The Box Tree Restaurant — Restaurant in Bradford

Lovely place with lovely people and great food. This time I had the pescatarian meal while my partner opted for vegetarian - neither of us really being either but we thought we’d try it. And unsurprisingly it was delicious - what magic does the chef put into all those dishes, I wonder..? Some people have commented that since it lost its Michelin star/s the food is not the same. I can’t agree with that and I have pretty sensitive taste buds. But I guess we are all different. The staff are just lovely and can’t do enough for you - making the whole experience that bit more special. I happened to comment on the bread and ended up going home with two loaves and instructions on how to finish them off in the oven! It’s the people who make that place very special - people who, it seems, take much pride in their work and go above and beyond to make diners’ experience very special. You can have Michelin food in other restaurants but the magic of The Box Tree is strongly rooted in the people who serve its purpose. Personally my favourites of all dishes from the sample menu were: Salad de Artichaut (artichoke summer salad with whipped feta and Parmesan pesto) - complete explosion of flavours presented like a piece of artwork. Coquille St Jacques (seared scallop in the most delicious sauce ever!) - if it wasn’t considered rude to lick one’s plate, it would have been done! Absolutely packed full of flavours with fennel giving it that extra texture.. stunning! And finally Box Tree the speciality , the raspberry soufflé with raspberry sauce and tarragon ice cream - who would have thought that tarragon and ice cream can be used in the same dish? But it definitely can! Absolutely delicious. And how does the chef get that soufflé to raise so perfectly..? Another example of some special magic for sure.. My partner had the Pea and Ricotta Tortelini and let me tell you about those peas! If you really want to know what the peas should taste like, try this dish.. your senses will take you back in time to your grandma’s garden and the fresh peas that she served you with your dinner (even if you never had a grandma with a garden full of peas). Get ready for your imagination to run wild! I look forward to returning to the Box Tree and sampling their other creations, undoubtedly just as delicious as the ones I have already tried. Job perfectly done - 5...

The Box Tree provides a special experience. Yesterday, it was a voyage through the many dimensions of taste.

It started with velvety snacks including an indulgent parmesan custard and a bread course with carefully balanced butters. We particularly loved the vegemite one, full of flavor without the unpleasant sharpness of vegemite.

We were then transported to the salty realm with the starters, agnolotti of ricotta with lemon seasoned with a bacon reduction and truffle. This was a great transition as the dish carried a similar smoothness to that of the earlier dishes.

The mains brought distinct umami flavors, and the guinea fowl stood out as a favorite. We loved how tender and homogeneous it was, the magnificent pairing with the hen of the woods and the garlic emulsion. We even overheard other tables profusely commenting on the dish. Optional dishes of lobster and wagyu beef were also available, the latter being another spectacular success, served with an oyster tempura and a fantastically contasting calamansi (citrus) emulsion.

The desserts brought us back from the umami world with a more neutral raspberry trifle with tonka beans, adding unusual exotic flavors. It was followed by a strawberry mousse contained in a thin chocolate sphere and seasoned with a strawberry sauce and lemon oil. This dish was another standout featuring a complex interplay between sweet and sour.

On we went to the sweet realm with a chocolate mille-feuille accompanied with a delicious fig leaf ice cream, followed by a tonka bean, prune and Armagnac macaron before concluding with the bitterness of a coffee.

On top of the gastronomic adventure, the service at the Box Tree is excellent and we were provided with great alternatives where allergies were involved. There is no wonder why this restaurant has such an illustrious and long history. I look forward to...

Just back from Father's Day here. While I enjoyed the starter and parts of the main, I cannot say they took me on a culinary experience (when they served all it was - "Here is your cured salmon". Plus the overall cost.

We booked on Friday for 4. Took my husband at a treat, rang ahead asked about kids' meals. They reassured me that while they did not have a kids' menu, they would provide a lower-cost main meal for our kids aged 3.5 and 5.

When we got there, they said they had never done anything like this and sent the chef to get some pasta. They informed us they would do pasta with some tomato sauce. Not ideal, but I agreed and suggested they added some asparagus and some other veg to it. When served our mains, it was plain pasta (no sauce) with some peas and bits of asparagus. The shock came when we saw £40 on the bill for the kid's courses. Total bill £196. We argued the £40 and got £10 off. In addition, there was a service charge of 12.5% which I thought was a bit unfair, since we were only a group of 4, not 6 ( I would expect service charge for a group of 6+). Nonetheless, the service was good and these people worked on a Sunday. No issues there while the service could be improved overall.

Overall, there was almost too much food (mostly carbs) and I feel 2 course option should be offered at lunch time. Those in between nibbles and bread are not needed and did not present any value.

I ordered white wine, the first glass came as small, the second as a larger one, I was charged £9 each regardless (I asked for a large in the first instance).

Sadly, I cant say I would like to...