Goathland
What The Good Food Guide says: “With the North York Moors unrolling before you like a full-scale map beyond the windows of this converted farmhouse and smithy, you won’t lack for visual ravishment.
“The village of Goathland will seem topographically familiar from its service as the hamlet in ITV’s Heartbeat and the Homestead plays its part too, its low-ceilinged dining areas done in unshowy country style.
“Chef Peter Neville and his family have put down local roots here, drawing in meat from moorland farmers, fish from nearby Whitby, and a plethora of produce from their own kitchen gardens.
“Little craft events and guided walks add to the sense that you have dropped in on friends who have put rather more effort into planning your visit than you are used to.”
What Homestead Kitchen say: “This award means so much to us as the shortlist is drawn from customer nominations, and not just a tick box, they ask you to explain what makes you think we should win… and then secret judges visit and chose the winners.
“We don’t get to see what you wrote, although some of you did share your entries with us and I have to confess they brought tears to my eyes. It is absolutely magic to be doing what we love, and sharing it with such supportive, enthusiastic, interesting and kind diners.
“Who would have thought when we risked it all on buying a farmhouse on the moors we would be celebrating such achievements 2½ years on.”
- Homestead Kitchen, Prudom House, Goathland, North Yorkshire YO22 5AN | Website
Find out more about Britain’s top 100 local restaurants on the Good Food website
