Waterside at Chainbridge, Ruswarp

The well-named Waterside at Ruswarp on the banks of the River Esk could not be lovelier.  Chloe and David Ellis, who own the lovely Pizza West in Whitby, opened here in 2024, transforming it from a café and holiday cottage business, to a glam restaurant.

They’ve made the best use of the location right on the riverbank with gravel paths leading to seating areas with low tables and velvet loungers. The garden has been planted with shrubs and herbs and it’s all strung with fairy lights and Japanese lanterns.

Indoors, there is a bar with big round tables for convivial drinking (and eating) and a beamed dining room with rustic brick and a view to the open kitchen.

An attractive menu might begin with a snack of oysters and Cornish caviar, then a list of starters that could include burrata with fresh fig. pistachio and honey or torched mackerel with golden beetroot and crème fraiche.

Mains cover meat, fish and a non-meat dish that might be aubergine schnitzel with mozzarella and a tomato sauce.  Otherwise, it’s cod loin and chorizo boulangere potatoes, beef cheek or pappardelle with duck and porcini ragu.

Desserts might be a simple own-made ice cream or a fruit tart.

There are bar snacks, a children’s menu and Sunday lunch.

Waterside opens Friday to Sunday only, so book your table, and whether it’s a summer evening on the terrace or indoors in their lovely dining room, it’s well worth a visit.