News and entertainment worth sharing – York and North Yorkshire

Restaurant of the week

Vitoria

Situated in the heart of York, your family run local restaurant where you are making memories with your loved ones while enjoying amazing food and atmosphere. 

A selection of Italian cuisine, with beautiful furnishings, a great place for lunch or an evening dinner. A variety of cocktails to suit everyone’s tastes. 

La Vecchia Scuola

The excellent standard of service matches the exquisite standard of food. And what about the view? Well… it simply takes your breath away. So come in. Unwind. Have a coffee and a bite. Enjoy a lunch (long or light!) or visit in the evening and take time to sample our laid-back ambience, live music and diverse and distinctive menus.

With exciting, inventive and varied menus have been especially created by our experienced staff, and are La Vecchia Scuola’s distinguishing – and distinguished – culinary feature. Believing in serving only the very best in contemporary Italian cooking. Add to this a spectacular dessert menu, plus a list of fine wines from our cellar, and a selection of beers and spirits from the bar, and you have an unrivalled and relaxed italian dining experience.

The Orchid Vegan

The Orchid Vegan blazed a new trial for veganism, opening in precarious times in August 2020.  Nevertheless, takeaway sales boomed during the lockdown and the owners were fully-prepared to welcome customers to the restaurant on George Hudson Street as soon as covid precautions would permit.  York foodies might remember the restaurant interiors inherited from Thida Thai, and indeed Thida herself is retained as an experienced front-of house manager to greet you on entry.  

The owners, Will and Jean Zhuang, wanted to introduce Chinese vegan food to the citizens of York and to our many tourist visitors to the city.  They seem to have hit the zeitgeist with vegan cuisine which is surging through mainstream cooking on TV, in the supermarkets and in restaurants generally.  Will and Jean wanted to follow two principles with The Orchid Vegan. 

Firstly, the restaurant would be wholy vegan – no animal products are utilised whatsoever. 

Secondly, they would aim at a general customer base to encourage everyone to try Chinese and other South-East Asian cooking which is totally vegan. 

Non-vegans have often been amazed at the food textures as well as the fabulous flavours of Chinese favourites like vegan ‘chicken’ in a black bean sauce, the hugely popular Mongolian-style ‘beef’, and cumin-flavoured ‘lamb’ skewers.  Their message to you really is, “come and try it for yourself!” 

  • 16 George Hudson Street, York YO1 6LP
  • More info

Nice to see you Café

This independent, family run café serves a verity of delicious home-made food and cakes. Situated down Goodramgate York it’s the best place to go and grab a light bite for lunch or coffee and a cake! A great place to meet friends for a catch up, in a beautiful relaxing setting, pop into the Nice to see you Café today. 

Ate O’Clock

Situated in the heart of York and nestled down an arched alleyway draped in fairy lights; Ate O’Clock Restaurant offers a wonderland like surprise upon entry. 

Guests can expect to choose from a wide selection of dishes featured on the A la carte, Set and Lunch menus, including steaks, burgers and traditional dishes, with all produce being of high quality, locally sourced, cooked to order and mostly homemade.

Welcoming all types of guests in the restaurant, whether it be a romantic date, a catch up with friends, a family meal or grabbing a bite whilst out seeing the sights of York.  Ate O’clock is also dog friendly, so the canine member of the family is welcome too!

The Drovers Arms

Processed with VSCO with c1 preset

The multi award winning Drovers Arms, set in the tiny, picturesque village of Skipwith only ten miles south of York, has great food, fine ales, plenty of gin, friendly atmosphere and has become one of the area’s main destination restaurant. The delicious homemade food is locally sourced and reflects the changing seasons, mirroring the wonderful walks to be found through Skipwith Common, right on its doorstep.

  • York Road, Skipwith, North Yorkshire YO8 5SF
  • More info

Downstairs at the Rivermills Ballroom

Downstairs at the Rivermills Ballroom prides themselves on supporting local independent suppliers and when dining in the restaurant, you can enjoy locally sourced ingredients including locally reared meats, fish from Yorkshire suppliers and locally grown vegetables.

Whether you want to visit for breakfast, brunch or beyond, a warm welcome awaits you when you dine with us here at Downstairs at Rivermills Ballroom.

Enjoy delicious dishes created by our passionate and talented kitchen team, whilst taking in the atmosphere of our cosy, intimate venue.

  • Unit 1, Ousegate Mills, Ousegate Selby YO8 4NJ
  • More info