The Jackdaw

A Meal Worth Writing a Poem About We had the dinner tasting menu at The Jackdaw, paired with a crisp rosé from Provence, and it was nothing short of a revelation. The menu leans fish-forward — in all the right ways — and each course felt like a quiet marvel: surprising, intriguing, and inspiring. Even the bread came with a poem. Every element of the evening was thoughtfully crafted. Each dish told a story, and each bite was a page-turner. It’s hard to choose a favorite when the entire experience felt so cohesively excellent. The service was warm and seamless, striking that rare balance of professionalism and personality. This wasn’t just dinner — it was a walk through local Conwy culture and history, plated with intention and care. Highly recommended for those who love food with a sense of place — and a bit of poetry.

This place is next level. The food was of such a high standard if felt like it should be on a tv show like The Great British menu. The knowledge and sustainability aspects was quite something aswell. We had a lovely young male waiter who was incredibly engaging. All in all an amazing experience at a really good price point for what you get.

Absolutely phenomenal. We went for my wife’s birthday and loved every second of it. The food, drinks (my wife did the wine pairing) service, staff and surroundings were all absolutely top notch. If you’re wondering if this is Michelin Star level dining, the answer is 100% yes.

What can we say? Let’s start with the food: Such subtle flavours, so much so we were lingering over every spoon/fork/finger full trying to identify the exceptional ingredients on display. The presentation was first class - you eat with your eyes and boy did we! The service: From start to finish we were treated to great service. Gareth certainly knows his wines and his recommendations were spot on. We were delightfully surprised by the Welsh fortified wine - a wonderful compliment to the additional cheese course that we ordered. Overall a superb dining experience that we would happily repeat.

Set tasting menu Really lovely restaurant with tiny but well thought out dishes. Lots and lots of them so we didn’t leave hungry. Loved the linking to local Welsh history and producers Really nice to go for a special occasion. We had a great evening

Was there on 15th February as a birthday treat. It was a lovely experience and I enjoyed all the food save for one Blaenau slate but that was down to personal taste. The wine pairing was interesting and I'd definitely do it again. My only negative is as it was a tasting menu and all 10 covers were eating the same meal at the same time there was no need for the waiting staff to ask if they could take our empty plates and glasses away, they should just take them

General Experience
- We received a warm and friendly welcome, and the service throughout was excellent. The dining room had a cozy atmosphere, and it was fascinating to read about the history behind the restaurant’s name, which is explained in the menu. A standout touch was the background music—it was refreshingly modern, breaking away from the usual, old-fashioned tunes you might expect at a restaurant of this calibre. Dish Highlights from the Winters Menu: * Forager’s Friend: This starter set the tone for the meal with its bold blend of flavours and impeccable presentation. A fantastic way to begin. * Blaenau Slate: Unusual and distinct from anything we’ve ever had before. Not only was the presentation striking and reflective of the local area, but the flavours were equally impressive. * “Bread Of Heaven”-A comforting array of bread with two homemade butters. The oat butter, in particular, was phenomenal. * Juniper Smoked Trout: A beautifully composed dish with a well-balanced combination of flavours, thoughtfully crafted and delicious.

We’ve now eaten at the Jackdaw 3 times. Today being the 3rd. We had the lunchtime set menu for £35pp. Overall the flavour is good (4/5 stars) and one of the better establishments in the Conwy area for good flavoursome grub with Signatures restaurant just in the lead. My favourite dish today was the Roscoff Onion (really excellent flavour 5/5), least favourite was the dessert (3/5). The milk ice cream was average and a touch of salt in the Conwy honey tart would have improved it. The main was also excellent (4.5/5). I would say the price gives good value for money for the lunch set menu. For me, it’s the atmosphere which lets the jackdaw down and it’s not the fault of the food/chef or front of house. It’s the venue and the layout of tables. Although very comfortable chairs, I find it a little awkward watching the other tables instead of facing my wife. I’d love to see more what’s going on in the kitchen. All seems very secret and quite serious with the set up. Overall though, I would recommend the jackdaw to any foodie. You will not be disappointed and I will for sure return again.