Advice on York please

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Specifically restaurants. DH and I are having a 3 night break in York in April. One of the days is our 30th wedding anniversary, so we'd like to go out to dinner.

The days we'll be there are Sunday - Wednesday so our options are limited as most restaurants are closed Sunday and Monday evenings. We've found a couple that are open on the Tuesday evening and I like the menu at Star Inn The City. However, it's quite pricy. We don't mind this if its worth it, but don't want to feel ripped off.

The other option, at the other end of the scale, is a little family run Italian restaurant called Delrios, which looks OK but nothing special. DH is quite keen on this though, as he doesn't really like dressing up for "posh" meals.

My view is that we rarely celebrate our wedding anniversary but 30 years seems an achievement so we should treat ourselves to a posh meal.

Anyone been to either and can recommend? Or anywhere else that will be open on a Monday or Tuesday night? We're staying in the city centre so preferably somewhere we can walk to.

I’ve been to The Star Inn once and it’s not somewhere I’ll hurry back to. We didn’t have a bad experience, but just felt it was overpriced for the food and service. I prefer The Whippet Inn, Rustique and La Vecchia Scuola

Thanks, that's helpful. As I said, we're happy to pay for good food but not if we feel its not good value.

I'll look up your other recommendations.

Delrios is lovely and I’d thoroughly recommend it. No need to dress up.

Star Inn the City is overrated.

No.8 Bistro on Gillygate is lovely if it’s open.

Also the Blue Barbakan. Polish food, just gorgeous. Breakfast is as good as evening meal.

You’d definitely need to book both.

Delrios is what popped into my mind before I'd read your husband had recommended it! It might not look like much but the food is delicious and the atmosphere is fantastic, we go every time we stay overnight in York and love it. The inside is so pretty and the staff are lovely.

Meltons is perhaps a bit more "fancy" if that's what you're after?

https://eagleandchildyork.co.uk/ this is open on Mondays and Tuesdays. Have enjoyed many a glass of vino here.

Not 'high end' as such but Ambiente was lovely & looks to be open every night? Also agree with breakfast at the Blue Barbakan, definitely book to get a better table though.

Delrios is great- can be hard to get a table though

Cote Brasserie, it's a chain, but its really nice. French bistro.

My favourite place to eat is York is Ate o Clock. Discovered it a few years ago and we go back every time. It's lovely. I'm pretty certain it opens all weekdays but we always go in half term usually for the weekday menu as it's a bit pricey otherwise.

Look at restaurants in relation to where your hotel is. We visited (daytime) a few weeks ago and would not want to be walking far in the dark, daytime was bad enough. Be prepared for a lot of homeless and a lot of drug users! I couldn't believe the difference between our last visit pre covid and now

I second Ate O Clock, but book early it is popular

Forage is also really lovely, again book to ensure a table.

Then there is the obvious of The Ivy, we have celebrated a few special occasions there including out engagement and they were absolutely amazing. Food isn't as overpriced as you would expect but the service is beyond!!

Would definitely recommend Delrios but book well in advance.

The food is great and the staff are lovely.

I did not like Star Inn, the food was very average, its too big and had a conveyer belt feel to it.

The Ivy was ok, food very nice but very expensive. https://ivycollection.com/restaurants/the-ivy-st-helens-square/

I really liked The Fat badger, lovely place https://www.thefatbadgeryork.com/

The view from Sora, the rooftop restaurant and bar at Malmaison makes it worth a trip.

I went to the Star Inn a few years ago and really liked it but see I'm the exception to the rule!

Rustique on Castlegate near Cliffords Tower is very nice. It's a french bistro - has an excellent and very reasonably priced set menu in the early evenings.

Delrios is lovely! Haven't been there for years but keep meaning to return.

And another shout for Ambiente. There are two: one on Goodramgate which is cosy and quite intimate, and one on Fossgate which is brighter and more contemporary. Both have excellent food.

Cafe la Tazzina was nice when we last ate there. As was Trio Kitchen and Bar.

I liked Wine Stories (Greek).
I've just checked and I think it's still open. Doesn't have a website only a FB page. Lovely food and service. 24 Parliament Street.

Roots and Skosh.

Both at the priceier end, but two of the best resturants I've ever eaten in.

I personally like the Star, it isn’t cheap though, I do think they’ve upped their game in the last year or so and the food I had their last year was fantastic, it’s a great location too. Start with a cocktail at Sora the roof top bar for great views.

i dont rate Delrios but prefer Valentino’s.

Ambiante on Fossgate is also great as is Rustique.

there’s also a great Turkish restaurant, Yakamoz and a Syrian place Bab Tooma, both in Goodramgate

York person here. You're right, sadly there are people without homes in York as there are in ANY city. Beyond the picturesque medieval streets, it's a real city with issues of poverty like anywhere else.

But York is a very safe city, even after dark. I am sorry to read that you felt uncomfortable.

We had the most amazing meal at Phranakhon, sat upstairs it was a very nice ambience and the food was impeccable

31 Castlegate at the bottom of Clifford's tower is lovely. Quite high end food but very reasonably priced if you stick to the set menu.

Roots is also very lovely (chef Tommy Banks restaurant) but that's at the pricier end with tasting menus.

During the day Valhalla is a Viking themed bar that does mead by the horn and some very nice fish/meat/cheese boards.

Guy Fawkes Inn near the minster is quite nice too.

There are lots of places off the beaten track that are much nicer than the Star Inn and other chain places.

Indeed same everywhere but rather walk around York at night than say Hull where I live.

Wow, so many great recommendations. Thanks everyone.

Until recently we lived in Cambridge so am used to pretty medieval streets with homeless people. Very sad but I've never felt unsafe and presume York is similar.

We've eaten at the Ivy in Cambridge several times. It's very nice but we'd like to try somewhere different.

I think we looked at Roots but discarded it, possibly its not open on Tuesdays? I can't remember.

Wherever elwe choose, we will definitely book in advance.