5 top healthy restaurants

Eating out is a logistical nightmare for anyone who’s trying to count calories, so WHL has come to the rescue with 5 top healthy restaurants to make dining virtuously a piece of carrot cake.

Most chefs will admit that part of the reason their food tastes so much better than anything we make at home is because of generous helpings of butter, sugar or salt. Even some so-called ‘healthy’ options can be calorific – salads dripping in dressing and portions three times the size of what a ‘normal’ helping should be.

However, we don’t have to resign ourselves to tucking into the Tupperware meals every day. There are healthy, organic and seasonal restaurants popping up all over the UK. Food intolerances? You’d be surprised at how well informed some of the foodie spots are, with gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan menus offering more than just a limp garden salad…

1. The raw-food hangout: Tanya’s Cafe, London
The Chelsea set really have the ‘ladies who brunch’ thing down, and Tanya’s is the perfect spot for a delicious breakfast or brunch served with a hefty dollop of neck-craning to see which famous fashionista is feasting on Tanya’s Avo Un-toast. Located in the so-hip-it-hurts Myhotel Chelsea, the cafe’s food is completely raw and vegan, offering special versions of porridge, crepes, burgers and kebabs, and all absolutely brimming with flavour. Even better, afternoon diners can indulge in a superfood cocktail, with ingredients like acai and baobab surely cancelling out the alcohol…
Must try: The Rawtella Un-Toast –soft raisin bread, cacao hazelnut spread and coconut yoghurt.
tanyascafe.com

2. Fine-diner’s paradise: Pure Taste, London
Paleo disciples tend not to suffer too badly when eating out – there’s always a steak option, with the chance to sub out the triple-cooked chips (sob) for a side of broccoli. But it can get a little dull, especially if you have a special occasion coming up. Introducing Pure Taste: a completely paleo (and by default gluten- and dairy-free) restaurant that really poshes up the notion of caveman cuisine. Dishes are delicate, inventive and beautifully presented, while being reliably healthy as well. The menu also has options to suit vegetarians and those following a Whole 30, Low FODMAP or autoimmune paleo diet.
Must try: Suckling pig with celeriac, red onion and piccalilli. And the garlic and rosemary focaccia – just because you can.
puretasterestaurant.com

3. For fusion lovers: Pho, various locations
Sometimes the problem with hunting for a healthy restaurant when you’re out and about and starving is that a soup or salad just won’t cut it to stave off the hunger pangs until your next meal. Courgetti and kale are all very well, but sometimes only something hearty and nourishing will do. Step forward Pho, the Vietnamese eatery that is packed every lunchtime with businessmen and gym bunnies alike. The signature dishes – huge bowls of noodly, spicy broth packed with fresh veg and meat – mostly clock in around 400 calories or lower (and I challenge you to reach the bottom of a bowl), while their beautifully presented papaya or green mango salads are all about 200 calories. The folks behind Pho pride themselves on serving up authentic Vietnamese street-style food with no MSG. Fresh, healthy food is their top priority. Now open in 12 locations, including London, Leeds and Brighton.
Must try: Pho Ga, the classic, nourishing chicken broth
phocafe.co.uk

4. Cafe culture: Boston Tea Party, various locations
Bristol has become the health hotspot of Britain, so it’s no surprise it’s full of great sin-free restaurants. Boston Tea Party has a whopping five branches in Bristol alone, as well as 10 other venues and two more opening soon. Its USP? Funky decor by guest artists, friendly staff and a huge selection of no-nonsense food that’s all sustainable and made from scratch. They will veganise plenty of dishes on request and the food is guaranteed to fill you up without any hidden nasties.
Must try: Portobello mushroom burger with courgette fritters.
bostonteaparty.co.uk

5. One for the Northerners: Filmore & Union, various locations
Don’t be fooled into thinking the green gauntlet has only been laid down in the South – there are plenty of great Northern eateries placing huge emphasis on eating well and using local, seasonal produce. Filmore & Union has led the way, with branches in Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby, York, Moortown and Skipton. Founded by Adele and Wil, a former wellness-clinic owner and executive chef, the restaurants have no deep-fat fryers or microwaves in their kitchens and have stuck by the ethos of clean food that just so happens to taste delicious too. Nice work!
Must try: Black-eyed bean, artichoke and feta cakes with superfood salad
filmoreandunion.com