CAN you get a meal that lives up to the grand interiors of one of York’s most elegant historic buildings – and for a tenner?
That’s the question that we hoped to answer as The Press went to Ask Italian in the Assembly Rooms in Blake Street to try the lunchtime menu as part of our ‘lunch for a tenner’ challenge.
Located in Blake Street, the Assembly Rooms were built by Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington in the early 1700s for the Georgian elite to meet and socialise with each other in style.
Having never visited the Assembly Rooms before, I wasn’t sure what to expect as I wandered into the columned building but was pleasantly surprised to see an interior which lived up to the impressive façade.
After a quick nosy around into the side rooms (being nosy is very much in my nature), this feeling didn’t subside as even the smaller side rooms of the restaurant offered a sense of history and beauty.
The waiter came over after a minute or two to let us know that a table had been cleared for us in the grand main room.
Upon sitting down, we were poured two shots of raspberry lemonade which, whilst clearly an attempt at upselling, was absolutely delicious. We debated going over budget to add them our £10 lunch offer but decided to behave.
There was some confusion when we came to order with the lunch offer not advertised anywhere inside, and one member of staff having to check with the manager to find out what items were on the deal (it was the ‘classic’ section of the standard menu as it turned out).
After ordering, it took around 25 minutes for the food to come out; I opted for the Pollo E Pancetta (chicken, pancetta, and mushroom) pizza whereas my friend went for the Fettuccine Bolognese.
The service at Ask Italian was friendly and generally attentive, but not quite there when you needed it: while we were offered parmesan, our waiters left and did not check in again until we were almost finished (despite attempts to catch their eye).
My pizza was fine with a nice crisp crust, well-cooked mushrooms, and a good tomato sauce. The best part of it was easily the pancetta, which was used very sparingly, and the worst was the chicken which, although a generous portion, was bland.
My friend felt similarly about her Fettuccine Bolognese, which she said was lacking Bolognese. The addition of parmesan and chilli olive oil (snatched from another table) improved the meal considerably, but it was still unremarkable and a less than generous portion.
After eating, we were already running to the end of our lunch hour, so we asked for the bill – which was brought over to our table within seconds by our chatty and friendly waitress.
Ultimately, despite the regal surroundings, the lunch for a tenner deal at Ask Italian perhaps does not live up to the lofty heights of the building’s interior.
Ask Italian, The Assembly Rooms; T: 01904 637254
Food: Average.
Service: Friendly and helpful, but, at times, hard to track down.
Ambience: Great – the room is stunning.
Value: Good value.
Reviews are independent and meals paid for by The Press
Dining and Cooking