Pignut restaurant in Ryedale

As part of that 'tasting menu' trend, if that's what you're after, you won't be disappointed. A lovely dining room, with semi-open kitchen and very attentive and knowledgeable staff. Crockery and artwork come from local creators, and adds to that 'local food producer' ethos. A destination eatery for grownups!

Exquisite food and wonderful service in a lovely relaxed ambience. Absolutely faultless.

Another amazing tasting menu, five stars doesn't do it justice, I'd never have dreamt mushroom ice cream would taste so good. 🙏

The menu was most interesting was an amazing combination of foods and flavours. Quantity was perfect. Service immaculate. The ambience was such that we didn’t want to leave! We hope that you get the recognition that you thoroughly deserve and accolades to follow! Thank you for an amazing meal and evening!

Brilliant experience from start to finish. Small and intimate, great staff who were friendly and knowledgeable, and incredible food. Wine list was well curated and great selection - would recommend a glass of Yorkshire sparkling wine to start! We had the 8 courses and each one was delicious - great explanations and nice relaxed place. Would come back again for sure - really special!

A hidden gem tucked away in the beautiful town of Helmsley. Using local produce and maximising every trim and cut, the 6 course lunch menu we sampled was incredibly well balanced and thought out. This coupled with a wonderfully relaxed setting, friendly staff and exceptional service. I would go out of my way to visit again. Big fan. P.S. it was the perfect start to the wedding we attended after!

I urge you to go to Pignut before word gets out and it's impossible to get a table for dinner (and after all there are only 6 tables). It has a contemporary, minimalist and laid back vibe but there is nothing laid back about the food. Words like meticulous, adventurous and of course delicious spring to mind (this last one can sometimes be missing on other tasting menus!). The front of house staff are attentive and knowledgeable - co owner Laurissa is clearly a talented sommelier as the wine pairing was as exciting as the food and beautifully matched. We liked the flexibility of either a four or an eight course tasting menu - we went for the four course and added a couple of extra dishes - a superlative scallop dish as well as a truly memorable blackcurrent and fig leaf dessert (but then I do have a thing for fig leaves!). Every course was a triumph! Tom Heywood - owner and chef is a huge talent. Sustainability and local sourcing is key here - with 3 delicious and surprising 'pre courses' designed to use the 'wastage' from the other courses - there's real inventiveness going on here. I can't think it's long before Pignut gets a Michelin Star (PS I actually enjoyed it more than another much decorated restaurant not so very far away).

Another great restaurant ticked off our hit list!! Helmsley you are very lucky to have so many great places to eat, but this exceeds, by far, the others we have tried. If it's a taster menu you are after, then this is superb. I still shake my head at the amazing imagination chefs have. Mushroom Mousse as a dessert??? How do they even think of it, but trust me - it was absolutely delicious!! Great service, delicious wines. Slight niggle, no zero beers/lager available for the driver. In fact I don't recall seeing any lager or beers by the bottle? Would be delighted to visit again in the future.

After having done quite a few Michelin star and tasting meus over the years this restaurant is right up there with the best .This small intimate restaurant ran by Tom in the kitchen and Larissa front of house has been going for about a year and in that time they have created an excellent tasting menu with some of the courses outstanding complemented by wonderful table service . This was our 55th wedding anniversary and they both made it a special occasion for us .We feel their future will be very bright and look forward to going back again

My husband and I ate here while we were on holiday in North Yorkshire and staying in Helmsley. It was just a fantastic experience and we would definitely recommend it. The service from the hostess, Laurissa and her staff, was friendly, helpful and very informative. We had booked the 5 course tasting menu and we were able to add on an additional course of scallops when we were shown the menu. We also went for the flight of wines which matched the food perfectly and were chosen by Laurissa. The food was superb and we loved the way that the starters were made using 'food waste'! We would definitely recommend this place to anyone - it's a shame that they aren't closer to where we live! Thanks Tom and Laurissa.

What a gem of a place in Hemsley, we cannot praise the establishment enough. WOW food. Simple exquisite surroundings, an incredible eight course tasting menu, two amazing hostesses... And a magic chef. The food is clever - wastage well thought out and overall delicious in every way. Wine parring was outstanding. We cannot offer enough praise for this small team and we are looking forward to another visit. Thank you Tom and Laurissa for the experience.

Outstanding service, welcome and professionalism. Hemsley is lucky to have this great restaurant..... Good value given quality on offer combined with friendly informal atmosphere. Selection of wines were really well articulated and delicious - the flights were perfectly matched to the locally sourced ingredients / dishes. Give this place a go before it gets a michelin star and overrun!

Amazing taster menu and wine flight. Comparable with Michelin star restaurants we’ve been too. Would highly recommend this little gem 💎 in Helmsley.

We dined at Pignut for my birthday and what a fantastic meal it was! Each dish was presented beautifully and the service was spot on. A lovely cosy environment with some beautiful pieces of artwork on the walls. Definitely worthy of a Michelin star - I'm sure it won't be long.

Skilfully showcasing excellent local produce; innovative use of wastage; attention to detail in both the food and the overall ambience; exciting new and creative combinations which work exceptionally well. Overall an outstanding dining experience. Would highly recommend.

Really exciting and special - a young passionate couple who have thrown themselves into making their restaurant one to remember. The food is imaginative and delicious, the wine pairings inspired. The place itself is relaxed, beautifully decorated, simple yet not cold or austere. I particularly enjoyed the upstairs room. For us the other super fantastic and surprising bonus was we could bring our small dog! Helmsley is very lucky to have this restaurant we will return.

Our third time at this fabulous restaurant. It never fails to delight on every level. We chose (again) the four-course tasting menu and added a few extras. The wine pairing is well worth the small investment to have perfectly matched drinks with each course. The flavour and innovation of each dish is so memorable. We can’t wait to come back for more.

I have been to lots of Michelin star restaurants and even though this hasn't got s star yet as it is fairly new it eas amazing. The food was stunning and delicious. The wines were fantastic. Amazing place.

I was here for my birthday and could not be happier! Food was just absolutely brilliant and wine was paired immaculately. Brilliant service and atmosphere; we hope to come back soon!!

Well....what a Mother's Day treat this was. Our evening began with a warm welcome from Laurissa followed by inventive cocktails and local beers in the relaxed upstairs lounge, delicately scented with rose and rhubarb candles. We had the four course tasting menu (with an extra crab course added) accompanied by the wine pairing. The food was delicious, new exciting flavour combinations which tickled the tastebuds for every course. It was also beautifully presented in bespoke dishes and bowls which was another nice touch. Laurissa explained the wine choice along the way which enhanced the food and added to the whole experience overall. Keep up the good work and creativity Tom.....we will be back😊 Julie P

The service was impeccable and the taster dishes were nice, they included pumpkin and lamb, Hodgsons crab, blue cheese with soda bread, and a surprising mushroom mousse. The occasion was spoilt for us by a party of 12 rowdy people whose noise drowned out any conversation in the small dining room, Laurissa did apologise and we realised afterwards that the bill had been reduced. Another minor niggle was that we couldn't read the wine list because of the tiny print and dim lighting, but we did identify a familiar portuguese verdelho which went well with the food.

We decided on the 4 course taster menu but added a couple obviously! Everything had great flavours and was so well-presented. Staff were attentive and made sure we had a great experience. We’re looking forward to our return visit.

Lovely venue, fantastic service & amazing food Delicious flavours, innovative combinations & fabulously presented Thoroughly enjoyed it Will definitely be back!

All in a really great night, superb food well balanced flavours beautifully presented and left after 8 courses comfortably full but not overly. The wine pairing was thoughtful made with some interesting and unusual wines and a beer which worked very well the courses. My wife chose to have a couple of individual glasses which were chosen by the staff to match with the food and this worked excellently. The staff were friendly and attentive overall I can’t fault the restaurant and can’t wait to return.

We visited Pignut for a late Valentine’s Meal. We had the 8 course tasting menu with matching wine pairings. The food was amazing as were the wines. The dishes were beautifully presented and each dish explained as they were served. We tried wines we wouldn’t normally try but they worked perfectly well with the dishes. Definitely deserves a star!

Came here for a birthday meal as a couple. Unusual as one vegetarian and one regular having 8 course tasting menu with wine pairing. Without going in to too much detail as the regular I loved all courses except for one which wasn't poor, it just wasn't as good as the others. Fish, hake I think, was perfectly cooked and the balance of temperature and flavour was particularly good. A desert of chocolate with mushroom mouse was a course that raised an eyebrow when reading the menu but was in fact perfectly balanced and a real revelation. Vegetarian tasting menu was equally excellent and this can often be an issue for us, one loves a place but the other is disappointed, however here we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. A vegetarian need not be sceptical when visiting here. Wine parings were interesting and well matched to the meals. There were a number of wines from countries most people would never try so this was an opportunity to experience wines we have never had before. Overall excellent and to the standard of other fine dining experiences we have had. We will certainly visit again as the philosophy of using local seasonal produce will mean there are changes in the menu. We are keen to try other dishes from this restaurant.

The dining experience at the Pignut was 5 star. The food was beautifully presented, and the service, though out, was excellent and friendly. I want to thank Tom and his lovely partner all the best in their new journey. I would highly recommend the Pignut Restaurant for a fine dining experience. Thank you once again for looking after me. I will look forward to seeing you in the future. Best wishes, Karl

"Exceptional food, all sourced locally using seasonal products. Warm welcome and fantastic service in a lovely environment. Tom and Laurissa have created a wonderful dining experience for their guests. We are sure to return."

What a little gem of a place, cannot praise them enough Simple surroundings, incredible 8 course tasting menu and a Pecorino which was sublime. The food is clever, well thought out and overall delicious in every way. I cannot offer enough praise for this small team who I have no doubt will be showing off a star in no time. We are looking forward to another visit very soon. Thank you Tom and Laurissa for the experience. Richard"

Absolutely loved everything about this restaurant. Laurissa was a great host, knowledgeable about the wines and happy to tell you as much as you want to know - we treated ourselves to the wine pairing and so glad we did, it really enhanced the experience for us. The food was gorgeous, the flavours, the textures. It was a wonderful birthday treat, would go again in a heartbeat. Also thank you to our friendly waitress, Lucia.

We had another fabulous meal at Pignut. We chose to add a fish course to the standard four course menu accompanied by the wine pairings. The food is so delicious and beautifully presented. It’s almost impossible to choose a favourite dish but the Celeriac & Pork would be a contender, as would the Moorside Mushroom Mousse. A stunning combination of flavours. It was a wonderful evening.

We went for my wife’s birthday and we had the most memorable dining experience I have had in ages— having worked in fine dining for many years I am incredibly picky. Incredible attention to detail was evident everywhere from the decor to the wine glasses to the scented candle in the bathroom. The food was incredible, the service was amazing, and the ambience was unforgettable. We will definitely be back.

This is a genuinely different place to eat, tiny and run by a lovely couple trying to make it during a tough time for the industry. They are doing a fantastic job by being very different and we will certainly return again for a full scale evening dinner experience. It's not for those looking for a huge plate of standard food, you have to take it and embrace it for what it is, a cleverly executed journey of unique tastes combined with some really different wines? Give it a go!

Excellent food and service We go to a lot of tasting menus and this is my favourite. The main event is about the food rather than faffing with white clothes and making it too pretentious. You have a set menu and option for additional dishes. Really liked this take. The wine paring was delicious! Can’t wait to come back

We picked Pignut to celebrate a friend's special birthday and we had a fantastic evening. Larissa was incredibly helpful ahead of us dining and they were really accommodating which gave the whole evening a lovely relaxed feeling. We spent about 4 hours there in total and the time flew by. We had the 8 course tasting menu and it was delicious. A personal highlight was the mushroom mousse, which I was a little apprehensive about, but it was divine and beautifully presented. The restaurant interior is lovely, being small and intimate. It is clear that a lot of attention to detail has been paid to the interior and the products with gorgeous candles and hand-wash from CAHM. A really special evening and a great addition to Helmsley's food scene.

We visited this evening for my Fiancé’s birthday and WOW. The service and food was amazing, every course was explained and presented beautifully, I could feel the precision and passion behind every dish. We loved that most if not all ingredients are sourced locally. We’ll...

Family party of three booked in at 6.30pm for the eight course tasting menu. Staff were absolutely fantastic - attentive, knowledgeable and unobtrusive. Everything about Pignut is a delight. Tasteful decor and great ambiance. The food is as good as (if not better) than much...

Superb food, good wine pairings and great service. Definitely worth a visit.

I booked for New Years Eve after reading the article in the Yorkshire Post approximately 6 months earlier. We always stay in Helmsley for a week over New Year but, never really do anything special so, I decided that 2023 would be different for myself,...

Fantastic…food, service and wine pairings all perfect. Cannot recommend highly enough. We have already booked for a return visit in February

Amazing food and wine lovely staff. It's worth treating yourself.

We were sad when we heard that Rattle Owl was closing in York but very happy when we read the Yorkshire Post review of Pignut and learned that Laurissa and Tom had opened a restaurant in Helmsley. We visited for dinner in November for a...

Had the 8 course tasting menu. Brilliant from start to finish. Every dish amazingly prepared/ cooked and executed and served efficiently with style. A chef really at the top of his game with a partner serving with just the right level of service and charm....

Pignut is an amazing restaurant. It is a feast for the taste buds!! The food is delicious with some amazing combinations. The chef is obviously a very talented guy and the lady that is front of house was lovely. She talked us through the menu,...

Lovely tasting menu, beautifully prepared and presented. Good atmosphere in the restaurant with attentive, knowledgeable servers. Some great wine pairings. Definitely recommend a visit

Eight plates put together with a good eye for complementary tastes. Well-measured quantities too. Excellent accompanying wine flight (more generous measures than I’ve seen elsewhere). By far the best value tasting menu in Yorkshire. And genuinely nice people running it.

We had a lovely meal at Pignut. It was the first time we've been and the food was wonderful. We had difficulty deciding on a favourite dish! I have no doubt that a star will be on its way one day! We are quite local...

Our family party of six visited Pignut restaurant for the first time, in early January 2024. We enjoyed a sublime eight course tasting menu, which was 'one of the best meals' one of our party had ever experienced! The kitchen (Tom & Max) produced some...

We had a great experience. The food, wine and atmosphere were great. It was particularly pleasing to see the young team display such a depth of knowledge of the food being served and the wines. The sommelier revealed deeper and deeper layers of knowledge of...

Fantastic restaurant! The whole experience was wonderful. The restaurant has a lovely relaxed atmosphere but still feels like fine dining. The food is amazing and we could tell how much passion the chef has for his food in every course. Honestly it’s probably the best...

Small but perfectly formed! Food cooked with passion; attention to detail and precision. It managed to be both simultaneously familiar and surprising, combining delicate presentation with robust flavour. Unfussy, relaxed yet knowledgeable service. I would thoroughly recommend this restaurant; it has a well earned place...

We had a great experience at Pignut. Food was amazing, interesting and full details of flavour. If your near Helmsley it is worth the stop likewise if your no where near Helmsley take a road trip there it as it will not disappoint. A massive thank you to all the team at pignut we will be seeing you very soon no doubt.

The most exquisite and delicious meal I’ve ever had! Each dish was completely different and used the most incredible ingredients. The space was so cozy and created a perfect environment for conversation over a glass of wine.

WOW from the moment we were greeted at the door until we left , the whole experience was outstanding. We began with a cocktail upstairs before being seated to enjoy the tasting menu. Every single course was inventive and exciting challenging the tastebuds, the service...

4 people. We had the full tasting menu. £90 per head is not a cheap meal, but it was very good value compared to similar meals we've had elsewhere. There were some unusual flavours without being challenging. All of us thoroughly enjoyed the food and the (shared) wine flights. A minor complaint was that two round tables for four people was a bit awkward. We highly recommend Pignut.

Yet another stunning meal in beautiful, warm surroundings, with friendly service. We went for their Sunday lunch, and will be going back again - it was superb!

We went for our anniversary and had the 4 course taster menu with wine pairing. The food was amazing quality as were the wines, friendly warm service. Would (and have) recommend.

Second time visiting and blown away by the food again! You have to go here if you are staying in Helmsley or you are local and haven’t tried it yet! Already booked to go back in December!

Excellent, locally sourced menu, atmosphere relaxed and cosy despite the high quality of the food - and a great playlist! One of us has complicated dietary requirements (nuts and lactose) which they accommodated brilliantly

This is a truly superb establishment in all aspects - the ambience and staff was perfect but the food was sublime easily competing with other local foodie establishments. A Michelin star must be beckoning.

If you want something a bit different than the usual restaurant then this is the place for you. There is only one word that can describe Pignut and that is fantastic. From the moment you walk into this new ,cosy ,well appointed establishment you are...

What an amazing food experience that was. I've tried quite a few tasting menus in the last few years, including The Star Inn at Harome, and I think this was easily the best of all. Service was impeccable and the combination of flavours and order of courses was amazing. Apparently the menu changes quite regularly as many of the ingredients are seasonal, so there'll always be a surprise. I didn't try the wine pairings, as I was driving, but I'm sure they wouldn't have been a disappointment. Will definitely be back.

Tom is most definitely an artist of flavours! This was so much more than a meal, it's an experience of flavour, sights, textures, smells and even a great soundtrack! Laurissa is a generous, gentle and easeful host. Do go and enjoy as much as possible...

What a wonderful place. The enthusiasm of the staff is as good as the superb food. We loved the concept of wastage and the food produced was both inspirational and delicious. The wine pairings were a delight and we loved learning about the origin of...

An exceptional fine dining experience that deserves strong support. Their strong ethos around local ingredients and 'no waste' is a great spur to innovate around flavour and texture combinations that are truly refreshing and intriguing. Excellent service too. Good luck with it all - being local we really want you to thrive for years to come.

Simply superb… Pignut on our second visit was equally as excellent as the first occasion a couple of months ago. I applaud their ethos and the attention to detail in planning the wine pairing and menu deserves congratulation. It is hard to praise one dish...

The food, service, wine & ambience were all first class. It surpassed my expectations. The wastage courses very clever and each one a delight. Much has already been written about the brill and I understand all the previous comments. It’s a definite WOW dish. Simple...

We are not often taken aback by a restaurant experience but this was one of them. The food is surprising and special but it is the attention to detail that Larissa provides that makes the experience so memorable. Front of house is a position that...

What a gem! Brilliant restaurant in all ways. Run by a charming couple who are passionate about sustainability and the environment but produce mouthwatering dishes beautifully presented. We had a most delightful and insightful evening and would highly recommend.

We were here friends and had a lovely lunch. We had some special needs which required extra time for service but this was was dealt with very well. I am not a fan of taster menus but this was very good. A hugely enjoyable experience,...

Loved our evening, thank you and see you again

This was my first tasting menu and I was thoroughly impressed. We opted for the 4 course taster menu, which when you take the 3 part wastage course into consideration, is actually more like 7 courses. Each course was very interesting and most were unlike...

Astounding. What a wonderfully memorable evening. Our party enjoyed incredible food paired with beautiful wines. Laurissa and Tom have created something really, really special here. We cannot wait to come back. I recommend you get in early and book before their waitlist extends to months!

Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic little restaurant this is. Beautiful food & perfect service in a lovely atmosphere. The awards will be rolling in so get in early! Can’t wait to visit again.

Had a really fantastic lunch here. 8 courses of brilliance! Each course unique and showcasing the local ingredients. The wastage starter was a great way to get the ethos of the restaurant across. The Brill and Mussel dish, and aptly named Beef II! were simply superb. This is a great place run by just 2 people, this comes across in their service and quality. Put simply, we will be back.

WOW .. Booked here randomly as was staying in the area and had previously been the the black swan last year. Food wise this was on the same level (and unexpectedly so). Every dish was beautiful. Did the wine pairing too and this didn’t disappoint,...

This restaurant provides the best food in central Helmsley and the wine list is superb. My wife and I went there Saturday evening and had the four course menu with one extra course. Service was excellent and friendly. The standard of the whole meal was...

Pignut is a quite new addition to the dining scene in Helmsley, and after eating here this weekend, we must say it is a very good and welcome arrival. Front of house Laurissa is a lovely, friendly host, and her chef partner Tom, delivered some...

Outstanding food, service and hospitality. The food is fresh, perfectly balanced and interesting - this was the best food we ate on our trip.

Pignut..... WOW !!!! The 8 course Taster Menu was incredible.... very clever concept created - the "Wastage" before the Starter - superb !!!!! The tastes - everything was perfection down to the tiniest detail. The Sourdough bread - the best ever ! The crab bisque...

We had no idea what we were in for when we went to the Pignut in Helsmley last week. The menu is small but fantastic. We ordered everydish to try( rather than the tasting meny), and among the three of us our favourites were the...

We had a fabulous evening of fine food & drink at Pignut & are delighted to have such a terrific restaurant within the vicinity. We opted for the 4 course menu which encompassed various perfectly sized, expertly crafted dishes, including some intriguing & tasty bites...

Absolutely fantastic from start to finish looking forward to going back very soon

Absolute pleasure to find this new gem in Helmsley. Really sweet place run by a lovely couple and the food was superb. Every dish on their generous tasting menu was a pleasure, including some delightful surprises in the ‘wastage’ course. The wild brill and mussels...

What a wonderful find, an eco friendly restaurant that serves delicious food with wonderful service. My Wife and I had the 8 course tasting menu which actually comprised of 12 courses (you get a number of courses for the first course), each unique and varied....

This little restaurant is such a welcome addition to the Helmsley food scene. The couple running the place are so friendly, professional and the food is top notch. We went as a group of 6, and all had the 4 course tasting menu. We were...

Amazing food and great atmosphere

A lovely evening of delicious; well cooked food. The young couple who run the Pignut are clearly passionate about their profession.

We had a fabulous evening at Pignut. From the warm welcome as we entered to our leaving we felt like valued customers. Both food and accompanying wine pairings were delicious. It would take too long to extol each course but all of us enjoyed every...

An amazing dining experience with superb food, lovely wine pairings and a welcoming host. We had the 8 course tasting menu and enjoyed every single course. Can't wait to come back next year and see how the menu has changed! Thank you for a lovely...

A wonderful dining experience with superb food, lovely wine and friendly and welcoming hosts. Can't wait to come back next year and see how the menu has changed!

This is an excellent restaurant and experience. The owners Tom (chef) and Laurissa (sommelier) are very talented and this comes through on their 4 or 8 course tasting menu. We had the 8 course plus wine pairings. There is a genuine warmth and authenticity about what they do. Highly recommend for those that like great food and wine. Quality, menu, flavour on par with one and two star Michelin restaurants. Probably one of the top 5 meals I’ve ever had.

Amazing unique authentic and fabulous. Really out there with flavours knowledge and expertise. A must place for any foodies. Love it x

As a special treat with our daughter visiting from NZ decided to visit Tom and Laurissa’s new venture in Helmsley. We went for the eight course tasting menu with accompanying wine pairings for the non drivers. The restaurant is very warmly welcoming and the decor...

Attention to detail is what makes one stand out from the crowd. Pignut has this…not only in the innovative and creative dishes which are beautifully presented, but right down to the choice of handmade tableware. Delectable food in a comfortable and informal setting all made for an extremely enjoyable dining experience. Wishing you every success.

Truly superb! There are few restaurants which are perfect but the tasting menu that Tom and Larissa have created is incredible. A must visit... setting trends for the industry!

It’s really exciting when you see a great young chef venturing out on his own, but this was clearly a gamble that’s paid off. Attention to detail, respecting seasonality and a passion for foraging are all highly evident on a tasting menu which is superb...

A very pleasant experience. All the courses were beautifully presented and full of taste. Service is friendly and efficient. We wish the young couple every success.

With so many top quality food offerings in Helmsley your generally spoilt for choice. Having heard Tom had recently opened The Pignut, it was immediately top of my list, we were not disappointed. We went for the 8 course tasting menu and wine flight, it...

We were keen to visit Tom Heywood's new adventure, The Pignut in Helmsley. We tried the tasting menu, and wow what a wonderful experience. Our friendly reception on arrival started the evening really well. The complex and intense flavours in each course were just incredible....