Maxine Gordon
We are spoilt for choice in York and the surrounding areas for places to eat out. It’s no exaggeration to say there appears to be a new place to visit every week or so!
After a four-year break, we brought back our popular eating out feature where Press reviewers go unannounced into local eateries and report on what they find.
We have been to a wide range of outlets, from new openings to old favourites, city centre bistros to village gastro pubs. In the main, we have found excellent food, service and value.
Here are some of my lasting food memories from my reviews from 2025:
* The super savoury beef bibimbap at Little Asia in Walmgate
Our reviewer was impressed at the new Black Wheat Club in Fossgate. Photos by NQ
* A fabulous 10/10 dinner at the new kid on the block, Black Wheat Club in Fossgate
* Tasty Indian street food at Masala Craft in Walmgate
* Perfect summer evening at The Waterfront restaurant at York Marina, where the food and the views were top notch
* A delicious and fun afternoon tea with cocktails – full of Asian flavours – at the rooftop Sora skybar at Malmaison hotel in York
Skosh at night in Micklegate, York. Photo: NQ
* A memorable dinner at Skosh in Micklegate, which remains my favourite place to dine in York.
Nadia Jefferson-Brown
Of my reviews this year, my standout favourite was Rustique in Castlegate, York, which has been on the scene for 20 years and serves authentic French cuisine that has been consistently good whenever I’ve been. Sometimes you just want to be sure you won’t be disappointed when dining out, and Rustique is that go-to place for me.
There were six in our party, made up of three generations, and there was something for every taste – from my teenage son discovering a love of snails to my mum declaring the creme brulee to be the best she’s ever had. We left feeling full and satisfied, with our eye on what to try next on a return visit.
Tomahawk Steakhouse also hit the spot as it’s a spacious, comfortable and stylish restaurant, ideal for small or large groups, with a decent soundtrack befitting a Saturday evening out.
The front-of-house team was friendly and attentive despite how busy it was and there was a good choice of food, including fish, vegetarian and gluten-free, with some surprisingly reasonable dishes to suit all budgets as well as the big price tags you’d expect when ordering steak.
Little things can make a lasting impression and, for me, the frosted glass that ensured the ice in my cocktail didn’t melt did the trick. Simple, but worth that extra effort. My burger was also arguably the best I’d had in some time while my dining partner had no complaints about his ribeye steak.
For something more casual, I’d recommend Red Goat Kitchen on Layerthorpe where the offer is simple: pizza, cakes and bakes.
The Farmer’s Pizza at Red Goat Kitchen
The pizza dough is made in house and put through a 48-hour proofing process before being hand stretched and made to order, using ingredients from the region. Tasty, crisp, piping hot and great value with prices (at the time of our visit) peaking at £13.
To read all our reviews this year, visit the Eating Out section of The Press website: www.yorkpress.co.uk/eatingout/
Darren Greenwood
My main message is we are all well-blessed in York and North Yorkshire to have such a great range of eateries.
They are all working so hard in the face of many challenges such as rising costs like food, energy and wages, whilst customers have less disposable income to spend.
Among the places that stand out were the Tickled Trout in Bilton-in-Ainsty for impressive, tasty and fresh gastropub dining in pleasant surrounds. The service was excellent and friendly. Overall, good value, and well worth the ride out of town for city folk.
The exterior of the Tickled Trout, Bilton-in-Ainsty Image: Christie & Co
The Woodman at Bishopthorpe was another fine village pub, with a good mix of traditional offerings combined with items of more creativity, all of generous portions.
Perhaps as a sign of the times, they are both on the market.
An absolute treat was the Alice Hawthorn in Nun Monkton, a destination in its own right.
Plush surroundings, great service and the most amazing creative and delicious food.
Highlights include the dynamic shrimp (large spicy prawns), the seabass ceviche. The mild and creamy coronation chicken was a pleasure to enjoy, with skins crispy to perfection.
In York, the Blue Barbakan made for an enjoyable night with tasty, homely cooking. I recall a most lovely borscht (beetroot soup) and dumplings.
Now, we enter the New Year, a grey time for us all, especially for the businesses who suffer a downturn. But they need our support and if they do not get it over the winter, they might not make it to spring. Go and support them and remember, we also need cheering up now, which a night out will do.
Alice Kavanagh
One thing I’ve noticed in my year of dining across York and the surrounding area is the fantastic quality and variety of food that we’re lucky enough to have here.
From cook-your-own Korean meats to a gastropub owned by a Michelin starred chef, I’m fully convinced that the culinary scene in and around our little city is one of the best in the country.
My top three bites of the year are as follows: the Garlic Steak from Casa Brazilian Rodizio, the Sticky Toffee Pudding from The General Tarleton, and fantastic £10 lunch deal of Pad Kee Mao and Moo Yang skewers from Mommy Thai.
Mommy Thai Image: Alice Kavanagh
Special mentions go to the French 75 cocktail (not strictly a food but still counts!) and the Lemon torte with berries – both from York institution Bettys.
Whilst not everywhere can be a favourite, it’s been a great year having the opportunity to review restaurants in York and North Yorkshire and a massive thank you to our readers for following along every week to hear what we have to say!
If you’ve got any suggestions for us going into 2026 – be it a hidden gem that you want to share with the world or a fresh new opening – we’re all ears.
Dining and Cooking