Cafe No.8 Bistro in York

As a group of 6 choosing different meals we were each delighted with our meal. The quality of the food was excellent, portions sizes perfect, service friendly and prompt with a cosy, warm atmosphere. Very happy customers and would definitely recommend.

Probably very good, but definitely not open…. This is not a poor review, it’s a detail update on Google. Says “open”, but wasn’t… Well try again next time..👌🏻

Outstanding food, outstanding friendly service and a lovely atmosphere in which to enjoy your meal! I don’t think you can ask any more of a restaurant! Definitely a must visit destination for is on any trip to York!! Keep up the good work team!

We had a wonderful meal here on a Wednesday evening in August. I really could have eaten anything from their menu. There was such a great choice. The service was friendly and personal, the food portions were just right, and the prices were very reasonable considering the quality of the food. Make sure you book in advance, and you will thoroughly enjoy your evening.

I visited Cafe No 8 before Covid and really loved the food. They shorten their operation hours after Covid and we finally made it for Sunday lunch today. We had a starter, mains and dessert. The food was just as good as I remembered. Service was good too. This place just celebrated their 20 years' anniversary in York which tells you that they got to be good to last that long given the ultra competitive food scene here. The food was of top quality, refined and cooked with care. We had beef and pork tenderloin and they were so tender. The potatoes were roasted perfectly. And we had a selection of vegetables (Broccolini, Parsnip, Carrots, Spring Onions etc) not over cooked like many places. And I was so glad to try the Dark Belgian Chocolate Truffle with Black Sesame Ice Cream. I love black sesame ice cream but is a rarity to find them in York. I wish I could buy a tub of their black sesame ice cream and bring it home. If you are looking for a place with a relaxed atmosphere, serving non-pretentious and delicious food, I recommend Cafe No 8 Bistro.

We went on Sunday for a roast dinner. It was delicious. Service was slow but we were still very happy because the food was so nice.

A wonderful place! The interior is simple, but exudes cosiness. The service was reserved but helpful and very friendly. The menu is pleasantly clear. Emphasis is placed on regional products. The quality of the food is excellent. I had the Yorkshire steak, which was incredibly tender and delicious. Conclusion: I came hungry and I left happy.

One night only in York and we were really lucky to find this amazing restaurant. The food was totally delicious and service excellent. Thank you for a wonderful meal!

What a fantastic dining experience. Relaxed & welcoming atmosphere, outstanding food, and immaculate presentation. I enjoyed my meal out there as much as I have anywhere in the world.

We have been visiting York for years but have only just discovered this wonderful place. The food was amazing and the service was fantastic. We will definitely return and recommend.

Love the place, beats chains like the Ivy hands down.

A true gem! This small and cozy bistro gave everything. The lighting and ambience well thought out. The menu all looked delicious and we struggled with what to choose! Our choices didn’t disappoint. Food excellent, well presented and delivered by the friendliest of staff. We had a really lovely evening and highly recommend.

A delightful bistro with a small but perfectly constructed menu. It was difficult to decide on what we wanted to eat as all the dishes sounded wonderful. The fishcakes and lamb dishes were truly delicious. Looking forward to returning.

Describing it as bijou would be to do an injustice. We were in a group of five and we were treated very nicely by loving and warm staff. Between us we ordered a variety of menu items and all of us left happy and contented with such a beautifully presented and delicious meal. This is not something that suits an average student budget, perhaps more for the parents of students visiting. Located in the heart of York, with great decor and high ceilings, gave it an ambience that will last for many memories. The walls were festooned with a number of photographs which were very interesting. I can thoroughly recommend the fish cakes for starters.

Fabulous food in a cozy atmosphere. Amazing steak. Great service and very friendly staff. The black sesame ice cream was delicious and unique. Recommend for an elevated dining experience in York for a great price.

This was not our first visit to cafe no 8, we often book when we visit york. We didn’t have starter, both of us had the lamb, this was beautifully cooked, one criticism was we would have liked more veg ( one small piece of carrot and one small sprig of broccoli) and no option it seemed to buy more veg. We both had the chocolate and black ice cream dessert, this was again another beautifully put together dessert. This place serves beautifully cared for food with excellent service.

Service was very attentive, felt very welcome. The food was brilliant, one of the best meals we have ever had in York.

See my written review in photos ….. gem of a bistro 🥇

Absolutely delicious food! The roast lamb is the most tender I have ever had! The ice cream with the chocolate dessert is so original and well-paired. Lovely staff too!

Excellent food. Friendly and efficient. The food was presented really well, the flavours were perfect. I am always impressed when you order a steak and don't get asked how I want it, the chief made it how it should be, they do know best.

Fabulous dinner last night, never fails to impress. We’ve been coming here for years and it has always been 10/10. The pork with coconut curry sauce is highly recommended as is the rhubarb, meringue and mascarpone desert. So nice that they offer a half bootle of champagne for £30 too.

Really terrific food - I can recommend the lamb. Absolutely delicious. Lovely atmosphere too.

Exquisite food and great service. Relaxed atmosphere, would recommend

We visited on Saturday and we're not disappointed. From the moment we walked through the door we were made to feel comfortable. All staff were very friendly. A bottle of water was added to the table as soon as we sat down. We were given enough time to look at the menus. Our food was amazing. Presentation was spot on. We would definitely return again. Thank you for a lovely birthday experience xx

Just perfect. Proposed to my partner here. Staff could not be more helpful. Cosy restaurant, great ambience. Never too many tables so get the personal touch. Cannot speak highly enough for all the staff and the chef is outstanding. We had the most amazing time and food, the cost reflects the status of the chefs skills. Cannot recommend this place highly enough. Booking a must.

Lovely early supper for four of us. Nicely focused menu. We had the goats cheese tart, fish cakes and black pudding for starters; followed by the baked aubergine, lamb and surf and turf. Rarely make it to desert but the pear trifle and banoffi were delicious. Excellent, personal service and not surprised they were fully booked! Highly recommend.

Great little restaurant. Starters (gnocchi and tart) were incredible. Unfortunately my steak was cooked a little too well done, but saved by a delicious banoffee pie.

One of the best roast dinners I’ve ever had! Very nice atmosphere and great service. Would recommend it to anyone

Truly memorable evening due to the warm, welcoming and consistently high service. Really delicious food to match and a cute restaurant setting. I would highly recommend.

Food, staff, all absolutely awesome. I think I just had the best Sunday dinner I've ever had, starter was the fish main shared, then 2 mains shared of Beef and Lamb, gravy was delicious and even the cheese sauce on the cauliflower was 10/10. A bottle of red. Now for a sleep.

Another great night with family and seved with some amazing food.

The best English lunch that I ate during our journey in UK. Delicious

Nice cosy bistro,with relatively helpful staff, especially the waitress. Food beautifully served, but disappointing to say the least. Pidgeon breast starter tasty, edible, but chewy. Duck main was inedible, but was replaced with another main course on commenting about it. (Lady at next table had difficulty with hers, but didn't comment, and left most of hers). House red wine was on the rough side. Not a disastrous evening, but very disappointing. Also quite expensive...... nearly as much as dinner in 4* hotel we are staying in. With so many excellent places to eat in York, this is our first and last visit to No8 Gillygate.

Lovely food at a great little place.

Warm welcome,excellent service & most of all great food.Lamb & fish mains & chocolate dessert stood out.A short but well chosen wine list matched the food.Recommended strongly.

This place was recommended by Rick Steves and it exceeded our high expectations. The menu is limited, but the food was FANTASTIC! Full of flavor and cooked to perfection. Service was also quick! Recommend the duck or the stake.

Lovely food. Nice wine. Relaxed unrushed meal . lots of time to chat

Great lamb main, softest lamb leg with obergene and great chocolate with orange and home made ice cream.

cosy restaurant with excellent food! I come to this place every time when I visit York.

Enjoyed the food and the company very much. Thank you Martin.

Busy small restaurant where the welcome is friendly and the food simply amazing. Yorkshire Lamb main was a feast to the eye and delicious. Prawns were a delight and the deserts well, don’t miss them as properly made and home made.

Beautiful food. The Sunday lunch is the best around. Lovely place and the people are very friendly. Wouldn't go anywhere else in York.

Lovely food, went out of their way to accommodate dairy intolerance by amending the daily menu.

Delicious melt in the mouth steak.

Absolutely amazing. The duck was delicious, and so was the lamb. Dessert selection was impressive and well done. Reasonable prices and very friendly and fast service. Will no doubt come back next time I'm in town! Can't wait.

Really lovely Sunday lunch sat in the room at the back looking at the City Walls. Fab roast beef with best yorkshire pudding. Warm friendly welcome and atmosphere. A great place to eat and relax. Thanks very much!

Amazing service, delicious clever food, wonderful ambiance. Would absolutely recommend this wonderful bistro.

Excellent food but the chowder that accompanied the sea bream was a thing of wonder.

Absolutely outstanding, you made my husbands birthday complete. Thank you. Such beautiful food and lovely friendly staff. My husband did not want the Banoffee Pie to end

Beautifully cooked food and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Fabulous food and service once again. Definitely recommend. Took our guests who were visiting York and they were also immensely impressed. Thank you Martin and team, we will definitely be back. Cheers, Scott.

We booked in advanced and spent a great night. We were seated in the backyard room and it was cosy and relatively quiet. The food was good and we went for a mix of seafood and meat. I definitely recommend the banoffee pie that was really good.

Good sized portions of very tasty food. Great little Bistro just outside the city walls.

Saw this place online and thought it was worth a shot. We ate here on a Friday evening and it was one of the best meals I've eaten in a very long time. Lovely little restaurant with great service and superb food. Not the cheapest but it was worth every penny. We'll be back next time we're in York.

Possibly the best food we have ever tasted! A real gem of a bistro. Friendly, welcoming staff, pleasant bistro style decor, prompt service. All really good. But the food is the star....as it should be! Good traditional bistro style meals but with additional flavours that are beautifully complimentary to each dish. All beautifully cooked. Black pudding with an oozing poached egg. Lamb leg joint with a tasty jus and beautiful salsa Verde....and the heritage beetroot was divine! As for the puddings..... heavenly! We wanted to pick up and lick the plates! 👏👏👏to all the staff at no 8 bistro but particularly to the chef!

De bon plats bien équilibrés Un bon service Une adresse à recommander Good job

The food was great, the service just right. Lovely evening. Thanks

What an absolutely splendid meal in such an unassuming restaurant. A place where the foods speaks for itsself. Together with a small but perfect wine menue and quiet hospitabIe service. First class, thank you for such a fantastic experience xxx

Absolutely gorgeous food. Fantastic flavours, perfectly balanced. The service is really friendly - personal but not intrusive. An excellent find that I can't recommend highly enough. A short but perfectly delivered menu - just how a good restaurant should be. Treat yourself to top level food without the top level prices. We'll be back soon!

We had a really fantastic experience last night. The food and wine menu are both short and perfectly chosen. The food is delicious and beautifully presented. The atmosphere great, music spot-on for a relaxing vibe but the owners and their staff really make the place. This is a restaurant with heart that's wonderfully different from the soulless here today gone tomorrow places that seem to be everywhere nowadays. We make an annual trip to York to the Nine Lessons at the Minster and this restaurant will now be part of our trip in future. Totally recommend a visit.

Turned up on spec and received warmly without question. The food was wonderful and the service better. Will visit again,the 260 miles from home will be worth it. Excellent ☺️

From the minute I entered the place I knew I would love it. The aesthetic of the Bistro is both welcoming and comfortable; and it makes you feel at home. We ordered the chicken liver parfait for both starters and then the fillet steak and sea bream for mains. The food was all exceptional, the service was immaculate & all of that in a peaceful and picturesque environment. Finished the meal with a banoffee pie and a baileys coffee. Final verdict 10/10….Hats off to the owners, I can’t say one bad word about it! Definitely one to visit. Would recommend x 10!!!

Simply wonderful. The food was stunning, the atmosphere really calm and enjoyable, and the cost for 3 courses each and 2 drinks each was more than surprising. My goats cheese starter was pure perfection and the pork was the best I've tasted in a long time. I've been to many, many good restaurants but Cafe No.8 Bistro is in my top 5.

On a trip down to York from Scotland with my mum and Daughter I decided to have a look for somewhere away from the typical chain restaurants. I booked cafe no 8 and what a great decision I made! Food was exquisite, service fantastic and we enjoyed a really lovely evening. Truly a gem and we will definitely be back in the hopefully not so distant future !

A beautiful Sunday Dinner for two. We do struggle as I’m a vegetarian bordering on Vegan and my partner is a rather self confessed fussy vegetarian. This place took that in its stride and we had the most loveliest of meals. Everything was presented beautifully and tasted even better! Thank you so much.

Very welcoming hosts and attentive, but low key service (just right). Astonishingly good food, brilliantly prepared. A great find for a special date. Thank you.

Food was fantastic one of the best meals I've had, starter, main and pud all delicious

Four of us went for Sunday lunch and had no complaints. A seriously good bistro!

What a fabulous find From opening the door into the restaurant you are greeted with a very warm welcome and that was how we were made to feel during our night. The food was absolutely fabulous and beautifully presented Will definitely try to book again on our next visit to York

Food was absolutely stunning! Would definitely return.

Lovely little restaurant away from the hustle and bustle of York city centre. Fabulous roast followed by a great banoffee pie. Loved it ❤️

My wife an I ate here on Saturday, we both absolutely loved it. The food was amongst the best we've ever had. Superb from start to finish, staff were friendly and welcoming, atmosphere was cosy, food was spectacular. We can't wait to go back.

Best food we've eaten out in a very long time. Friendly staff and lovely atmosphere.

Cozy place and fantastic cuisine. We highly recommend.

Amazing food and friendly staff.

This is a lovely, cosy bistro with a relaxed atmosphere. Food & wine was beautifully presented & absolutely delicious (lamb & steak, meringue & banoffee pie - with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc). Staff are very relaxed, friendly & professional. My wife & I had a lovely evening here on 1st Sept. I'd like to thank the staff for all their hard work & I highly recommend the venue.

Excellent food and service with a good ambience 1st time I've been would definitely go back 😀

We absolutely love this place. Small family feel and excellent food!

Really good food and great staff. Will definitely be back next time we're in York

I can't recommend this place enough. The food was fresh and completely delicious and the service was top notch. Would definitely go again next time we're in York.

We had a beautiful dinner at Cafe No 8 when we visited York. The food was delicious and the service was warm and friendly. I would highly recommend a visit.

Lovely little spot. Recommended.

Great food, great staff, in an atmospheric bistro backing onto the city wall. Some exquisite flavour combinations, all perfectly executed. Try the sous vide lamb or the orange and Campari sorbet. Or anything.

Had a delightfull lunch this Mothers day with my wife and daughter. Great food cooked perfectly. Sit at the back and enjoy the birds as a bonus.

Pleasant and warm welcome. Excellent service throughout the meal. Outstanding food with complimentary flavours. We'd recommend a seat at the rear overlooking the hidden garden so you can watch the dunnock chicks perform their aerial stunts :) Thank you for helping me to celebrate a truly special mother's day.

Came here for Sunday lunch and was surprised that it was as quiet as it was. Good value and tasty food, and the staff were great - made to feel very welcome.

Lovely little place with such friendly staff.

Had a pre-theatre dinner here recently and it was excellent. Very friendly staff, superb food and lovely atmosphere.

The food was delicious and the female waitress was friendly and accommodating. Unfortunately this was not our experience with the male waiter. When we enquired as to whether we could have the prawns and scallops starter cooked in regular butter instead of the garlic and parsley butter, due to a garlic intolerance, the waiter made it clear that it was an inconvenience and that we should have informed him of this in advance when booking our table. Having dined in many resturants over the years, we have never been made to feel unwlecome and sadly we won't be recommending it to anyone with dietary requirements.

This cafe is amazing! The staff went above and beyond to cater for my son who is a vegan. His starter, main and desert were incredible. Hats of to the Chef who used his creative skills to invent a vegan menu with product he had in. My gluten free food was also amazing. I think it was one of the best deserts I have tasted. So many restaurants offer me ice-cream or fruit salad The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. We will definitely be visiting again when we are next in York.

Had an outstanding meal here - service was friendly and very fast without making you feel rushed, the dishes were excellent, and the venue itself was lovely and intimate. Worth every penny (and not particularly expensive at that).

Nice cosy restaurant, staff friendly and food and drink excellent well worth the visit 😀

Great little restaurant with amazing food ! Definitely recommend

A really good place to come for top quality food. A limited menu of a few perfectly formed starters, mains and deserts, all carefully crafted on site using top quality ingredients, many of them local. The chefs are great and take their time to hand craft every dish so if you have to wait your turn, don't worry - it will be worth it. Book online to save a space as the bistro is not graced with a lot of space - just 2 small rooms, but that does mean that they can look after every table well. Add this restaurant to your list now!

1st class restaurant. The staff were great, attentive but not overwhelming and the food is divine.

Lovely restaurant. Very cosy. Great food, especially the vegetarian (and I think vegan) cauliflower meatballs. Absolutely delicious! We're not local so trying to recreate this dish at home it was that good!

So glad we found this independent restaurant - delicious food, lovely menu, excellent service and great value

Amazing food, will be visiting again

Love this. What a gem. Food delicious and friendly service.

Amazing food and beautifully prepared. Would highly recommend for a special evening out