We have all heard about the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside, so I will not wax lyrical about its virtues. However, I am going to praise one of its finest restaurants, the Carpenters Arms. This charming Felixkirk eatery and hotel was voted one of the best pubs in the country, and it is not difficult to see why.
Its interior has all of the traditional trappings once common in northern taverns, and it makes for a wonderfully cosy experience. The emphasis here is on choice – eat in the posh dining room, or tuck in whilst sat by the fireplace, it does not matter as long as you are enjoying your food. We actually did stay in the pub to eat, after finding a little nook to curl up in.
To start, I chose Masham Game and Ale sausages, with Yorkshire Pudding and Onion Gravy. It might sound like down to earth food, and it was in many ways, but the quality was easily on par with some of the more upmarket establishments we have visited. My partner opted for a Pheasant, Black pudding, and Apple Spring Roll.
“Eat in the posh dining room, or tuck in whilst sat by the fireplace.”
Being mid-December, we went with a Christmas style main course, in the form of Turkey, Vegetables, Duck Fat Roasts, Sprouts, and Gravy. Once again, the food was simple, but skilfully put together, and the Turkey was succulent and aromatic, especially when smothered in homemade Cranberry Sauce.
For dessert, we chose Rhubarb Crumble. Whilst it wouldn’t win any awards for originality, it was perfect and smothered in satisfyingly warm custard. We polished off our bottle of Domaine de Saissac Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, and sat back to take in the atmosphere of this Yorkshire hideaway.
We had a superb dining experience, and we plan to return as soon as possible. The service was friendly, the food was exquisite, and the restaurant itself was a real treat to spend time in.