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hand picked restaurants

Many customers refer to the relaxed yet stylish Number 11 Restaurant and Bar as Holmfirth's hidden gem. Situated in a 19th century historic beamed building that is home to a hive of local activity, the retreat has a fascinating vaulted cellar that provides for a unique rustic setting for private functions, or daytime or evening meals.

On offer is a selection of Caribbean and Mediterranean dishes, all created using ingredients from local suppliers. Considerable attention is paid to ensure high standards of presentation and the availability of options for vegetarians and those with special dietary needs.

Starters of spiced beef strips with red onion on roti bread with a sweet mango dip, or fried fish and Johnny cakes help begin. Pleasing mains of jerk pork, or curry goat with gungo peas, tomatoes, coleslaw and rice; Jamaica's national dish of ackee and salt fish, and filo pastry parcel layered with feta, roasted red peppers and spinach make for a delightful meal.

The menu is matched by a choice of wines, beer and drinks.

Yorkshire is well blessed with culinary havens, and Mustard and Punch is one of them. The proverbial converted shop makes for a friendly setting and the restaurant is well regarded over an increasingly wide area. Every so often they step outside their normal excellent menu range and run a gourmet evening which is astonishingly good value for money and in places further south would cost double what you will pay at Mustard and Punch. The menu selected here is taken from one of those evenings.

From a selection of six amuse bouche choose the whipped Nangis brie with fig chutney, or the roast John Dory, pot-braised oxtail, beetroot and trompette mushrooms. On to the starters, and another six from which to choose; perhaps the pressed ham hock and shiitake mushroom terrine, with mustard seed and potato salad, or a roast salmon steak with vanilla braised salsify, oyster veloute and petit pois. For the main event, from a choice of seven consider the trio of Yorkshire lamb, noisette, shepherd's pie and kidney with roast lamb juices, spinach and caramelised swede puree, or a superb roast beef fillet with shallot puree, sariadaise potato, baby vegetables, Madeira jus and béarnaise sauce.

Desserts follow the same familiar but wonderfully tweaked pattern, with rum-soaked pudding, caramelised banana ice cream and clove caramel, or a warm chocolate and raspberry brownie, almond ice cream and nougat sauce.

Now when I tell you that all this comes comfortably within a £50 note, and is supported by a well-sourced wine list, starting at £10.95, and efficient, friendly service, you will see what I mean. It is also fair to say that pro rata the more usual menus represent the same excellent value for money, and should you be a connoisseur of Belgian beers your cup will indeed overflow.

A visit to the Coach and Horses Bistro in the delightful village of Honley reveals that it is as cosy as if you were at the home of a warm and welcoming friend, without losing the professional approach we look for with of the staff service excellent and everything else is as it should be in a restaurant which is steadily becoming a favoured eating destination for the neighbourhood.

Drop by for a delicious lunch with friends at the contemporary Coach and Horses or come the evening, prepare to indulge yourself and someone special with their mouth watering fare. Start with the filo wrapped marinated king prawns served with a Thai sweet chilli dipping sauce and move on to a main course of grilled fillet of Scottish salmon with cured ham and fresh pea cream sauce served with garlic and thyme roast Jersey royals. Finally, end with a home baked fudge brownie served with Dearne Lee Farm natural ice cream.

Situated in the centre of Holmfirth Taylor's Seafood Restaurant offers seafood and fish from around the world with the help of local suppliers. The produce complements the dishes prepared by their experienced chef who has mastered his culinary skills from some of the finest French restaurants he has worked with. The menu caters to all gastronomic requirements from children to professionals. The interior features a casual dining atmosphere in relaxed settings.

The extensive menu features fresh shell on king prawns pan fried with chillies, garlic, and herbed butter, rope grown mussels in their own cream and chardonnay sauce with chorizo, tuna steak over merguez sausage cassoulet, fillet of Scottish river salmon on a bed of loose seafood risotto, and warm salad of cucumber, mangetout, and fine green beans and chantenay carrots, among many other delicious options.