York is all about medieval architecture, narrow cobbled streets, its 13th-century Gothic cathedral, and the slow-flowing, semi-stagnant River Ouse that splices the city in half. Step out of York Station, and you may well start to feel as if you’re starring in a remake of Back To The Future.
It’ll be a remake where you’ll think one of the DMC-12’s buttons has had a malfunction and zoomed you to somewhere you’ll only be able to get fed with a plate of ye olde worlde pub grub or a bowl of Dickensian gruel. Don’t worry; you’ve just got off a train, not out of a time-traveling DeLorean. York may look superficially antiquated, but the culinary offerings you’ll find here are bang up-to-date.
As you embark on a journey to find the best meal in York, don’t bring all your bags with you. Instead, head to a York Station luggage storage first and let someone else worry about your stuff while you worry about filling your belly.
Where To Eat Near York Station
There are plenty of places to eat near York Station where you can get not just pub grub or a polystyrene tray of fish and chips but totally modern British and international cuisine. You don’t need to go any further than Micklegate or the city center either, which are both less than ten minutes from the station, to be spoilt for choice between Thai, British fusion food, authentic Italian, and lots more besides.
The Refectory
If you don’t want to walk the ten minutes it takes to get to Micklegate or the city center from the station, then take a look at The Refectory. This is a large restaurant right next to York Station that has its main dining area under a spacious glass-roofed terrace. At first glance, it looks a little formal, but looks can be deceiving.
At The Refectory, they serve British food cooked with creative flair, so even a simple pork chop or sausage and mash are served with an interesting twist. There’s nothing boring about the food here at all. Their burgers are on a whole new level, and they have some amazing vegetarian dishes like broccoli and edamame bean risotto on the menu too.
Location – Station Road
Skosh
Skosh may seem like a strange name for a restaurant, but it perfectly defines the food they serve. Skosh is a Japanese word meaning small amounts, and while the food may not be Japanese, they dish up Michelin-quality British cuisine on small plates in a sort of innovative tapas-style way.
The furnishings and interior décor of this restaurant are pretty simplistic, which is good as they don’t distract your attention away from the beauty of the food you’ll be served. It is art on a plate. The menu changes frequently, but expect dishes similar to venison hoi-sin with pear radicchio and hazelnuts, tataki of salt-aged beef, or teriyaki pigeon.
Location – 98 Micklegate
Delrio’s
If you’re in York on a rainy day, drop by Delrio’s, and even though this restaurant is housed in a cellar, you’ll get a blast of Mediterranean sunshine from their Sardinian-influenced menu. The décor here will definitely distract you from thinking about the inclement weather. It’s eclectic, and every wall plus the ceiling is adorned with a collection of pictures, flags, and trinkets from the Italian island. It’s slightly old-fashioned; there are even candles in bottles on the tables, but homey and comfortable.
Delrio’s have been serving traditional Italian and Sardinian food for 30 years and imports many of their ingredients from the home country to ensure their dishes keep their authenticity. Here, you can tuck into oven-roasted aubergines topped with breadcrumbs and grana Padano, seafood risottos, an endless choice of hearty pasta dishes, and pizzas, as well as multiple meat dishes. Don’t skip the meatballs or the pollo al pesto, chicken baked with pesto. It’s sunshine on a plate.
Location – 10-12 Blossom Street
The Old Siam
If you love Thai food, you won’t want to skip going to The Old Siam while you’re in York. The Old Siam is a family-run restaurant with a décor that will transport you to Thailand the moment you walk through the door. Imagine Budha statues, batik wall hangings, and colorful parasols hanging from the ceiling, and you’ll be imagining the right picture.
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At The Old Siam, they prepare Thai food the authentic way, so every dish is totally on point. Get ready for a veritable feast of spring rolls, dumplings, wantons, satay dishes, soups, and Thai curries. For many of the dishes, you get to choose your protein, and they have super vegetarian options, too. Make sure you go hungry because you’ll want one of everything on their menu.
Location – 126 Micklegate
The Rattle Owl
The Rattle Owl is a restaurant in York serving contemporary British cuisine, which has really been making a name for itself. The smart interior décor consists of bare brick walls, varnished wood flooring, and pine furnishings. It’s smart but not as smart as the food.
Rather than have an a la carte menu, The Rattle Owl presents a choice of different tasting menus. Whether you go for the four-course or the eight-course, you’re in for an exquisite culinary experience prepared by one of the UK’s leading chefs, Tom Heywood. Yes, it costs quite a bit more than a pie and a pint in a pub, but it’s totally worth it.
Location – 104 Micklegate
Partisan
When you’re looking for somewhere to eat near York Station that’s good but down to earth and not overly fancy, try Partisan. Partisan is a cozy cafe-restaurant with white-washed walls and a beamed ceiling that opens early to serve breakfasts. It’s not a typical tearoom as, rather than just cakes and sandwiches, it also has a decent brunch menu that will have your mouth watering.
At Partisan, you can tuck into a quality full English served in a skillet and eggs benedict, or go for something a little more adventurous like their bibimbap. If you can resist their amazing array of baked goods, then you’ll be doing well.
Location – 112 Micklegate
Conclusion
No matter which place you choose to eat near York Station, the one thing you can be sure of is it’ll be an absolute treat.