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.

Many congratulations OP, we are also celebrating our 30th anniversary, we did consider York, but went for another destination in the end, we really do want to visit York sometime this year though. Please revisit the thread if you have time with tips for a visit to York, that would be really appreciated. Enjoy your special day.

Just don't go to La Vecchia Scuola I had the worst meal there that I think I have ever eaten.

Lucias in York is lovely, a real variety of food. Enjoy!

Thank you @Roselilly36 . I will feed back. We're not going for a few weeks but I'm looking forward to it.

Interesting to hear lots don’t love the Star: we have had only been for Sunday lunch which is maybe more informal and have one really excellent meal and one that was ok but desserts were a bit disappointing. They’ve opened a sister restaurant by the abbey which looks like a stunning location but Ben more expensive!! York is a lovely town, hope you have a great anniversary break!

Actually, op, Star for Sunday lunch might be a way of combining it with another meal without totally pushing your budget? Could combine with a nice wander round the botanic gardens…? I’ve wandered round York late at nights a few times and never felt unsafe, btw.

The new restaurant is called the Minster Refectory - it's just behind the, er, Minster. Used to be the old Minster School.

We went a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. I am generally in the 'yes, try it' camp for the Star in the City - but happened to go on a Races day and it was awful. Not the food, but the general rowdiness!

We thought the Star was overpriced. It was busy and had a good atmosphere but had a meagre dessert so felt down about it.

@JoanThursday d’oh! Apologies to the minster for abbey-fying it! Brain clearly not in gear! Ty!

Haha! Don't worry. Just wave a hand roughly in the direction of the tallest building in York. (Little known fact: nothing is allowed to be taller!)

The botanic gardens? Do you mean the Museum Gardens?

Another vote for Delrios!! The staff were so friendly and it has a lovely cosy atmosphere, food was great. Just all round lovely 😊

Hi everyone

An update - we are currently in York for our 3 day break. Such an interesting and beautiful city.

We ended up booking a restaurant called Meltons as the menu looked great and the reviews were good.

However, DH has gone down with a D and V bug and has spent most of the day in the bathroom of our Air bnb. I'm now spending my 30th wedding anniversary eating an M&S sandwich rather than eating a delicious meal.

Thanks for all your suggestions though!

Oh no! What a shame.

Hope he feels better before it's time to leave ... And that you don't get it.

(Good choice with Melton's though! Hopefully there will be another time for you.)

We went to Ambiente on Sunday evening, before DH got ill, and it was great. I don't think he's got food poisoning as I had exactly the same as him and I'm fine.

I was so looking forward to dinner at Meltons ☹️

@EmmaGrundyForPM you poor thing, many congratulations in anycase. We have just some back from our 30th anniversary trip, we both have really bad colds.

York person here; specialist subject food.

Should your DH emerge from the lavvy, here are my recommendations.

no8 Bistro - lovely, small, independent.
Roots - delicious when I went a few years ago, but ££££
Meltons - bloody lovely
Star Inn - I've always liked it!
Refectory - nice but a bit overpriced. It's in my son's old school!
Ate o'clock - lovely. I refused to go for ages because of the name, but had to, ahem, eat my words
42 Yards - very nice wine bar with 'plates', near the minster

Places that haven't been suggested yet:
Tabanco - tapas place, owned by Ambiente people, but I think much nicer. Excellent value sherry flights, and all-round lovely vibe
Los Moros - North African food, totally delicious.
Partisan for delicious brunch and lunch
Brancusi - bloody lovely modern British, small plates etc
Little Italy - slightly bigger Italian place, really authentic and bloody lovely.

Places I haven't tried but others say are great
Il Paradiso - small family-run Italian gaff
Cresci - excellent pizzas
Cut and Craft - great steaks.

I'll no doubt think of more!

OP, if you like cheese, Love Cheese on Gillygate does a really good cheese tasting menu which is not massively expensive and fun to do. If you have time/appetite between you for lunch tomorrow.

There's always so many recommendations for Ate O'clock on these threads. I would like to like it, and have been several times - but it's always been distinctly average - or worse!!

Oh and avoid Vecchio Scolo like the plague. Worst meal I’ve ever had. And rude with it.

Thanks everyone. Our break was Sunday - today so we're now home. DH slept most of the way and is now in bed.

We have decided we will definitely be heading back and having the meal we missed out on at Meltons, but also to check out all the other suggestions. We had a great air bnb flat in the Rowntree building so very central. Maybe for our 31st anniversary?