A handful of North East restaurants have made it onto the exclusive Good Food Guide’s top 100 restaurants list – making them some of the best that the UK has to offer.

Six eateries from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, and North Yorkshire, known for delicious dishes, high-quality food and top-level customer service, have been selected in the coveted top 100 list.

Since being founded in 1951, the Good Food Guide has become eponymous with the very best places to eat – empowering diners to find the best offerings, and encouraging restaurants to offer the best possible food, service, and experience. 

Here are all the eateries recognised, where you can find them, and what to expect:

Kirkstyle Inn and Sportsman’s Rest - Slaggyford, Northumberland

A traditional-style county pub, serving up an abundance of delicious local produce. Tucked in the picturesque village of Sandyford, it is the perfect place both for a fancy date night, and to tumble into after a dog walk.

On their website, the owners say: “we are fortunate to be surrounded by an abundance of glorious local produce, which is reflected on our menus and at the bar.”

If you are wanting to visit, ensure you book ahead from Thursday to Sunday – and remember the kitchen is closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!

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Long Friday - Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

“Neighbourhood drinks and dining” in Newcastle, with a relaxed atmosphere and designer menu, Long Friday is the perfect spot for fine food with friends.

Located on Brentwood Avenue, one of Jesmond’s leafy shopping avenues, Long Friday serves up an ever-changing menu of modern delicacies.

Hinnies – Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear

A relaxed and friendly restaurant, with a menu constructed from local and seasonal produce, Hinnies brings cosy dining to the North East.

Hinnies serve “rustic and hearty Geordie-influenced classics”, all made from scratch, to give diners "a real taste of our beloved North East.”

Read more: REVIEW: Good Food Guide-tipped Dosa Kitchen Indians in Jesmond

Bantam – Helmsley, North Yorkshire

Mixing up the format by blending tapas and an a la carte menu, Bantam has become known for its relaxed, friendly feel and the Yorkshireman at its helm. What more could you ask for?

Receiving rave reviews from satisfied punters, the Good Food Guide, and even a Michelin Inspector (who deemed the Mediterranean-inspired menu “fresh and unfussy”), the restaurant has become a staple in the Yorkshire foodie scene.

Lunch is served from Wednesday to Saturday, and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday.

Homestead Kitchen – Goathland, North Yorkshire

The Homestead Kitchen was opened in November 2021, but despite the restaurant’s youth, they have not just been given a spot in the top 100 restaurants, they were deemed the Good Food Guide’s best North East restaurant.

Nestled in the picturesque moorland village of Goathland, the couple converted an 18th-century farmhouse into a restaurant offering relaxed fine dining, offering up a “taste of the region”.

They bring together locally sourced ingredients with a delightful menu and an ever-changing board of specials, dependent on what suppliers drop off on the doorstep.

Read more: Homestead Kitchen wins best local North East restaurant

Ophelia – South Gosforth, Newcastle

This French brasserie, located in Newcastle’s South Gosforth, has been tipped by both the Good Food Guide and the Michelin Guide, despite only having opened in January.

The “neighbourhood brasserie in Gosforth” serves thoughtful comfort food, with a cellar of low-intervention wines inspired by the creators’ love for France.