Eating wonderful food is one of life’s great pleasures. That’s what the MICHELIN Star represents: it directs you to restaurants that serve truly memorable dishes. And while this experience can often prove expensive, there are thankfully a great number of Starred restaurants who go out of their way to offer more affordable ways to enjoy their fabulous cooking. The trick to cheap Star dining is so often the same: go at lunchtime. Fixed-price menus and great-value offerings are far more common in the middle of the day – and who doesn’t love a luxurious long lunch? Here's our list of the cheapest MICHELIN-Starred restaurants for lunch.
33 The Homend, Ledbury
One of the UK’s most recent MICHELIN Stars is also, it turns out, one of its most affordable. It’s no surprise, given the low-key, homely charm of 33 The Homend. This the kind of restaurant where you can feel the personal touch of those running it: namely Elizabeth and James Winter, experienced operators who know how to provide proper hospitality. The Star-quality food’s not bad either, nor is the price of the fixed-price lunch menu.Three Courses, Thurs-Fri Lunch – £48
Gorse, Cardiff. © Will Barker
Elephant, Torquay
Offering some of the best value for money across all of our Starred restaurants is The Elephant, which sits in a fine Georgian property overlooking Torquay Harbour. The mostly local produce is of great quality and is brought to life with the help of delicious sauces and harmonious flavour combinations. If you’re after a lighter lunch, then you can even enjoy a two-course option for £34.50.Three Courses, Weds-Sat Lunch – £39.75
Gorse, Cardiff
MICHELIN-Star restaurants are often led by their produce – and that is certainly true at this intimate spot in the lovely Cardiff suburb of Pontcanna. Chef-Owner Tom Waters draws upon Welsh ingredients throughout his dishes, which are constructed with great skill and never over-elaborated. Making a visit even more appealing is the four-course lunch menu for under £50 and packed full of top ingredients.Four Courses, Fri-Sat Lunch – £45
heft, Newton in Cartmel. © Jenny Jones
heft, Newton in Cartmel
The Lake District is home to many a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant, but heft is the one to visit if you’re after a good value lunch. It’s also perhaps the most thoroughly Cumbrian of all restaurants up here, with Chef-Owner Kevin Tickle using his knowledge of the local landscape to inform his detailed cooking. A two-course Sunday menu is also a good deal at £39.50, with options like whole roasted fish and Herdwick hogget rump.Four Courses, Thurs-Sat Lunch – £45
hide and fox, Saltwood
Not many communities are fortunate enough to say that their neighbourhood restaurant has Two MICHELIN Stars, but the residents of Saltwood have been blessed with this thoroughly welcoming little operation. It was once the local shop, and one side of the room retains its original wooden fitted shelves, now filled with wines. The skill of the kitchen team is clear across the range of impressive dishes.Three Courses, Weds-Fri Lunch – £48 (needs to be pre-ordered when booking)
House of Tides, Newcastle Upon Tyne. © House of Tides
House of Tides, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Kenny Atkinson is big news in Newcastle, providing the city with MICHELIN-Starred dining at both House of Tides and his chef's-table operation SOLSTICE. The former is the home of his most affordable cooking, which comes in the form of a 'Sunday Feast'. For an appealingly low price tag, diners can enjoy a selection of snacks to share followed by Kenny's take on a roast, including side dishes like BBQ hispi cabbage with smoked bacon crumb.Three-Course 'Sunday Feast', Sunday Lunch – £50
John’s House, Mountsorrel
Rustic character and warm service enhance the wholly enjoyable experience at this 16th-century farmhouse, where John himself is in the kitchen, while his brother Tom looks after the farm – and Tom clearly does a good job, as there’s some wonderful produce on offer. It’s all cooked well too, with John bringing both balance and depth of flavour to the dishes. Add to that the good-value lunch menu, and it’s easy to see why this place is so popular.Three Courses, Weds-Sat Lunch – £49
Skof, Manchester. © Cristian Barnett
Skof, Manchester
Manchester’s industrial past is clear to see in this warehouse conversion where the buzz of contented diners bounces off the exposed brick walls and iron girders. Chef-Owner Tom Barnes used to work with Simon Rogan at L’Enclume and Rogan’s Our Farm development provides vegetables for the carefully constructed dishes. Come at lunchtime and you can experience the immensely skilful cooking for less.Four Courses, Thurs-Sat Lunch – £50
The Cross, Kenilworth
There is a considerable amount of textbook culinary craft on display at The Cross. Throughout the menu, the technical skill of the chefs is evident in bold, refined dishes with a strong classical base. The restaurant itself is hugely characterful, with an enclosed terrace ideal for summer and a cosy bar that would make a great place for a pint. There’s a good buzz in the air and the attentive service team look after you well.Three Courses, Weds-Sat Lunch – £50
Wilsons, Bristol. © Wilsons
Walnut Tree, Llanddewi Skirrid
This restaurant comes with an illustrious past and a prime location in the rolling borderlands of Wales, while a loyal band of regulars is testament to the quality of the cooking. For the most part, dishes showcase tried-and-tested combinations, executed with care and technical skill, although there is the odd international influence. The wine list is notably good too.Three Courses, Weds-Sat Lunch – £50
Wilsons, Bristol
There are few MICHELIN Stars with a more ingrained sustainable ethos than Wilsons. Run in tandem with its own smallholding on the edge of Bristol, this local gem serves fresh, seasonal produce that provides delicious natural flavours. Those flavours are allowed to shine and are gently enhanced by the careful craft of the kitchen. A three-course version of the menu is available for midweek lunches, and is an absolute steal at under £40.Three Courses, Weds-Fri Lunch – £35
The following restaurants also offer great value lunch menus, as well as affordable MICHELIN-Star dining at dinner:
Bridge Arms, Bridge
Bulrush, Bristol
Campagne, Kilkenny
Fordwich Arms, Fordwich
Le Champignon Sauvage, Cheltenham
LIGИUM, Bullaun
Masons Arms, Knowstone
Pea Porridge, Bury St Edmunds
Starling, Esher
The Barn, Aughton
The Coach, Marlow
The Sportsman, Seasalter
To discover more, read The Cheapest MICHELIN-Star Restaurants For Dinner.
For affordable London Stars, see The Cheapest MICHELIN-Star Restaurants in London.
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Hero Image: © House of Tides
