Lunch in York

[TorySteller]

We were supposed to be spending my birthday in Vegas this year. Alas, COVID got in the way.

We’re planning a day trip to York instead and I wondered if anyone could recommend somewhere really lovely for a special lunch?

I love The Botanist, the hanging kebabs are delicious.
I've also heard good things about The Ivy.

The new hotel has a rooftop terrace if you get good weather: www.malmaison.com/locations/york/

The Ivy, Rustique (French, reasonably priced) Cut & Craft (steak) Tomahawk (steak etc) and plenty of great pubs for a pub meal

The Rise Restaurant or The Ivy

Roots by Tommy Banks.

The Star Inn the City.

Roots has a michelin star - who wants hanging kebabs for a special meal!

Melton's is lovely. Or Middlethorpe Hall.

Skosh is great, small plates, informal but really delicious food.

www.skoshyork.co.uk/

What's your budget, and who's coming? Kids? What sort of thing do you really like?

Malmaison bar would be nice for just a cocktail or two I'd say. It looks very unpromising from the outside, but the views at the top are very special. Hilariously I used to work on the 6th floor when it was the old Norwich Union building, so I know them well!

It sounds like you've got a fair budget behind you, so I'd look into Roots or Skosh, or Le Cochon Aveugle. All these places will need booking asap.

Another place for a nice drink is Grays Court - it's tucked away behind the minster, and is a gorgeous old building with lovely gardens, but I've not eaten there so can't comment on the food.

Just to add an alternative view - we found Star in the City really disappointing. It's a lovely building with great staff, but the food is really a bit meh for the price.

Thank you for all these recommendations! It’s just me and DH. No max budget really.

We have a Botanist restaurant where I live and I’ve never been! Heard great things about the kebabs though, might have to give it a try.

The Ivy and Cut and Craft were two of the places I’d spotted when perusing TripAdvisor. We’re big steak lovers.

Will definitely keep Malmaison in mind for a drink if we have time!

That's interesting Pootles - I haven't actually been to the Star Inn. Was going off a rave review from an acquaintance. I have been to the original Harome place a few times and it was really great but last visit was a good few years ago.

I have been to Roots though (4 times 🐷😂) and absolutely adore it. It really isn't a steak and chips place though OP so maybe not the right destination for this occasion.

Not the Ivy, just another chain, same wherever you go.

Have been to Tomahawk and it is a massive disappointment compared to somewhere like Hawksmoor.

If you genuinely have no max budget then Roots, no question. You will need to book very very far in advance.

Can't comment on Skosh as I didn't book far enough in advance so we didn't get in!

I'd go with @Pootles34's suggestions if you want something special. The Cut and Craft for steak. And I'd give the Ivy and the Star Inn the City a miss.

@AnnaMagnani

Not the Ivy, just another chain, same wherever you go.

Have been to Tomahawk and it is a massive disappointment compared to somewhere like Hawksmoor.

If you genuinely have no max budget then Roots, no question. You will need to book very very far in advance.

Can't comment on Skosh as I didn't book far enough in advance so we didn't get in!

That’s interesting! There’s a Tomahawk due to open near us soon.

We’re huge fans of Hawksmoor (and Upstairs at the Grill in Chester) so it’s disappointing to hear that it doesn’t live up to expectations!

We’re not necessarily looking for a “steak and chips” place by the way just want a few recommendations to look at as we don’t know York at all.

The Ivy is microwave meals and Hen dos

Delrios is nice but only does evenings from 5.15pm and quite hard to get a table

I think the main thing is you need to get booking - are you hoping to go soon? York is super busy at the moment, and I think people are visiting the high end places more as they're not going abroad, as you're demonstrating!

There's some lovely places to visit during the day as well, I'd recommend the Hairy Fig, and there's a lovely little bakery on Walmgate that opens on Friday and Saturday mornings called Flori - they sell out around lunchtime and you'll have to queue, but it's well worth it. I think the Hairy Fig has a couple of tables but it really is tiny, so get takeout and walk to museum gardens. For lunch I'd recommend Manions - really gorgeous food there.

lavecchiascuola.co.uk/

La Vecchia Sculoa. Beautiful old girls' school and lovely food and VERY reasonable on a lunchtime.

Thanks all

We’re going on a weekday in October.

This is going to make me sound like a mahoosive food snob (which I probably am) but I've found that I have to be careful picking restaurants from Tripadvisor in places I don't know.

Chances are that in the top 5 there will be a restaurant that isn't that good but has really pushed getting it's clientele to do Tripadvisor reviews, a random local curry house and somewhere supposedly serving 'the best pizza ever' which isn't.

If the food is going to be a big part of your trip, and it is for us, often skipping the top 10 on Tripadvisor, finding recommendations from a food blogger, asking on Mumsnet and having an eye for what you like vs what gets lots of reviews has served us better.

The Hairy Fig is brilliant - we were lucky to arrive just as a table became free.

The cosy club has tasty food - fancy burgers etc and delicious cocktails, love it in there :)

Would not recommend La Vecchia Sculoa unless it has changed hands. They scammed us out of a meal deal - advertised outside but didn't honour it. Used to be a Groupon staple.

If fish fans, try Fish and Forest on Micklegate.

We loved tomahawk when we went there a few weeks ago. The ivy is also lovely. If you want something less pricey the locals all raved about ate o clock

I hear really good things about Ate O'Clock on High Ousegate. Never been despite living in York, though!

Mamma Mia on Gillygate is great for Italian, lovely family run restaurant.

My husband says the Whippet Inn does the best steak in the world