Drum & Monkey, Harrogate 

Drum & Monkey has been selling fresh and seasonal seafood from its elegant premises in Harrogate’s Montpellier Quarter for over 50 years. Now run by the Carter family, this French-inspired eatery has recently been awarded an AA Rosette. Drum & Monkey’s regularly changing menu features fishy favourites along with some more inventive choices. Shellfish are found in abundance on the restaurant’s highly recommended seafood platters, which can be prepared for one or two. A classic cold platter features oysters, crab claws, langoustines, crevettes, smoked salmon, anchovies, prawns, mussels and cockles, with an option to splash out and add a lobster if desired. Alternatively, you can opt for a delicious two or three course dinner. 

Fish Cottage, Sandsend 

Located in the pretty village of Sandsend, three miles north of Whitby, Fish Cottage serves locally-caught fish and seafood that is cooked to perfection and beautifully presented. The interior of this cosy seafood restaurant carefully blends modern simplicity and original features, with rustic blue tiles that mimic the sea. You can also enjoy appetisers like crab fritters with saffron mayo and a radish and gherkin salad, or a classic moules mariniére. Mains here include lobster accompanied by a choice of dressings or dishes like prawn and chimichurri linguine or the restaurant’s famous fish and prawn tacos. 

The Cod & Lobster, Staithes 

Situated on the North Yorkshire coast, the fishing village of Staithes is brimming with olde worlde charm, from its narrow cobbled streets to the cheerfully painted stone cottages that climb the valley it sits in. The Cod & Lobster has served the locals here for generations and offers wonderful sea views from its spot on the harbour – in fact, this friendly, informal pub is so close to the water that parts of the building have now been washed away three times. While there are some fish-free and vegetarian dishes on the menu here, The Cod & Lobster’s focus is naturally seafood. Starters include whitebait, scallops, squid, mussels and king prawns, while for a main you can tuck into tempting options like a seafood kebab accompanied by chilli rice, or monkfish wrapped in parma ham with an infused celeriac mash and chorizo sauce. 

Fish & Forest, York 

Tucked away on York’s Micklegate, this intimate restaurant prides itself on serving delicious contemporary British food, prepared with the best ingredients from the land and sea. Fish & Forest’s menu is small but perfectly formed with four starters and mains to choose from each day, one of which is always vegetarian. You’ll find plenty of locally-reared game here, along with day boat fish. Among the restaurant’s starters are enticing options like sea trout pain perdu or scallops served with kimchi and tomato. Mains include coley with a green peppercorn sauce or plaice with reaper butter and optional sides like fondant potatoes or a red cabbage and almond slaw. 

Miller’s Fish & Chips, Haxby 

Feeding the people of Haxby for more than 50 years, this family-run fish and chip shop was originally founded during WWII by the great-grandfather of its current owner, Nick Miller. In 2018, Millers was awarded the rather impressive accolade of ‘The UK’s No.1 Fish and Chip Shop’ at the National Fish & Chip Awards. This traditional restaurant continues to offer freshly battered fish and chips to eat in or take away. On their menu you’ll find sustainable line caught cod and haddock, along with specials such as hake – all of which can be accompanied by fresh cut Sagitta chips, mushy peas and curry sauce, which is made to the restaurant’s own special recipe. 

The Seaview Restaurant, Saltburn-by-the-Sea 

Featured on BBC’s Remarkable Places To Eat, The Seaview restaurants sits on Saltburn’s lower promenade, offering stunning views over the ocean and the sandy beach below. This stylish seafood restaurant was renovated in 2016 and it now boasts a light and airy, nautical themed interior. You can begin your meal at The Seaview Restaurant with creative starters such as a seafood pancake, before moving on to mains like luxury fish pie, seafood linguine or the Saltburn crab brioche, which was recommended by Fred Sirieix and Nadiya Hussain. This golden brioche roll is filled with a combination of white and brown crab with crayfish tails and celeriac remoulade. It’s then finished with a topping of bitter leaves, pickled cucumber, Bloody Mary ketchup and edible flowers and served with a portion of skinny fries. 

Cafe Fish, Scarborough 

Situated in the heart of Scarborough, this characterful fish restaurant has been open for more than 20 years and still sources most of its seafood from the town’s own harbour. Other than its brilliant food, one of Cafe Fish’s highlights is its fresh seafood counter, where you can see the catch of the day laid out. Starters include the popular chowder platter, which features a creamy seafood chowder, served with spicy fishcakes and a haddock kiev on baby leaf salad with a sweet chilli dip. For a main, you can choose from a huge selection of fish and shellfish, including homemade scampi, crab, lobster, scallops, prawns, mussels and many different types of fish. 

Bantam, Helmsley 

Cooking up imaginative and flavoursome dishes that are prepared from scratch, this relaxed bistro in Helmsley has earned itself a place in the 2022 Michelin Guide. Seafood is close to chef and co-owner Sam Varley’s heart. A lifelong foodie, he spent his childhood holidays diving for scallops in Scotland and dining on small squid and Galician-style octopus in Northern Spain. This passion is reflected in Bantam’s menu, which features a variety of seasonal sharing plates that can be enjoyed by everyone at the table. Previous fish offerings have included brown crab served with nectarine, pickled chilli and endive, or roast cod accompanied by white beans, girolles and tarragon. 

The Talbot, Malton

The picturesque market town of Malton was described as ‘Yorkshire’s food capital’ by Antonio Carluccio and restaurants like The Talbot help it live up to this name. An old coaching inn, The Talbot has been recently revamped and now features a sumptuous interior with jewel coloured walls, antique furniture and roaring open fires. Food here is prepared using the finest local ingredients, which are transformed into flawless dishes by the hotel’s talented team of chefs. Fish options include starters like a smoked haddock scotch egg. You can then follow this with ChalkStream trout, brown crab risotto or crisp beer-battered fish and chips, which are made using The Talbot’s own secret batter recipe.

Photos: The Fish Cottage, The Talbot and The Drum and Monkey