The 30 Best Bistro in York

“A fantastic meal tonight! It’s our first time here and it won’t be the last! The food was fresh and delicious and the service was swift. The green mandarin juice was delicious too! We had a little corner of the restaurant which was great! Looking forward to trying the other dishes next time!”

“We stopped here for a late lunch and it was delicious! Would definitely recommend. Nice range of specials and menu items to choose from. Friendly staff. Would definitely return, thanks!”

“I visited Cafe No 8 before Covid and really loved the food. They shorten their operation hours after Covid and we finally made it for Sunday lunch today. We had a starter, mains and dessert. The food was just as good as I remembered. Service was good too. This place just celebrated their 20 years' anniversary in York which tells you that they got to be good to last that long given the ultra competitive food scene here. The food was of top quality, refined and cooked with care. We had beef and pork tenderloin and they were so tender. The potatoes were roasted perfectly. And we had a selection of vegetables (Broccolini, Parsnip, Carrots, Spring Onions etc) not over cooked like many places. And I was so glad to try the Dark Belgian Chocolate Truffle with Black Sesame Ice Cream. I love black sesame ice cream but is a rarity to find them in York. I wish I could buy a tub of their black sesame ice cream and bring it home. If you are looking for a place with a relaxed atmosphere, serving non-pretentious and delicious food, I recommend Cafe No 8 Bistro.”

“No 10...just the best for food and lovely customer service. Thank you for today, it was for my mum and to celebrate her birthday too. You have all been so lovely and totally made her day.”

“Great atmosphere, nice service, amazing food! Went there for my birthday with my friend. Will likely return for another occassion.”

“We had our small post wedding celebration here in The Courtyard. We stayed the night before and the evening of our wedding. The entire staff, from Event management as my first contact, to reception staff and the breakfast greeting was superb. However, a very special mention must go to Yontshi, who made sure we enjoyed our tasting menu the night before and took charge of our reception on the Saturday. She made us feel like we were the most important people in her world. Thank you Mr & Mrs Miles Walker”

“Staff and service fantastic. Really good dinner. Would recommend. Very nice margarita and chicken burger.”

“We had a meal here on the 23rd December this year on our way back to our car.What a brilliant little place,service was very good and the food was excellent value. Great little family business would recommend this place to eat.”

“Absolutely amazing little restaurant. The best carbonara I’ve eaten since Rome!! The food was authentic and so delicious. the staff made it such a special night. So relaxing and beautiful background music I would definitely recommend this little gem. We will be back in the New Year!”

“The best food we have ever had ! The restaurant was full when we entered, it had a really nice noise and vibe. Diners looked really interested in their dishes. We sat at the bar and had a Kentucky Bourbon and a cocktail whilst we waited for our table. We were seated with a view of the kitchen, which was really fun and interesting, watching all the chefs work and interact from their stations. The food was served in perfect timings, allowing us enough time in-between each dish. The mix flavours in each of the dishes was incredible. Sweet and sour. Spiced and pickled. Crunchy and soft textures. I genuinely believe this the best food I have ever eaten. Nothing was overbearing or too much. It simply worked - every dish. 2 entrees each, 5 dishes shared- was perfect. Cocktails for my wife, and a half bottle of Italian red for me. The price, was a lot better than we expected, when the bill came. We were pleasantly surprised. We will be back, happy to drive from Manchester just to come to Skosh !”

“What a beautiful restaurant, amazing food and fantastic value for money. Highly recommend here. Couples sat downstairs and larger groups or those with kids upstairs. The service was impeccable and the decor was perfect. We told them they missed our wine off the bill but they said not to worry and left it off”

“We visited last night following our engagement and had the best time!! I’d like to shout out Daisy who made our entire time so memorable she deserves loads of credit she’s an amazing member of staff, we were given a lovely card and some free dessert/drinks. I’d also love to shout out Lotty who also made our meal super meaningful and made us so happy following our engagement!”

“One of the best pizzas I have had! Tasted absolutely amazing and the food came very quick! Also had cheesecake for desert which was incredible! Price was decent, would 100% come back here! Definitely book a table as the restaurant was very busy around dinner time.”

“We visited for the first time this weekend. The food was delicious and great portion sizes. I had the goats cheese and my wife had garlic mushrooms. They were fantastic. I then had the chicken on skewers with rice and bbq sauce andmy wife had the steak. Great portion sizes and couldnt finish it all. Nice atmosphere with attentive and welcoming staff. We will be back the next time we are in York. Highly recommended, give it a try you will not be disappointed.”

“We’ve been to Ambiente a few times now and it’s always been a brilliant experience with a great atmosphere. Everyone is always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Our server was Lorien and she was so lovely. The food was, as usual, absolutely delicious. 5 tapas between us was just right, but we’re not big eaters. The calamari was exceptional. We had a great time and will definitely be going again then next time we’re in York.”

“We took my Aunt for her 70th birthday we wasn't disappointed. The Venison wss the best i've eaten cooked to perfection. All the food was well worth the money great evening out.”

“Wonderful little restaurant in city centre. Easily accommodated for our large group of people. Food was prepared to our liking and served rather quickly, even though we were 14+ guests. Lasagna was delicious and appetisers utilised proper Italian meat and cheese. Pasta was also good. Kind staff was a good bonus.”

“We dined on a thu evening at The Rise for my parents wedding anniversary. We were greated by a card from the restaurant to my parents which was a lovely touch. For starters we had the cheese souffle. This was delicious however it said with walnuts but we didn't see any. For mains two of us had the lamb shanks, my husband had the fish and chips and my mum had the fish pie. Portion sizes were on the smaller side but more than adequate for us, the fish pie was larger and mum said every mouthful was packed with seafood. All were absolutely beautiful. Delicious well done chef! We only had two desserts, the pavlova and the chocolate mouse. Both were very tasty and each with its own twist on things. Food is on the more expensive side, but you pay for what you get and it's definitely worth it. Drinks are very expensive, nothing special but absolutely OK. Service fabulous the staff never stop working hard to ensure you are well cared for, very attentive. We were served by Jack mainly but all staff were fabulous. We have had two afternoon teas here which were also delicious and wonderful. The whole hotel was beautifully decorated for Christmas. We will definitely be coming back and highly recommend.”

“We stayed at the hotel for a weekend break and tonight we had dinner here and the food was amazing , the staff were very attentive . Couldn't fault anything.”

“Wonderfully welcoming pub with fantastic staff that truly went the extra mile. We visited here as a group of 8 for my mother in laws birthday and the staff were so great with the children and let us bring in our own birthday cake. No rushing us from our table when we finished, it was very relaxed. The food was also amazing, especially the steak pie that I had! We will definitely be back in the future.”

“Loved it! We did not have a reservation, but luckily there was a table for us (8 pm Friday night). The service was good and they were very quick. The portions were very good and the food was lovely for a great price. We went with the dinner menu which is a very good deal. Would recommend!”

“Found this little gem of a place by default, a couple leaving said it was amazing food so we decided to nip in, and so very glad we did. We only had bar snacks (Yorkshire pudding with pulled beef and dirty fries). Both absolutely delicious, very good cask ales and nice selection of gins too, in a chilled, non pretentious atmosphere with friendly staff! We will be back!”

“Popped in for a family meal on our son’s 16th and GCSE results day. The service and food were absolutely fantastic. Huge portions for the prices, definitely worth every penny.”

“A gorgeous and very well priced coffee. Such a better atmosphere, price, and coffee than the chains. Friendly staff who were very kind and open to my friend with learning disabilities, which always leaves a good impression.”

“Went here on my day trip to York and the food was absolutely delicious. Came out piping hot and plated beautifully. The service was also extraordinary and the waitstaff went out of their way to make me and my friends feel accommodated. This restaurant truly captures the essence of a family owned business and feels like a warm hug.”

“Food good Small place but was nice And they own the bar next door was decent few hours”

“Lovely meal at olive tree. Friendly service with a warm welcome into a nicely decorated dining area.Special thanks to rumel and safa.. Busy on a saturday evening. We were a group of 6 peoples.We ordered starters and main both.. For the main, 3 of our party had the Steak and each opted for a different sauce option. I chose peppercorn and would recommend this. Steak was juicy and cooked well to a medium rare. Fries were thin and crispy. For dessert I had the Tiramisu . This was the best tiramisu. I tried. I also had a glass of the Merlot this was nice. The toilets were well decorated and flushed effectively. Everything was spot on.. Surely,Would definitely back again..”

“We hosted our annual trade show pre-dinner at the Biltmore Bar & Grill in York on Tuesday, 14th October, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was vibrant and welcoming, and the staff were attentive and always ready to help. Bar service was quick, efficient, and delivered with a friendly smile. The food was outstanding, a wide variety of delicious options, all of excellent quality. Given the size of our group, we opted for a buffet-style setup, which worked perfectly. The staff ensured the buffet was consistently replenished and that everyone was well looked after. I would highly recommend the Biltmore Bar & Grill for future events. We’ll definitely be returning the next time we’re in York. Thank you to the entire team for your exceptional hospitality and for helping make our event such a great success! Kristina - HB Clark.”

“Fantastic festive family get together for seventeen of us this afternoon. Fabulous food and admiral service from the staff who coped well with our large party. The festive burger with half a melted Camembert was amazeballs! Highly recommended and exceptional value.”

“Quiet and cozy, modern interior and friendly staff. The food selection was of those favorite English favorites as well as a decent selection of seafood and other goodies. Inside is quiet and peaceful so you can have a conversation with ease. The place is near the Shambles and close to a lot of nice places to visit.”