CragRats Brasserie Reviews

I went here for the first time during the Spring 2006 for lunch one Saturday and what a wonderful setting and restaurant it is, going again with friends this evening for my birthday and can’t wait....what a delightful treat.

What a fabulous restaurant, visited last night for the first time with some friends. We ordered drinks in the bar and sat in the lounge area where the waiter took our menu choices. We then remained in the lounge drinking until shown to out table where our starters were served immediately. The menu was varied with something for everyone. The brasserie menu is different than the bar restaurant.

We had the following starters, ribs, pate, houmous, olives and pitta breads, and smoked salmon. For mains we had, chilli prawns, lamb cutlets, rib eye steak and a asparagus frittata vegetarian dish. Finally desserts were apple torte, crème brûlée and apple and apricot crumble.

We did not have any wine (for a change) but they had Magners which is all the craze. The bill for 4 of us came to £150.00 so not too bad and the food was excellent. Well worth a visit.

We decided to make the journey out to CragRats for a special treat on my 40th birthday. The location of the brasserie is magnificent; set amongst the hills with views over the gently undulating countryside. The sun was setting as we arrived and the place had a magical feel.

The decor was beautiful. The old cottage mixed with quality modern furniture. Some lovely sculptures really added a classy touch. Was a bit put off when the greeter told us they were full, I had phoned earlier and told it wasn’t likely to be busy (although I hadn’t booked!). The lady went to the kitchens and we were told we could be accommodated if we ordered quickly.

We did order quickly - not quite the range of options that was shown on the website but enough. We are all fish eating veggies so choice is often limited.

The starters came in good time and the serving staff were very polite. We had trout with mash, roast vegetable salad and some potato wedges. The food was good but nothing 'extra special'. The main course followed in good time. Fish and chips for my nine year old daughter, lasagne for my wife and I had a fritata. Again it was nice enough but fell well short of extra special.

On the whole the food was OK, but I would only put it in the 'good pub food' category. The interior designer far outshone the chef.

This restaurant will take some beating. I have had the pleasure of eating in most of the best restaurants around Huddersfield and District, but I have to say that yesterday the meal our party of four were lucky enough to experience will be difficult to surpass anywhere. The surroundings and decor are top class and the service is unstuffy and extremely friendly.

The food was excellent and just when we thought they might just have missed something as our coffees arrived minus mints or chocolates, they brought out an extremely special plate of homemade petits fours.

I have been to Cragrats now on three separate occasions and have been so impressed on each visit that myself and my fiancée have completely altered our wedding plans from a castle near Middlesbrough to this picturesque gem. The setting is fantastic, the food is of an unquestionably high standard, at a reasonable price and the service is great as well. Once found it is hard to forget - I cannot recommend it enough.

Nice atmosphere, staff very friendly and efficient. Food very good. Cost £30/head incl. initial round of drinks, one bottle of lower-end wine and tip (4 mains, 3 starters, 3 sweets and 4 hot drinks). No top-ups offered for hot drinks. Seemed to be an acoustic problem as it was very noisy; almost impossible to hold a conversation, though there was at least one largish party in. Overall, will go again, despite criticisms.