Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Cambridge/Cambridgeshire

OpenTable

Updated January 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Cambridge/Cambridgeshire? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Pear & Olive

4.9

4.9 (48)

£41 and over

Modern European

Whittlesford

About the restaurant

Whether you are coming for drinks only or a meal, Pear & Olive offers a place for all to feel welcome.

Join us after a dog walk, for a date night, on your own or with all the family.

Fresh, homemade dishes using the finest local ingredients. High quality food in a laid-back atmosphere.

Conservatory bar area, open kitchen, outside seating.

Top review

PETERVIP

Dined 2 days ago

We returned to our favourite restaurant in the area and again we were not disappointed with the innovative cooking of the young chef . The food is superb and accompanied by a nice selection of wines. The service is friendly and informative but most importantly very relaxed and makes the whole evening such a joy. The young owners fully deserve to succeed and it is great to see how people are realizing what a gem they have in the neighbourhood. We would travel a long way to this restaurant

Midsummer House Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (377)

£41 and over

British

Cambridge

About the restaurant

As Midsummer House forges ahead into its third decade, Daniel Clifford’s elegant, sophisticated modern British cooking continues to evolve. For over twenty years, passion and creativity have skilfully shaped the menu at Midsummer House, showcasing the finest seasonal produce and offering a contemporary British dining experience of the highest quality.

Important: Foods in this restaurant are processed in a kitchen that produces dishes with milk, wheat, soybean, fish, nuts, eggs, and egg products.

Top review

ravVIP

Dined on Dec 20, 2024

Amazing good and service especially from Katie who was excellent

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Experience

£95 Weekday Lunch Menu

Experience

£160 Lunch Tasting Menu

Experience

£270 Tasting Menu

The White Swan

4.7

4.7 (300)

£25 and under

British

Woodnewton

About the restaurant

The White Swan Woodnewton is a multi award winning gastro pub serving a popular menu with quality dishes for everyone's taste - from burger and pizza through to tapas, Greek, Chinese & Mexican dishes.
The White Swan was built in 1790 and has had a £150,000 refurbishment inside and out to create a contemporary space whilst retaining the history of the building.

Best Village Pub & Restaurant 2023 - East of England
Tripadvisor Traveller Choice Winner 2023
Northamptonshire Family Friendly Pub Of The Year 2021 & 2022
Best Gourmet Dining Restaurant & Village Pub - Northamptonshire 2020

Top review

Susan

Dined 2 days ago

Party of 5 + dog (bonus to be able to include him) to celebrate a Birthday with the fam. Lovely relaxed atmosphere, at no point were we rushed and our server Emily R was so good humoured (patient!) and friendly (she cannot go to France, Britain needs her!), bar staff ab fab too.! Genuinely couldn't do enough for us. Have been a couple of times with my husband and always a very good experience, so had every confidence booking a larger party. Food was just outstanding, as always - we had various starters, all well presented, then mains except me (I had another starter as I knew the plates are generous and wanted to squeeze in a desert!) Smoked salmon starter was beautiful, the crispy mushrooms were the best my husband has ever had and the scotch egg was a massive hit with my B-I-L. The mains were all beautifully cooked and presented from the mussels, to the Philly Steakburger and the Kebab Combo went down a storm with the boys! Could've left it there to be fair, but no, we were all determined to try a desert... and they were all to die for... my nephew had the Fairground Cart... I genuinely think he thought he was dreaming when it came out... proper showstopper! The rest of us tried the Sundaes... awsome! We had a very fun night and the staff really made it for us... we were the last out and they were still smiling. Highly recommend and WE. WILL. BE. BACK!! Probably a threat, but definitely a promise ; ) Would really like to to sit and enjoy the garden in Spring/Summer... Thanks guys x

Sticks'n'Sushi - Cambridge

4.7

4.7 (101)

£26 to £40

Sushi

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Just a short walk from the prestigious Cambridge University and across from the Corn Exchange, we offer a vibrant dining experience in a historic setting. Enjoy our quality sushi and grilled sticks amidst student chatter, shoppers and locals alike. A sushi restaurant - even for those that don't like fish.

Top review

Alison

Dined 7 days ago

Amazing food as always . Love the variety, it means you can try various dishes . Would highly recommend. We were a table of 4 , one vegetarian, one pescatarian and two meat eaters. Something for everyone .

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Experience

Lunch & Early Evening Sticks Set Menu £19.50

Provenance Kitchen

4.6

4.6 (1249)

£26 to £40

British

Hinxton

About the restaurant

Our restaurant offers us a wonderful platform to share delicious local products with you — and when we say local, we really do mean local as many of our products are sourced within a 5-mile radius of us. We have done all the hard work sourcing the best ingredients and produce for you, then we add the Provenance magic to create a delicious seasonal menu for you to enjoy.

Top review

Guy

Dined 1 day ago

Can highly recommend, very friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere.

Kibou Cambridge

4.6

4.6 (33)

£26 to £40

Japanese

Cambridge

About the restaurant

KIBOU Japanese restaurant and bar in Cambridge is a chic new addition to the city, and the perfect spot to enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner.
Located at 7a Jesus Lane, home to the Pitt Club, and formerly Pizza Express, the venue features eye-catching murals and digital animations, alongside stunning Japanese floral and foliage installations.
Light and airy, The Mirror Room centres around a large Japanese cherry blossom tree, whilst the seductive Oak Room focuses on a large wisteria tree set against a backdrop of plush fabrics and artwork.
There’s also a relaxed cocktail lounge and dining area, featuring an open sushi and hot kitchen, and a standalone spirits and cocktail bar.
The menu has all your favourite dishes from Japan, including steaming bowls of ramen, a selection of bao buns, crisp tempura and handmade spiced pork gyoza, plus work of art sushi and sashimi sharing platters, seasonal specials and A5 Grade Japanese wagyu.
Their Japanese-inspired afternoon tea is a must try too!

Top review

Simon

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

Very finely cooked dishes, we mainly had sharing plates and the raw scallops were to die for. Young waitress Bea was superb, great advice and so attentive. Atmosphere could maybe have been improved with more appropriate Japanese music instead of the standard pop which at times was too noisy. Visiting Cambridge and will definitely seek out other Kibou restaurants elsewhere.

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Experience

Teishoku (定食) Set Lunch - £16.90

Experience

Japanese Afternoon Tea

Experience

Vegetarian Japanese Afternoon Tea

Namaste Village Cambridge

4.5

4.5 (276)

£25 and under

Indian

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Looking for a real Indian dining experience ? Bored of greasy & heavy Indian food ? Do you know what real Indian food actually tastes like?
Join us at our authentic Indian, family-run restaurant & sample some of the finest Indian food. Namaste Village is a traditional yet progressive Indian restaurant, serving vegetarian & vegan food from different regions of India, which is healthy & delicious. We follow our own special recipes & grind our spices. This makes our food taste unique. Come, see for yourself & experience the spirit & spice of India.
We are the one Indian Restaurant in Norfolk (ref. Tripadvisor), featured in The Times as Britain's 8th best curry house & much more. Our recent survey showed that more than 70% of our regular customers are not vegetarian & do not miss meat when dining with us. So, us being vegetarian should not dissuade you from trying us but rather excite you!

Top review

Alfie

Dined 2 days ago

Really good service , lovely food. All vegetarian but that doesn’t matter as the food was amazing .

The Willow Tree

4.2

4.2 (448)

£26 to £40

English

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Discover this beautiful hidden gem in the Cambridgeshire countryside. The Willow Tree is a charming, unique and independent pub restaurant for all seasons with many beautiful spaces to enjoy. The charming restaurant offers a beautiful ambience, featuring an open fire, candle lit tables, and floral displays. In the gorgeous Willow garden you will discover eight magical fairy lit dining domes with Dyson heaters for a dining experience with a difference (Domes can only be booked direct online at www.thewillowtreebourn.com).
A large Teepee is situated in our Secret Meadow, also available to book all year round for private hire events, Serving a delectable dining menu with seasonal updates. Sundays Roasts served on Sundays. 'Little Willow' children's menu available. All dishes created rom scratch from high quality fresh ingredients that are as lovely, kind and as local as can be. Many gluten free options, always features dairy free, vegan and vegetarian options too. Dog friendly too.

Top review

Mary

Dined on Dec 25, 2024

First Xmas day lunch out and enjoyed it. The staff were lovely and welcoming.

Turkuaz Social Cambridge

4.2

4.2 (58)

£25 and under

Turkish

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Turkuaz brings the authentic flavours of the Mediterranean to Cambridge.

Every dish we prepare is a testament to the rich heritage and culinary traditions of the region. We take pride in using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking methods to ensure every bite is packed with authentic flavours.

For Large bookings please call 01223 658210

Top review

Pat

Dined 6 days ago

The food and service were incredible. Will definitely be back

The Orator

4.1

4.1 (494)

£25 and under

Contemporary British

Cambridge

About the restaurant

Nothing delights quite like The Orator, serving up contemporary British food, cocktails, beer and wine. Set in a stunning Victorian gothic venue with high ceilings bathed in swathes of natural light.

We can offer private dining for up to 20 in our private Dining Room used to host guests of the Cambridge Union Society, recently including Dua Lipa and Robert de Niro. For larger groups, we have a number of different rooms throughout the venue to cater for any occasion.
Speak to our events team at enquiries@theoratorcambridge.co.uk for more information on all private hire options.

Top review

Clement

Dined on Dec 22, 2024

The food was totally incredible.... really. Was so surprised to get this level of food for the price and location. Do not be deceived the menu is simple, but totally delivers. Cannot recommend enough - brilliant restaurant !

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Popular dish

Brisket Burger

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