Best Restaurants Middlesbrough Has to Offer

One of North Yorkshire's most popular towns among foodies, Middlesbrough's culturally diverse population has allowed its culinary scene to develop into something quite unique. To help you navigate everything it has to offer, we've put together our list of the 10 best restaurants in Middlesbrough.

Rio Brazilian Steakhouse

Bringing the traditional Brazilian Churrasco dining experience to Middlesbrough, Rio is as perfect as it gets for meat lovers.

“Churrasco” refers to a popular all-you-can-eat style of dining where servers continuously prepare the juiciest cuts of meat for you to indulge in until you decide you are absolutely stuffed.

It works using a simple traffic light system. Upon being seated, you’ll be given a card with a red bull on one side and a green bull on the other. If you want the waiter to keep bringing you cuts of meat, make sure the green bull is turned the right side up, and whenever you need a break, simply switch back to the red bull.

However, it’s not just an endless meat feast. Rio also offers a brilliant salad bar featuring all manner of healthy tasty salad options as well as a number of cold cuts, cheeses and traditional Brazilian side dishes.

A rich and eclectic feast enjoyed at your own pace, Rio Brazilian Steakhouse comes highly recommended and is widely seen by locals as one of the top restaurants in Middlesbrough.

Manjaros

A fusion of the best of African and Caribbean cuisine, Manjaros is known for its excellently seasoned dishes – usually capped off with their signature Manjaros sauce.

With carefully curated recipes designed to titillate every taste bud, their dishes range from mild to giving you a hell of a kick (emphasis on hell!) and their signature sauce comes in a whole variety of flavours – ranging from mild alligator peppers to the much hotter hot bird eye chilies.

Therefore, if you're after food with a bit more personality to it, we encourage you to pay Manjaros a visit.

Central Park

With one of the more eclectic menus available in Middlesbrough, Central Park serves up dishes from America, Italy, Mexican and even Greece, giving you a taste of everything all in one place.

With such an extensive list to choose from, including a children’s menu and a decadent dessert menu, Central Park is the perfect place for the whole family. There’s genuinely something for everyone to enjoy.

Central Park also offers great value for money with their incredible buffet menu and offers a wide selection of cocktails, wines, and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, making it one of the best restaurants in Middlesbrough if you have to please a big group of people all in one go!

Turtle Bay

Celebrated across the length and breadth of the country, with restaurants scattered across pretty much every major city in the UK, Turtle Bay has sparked something of a culinary revolution with its bold flavours, incredible cocktails and infectious energy.

With a regularly updated menu and 2 for 1 happy hour deals 7 days a week, there are few restaurants in Middlesbrough guaranteed to give you a better time than you’ll have in Turtle Bay.

Greek Mezetaverna

One of the finest Greek restaurants Middlesbrough has to offer, Greek Mezetaverna offers patrons a truly authentic dining experience, making you feel like you've just been transported to Athens.

From their tasty grilled meats to their mezzes, as well as various pasta and risotto dishes and exceptional seafood, Greek Mezetaverna brings you all the flavours in one place.

Add to this sharing starter and grill platters, it's one of the top restaurants in Middlesbrough for big groups wanting to all eat together in a warm and welcoming environment.

Café Lilli

A café that truly enshrines itself within the community, Café Lilli is a modern restaurant that prides itself on being a Market to Table restaurant – meaning that all of their ingredients are locally sourced from suppliers in the North East.

Their seasonal menus also guarantee that their offering remains fresh and innovative.

Speaking of innovation, Café Lilli is also known for its unique Coravin technology – a device that allows wine to be poured without removing the cork. This ensures that the wine remains its best for longer and allows patrons to enjoy the same excellent experience whether they order their wine by the bottle or by the glass.

And if that wasn't enough, they regularly invite local artists down to perform their music at the café too, which is why we've included it as part of our best restaurants in Middlesbrough list!

Sorrento

Offering a taste of Italy to its many patrons, Sorrento Steakhouse is a proudly Italian dining establishment, serving up a wide variety of cuts of meat, all cooked to perfection, alongside traditional pizzas and the freshest pasta.

With a wonderfully decorated interior and warm lighting, Sorrento has a lovely, cosy energy to it that, when paired with the smell of sizzling meat, creates the most welcoming atmosphere for diners.

Umi Japanese Bar & Restaurant

Wanting some great Japanese food in Middlesbrough? Look no further than Umi Japanese Bar & Restaurant, where you'll find everything from ramen bowls to teriyaki rice dishes, as well as bao buns.

However, the star of the show at Umi is their wide range of sushi options. From nigiri and uramaki to tuna tatakis, you'll find every cut you can think of. And if you're still undecided once you're there, just get one of their big platters, each offering different types of sushi.

Chadwick's Inn Maltby

While technically just outside Middlesbrough, this list couldn't have been created without including Chadwick's Inn, located in Maltby.

A Michelin and AA awarded fine dining pub, Chadwick's Inn prides itself in producing beautifully prepared food made exclusively with locally sourced products, to bring the best of North Yorkshire to your plate.

It also hosts wine tasting evenings, bringing in a selection from different countries for you to try alongside some great food.

The Chairman

Serving up a number of traditional gastropub favourites like juicy burgers and fish and chips, The Chairman also offers a number of light bites and sharing platters too.

Additionally, The Chairman offers a wide selection of vegetarian and vegan options too ensuring that whatever your dietary requirements, you’ll leave The Chairman truly satisfied.

The restaurant is also known for its legendary Sunday lunches and is a keen supporter of Middlesbrough’s live music scene, regularly giving solo artists a chance to showcase what they can do in front of a supportive audience, meaning you!