AN award-winning North East restaurant has retained its two Michelin stars in the latest update to the prestigious guide.

The Raby Hunt restaurant in Summerhouse, near Darlington, remains the restaurant in the North East the judges are most impressed with thanks to the successful work of head chef James Close and wife Maria.

It was awarded its second Michelin star in 2016 after receiving high praise for its distinctive menus and styles of cooking.

Read more: Darlington chef though Michelin star was "a joke"

And judges at Michelin are effusive in their praise for the restaurant.

They said: “Self-taught chef James is full of passion and in his pursuit of perfection, has never missed a service.

“His enticing, highly original menu is a showcase of precision, from a selection of snacks that reflect his global travels to signature dishes such as a seasonal salad of 48-52 top-notch ingredients, presented in a beguiling array of textures and temperatures.

“To conclude, you’ll find some of the country’s most sublime desserts.”

The Northern Echo: James Close owner-chef at The Raby Hunt restaurant James Close owner-chef at The Raby Hunt restaurant

In a post on Instagram, James Close said: “Thanks to everyone staff and customers we continue to move forward and look forward to welcoming you as a 2 Michelin star Restaurant.

“Massive thanks to my wife/pastry chef Maria and also my dad and mum Russel and Helene.” 

A sample menu for The Raby Hunt: 

The Northern Echo:

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