A tasting menu restaurant which finally opened in the autumn, fulfilling a long-held ambition for its core team, has now made a new list of The Michelin Guide's Favourite New Restaurants.
Coarse in Durham has been winning praise for its imaginative six-course menu boasting locally-sourced produce and now it's come to the attention of inspectors from the prestigious restaurant and hotel guide who have included it among their top new pick of places to eat. And the restaurant could not be more delighted, saying in a post on its Facebook page: "We had been open seven weeks, serving our first ever tasting menu when we spotted a tweet from the Michelin Guide mentioning us.
"Amazing, we thought. But surely we wouldn't make the guide so early on. Well, we were (gladly) wrong. Look mam, we made it." The post added: "Thank you to everyone that has, and continues to, support us."
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Its placing in the Michelin Guide, following that first mention, is a huge vote of confidence for the owners - head chef Ruari MacKay, his partner Gemma, who is manager, and director Craig Lappin-Smith. And, in its list, the Michelin Guide says that Coarse "shows what friends can achieve with ambition and hard work".
Opening the restaurant had been something the trio had strived for; initially launching a crowdfunding campaign in 2021 in the hope of securing funding to start it up in premises in Silver Street. Their ambitious idea for what they said would be the city's first tasting restaurant raised an impressive £50,000 but their target has been double that so, in the end, they weren't able to access any of the offered money.
Undeterred, they turned their attention to finding a new location and a self-funded Coarse eventually opened in North Road in September, with sous chef Niall Watson also on board and the aim of offering a quality dining experience that is affordable and fun. Ruari, who initially trained with Newcastle restaurateur Terry Laybourne and has earned praise from food critic Jay Rayner, creates a £40 regional menu - with ingredients sourced from within a 100-mile radius - that changes seasonally and adds occasional themes.
The current menu is set to change soon and Coarse also offers a vegetarian version and, with prior notice, caters for celiacs and vegans too. It is currently inviting bookings for a special Valentine's Day menu which will see it open specially on February 14 - a Tuesday ,when it normally would be closed - and it is also taking part from this weekend in Durham Restaurant Week which will see it offer a three-course menu, with the likes of smoked haddock and Thirkleby duck, with a glass of cava for £20.
Coarse is one of 24 new additions to the Michelin Guide which says of the list: "These newly-added restaurants across Great Britain and Ireland boast great variety and come in all different styles; some casual and relaxed; others more formal - but all united by one thing: great cooking." Coarse also shared the Michelin announcement on Twitter, adding simply "Bosh". Comments on its Facebook post included: "Wow that is amazing! Knowing how hard you all work it is well deserved."; "I knew it was only a matter of time"; "What an achievement!! Here's to your first star;" and "Beautiful restaurant and very well deserved".
The next edition of the Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland is due to be launched on March 27 when all new Michelin stars, Bib Gourmands and Green Star awards will be unveiled. For the full list of the new additions see here and for more about Coarse and how to book see here.
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