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North Yorkshire named as Britain’s best county for dining out – and these are its top restaurants

@ in Food & drink

A typically unique and remarkable dish from York restaurant Le Cochon Aveugle. Photographs: Karen Turner

North Yorkshire is the best county in Britain when it comes to dining out.

The restaurants here topped the league in Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2017.

Celebrating its 26th year, the annual guide surveyed more than 7,000 participants who provided 50,000 reviews. These reviews form the basis of the ratings in the guide.

North Yorkshire came out top of the counties, with 14 Top Scorers. A Top Scorer is a restaurant which charges over £60 per person and scores 4 or higher, or a restaurant charging under £60 per person which achieves the top score of 5.

‘Excellent on all levels’

Le Cochon Aveugle on Walmgate. Photograph: Richard McDougall

One of the top-rated restaurants in the country in Harden’s £50 per person category is named as Le Cochon Aveugle, on Walmgate, York.

It is only the latest herogram for the French restaurant. It has been acclaimed in the national press and was recently named as Restaurant Of The Year in the Yorkshire Life food and drink awards.

Le Cochon Aveugle is described by the Harden’s editors like this:

Ex-Waterside Inn chef, Josh Overington’s “tiny” (seven-table) venture, a follow-up to the Blind Swine, is “excellent on all levels”.

The table toppers

All the Top Scorers in North Yorkshire are:

Yorke Arms, Ramsgill-in-Nidderdale
Black Swan, Oldstead
Samuel’s at Swinton Park, Masham
the Clock Tower, Rudding Park
Star Inn, Harome
Black Swan, Helmsley
Crab & Lobster, Asenby
Pheasant Hotel, Harome
Estbek House, Sandsend
La Lanterna, Scarborough
Le Cochon Aveugle, York
Hare Inn, Scawton
Orchid, Harrogate
the Magpie Cafe, Whitby