Industry News

Durham’s fine dining restaurant Faru has launched a new £40 menu to become ‘more accessible’ to diners.

The Michelin-recommended restaurant, on Silver Street, is owned by Jake and Laura Siddle, who offer a signature 10-course tasting menu, at £98, and a five-course tasting menu, which is £60.

Now the husband-and-wife team have launched a three-course menu, with snacks, for just £40.

Speaking about the decision, Jake said: “As business owners we have to adapt to changes in the market.

“We always wanted to bring a more refined dining experience to the city with our tasting menus.

“Although Faru is still going strong, and we are grateful to all the customers who have visited us in the last year and a half since our doors opened, as business owners we also have to adapt to changes and the way people spend. We understand we are a restaurant that may be seen as a ‘special treat’ or for an occasion."

“After Laura and I launched a set Sunday lunch menu, we had an influx of bookings, so we knew the time was right to offer a new, more affordable experience,” said Jake.

The set Sunday lunch menu features dishes such as ham-hock terrine, pineapple and mustard and salt-aged Yorkshire beef with comte cauliflower cheese, beef fat carrot, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, hispi cabbage, and crushed swede.

Each dish is led by flavour, ingredients and seasons and Jake says the new £40 offering will be no different.

Guests can expect snacks such as cheese beignet and chicken wing with puffed rice, ginger gel and fresh lime.

Dishes will include barbecue mackerel with cultured buttermilk sauce, dill oil, spinach, horseradish emulsion, pickled cucumbers and lime caviar; pork tenderloin, pork belly, miso glaze, celeriac fondant, and celeriac puree topped with pancetta and walnut crumb, hen of the wood’s walnut gel, and pork jus with pickled mustard seeds.

Plus, a dark chocolate mousse featuring a cocoa nib base and passionfruit jelly inside, topped with malt namelaka, passionfruit jelly, cocoa nib tuile and malted barley ice cream on the side.

“We strive to produce exceptional, flavour-led dishes and the new three-course set menu will be no different. It will still be the same quality that people have come to know us by and we hope to see familiar faces as well as new ones trying out,” said Laura.

Diners were quick to comment on the news on social media when Faru announced the plans earlier this month.

Hazel Wilkinson said on Facebook: “Great idea. The 10-course menu is great for special occasions but the £40 menu is more affordable for a weekly treat. The food is always amazing every time we visit and the Sunday lunch is fabulous, The new £40 menu will be available on a Wednesday and Thursday evening as well as on Saturday lunchtime. Wine pairing options will also be available.”