Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Yorkshire

OpenTable

Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Yorkshire? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

The Highland Laddie

5.0

5 (33)

£26 to £40

Gastro Pub

Leeds

About the restaurant

A proper pub on the outskirts of the city centre. Oysters shucked and served from the bar alongside, stout, cask ales, beers and wine. They also make an exceptional martini. Food is centered round an old fireplace where local quality produce is cooked over fire. From the team that own The Empire Cafe.

Top review

Alara

Dined 2 days ago

Really excellent food and a lovely atmosphere. Reminded me of going for Sunday dinner at the local by my parents as a kid and eating at the small tables really meant for drinks, but the food was incredible. The stand out was a mussel toast with langoustine bisque, it was insanely delicious and I could have drank the bisque! Staff were friendly and explained the menu well, and I loved that we got a mustard menu to pair with our ham!! Only complaint would be the small tables for sharing plates makes the table crowded, and it was a bit pricey for a pub but the quality of the food did justify it.

Bavette-Leeds

4.9

4.9 (451)

£41 and over

French

Leeds

About the restaurant

We’re delighted to introduce Bavette. A neighbourhood bistro filled with warm engaging hospitality, with a menu of seasonally led classically driven dishes.

We hope to get that balance of generosity and quality right - that juxtaposition of every day special.

Bavette is a love letter to our favourite places we’ve been to and been lucky enough to be a part of.

Sandy Jarvis and Clément Cousin.

Top review

LOUISE

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Another superb experience at Bavette! The menu was even more amazing than usual with our choices mackerel and crab tartlet for starters and divine turbot for our mains. Somehow we squeezed in a cheese board and frangipani tart! I love that these guys are absolutely not resting on their laurels and the tide of incredible reviews they have received, Clement and team are just as focused on providing a wonderful experience as they were during our first visit a year ago. Already looking forward to next visit and would encourage any lovers of fabulous food served in a friendly atmosphere to visit!

Hern

4.9

4.9 (52)

£41 and over

British

Leeds

About the restaurant

Hern is a relaxed but ambitious bistro from chef Rab Adams, located in the suburb of Chapel Allerton in North Leeds. Rab and his team build menus by focusing on products that are in season and at their best. Organic vegetables, local cheeses, heritage-breed meat and wild fish all feature heavily.

The restaurant is open:

Wednesday Dinner - a la carte menu
Thursday-Saturday Dinner - set menu*

*we serve both a short and long set menu, if booking between 5:30 and 6:30 you will only be offered the short menu due to turning tables. Guests with specific dietary restrictions will also only be offered the short menu.

Please note; we need all dietary and allergy information at the point of booking. Sample menus can be found on our website.

Top review

Khara

Dined 1 day ago

Hern is fabulous, just go there! Time after time they deliver fantastic food with unique and wonderful flavour combinations. It’s not fussy, just extremely well cooked food in a lovely atmosphere with great drinks alongside. I’m not sure how they keep getting better and creating great new menus, but they do. Thanks again for a lovely evening!

The Old Black Bull

4.9

4.9 (55)

£26 to £40

Gastro Pub

Husthwaite

About the restaurant

A small 500-year-old traditional village pub owned by the Hannah family. A pub of yesteryear, it is a true little gem.

A Free House, situated in the beautiful village of Raskelf, North Yorkshire (just off the A19 north of York). The pub dates back to the 16th century with its structure boasting ships timber brought up the river Ouse from Hull.

The local cask ales are Theakston's Best, Timothy Taylor's Landlord & Hambleton brewery Stud Blonde (gluten free),

The Sunday roasts are to die for with produce locally soured, some direct by the farmers that frequent the pub.

Our beautiful seasonal changing menu includes, local steak selection, homemade pub classics, and dishes such as pork belly, Gressingham duck fillet, local lamb shank, BBQ beef short rib, lemon sole, Scottish rope grown mussels, Cornish king scallops, dressed crab salad to name a few. All prepared fresh and cooked by our amazing head chef Steve Wanless and sous chef Rachel Johnson.

Booking is essential.

Top review

Polly

Dined 4 days ago

Super friendly service and delicious high quality food.

Quinta Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (325)

£25 and under

Mediterranean

Ilkley

About the restaurant

Top review

Gail

Dined 4 days ago

Lovely restaurant. Good food reasonably priced and friendly, welcoming service. We will be back

Escape Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (965)

£26 to £40

Mediterranean

Leeds

About the restaurant

We are proud to welcome you to Escape Restaurant & Bar situated in the heart of Horsforth. The venue offers British and Mediterranean cuisine served in newly refurbished deco, we source local produce to create simple but yet delicious food paired with especially/carefully selected wines. Join us at Escape Restaurant & Bar for pre-dinner drinks and enjoy al fresco dining in the summer months. Whatever it is you want to escape from we got it covered #SometimesYouGottaEscape

Top review

Derek

Dined 5 days ago

Really great night food was amazing service was really nice and attentive

Wood Fire Dine

4.8

4.8 (531)

£25 and under

Pizzeria

Leeds

About the restaurant

WOOD | FIRE | DINE is an artisan pizzeria based in Yorkshire with bar area Vespers. Owned by award winning Chef Mark Baber Pizza chef of the year 2019 & Finalist for 2021.

We pride ourselves on our authentic hand making processes and our commitment to quality and excellence.

Top review

David

Dined on Jun 28, 2025

Pizzas were incredible staff very friendly too, are table wasn’t ready when we arrived but we were shown a place at the bar to wait. Good selection of non alcohol drinks too.

Forde Horsforth

4.8

4.8 (710)

£26 to £40

British

Leeds

About the restaurant

Horsforth-born Matt Healy, known from MasterChef: The Professionals, has come home to Horsforth!

Matt’s ‘food to swear by’ brand has made a real impact on the Leeds dining scene, earning him a 2024 Michelin Plate for the 3rd consecutive year and a mention in The Good Food Guide. His focus on modern British cooking has won over both diners and critics alike.

MasterChef judge Marcus Wareing praised Matt’s sauces as “some of the best he had ever tasted,” while Jay Rayner’s Guardian review simply said, “Bloody hell, that’s good”—though not quite in those exact words.

With experience working alongside some of the best in the industry, Matt’s bringing together a talented team to deliver excellent food and service right here in Horsforth.

Top review

Michael

Dined 4 days ago

Myself and two friends shared 6 plates on the LS18 deal. The food was amazing! We couldn't fault it and there was more than enough. We really liked the slightly larger plates (which count as 2 of your choices) especially as we were sharing. The staff were friendly and attentive without being intrusive. A highly enjoyable evening and great value for money. Would highly recommend and will definitely be going back.

Piccolino - Harrogate

4.8

4.8 (515)

£26 to £40

Italian

Harrogate

About the restaurant

*** 2025 New Opening hours Monday - Thursday from 4 pm and Friday - Sunday from 12 pm ***

Piccolino on Parliament Street in Harrogate has perfected the full Italian experience: balancing quality food and delicious drinks with a laid-back atmosphere and sumptuous surroundings. There’s something special here for everyone; from watching the chefs work their magic in the open kitchen to hosting a work meeting in the beautiful private dining room or enjoying the sunset on the stunning rooftop all-weather terrace.
We visit the regions, meet the producers and are committed to sourcing the best quality ingredients. . At Piccolino, passion for provenance is at the forefront of our menu, which incorporates the best and freshest seasonal produce, Italian cheeses, meat and seafood, all delivering pure classic Italian flavours. We partner with artisan suppliers from all over Italy bringing some of the best Italian ingredients to our restaurant in Harrogate.

Top review

Thomas

Dined 1 day ago

We were looked after by Salvatore and Jose’ the whole way through, food was amazing and was a really enjoyable experience - thank you for a very enjoyable lunch

Discover more

Kids Eat For £1 on a Sunday at Piccolino

Salute At The White Swan

4.6

4.6 (1190)

£25 and under

Italian

Leeds

About the restaurant

Salute starts with what Italians are most proud of - fantastic, rustic dishes, using recipes that have been tried, tested and loved! As well as serving exceptional food, we aim to create a neighbourhood venue, inspired by the Italian table where people relax, share, and enjoy each others company.

Please note to book an OUTSIDE table for more 6 guests please call the restaurant.

Top review

Margaret

Dined 5 days ago

Brilliant food, 6 completely empty plates at the end and the same with desserts. Nice and airy with open doors etc. Good service maybe a little bit too long a wait before we were brought the dessert menu but that’s just a minor issue. Food excellent but a little expensive we thought. Overall we would return as the food was so very good, so thank you Salute.

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