The Jackdaw is a restaurant in Conwy, Wales, run by ex-Fat Duck chef Nick Rudge, blending modern British and Welsh techniques and flavours in a smart, contemporary dining room.
The Jackdaw name has special significance in Conwy, North Wales - Jackdaw (or jac-do in Welsh), is the nickname given to a person born within the walls of Conwy town, taken from the jackdaws which can be found nesting in the walls of the town and castle. Chef proprietor Nick Rudge doesn't technically qualify, but he is a North Wales native from nearby Llandudno, and he worked in the area before taking a job at Heston Blumenthal's world famous Fat Duck restaurant in Bray.
In 2021 Nick Rudge returned to North Wales and opened The Jackdaw in Conwy, a contemporary British restaurant that combines techniques learned in his seven years at The Fat Duck with top quality local Welsh produce. Inside, the restaurant is smart but relaxed - bare wood tabletops match the hardwood floors, whilst bookshelves and fireplace give an otherwise minimal room some homely comforts.
Rudge’s cooking may have been mostly forged in Bray, his menus often pay homage to Wales. Mains include a dish of Welsh salt duck with pickled damson and hispi cabbage, and Welsh beef sirloin with Bara Brith and girolles. Local produce abounds all over the menu, from barbecued Llyn scallops with chicory leaf, pickled celery and grapes, to flamed mussels with parsley, garlic and fennel veloute, and Welsh cheeses with seasonal chutney. What better way to finish than with a Snowdon Pudding (Prdin Eryri, in Welsh) with Amarena cherry and lemon cream.
The Jackdaw serves tasting menus only, including its signature 11-course menu in the evening, or a five or six-course menu for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant is easy to reach for visitors, sitting just a few minutes walk from the train station in the centre of Conwy town.