| Other |
| Cafe Concerto |
| Bar 38 |
| Dealtos |
| Plunkett's |
I once took Karen for lunch
in this place and was gob-smacked to find I'd have to fork out £23
for it. I was not, therefore, inclined to rush back. Even we, however,
feel the occasional need to break our traditional reliance on the Chinese,
Indian, Italian and Tex-Mex eating experiences, and this is what Cafe
Concerto offers.
Food aside, the place has a bit of a pseuds corner feel about it. These
days that means that the diners would love to be discussing the urban
relevance of Kantian philosophy, but actually debate the merits of the
Man. Utd/Leeds Utd clash that afternoon. The tables are fairly close together
in this long and narrow room, so you are occasionally listening in to
other people's opinions during the momentary lapses in your own. And (of
course) theirs are never as exciting and original as yours are.
I liked the food though. I took crab cake as a starter, which was quite
substantial without being bulky stodge, and served with quite a spicy
salsa. Karen skipped this course to save space for the creme brulee desert,
the main reason she'd agreed to eat here in the first place! As ever,
when our main courses arrived, she decided she preferred the look of my
choice above her own and we duly swapped. I'd opted for a pork casserole
with cider and cream while Karen had gone for chicken and sweetcorn fritters.
Both were fine, in my opinion, although the fritters could have done with
more chicken and less corn. We both agreed the stir fried vegetables which
accompanied the dishes were spot on. Karen then decided her raspberry
brulee was acceptable despite the raspberries, and ate it all up.
No doubt the wine list is thought through, but I'd opted for a bottle
of Yorkshire Terrier to wash down the meal. They also had Theakstons on
offer alongside the likes of Becks and Stella, and it's not often you're
presented the choice. You're never given the option in the likes of Bella
Pasta.
We skipped coffee - the place was too hot, and we were too tired - and
the meal came to £35. So expect to spend about £20 - £25
a head on a normal night out. Is it worth it? Well, I think I'd go again,
pseud that I am.
There's a pretty good offer on in Bar 38 with
any four tapas dishes available for £10 before 6pm all week. We
tried Pork Parcels, Lamb Kebabs, Sticky Chicken and Chicken Satay. Okay,
they're not the kind of tapas dishes you might expect, but it's all nicely
presented and the portions are substantial enough when washed down with
a cold pint of Becks. I'd also have to say that both the pork and lamb
dishes were swimming in oil, but then I'd rather have that than have it
microwaved! Karen followed up with a dessert of fresh melons and strawberries
drizzled with honey, which could have done without the honey. Again, it
looked very appealing. I followed up with another pint of Becks. Overall,
if you fancy a change for a bar lunch then this might fit the bill.
This is one of York's most long-serving restaurants (they say in their menu that the Rolling Stones once visited the upstairs bar in the Sixties) and it has a bit of character to it. Food is American/Tex-Mex style, with things like Fajitas, Burgers, Potato Skins....all the usual suspects. It's not too bad, but not too different from chains like Frankie and Johnnie's or Old Orleans either, and you'd think it could use its heritage to greater effect (although I'm not sure how)! We visited on a Sunday night when we were surprised to find that this was one of the few restaurants open within the City walls, and those that were open were pretty busy as a result. I had a plate of nachos (with mad cow beef) which were drowning in sour cream and guacamole, like they are in every Tex-Mex you'll ever visit. Once I'd spooned most of it off, it was quite nice. We've been a couple of times, and while Plunkett's isn't a favourite, it's reliable, it's not a chain and you end up hoping that it will be here when the Stones visit again in twenty years' time (to play the Joseph Rowntree's Old Folks Gig).
Advertising itself as a Mediterranean restaurant gives the menu plenty of scope - are we talking Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Egypt or what?! The interior is nice and bright and feels quite spacious, which is an advantage in York where in so many restaurants you find yourself almost slurping in your neighbours lap, so to speak. Okay, it's also a bit Bar 38 and Pitcher and Piano, the two bars this place is adjacent to with its white walls, pine stripped floors and art gallery feel. I have to say though, for once, I really enjoyed the food. I wasn't expecting to, but the menu was varied and different and I found myself caught between choices as there were a few dishes I fancied trying.
