The Cobbles has an iconic pub bar and cozy dining room. The weather was simply fantastic so we…read moredrank a round (or two) outside in their front patio. The menu includes thick cut filet steaks with wedge potatoes and salad. They also have haggis bon bons that were scrunchy and creamy in taste. Upstairs there is another dinning room, perfect for large parties or private events. A must-eat in Kelso!

This gastro-pub is tucked away in a corner off the main square in Kelso. It is cosy and inviting…read moreinside, with friendly staff. The menu is comprehensive, with something for everyone. I opted for a Thai red curry with jasmine rice, and was really impressed... one of the nicest Thai curries I have had (outside of a Thai restaurant in a long time). My other half went for a vegetarian option from the Daily Specials board - wild mushroom, spinach, and caramelised onion crepe, with ratatouille and fondant potato. This was presented beautifully and was so tasty. Definitely one of the best vegetarian options I have tried in a while. As for desserts, I would have liked to have seen a lighter, fruit-based option, so decided against a dessert. However, my dining companions all ordered desserts and were suitably impressed. If you are looking for somewhere to have a special meal, luck or evening, I don't think you could go wrong with The Cobbles, Kelso.

The Waiting Room is a completely vegetarian restaurant, and they cater for vegans and gluten-free…read morediets too. It's cosy and has a lovely unique look to it with their unusual decor (like photo slide lampshades). Parking can be an issue as there's only on-street parking, and most of it is 'residents only'. Public transport links are good though as there's a train station less than five minutes away, and nearby bus stops. The staff are always friendly and happy to help with any dietary requirement requests. The food is always really tasty however portions can be small and it's expensive. Expect to pay at least £10 just for a main course. They have an excellent range of beers, wines and soft drinks, all suitable for vegetarians. Dessert time is always disappointing for vegans as all they ever serve is plain dairy-free vanilla ice cream, no sauce. They have at least four other desserts for vegetarians. On my visit today I was even more disappointed than usual as my friend had the dairy ice-cream and got twice as much as me for the same price! If you like fine food, and don't mind paying for it, then this is a wonderful place! It's also great for special occasions but, due to the price, I wouldn't make it a regular place to eat.

I'm not vegetarian myself, but I eat veggie food often, so I do like to go to good veggie and vegan…read morerestaurants. These guys are primarily vegetarian, but they certainly cater for vegans too. I was recommended it when I was avoiding wheat to test what was up by a good friend who'd been here a lot. It's right next to eaglescliff station and short walk over the bridge and up the hill from yarm. The decor is sweet, and the staff both times I've been have been wonderful. The food is simple but tasty and well seasoned, and it is expensive compared to some of the other places nearby but I wouldn't say expensive for vegetarian food I've had in most restaurants.

OKAY, being the only "official" vegan friendly restaurant in the city centre, Scrumpy Willow also…read moreprizes itself of being the one with the worst service. Honestly? They have ONE person working the cash register and the tables upstairs and downstairs. That person is never hospitable or nice, but hey, I would be crabby and rude too, if i had to serve the whole cafe myself. They really should stop being cheap and hire a second person, or at least hire staff that can actually hack it. In general, I find vegans and vegan establishments really nice, down-to-earth, and always good to their patrons. Probably because us vegans/ vegetarians are a rare breed and we feel the need to look after one another. Scrumpy feels differently though, to be fair, they're not entirely vegan, but from what I have been told, they are the "vegan" place to eat in town. I would never come back here again. They give vegans/ vegetarians a bad name. Also, my hard earned cash should not be spent on establishments that don't appreciate my business and are super rude to me. I also know of other places in town that serves vegan friendly dishes, albeit they're not officially vegan.

This is a lovely cafe to go to when the weather is cold and miserable, it's got a very cosy homey…read morefeel to it. The staff were friendly and very chilled and we all really enjoyed our food: my omlette was so tasty and filling, and my sister's hummus and fallafal plate went down a storm! I really liked this place as a whole but the reason I docked two stars was because of the really really bad quality of their drinks; I had the house wine which was nothing short of vinegar-esque, my sister had the "smoothie" which was nothing more than a half-filled glass of watery fruit juice with a thick layer of foam at the top, and our friend went for the milkshake which literally looked like a glass of milk that had been jiggled around for a bit (no trace of any ice cream in the mix) My advice with this place is go here when in search of good value, filling food, but don't waste your money on the beverages!..

Quite simply perfect! I know, it sounds impossible but it's true. I even took my parents there this…read moretime it's that good. The food is all home-made, from bread and burgers to cakes and relish and the ingredients are mostly locally sourced. The service is great, the staff are extremely friendly and happy to suggest other places of interest to visit in and around the area. The real stars however are the food and interior. The menu is varied, I have only eaten during the day but there are light snacks and larger lunches; the vegetarian burger and chips is fantastic. For a restuarant in such a tourist hop-spot it is reasonably priced and blows the competition out of the water in terms of quality and freshness. The interior is wondefull; artfully comfortable and relaxing. There is plenty to look at whilst you wait for your food-the aged ceiling beams hung with bunches of dried flowers and candles which sounds twee but isn't at all. The toilet is incomparable, like visiting the home of a slightly bohemian but clean obsessed aunt! All in all I can't reccommend this more highly, although if that means I can't get a table when I next go maybe I'll reconsider this review!

What a wonderful find, after several days of pub food across Northern England, we decided to seek…read moreout a more elegant experience and landed on Bouchon Bistrot on the recommendation of our Intrepid Travels tour guide, Joe. It was a great choice and the ambiance, location, service, and food were all five star worthy!

Pleasantly surprised. Fine dining in a little town. French food in an English Village…read more Charming inside. When we made the reservation we asked what the dress code was, no mandatory dress code, we dressed up (cocktail/wedding like attire) anyways & glad we did. Everyone was in at least a button up shirt and slacks, some had coats. The atmosphere was classy. We weren't sure if we needed to make a reservation but glad we did, it was a busy Saturday night. The food portions were filling. The food was delicious. Also ordered the Duck Fat Chips, a glass of white wine recommended with the meal, and Escargot (forgot to take pics of these). The escargot was amazing. The food was appetizing to the sight. It was evident much heart went into each dish. The staff was polite and attentive. The price was reasonable for the quality and portion. Will definitely be going back because there are many more items on the menu I'd like to try. Do recommend.

My first thought towards this dining experience over a week ago was I wouldn't even wade into the…read moreenthusiastic mostly 5-star rating of a French styled restaurant in a fairly small town in Northern rural England. Just let it go. So here's what is bothering me, and I have strong feelings about this: the beef bourguignon. It's not rocket science to make this dish, and its base is a rich, savory beef broth mingled with things like onions, carrots, shallots, herbs like thyme and rosemary and possibly other spices to the chef's liking. Happen to know a bit about the dish because I've been making it for years. It's all about the broth to this diner. And to be fair, I once had a sadder version of the dish in Paris long ago. So how hard is it to make? Well, apparently the chefs in pubs and similar dining spots along the way are able to craft outstanding versions of their steak and ale pie that are simply outstanding in their robust beef taste. If those chefs can make that dish so well, so savory, why can't something similar be applied to beef bourguignon? I maintain the broth in starting the cooking process was simply not up to par. Lacking in richness, the beef was over-dried, suggesting it had been sitting too long or just wasn't prepared correctly. Instead of baby potatoes, a side of mashed potatoes sat off to the side of the beef and broth. Sorely lacking in the amount of butter needed and low on salt, it was an unpleasant and uninspiring addition that added nothing to the dish. The salad that proceeded the meal was listed as shrimp and mango. Out came baby shrimp with the rubbery taste of just thawed, mixed with mango, then a massive amount of Thousand Island like dressing drenching it all with a few chives atop. Not a great effort. Kudos for offering a true French Malbec from the Southwest corner of the country, the black wine, but this one was pedestrian and was served in the kind of wine glass that screams cheapest serving ware possible with its thick rim around the top. I can commend the staff which was professional and on top of it on a busy Friday night. Beyond that, this is a pass for me. Should have stuck to a local pub serving traditional countryside pies as the ones I've had along the Coast to Coast walk, my reason for being here, have all been outstanding.

Thanks to Emily B's brilliant local knowledge we ended up here early-ish on a Saturday night to…read morebenefit from their pre-1830 set menu which at £15 for 2 courses and £18 for 3 is great value for the quality of the food. I had a nice crab cake to start and only had slight food envy of my bf's delicious deep fried brie (yeah would def get that next time). For mains I had a fantastic rich and beautiful cooked duck leg and then a classic creme brulee to finish. Bf had the beef bourguignon which he loved and was still commenting on days later. On the sides front I would recommend the creamed leeks and green beans (in garlic butter), only thing I wasn't so keen on was the ratatouille. Service was very good and I love the design of the restaurant which involves a fake outdoor pavement seating area!

Lovely, pink working watermill which produces organic flours and has an organic, vegetarian cafe…read moreattached. Goats in the field, hens roaming free, and two water wheels - one working to mill the flour. The cafe has a very limited menu, but what they do they do extremely well. I had fabulous quiche with crispy spelt four crust and exquisitely good salad selection. The soups are delicious and the breads are to die for. Served on ceramics made by local potters. There's a selection of organic foods and gifts to take home, as well as baked goods. Try the onion bread! More expensive than average, but well worth it. And once you rejoin the main road turn left to continue over Hartside - a stunning drive.

It is very good and I recommend people to go there and the food is really good and it is fantasticread more

A little bit off the beaten track from Darlington, the Otter and Fish is in a pleasant rural…read moresetting. The food's of a good standard, varied and good value. The staff are friendly and efficient. Not always a great atmosphere, the restaurant is rarely full and usually feels a little chilly. And the wine's a bit pricey. But worth a try.