The Raby Hunt Restaurant in Darlington

Just had to write one final review of this excellent restaurant which is now sadly closed. We were lucky enough to have our second (and now, final) chance to try their tasting menu, and every dish was a delight. Looking forward to seeing whether there will be a new place with Michelin stars to try soon!

We visited raby hunt for the final menu. We had been wanting to visit for a while and wanted to make sure we tried it before it closed. The food did not disappoint. Every course was delicious. I am not usually a fan of seafood but there was not a single course I did not enjoy. The Tostada (Mexico) and Nikkei Cuisine (Peru) were our favourite dishes along with the delicious bread and butter. The service was quick and glasses were never empty, but It didn't really give a personal feel, it felt very rigid and rehearsed. The one thing which I do not agree with is when a service charge is added automatically (not only at Raby, this is any restaurant i visit). I will happily leave a tip anywhere I go for a meal, but this is my choice as to what we can afford to leave. The restaurant is pricey already and this was a lot of money for us to spend on meals but we really wanted to visit, a £60+ service charge added onto a £500+ meal is alot.

From the outset this was an outstanding experience. A warm welcome, effective seating and such a delicious meal. We had the tasting menu and so difficult to choose from the 15 courses as to which one was best. Loved all the shellfish and fish courses, and meat and game. Hope to eat here again. Thank you to all the staff.

This is a review for a meal a little while ago, I gather it has only improved! We have been to many tasting menus but this was by far the best. Jamie and has team are doing a first class job. Enjoy!

It was a privilege to visit this restaurant and experience some of the best dishes I have ever tasted. The wine pairing was so well thought and complimented each dish 100%. Everything was like clockwork.

The experience was stunning. The food and wines were superbly presented and staff took time to explain the dishes and the origins of the wines. Welcoming staff and a general relaxed atmosphere. We had the tasting menu and the wine flight.

Absolutely stunning food, excellent wine and perfect service. Not often you get spice in food in Michelin starred restaurants, we got everything here. Will definitely visit again.

Not much else to say, 100% worth your time and money. Best food I myself and my partner have ever had.

An absolutely amazing experience a chef who actually is willing to go against the norm on tasting menu and create something completely different to at least 90% of Michelin restaurants in the uk innovative cooking on another level. I don’t get how this is such a hidden gem and how it’s not talked about more like The Fat Duck or restaurants at that level. I hope it never follows the norm and stands on its own like it is now. It’s something special The only negative I have to say is that the Americano is definitely not worth £14. But apart from that everything else was magical

The first courses required to use the fingers which is difficult if are in your 80s with bad fingers. The man on the neighbour table, also in his 80s, had similar problems. You need a spoon to help to enjoy the excellent food.

Welcoming and knowledgeable staff who make the fine dining experience very special. The dishes were amazing, every unique and the flavours were put together so well, it was a delight.

We were greeted warmly and shown to our seats at the kitchen table where you see James Close and his team of chefs working to create every mouthful of magic. Some of the dishes we've eaten before and each time we are blown away by how delicious they are and then you try a new dish and are equally blown away. I tried to single out my favourite dish and I can't choose just one. I keep adding another to my list of favourites and then another. The ceviche and the razor clam, but then I love the mackerel and the tuna, the taco and the langoustine, the list continues. My husband always has the prestige wine pairing and the Sommelier, is always very passionate and knowledgeable, he clearly loves his job and the wines he's recommending. This restaurant is a gem in the North East and yes it's expensive but worth every penny in my opinion. If you are a foodie and looking for somewhere for a special meal then Raby Hunt would always be top of my list.

Absolutely amazing! Definitely the best we’ve had. The tempura, the wagu & lime dish just out of this world. Can’t wait to save up & visit again

Amazing experience and the best tasting menu we've ever had . Wine pairing from and excellent sommelier topped off the evening .

We’ve driven past the sign for this place 100’s of times over the years, never took any notice until someone mentioned what it was. We’ve been lucky enough to visit some fabulous places for taster menus and got to say this one is now our joint first with midsummer house. The place itself is very quirky with the decor, the rooms were beautiful and absolutely spotless. Lots of lovely big towels in the bathroom and toiletries, comfy bed and pillows, well stocked mini bar, kettle and coffee machine and the most wonderful smelling reed diffuser. We pulled in to the car park and someone came out immediately to take our bags and greet us. We had a rather special glass of champagne before our taster menu started. We were shown to our table and the next couple of hours were phenomenal, every single course was truly delightful, as was the wine flight. There was also a little footstool to put your bag on. Every single member of the team were friendly and courteous, brilliant explanations of each dish and wine, absolutely stunning. Breakfast was a help yourself to fruit, the most amazing tomatoes that were thinly sliced with just a bit of salt and pepper on, cheese, home cooked tasty ham, smoked salmon, pan au chocolate, jams etc. choice of tea or coffee, grapefruit or orange juice, fresh water and a glass of champagne. Then bacon with either fried, poached or scrambled eggs on sourdough toast plus fresh toast on a separate plate. The young lady who served breakfast was such a lovely lady and even took the trouble to write down various recommendations of places to stay in Italy. We truly had the most amazing experience from start to finish, would definitely highly recommend. Nothing was too much trouble, staff fantastic, huge talent on the food and wine side. We would love to go back when the menu changes. Simply one of the best

We had a fabulous family meal, and they managed to cater for 6 of us. It was a special meal for my birthday and it was fabulous. There were a lot of courses and every one of them was a super tasty mouthful. The care and attention to the ingredients, flavour and presentation was beyond my comprehension. I really don’t know how they do it, it must take days to prepare each aspect. I really can’t recommend it highly enough, it is a unique experience that has to be experienced to be appreciated. I loved it.

We visited for our 25th Anniversary. It did not disappoint. We have eaten at both 1* and 2* restaurants but this was in a class of its own. I spoke to the chef James who is so humble despite his brilliance. I'd love to visit again when we are nearer.

We dined at the kitchen table so did battle with high stools as seems the norm everywhere. The food was really excellent. You cannot really see the kitchen due to the way it’s set up so you really only see them do some of the plating. And maybe you get a bit more info than if you were in the main restaurant. We would have liked a bit more interaction with staff though but it was not really on offer.

Amazing as always! Our first time at the chef’s table. My daughter and I love this restaurant and it’s a treat twice a year for us. It’s impossible to single out one course as the best as they are all brilliant! We spend the next...

This was the best food Ive had in quite some time. We were really late due to taxi problem, but it wasn't a problem (quite impressive for a Michelin star restaurant which is doing a tasting menu!). Nothing was too much trouble, the staff were...

Will start by saying that the food at The Raby Hunt is truly exceptional and in line with the industry expectations that this could be the UK's next 3 star. The quality and luxury of the ingredients shone through, particularly the A5 Wagyu, Tuna and...

We had a perfect evening, we were out celebrating with my sister. The food was absolute perfection, every course was declared a favourite and I still have trouble choosing one dish that was better than the others. The care and attention that is showered onto...

My husband and I made our reservation to dine at the kitchen table and we were not disappointed!! From the moment we stepped out of the car we were made to feel pretty special. The FoH gentleman was there to greet us outside and invite...

Where to begin!? This place is unbelievable. Service was impeccable, wine choices from the sommelier were spot on too. Every course was an utter delight and a real education in flavour nuance, quality of ingredients and sustainability. I’d recommend it to anyone. Go. Now. Why...

I have now had the chance to compare my dining experience at the Raby Hunt with a couple of similarily Michelin starred establishments so here are my observations. On arrival, we were taken to our table and were surprised to find we were the only...

Auch bei meinem zweiten Besuch hier, bin ich vollkommen begeistert. Kreativität und Geschmacksexposionen inklusive. Hier muss man unbedingt gewesen sein...

Quite possibly the best executed meal we have experienced. Technically right up there, considering the industry challenges the Raby hunt has continued to deliver exceptional food and service.

We had a wonderful meal, everything was just perfect. The food was incredible and the staff delightful. We stayed overnight and our room was lovely. Breakfast was delicious. We can't wait to visit again. Can't be long before the 3rd star is awarded. Just wonderful...

this was a lovely experience can’t recommend the staff highly enough the food is great when you get the 1st dish you think i am going to be hungry by the end gets to the 13th i was wishing they would stop bringing food out...

From minute we pulled into the car park we were warmly greeted by a member of staff, which set the tone for the rest of the evening! The whole experience was amplified by the incredible attention to detail, fabulous staff and even better food. As...

We cannot fault the food tasting experience, lovely to see the chef who serves a few of the courses too , lovely service not pretentious at all . We did the overnight stopover as we were celebrating my husband’s 60 birthday, the room overall was...

I organised the chefs table experience & an overnight stay for my fiancé’s 30th birthday this year and it’s safe to say we were both utterly blown away by our visit. We were greeted by one of the amazing staff, who showed us to our...

We’d heard great things about Raby Hunt, and had been looking forward to our visit. We had the ‘ special deal ‘ of £600 for weekday dinner with B&B. We also decided to spend the extra £70 pp to sit at the kitchen table, and...

The food is amazing and the sommelier certainly knows his stuff. My only gripe would be whether it was worth £450 a head. The atmosphere was a touch low, it did feel like we were intruding on others when talking and laughing. All in all,...

Hands down some of the best food you will eat, we went with friends and had the kitchen table, it’s was amazing. No expense spared on the import off ingredients and wine pairing was perfect.

Amazing food, so inventive, so tasty, so beautifully served. We tried to choose what we had liked best, but couldn't really pick any one thing. I was defeated by the amount I was offered, but luckily had a hungry husband. Service was quick and friendly,...

We visited Raby Hunt to celebrate a very special occasion. It turned out to be a very special evening. We were a large party with some little people and really would have put some pressure on the Raby Hunt team to maintain their high quality...

This was our first visit, to celebrate my wife's birthday, and we stayed in one of their rooms. The restaurant and bedrooms look to have been newly refurbished to a high standard. The food was interesting and of excellent quality while the staff were very...

Visited the restaurant with a couple of friends as we have had this on the bucket list for some time. I will not be going back. Now don't get me wrong the culinary skill behind each dish is insane however it almost felt like we...

Our 4th visit and the best yet. Very difficult to pin down why, but from food, service and the wine pairing, all parts seem to have been built upon and bettered. The food was incredible. We were at the Kitchen Table for the 4th time...

Our room was very comfortable and well appointed, though the shower was, unfortunately, under-powered. Staff were all very friendly and professional throughout - we were very well looked after during our stay. Food was fabulous....luxurious, top quality ingredients cooked to perfection. We are still talking...

This was one of the most memorable meals I have eaten. Restaurant staff are attentive but relaxed. Nothing stuffy about this place. I thought I would be daunted by 15 courses, but each one was a small, exquisite burst of flavour, wine flight paideia interesting...

Wow. Words can’t describe how amazing the whole experience here at the Raby Hunt was. Food was impeccable. Every course was described as it was presented to us and each serving was divine. Worth the money for a treat definitely. Service was impeccable, Laura was...

For two star… No greeting.. Initial tables wobbled badly & had to ask to be moved. Cold red wine & when we asked about this…. Not a two star response let’s say! Service had to squeeze past chairs & ended up reaching over at times....

Lockdown had me cancel twice here so nearly a year since our last visit - you just forget how good these guys are. The food here is inspirational Two Star quality. Without doubt James offers no compromise to quality and perfection, what keeps coming is...

Darlington isn't where one expects to find a 2 star Michelin chef, yet at Raby Hunt one finds a self taught chef who is at the top of his game. An instant comparison would be to Hide Above, one of my favourite London restaurants, yet...

A long time waiting (due to lockdowns etc) but it was worth the wait. Absolutely top quality dining experience. Service, drinks and food all impeccable. We took the classic wine pairing and it was hands down the best wine flight I’ve experienced - the Chablis...

I booked the Raby Hunt as a special anniversary meal. What a wonderful experience. The food was amazing and the accompanying wine flight was delicious. Service was attentive and staff were were welcoming and friendly. A truly amazing, culinary experience.

Following confirmation from the restaurant that they were able to cater for my wife's intolerance of gluten, I decided to book a table for my wife's 30th. The reservation was made 6 months before her birthday and as we have two kids under two there...

The whole experience was incredible and they ensured I was not wanting when it came to some incredible wines. This is by far, one of the best restaurants in the world.

Raby Hunt restaurant, food, wine pairing and service is 5* unfortunately the room we stayed in was horrible. We celebrated out 4th wedding anniversary at Raby Hunt and were really looking forward to eating, drinking and not having to worry about driving. The food and...

My first visit since December 2019 at 87 I have been busy dodging Covid . My son made his first visit to see me for 21 months and suggested a revisit to the Raby Hunt. So we booked "The Captains Table" From this point you...

I suspect James and Maria Close are probably the best husband and wife chefs on the planet. The experience they deliver is out of this world - if you find somewhere that’s better then let me know 👍

It’s not food it’s witchcraft!!!! Fantastic experience from front of house service to the food itself. James and the team deserve four Michelin stars.

Loved, loved, loved this! Loved the food, loved the experience, we will be back for sure! The staff made us feel special and really looked after us

Absolutely fantastic dining experience. Smooth and efficient service without being too showy. The tasting menu was wonderful with a great variety of dishes showcasing the chef's vision and talent. Fully deserves its two Michelin Star rating. The wine flight was a great accompaniment to the...

Fantastic dining experience, unbelievable tastes and service. I had the classic wine pairing with the meal and it was well worth it. We stayed the night so drinking was fine, as this place is quite remote all in all not cheap but you only live...

We’d originally planned to come to the Michelin 2* Raby Hunt last December for what the two of us call the “Office Christmas Party”, but Covid put paid to that. So, instead, we came to celebrate our 49th anniversary. With a more than two hour...

Can it get better? It does every time we go! Some of the best food in the world. We have eaten in most major cities... the food here on our door step surpasses it all... As does the service....understated, relaxed but professional, attentive and just...

What an experience! The food was amazing and I ate things I’ve never tried but now love (razor clams were delicious, caviar was fragrant and the wagyu beef was melt in your mouth.) The service was first class and the stylish interior and playlist all...

This is our third visit but first time at the kitchen table. It was without doubt our favourite ever meal and wine pairing experience. Watching the chefs at work is such a great experience. It’s calm and organised and incredibly professional. But the food is...

Been trying to visit the Raby Hunt for a couple of years, but thanks to the pandemic it has taken up to now to finally be able to make the 4 hour journey to finally visit. I have to say from the outset, worth every...

Sublime from start to finish, well deserved of its 2 Michelin stars, every course was a treat of perfectly balanced flavours. Great service and a really fab treat for my wife and I.

Visited with my family for a birthday celebration. We sat at the kitchen table and it was amazing. Everyone in my family agreed that it was the best meal we have had in our lives. We all had an individual dish which we preferred. The...

Enjoyed our visit to the Raby Hunt this week. Was about 15 courses so not going to comment on them all. Stand out for us was definitely the halibut served with caviar, would say that was in my top three dishes of my life, outstanding....

Visited this wonderful restaurant for two nights, first night in the restaurant second at the kitchen table. Ambience is very good, modern setting with music, I am sure, designed to make patrons feel relaxed. Menu is a multi course tasting menu drawn from the chef/patron’s...

What an incredible experience we had at this special place. The food is absolutely exemplary, totally worth it’s prestigious 2 Michelin Star rating. We’ve dined at a lot of high end restaurants but I have to say that we were blown away by every aspect...

It’s embarrassing how often we want to stay and eat here! But then if you tried it you would realise! James Close has to be the best chef in the UK. There is no way he could be anything but. His style of cooking is...

Stunning food accompanied by relaxed informative service , best food I’ve ever eaten , thank you to everyone at Raby Hunt

First visit since lockdown and worth the wait. The food goes without saying: delicious, innovative, art on a plate. The atmosphere was warm, cosy, relaxed. I was a little worried it might be too stark with less tables & social distancing. Absolutely not. Felt very...

We were lucky enough to eat and stay at the Raby Hunt this weekend, amazing experience, start to end.

The food was perfection. Every dish was beautiful and the flavours incredible. The wagyu beef and the razor clams were my personal stand out courses. Felt a little let down by the service. If I’m spending £700 (not a typo) on our silver wedding anniversary...

Thank you, thank you, thank you..... for the 14 individual courses of heaven! Each course was sublime and a testament to the excellence of James and his team. We cannot recommend Raby Hunt more highly. It is something to be savoured, valued and adored. Absolutely...

A classy, understated, modern classic look to this restaurant with fun touches. The staff meet you with a friendly smile and warm welcome then guide you to your table in the small ( approx 10 tables) dining room. (Good Covid Protocol was apparent). The menu...

Amazing place. The food was some of the best I've ever eaten, having done a few tasting menus. There menu takes on a 'global' theme, with courses from Mexican tacos, Japanese nigiri & tempura, US mini pastrami burger. The razor clam was delicious and the...

I was disappointed unfortunately. The food is very nice but I am confused as to why it is so much more expensive than other similar Michelin star restaurants. The food and the restaurant lacked personality. Everything was just... nice. I don't think I will remember...

A very special treat for our 30th wedding anniversary. Stunning food and impeccable service. Beautiful

We were lucky enough to get a room and dinner deal at Raby Hunt, despite it's incredible popularity. The room was lovely, spacious, comfy and clean. The dinner was exceptional, each course an incredible delight of culinary amazingness. The staff are very friendly and service...

Having visited here for a while - I just love the consistency of the quality James and his team deliver. To be honest I always think there is no room for improvement as there is simply nothing to improve ! Well I was wrong! Stayed on Friday 13th and trust me there was surprises! The food was indescribable - each dish was better than the last - perfectly presented by a team of dedicated individuals that have bought into Raby Hunt with heart and soul. I won’t bang on describing each element - just come along yourself - but it’s fair to say - this is as good as food can get. James Close is a culinary magician who turns edible chemistry into mouth watering memories - now how amazing is that.

Had a fantastic evening, amazing food and lovely staff. Evening was made even more special by James signing our menu and wishing my wife a very happy 50th birthday. Also got to meet and have conversation with him plus a photo. Thank you to all for a great evening.

Had an amazing meal at the chefs table. Champagne on arrival and matched classic wine pairing. Fabulous meal - amongst the best Michelin started tasting menus we have tried. If not the best! James and Maria incredibly welcoming and had a chat with us and an extra glass of champagne at the end of service too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Absolutely fabulous! This is a must for any of you fine dining fans. A very cosy and intimate restaurant with attentive professional service. The food is next level and worth of another Michelin Star.

Every dish was exquisite, the staff were extremely polite, friendly and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend The Raby Hunt, can't wait for the next time.

We went for an anniversary dinner on 9th January. Wonderful service and the best food I have ever eaten. I don't have the superlatives for just how much I enjoyed it. We had the 12 course taster menu (I think it was 12) and as a non-foodie meat eater I was most surprised by how much flavour and taste there was in the salad and the razor clam dishes. Really good and top quality.We mentioned it was our anniversary as we sat and got a lovely little hand written note from the chef wishing us well which is the kind of thing that can make an experience like this particularly enjoyable and pleasant. There was a lot of food in the various parts of the menu that I don't really like but somehow the chef took the best bits of those flavours and made every course delicious.The skull dessert at the end was well worth waiting for. I would describe it as waves of perfectly tuned flavours and accents that I was sure I would not have liked before I actually ate it (I think it had strawberry (not a fan in chocolate but gorgeous in this) and pepper (again ,same)). Absolutely sublime.Service was also lovely with very pleasant but not overbearing staff that we really spot on. I have been to rosette and AA restaurants before but this was my first Michelin Star for an expensive treat but it was well worth it. It was incomparably better than any food I have ever eaten before. The complementary tastes, the depth of flavour, the accents to the food - just excellent. I get now how top chefs on TV can really wax lyrical and sound a bit OTT when they talk about this kind of quality of food. It's an experience like you really won't get many other places. Really, couldn't have enjoyed the food more! Excellent.

We dined for a special occasion and certainly weren’t disappointed! It was such an experience...staff are wonderful...food is superb and atmosphere is just lovely! Thank you for a lovely evening.

This was just amazing in every respect. Every course that came out was our new favourite! So much so, that we’re hard-pressed to have a favourite; it was all stunning. We went for the prestige wine pairings, which were knowledgeably served - and sat at the Chef’s Table, where we learned so much. So worth every penny. Not to be missed.

Amazing as always! This is our second visit to the Raby and we certainly weren’t disappointed. We were celebrating my birthday and the staff made an extra effort to make our visit extra special. The suckling pig was our favourite dish this time round. Breakfast was also amazing, champagne and oysters followed by a cooked breakfast. We can’t wait to visit again!

We visited on a quiet Tuesday night to celebrate our anniversary and were blown away by the experience. The service is excellent and the setting is lovely without it feeling pretentious.

Absolutely faultless and perfect! Have wanted to visit here since it opened. But have never made it. This year, I decided to treat myself and wow! I will never ever be able to eat anywhere close to this level of exceptional! It was faultless and perfect. Saving to go back.

My first visit to The Raby Hunt as a birthday treat from my wife but what a wonderful experience it was. We have been lucky enough to experience several tasting menus at Le Gavroche, Le Manoire, The Black Swan to name but three, so considering past experiences and The Baby Hunt's reputation we had high expectations and we were not disappointed. All courses were excellent creations of flavour, texture and visual presentation of detail. Inevitably the question arises "which dish was your favourite" but honestly I could not answer - all were perfection. The service too was exceptional - efficient, informed and friendly. Expensive? - yes, but you must pay for quality and this was most certainly quality.

Rooms pleasant but ours was very small with no wardrobe and no bath. Car parking very tight.

We were given the chef's table to ourselves which was an amazing experience. The food was thought provoking and the tasting menu was perfectly balanced. Our compliments to James and his team for achieving a restaurant standard of the highest quality.

I’ve been to a few Michelin starred restaurants but this place absolutely blew me away. Every course was so unexpected and unusual and the flavours were just perfect. I left feeling full but not horrendously so (unlike some other tasting menus I’ve experienced). I never take photos of food but the playing here was so lovely I felt like it’d be rude not to. Highlights were all the snacks, but the pastry courses were also delicious, despite the fact I’m not really a ‘pudding person’! It is probably the most expensive restaurant I’ve visited so definitely not a regular occurrence (although I loved it so much, now I’m saving for my next visit!) I took my parents as a thank you present and they said it was the best meal they had ever had. 100% recommend, not sure why they haven’t got 3 Michelin stars!

Wonderful... Just keeps getting better..cannot rate higher. Thoroughly enjoyable evening, cannot fault it in any respect

Have visited this restaurant many times and had some minor issues but nothing drastic, and enjoyed the food generally, but always gave it another chance. However it seems the chef can't tolerate any constructive criticism of any type whatsoever. On a previous visit we had the apparent "audacity" to comment that a particular beef dish was not as good as the previous incarnation/version of it.

I had wanted to go to Raby Hunt for sometime and used the occasion of my birthday to come here. I did have thoughts that it was expensive, would I notice the difference in this level of food compared to the other restaurants I've visited etc...

We'd had an emotionally charged week and really needed an excellent experience. Raby Hunt were superb. The food, the wines, the staff, the atmosphere, the attention. A truly memorably evening, thank you.

First timer to Rabys Hunt and wondered what to expect.

This was our first experience of dining in a restaurant like this and it didn't disappoint. I was concerned before we went that there would be something in one of the courses that I wouldn't like. However, we throughly enjoy every course!

Lunch per head is now £165! With cheese per head an extra £25.