Cambridge Restaurant Guide

“Not Japanese nor pretending to be” – this Danish fusion-chain offers a suspicious-sounding-but-successful mix of “fancy sushi” with “plenty of other stuff on skewers” (i.e. yakitori ‘sticks’). “Some of the non-traditional additions don’t quite work, but those that do are lovely”; and as a group, “where so many others fail, it delivers well on consistency”. Its “big and spacious”, Scandi-style branches create a “vibrant and exciting” environment too, “but, oh my word, the prices…”

“Tasty, simple, British bistro fare” washed down by a “great selection of craft beers” plus a “brilliant range of gins” is the formula at this “great traditional pub with a twist”, launched five years ago. There’s a second branch in Birmingham, but a spinoff in Oxford closed down.

“Definitely above average for a touristy part of Cambridge” – it’s set opposite the Great Gate of the namesake college – this “lovely little” establishment has worked up a loyal following since opening a few years back, and is a top tip for a “good-value early dinner”.

“An attractive brasserie, professionally staffed and competently run” – “and the food is perfectly fine” at the Cambridge branch of Richard Caring’s national roll-out. “The problem with the Ivy Brasseries is that there are too many of them and you can forget which town you’re in as they even look the same”. “There’s nothing really to complain about, they’re just a bit formulaic – like an upmarket Côte!”.

The formerly creaky old University Arms Hotel has been expensively transformed, and this – it’s new ‘pub’ – is a “wonderful room in Parisian brasserie style with high ceilings and mirrors”, and “with a brilliant view over Parker’s Piece”. Tristan Welch (once of Launceston Place) is at the stoves and has won some stellar newspaper reviews for his “high-end brasserie food”. But while survey feedback on it is mostly OK, it’s also pretty middling: “nice but not 100% perfect…”; “pleasantly consistent but a bit underachieving…”; “nowhere near as good as initial reviews suggested – shame as the setting’s great”. Still, it’s “well-placed to up its game in a city short of options”.

A grill-focused hotel restaurant that opened in September 2021 with White Rabbit Studio (Lina Stores, Kricket) in charge of the food under chef Adam Wood (ex-Perilla); it's set within the new Graduate hotel on the banks on the Cam (there's also one in Oxford; the group also has a portfolio of hotels in college towns in America).

“Top-quality burgers either from their vans (Citroën, you can’t miss them) or this permanent home by the market square”, have built up a firm following for this local brand.

This “meaty joint” occupies an attractive converted mill, complete with working water wheel. It “continues to please students and locals in its airy space overlooking river and millpond (I saw a kingfisher!)”.

A “good local bistro” that’s “always very busy” owing to its solid, reasonably priced Anglo/European food and a “very visible” owner who “obviously cares very much about the business”; “lovely courtyard in summer” too.

Look out for the bright yellow Citroën van, if you want to try veteran restaurateur Regis Crépy’s latest venture, selling Alsatian pizza-type Flammekueche in a Cambridge food court. For a tasty, cheap ’n’ cheerful snack that’s a little out of the ordinary, these “light”, “fresh-tasting” and “reasonably priced” wafers of bread dough complete with toppings are just the job.

“Amazing… every time” is still the most typical assessment of this acclaimed Victorian villa – one of the UK’s most renowned eateries – which is very picturesquely situated across the Cam from the Varsity’s boat houses and bordering Midsummer Common. Daniel Clifford and his team deliver “a superb overall dining experience: the number and quality of amuse-bouches, the sourdough bread, each individual course… the service… all of the highest order”. Even many fans feel that the “exuberant bill is hard to justify”, however, and to its critics the “staggering costs” are plain OTT, with toppish wine prices a particular gripe (“some more reasonable ‘house’ options would be welcome”).

“Wonderfully subtle-tasting Indian food” (“go for their tasting menu…so good”) is now the order of the day at this former pub turned dining room; it’s “not the cheapest but the menu is always interesting”.

In April 2019, former MasterChef finalist Alex Rushmer, who closed his Cambridge restaurant Hole in the Wall in 2017, took over a former Subway shop a little outside the city centre, with his former sous chef, Lawrence Butler. Focusing on local, ethical food, it offers a fixed five-course vegetarian menu which changes daily and features a chef’s table where diners sit at a countertop pass for four with views over the open kitchen. Its fanclub is still small as things stand but couldn’t rate it more highly, saying its “very inventive non-meat cuisine” is “well-sourced and just perfect”. Don’t plan on dropping in though: bookings are released on the first Thursday of the month, two months in advance!

Vegan restaurant Stem & Glory (which nowadays also has a London offshoot) is moving from the city-centre to a swish new home in the burgeoning new developments, just seconds from the train station. It’s a swish new unit at the bottom of a large office building, incorporating a WeWork.