Cambridge, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

It has a very “pretty riverside setting” on the Cam in the midst of Midsummer Common, but that’s not why Daniel Clifford’s Victorian Villa is so often hailed as an “amazing destination”. It’s the “stunning cuisine from start to finish” which creates a “seriously top-notch eating experience” with the only option in the evening being an eight-course tasting menu. However, even fans acknowledge that it is decidedly “not cheap (call your bank manager first)”, and while for most diners “it’s well worth every penny”, there is a significant disgruntled minority for whom the final bill is “way over the top”.

Distinguished chef Hans Schweitzer moved his “always outstanding” restaurant into new purpose-built premises in the Gonville Hotel in 2017 – a “lovely new location” for food that’s “inspired, finely balanced and beautifully presented” and in a culinary style that’s “interesting but grounded in established harmonies and avoiding wackiness”. “It may on first look appear expensive, but it’s worth every penny”.

“Finally a reasonable place in central Cambridge”, right opposite the Great Gate of the namesake college. The interior is stylish and the menu, while “not large”, offers superior seafood and meat, plus “a good choice of wines by the glass or bottle”, helping it to become quite the foodie magnet since opening two years back.

A “very friendly” decade-old bistro that, albeit “very noisy”, wins praise for its “agreeable atmosphere” (especially in the pretty walled garden); the modern Anglo/Euro food doesn’t detract from a visit either.

“Grilled and roast meats plus plenty of other options” play a strong second fiddle to the setting at this “spacious and friendly converted mill, with operational wheel and views over water”. Owners Cambscuisine recently secured £750,000 through crowdfunding to expand their nine-strong local empire.

A well-known Victorian townhouse outside the centre, near Victoria Avenue Bridge, that opened its doors 40 years ago and, as of early 2018, is under young ex-Gordon Ramsay grad Sam Carter and his wife Alexandra (FOH). This has been one of the town’s major culinary destinations for many years: feedback welcomed on his creative modern British grub – changing weekly, and running to five- or seven-course tasting menus.

Too few reports as yet for a rating on this Varsity outpost of Richard Caring’s facsimile of the famous star-magnet in London’s Theatreland. All feedback so far is good though.

Parker’s Tavern is the destination restaurant in the revamped University Arms Hotel overlooking Parker’s Piece; chef Tristan Welch (previously head chef at Pétrus, he also relaunched Launceston Place then worked on Mustique) heads up the kitchen, representing a return to his East Anglian roots.