Marianna Hunt

Where to find the best Michelin-starred meals on a budget

Six restaurants to try for gourmet food that's good value

  • From Spectator Life
Herdwick dumpling and broth, Town Head Farm Herdwick hogget, violet artichoke and minted yow’s curd at Heft in Cumbria (Credit: Jenny Jones)
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Even Michelin-starred chefs, it seems, aren’t immune from the cost-of-living crisis. In a bid to make fine dining more affordable, Jason Atherton has cut prices across the board at Pollen Street Social, his flagship Mayfair restaurant (the three-course set lunch now costs £49.50 – down from £75 – and wines start from £7.50 a glass). At two Michelin-starred Kitchen Table on Charlotte Street, the cost of a 20-course set menu has come down by a third (from £300 to £200). 

But even before we all started squeezing our belts, there were options for enjoying high-end food at not-so-high prices – if you knew where and when to go. Follow our guide to the best-value Michelin-starred meals around the UK. 

The Elephant, Devon

Lunch at The Elephant (Credit: Jodi Hinds)

This elegant restaurant claims to offer the best value Michelin-starred lunch in the UK. ‘Value’ is hard to define – but at £29.50 for two courses, which includes off-the-boat-fresh seafood and fish, we’re inclined to agree.

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