Deganwy, British, Modern Restaurant Guide

There’s no dissent about the “great setting” of this “busy, buzzy” modern waterfront establishment, overlooking the Menai Straits; the food, however, tends not to live up to it, being “competent rather than interesting” (though “vegetarian dishes perform better than fish”). Despite recurrent grumbles, the business opened its fourth North Wales link in September 2023: a baked goods and general store, on Conwy’s High Street, and with a restaurant offering epic views to the castle.

Stephen Stevens continues to impress those who visit this converted butcher’s shop just over the Menai Bridge, which has won renown as one of Wales’s top culinary destinations. You are encouraged to ‘Forget the menu and savour the experience’, which is only available three nights per week and remains at £175 per person.

Llandudno-born chef/patron Nick Rudge cut his culinary teeth at The Fat Duck; his small two-year-old venue occupies part of a gothic building that was formerly a cinema and bingo hall. It has won some renown for his ambitious, locally rooted cuisine, and our feedback this year was also enthusiastic (if still too limited for a rating): “lucky to get last table for two at short notice: great menu and wine flight with links to Wales for both food and wine, with strong results across all courses and very attentive and professional service… would recommend”.