• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

  • YorkMix
    • York live: Coronavirus
  • Radio
    • How to Listen
    • Win
    • Vouchers
    • Schedule
    • Public file
  • Things to do
  • More
    • Business news
    • Community news
    • Herogram
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Comments
  • ?

One of York’s best-known restaurants is to close

12 Jul, 2018 by YorkMix

A taster tray from El Piano. Photograph: El Piano on Twitter

They blazed a trail in York – but now the people behind York’s best known vegan restaurant are closing up and moving on.

El Piano has been serving vegan and vegetarian food to residents for 21 years.

Cycle Heaven York
Cycle Heaven York
Cycle Heaven York

Since opening in 1997, the Grape Lane establishment has won and been nominated for numerous awards – it was named café of the year in the York Tourism Awards last year.

One of the first places to serve up vegan food in York, El Piano has continued to be a foodie pioneer. Last month it became the first restaurant in the world to gain the international palm oil free accreditation.

‘Our job is done’

The El Piano team, L-R: standing – Magdalena Chávez, founder; Daisy Hilton; Patrick Barnes; Ben Worth; David Fox; Bob Jackson; Dan Sweeney. Seated – Elaina Smith; Elena Jackson; Alice Whiteley; Thushi Perera; Sue Wilkes, customer; Jenna Wallop; Katy Watson; Jonathan Fry
Founded by Magdalena Chavez it has remained a family affair, the restaurant offered plant-based, gluten-free food using organic and local ingredients long before it was popular.

Magdalena said:

We are moving on. Our job is done. Twenty one years of blazing the vegan and gluten-free trail has led us all to the happy point where almost all eateries in York are now offering vegan and gluten-free options.

Add to this the fact that last month El Piano became the first restaurant in the world to gain the international palm oil free accreditation, it seems a good moment to hang up our aprons.

New restaurant moving in

Pioneering… El Piano. Photograph: Richard McDougall
Although El Piano is going, the premises will stay as a restaurant.

“One of York’s most vibrant chefs will soon pick up where we left off; serving colourful food from around the world,” said Magdalena.

“Watch this space… We know you’ll be as excited as we are about what’s to come.”

El Piano’s last day of cooking will be Thursday, August 30. She said:

It has been our absolute pleasure to serve you all these years and we thank you for your loyalty and support.

You will still be able to find us and our products, recipes, videos and books on our website.

Related YorkMix stories
  • Beds, lanterns and a tipi bar – Dean’s Park looks very different this summer!
  • A drop of the hard stuff! Now you can drink Viking gin and tonic
  • Pies, pints and performances… Your complete guide to York’s pop-up Shakespeare village

Primary Sidebar

Secondary Sidebar

Footer

YorkMix
News 01904 848 766
Email YorkMix news »
5-6 King's Court, Shambles, York  YO1 7LD
YorkMix Radio
General enquiries 01904 375 029
Studio/competitions 01904 375 030
Email YorkMix Radio »
Selby Superbowl, Bawtry Road, Selby  YO8 8NA
YorkMix is a trading name of YorkMix Media Ltd
Registered in England
Company number: 07814727
VAT number: 154 0364 34
© York Sound Ltd

Copyright © 2021 YorkMix Media Ltd