Karoo Bar & Kitchen in York

Really enjoyed this relaxed restaurant. The food is something slightly different than the standard menu choices you see time after time. Tasty comfort feed. Service is personal and friendly.

Fantastic service from booking to leaving. Great, authentic food. Would return if back in York in future. Family run and friendly. Thank you Nathan. So sorry I forgot to leave a tip. Next time……

I came here in April. Every night I dream about how good the food was. I would catch a 20 hour plane from my home country to come here just to have the very chance to be blessed to have the delicacy that is this food, nay this banquet, nay this feast that the heavenly gods rained on us have the mere chance of grazing my lips. Also the people who run it are rlly nice🙂

We came here as part of our work Christmas party, and it was perfect for us! The guys running the place (sorry I forget your names!) were super friendly, and we had a whole host of restrictive diets and they couldn't have been more accommodating. The food was amazing and a really lovely chilled atmosphere. Thanks, from us all at Accessible Arts and Media

Fantastic delicious food- ordered extra of plates and every dish had me saying “yum”! Tasty drinks too and the most amazing service- such friendly, knowledgable and passionate owners. Already plan to return and have recommended to others. Fab.

Loved it! When in York again will definitely revisit! Staff so friendly and food wow! Thank you, highly recommended and great value

Fab evening, delicious food and very friendly.

Something different from the norm. Great flavours, great service in a clean fresh restaurant. All food well prepared and presented....definitely worth a visit

My friends and I had a really fun and relaxing night here. The food was delicious. The lady serving us really sold the curry - and we were not disappointed! Everyone who served us were very kind and attentive. We would definitely recommend a visit here!

Fantastic service from the staff - industrial chic setting and quiet on our visit, so lacking a little atmosphere, but the food and drink were great, and with such friendly staff, why not give it a try yourself??? I’d recommend the Bobotie and their take on Pigs in Blankets!

Absolutely deserving of its excellent reviews. Delicious food, excellent service, and a simply lovely experience. We'll be back! :)

Second time visiting here and oh my goodness, we are beyond happy. We have had the most beautiful food (vegans - beetroot end butternut pie and corn is excellent, meat folks - Bobotie has made my partner extremely happy and more than a little homesick). Absolutely excellent service, so hospitable and accommodating and lovely to chat to, felt like home. Thank you so so much. Go visit folks, I promise it's worth it. My partner is South African and was delighted to have a taste of home. Zach and Nathan were lovely hosts, so welcoming, knowledgeable and even chatted in Afrikaans. They were happy to recommend dishes and drinks, clearly love what they do and made us feel at home. Food is delicious, portions generous and nothing was too much trouble. Highly recommended. We will be back.

Great food, attentive service, value for money - what more could you ask for?

Visited this evening! Service was impeccable and the food was incredible! Will definitely be dining again! Thank you

Absolutely amazing experience at Karoo! Food was 10/10 (my South African partner felt like he was eating at home!!) & the service was above & beyond. Will definitely be back & will bring the rest of the family next time!

An amazing experience! A real taste of South Africa! The hosts were great and the food was to the best standard! Would highly recommend to anyone! 🇿🇦

Warm & friendly service. Nice bit of variety on the menu. Didn’t feel out of my depth not knowing much about South African cuisine in advance. All our food was high quality and delicious! Comfort food is right! Would go again.

I was lured here by the menu on line, and I'm delighted I was. Great food, nice atmosphere (no small thing on a quiet Sunday evening), and charming hosts. I highly recommend to all. If you like South African food, even better!! Oh, and the local beer, fantastic... Get down here...!

Great food, friendly service and great for relaxing dinner. I had the burger and it was delicious. They also offer amazing lamb shank which my wife had and I happily helped her

Booked a table and immediately felt welcomed. The food was first class and so good! Will definitely be coming again!

Simply amazing. My husband booked us a surprise dinner here because I have been pining since Shebeen closed in Edinburgh. Delicious food unencumbered by unnecessary frivolity, and lovely hosts who couldn't take enough trouble to ensure we had a good evening but didn't impose. Also impressive diligence and knowledge for gluten free options; I am coeliac and was completely reassured about everything from the beer to the food. All impeccable, all gluten free. Thank you so much. We will be back!

Realmente disfrutamos de la comida en Karoo, rematado con un Dom Pedro (preguntar) que nos trajo buenos recuerdos de nuestro tiempo en Sudáfrica. Las porciones son muy generosas y el vino era precioso. Recomendado.

Had a fabulous dining experience at Karoo. From the moment I entered the restaurant, I was made to feel extremely welcome and the attentive staff made the meal even better. The food was delectable. I chose the Beetroot and Butternut pie, wow! A generous portion didn't leave much room for dessert. I agree it could certainly double up as a dessert option. I also attended a private function being held at Karoo in the same week, where I was lucky to try a selection of options from the menu. They did not disappoint. My personal favourites were the creamy Brie Bon bons and the dirty fries - Amazing! The chicken schnitzel main didn't disappoint with a side of the most delicious peppercorn sauce. I'd give this place a 10/10 and can't wait to return. Until next time...

Cannot fault anything. Highly recommended

A fantastic find, I will definitely be bringing all my friends to come and taste the flavours of home. Wonderful atmosphere, really lovely staff, couldn't recommend this place more.

Nos encantó nuestra visita aquí. La comida era fantástica y tan sabrosa. Los cócteles eran increíbles. Servicio 10/10. Qué hermosa decoración. Sin duda volveremos

Great atmosphere and food. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Good value for money.

Service was brilliant, friendly and welcoming. Food was 10 out of 10. Would 100% come again

Viernes lluvioso por la noche, estábamos alojados en Malmaison que está a 5 minutos a pie y buscando algo delicioso y no la carrera habitual de la India molino, Steak House o pizza. Y encontramos un lugar muy especial. Desde el momento en que entramos, no podríamos haber sido más bienvenidos. Los propietarios fueron encantadores, explicando algunas experiencias nuevas desconocidas en el menú, teniendo una idea del tipo de platos que nos gustaría y ayudándonos a tomar grandes decisiones. La comida en sí era fantástica - este no es un menú degustación de 12 platos pequeños - esta es una comida generosa adecuada, con mucho sabor, cocinado con amor, entregado con cuidado, y claramente una pasión por el equipo que dirige el espectáculo. El servicio fue atento sin ser demasiado, después de comer charlamos un rato, y al final de la noche sentimos que habíamos hecho nuevos amigos en una ciudad en la que solo habíamos estado unas horas. York es un viaje de tres horas para nosotros, pero esta fue una gran experiencia, nos gustaría ir de nuevo, en gran parte para que pudiéramos ser invitados bienvenidos en este gran lugar. Me encantó. Comería allí la próxima vez sin siquiera considerar ir a otro lado.

Never been to York before, went here on the off chance and turned out to be a great choice. Food and service second to none. Everything was absolutely delicious and the staff really welcoming, we were so well looked after. Hope to come here again some day. If you haven’t been here then try it - you won’t be disappointed

Very welcoming, delicious food, great service

It was a quiet Thursday evening. The owners were very welcoming and attentive. We had the lamb shank and the oxtail. Both were prepared and presented perfectly. We will definitely go back if we're ever in York again.

I didn’t really trust reviews being so high at first, but oh boy, they weren’t lying. The food was delicious, just what we needed after a long day. The staff is friendly and so nice! that really made my day. The atmosphere was just fine as well. The music was enjoyable, whole place was spotless, and the chairs were comfortable. Though I don't live in the area, I would definitely visit again!

We had a fantastic experience here. The food was delicious and the staff is very kind and attentive. The venue was inviting and clean. Will definitely be coming here again!

Really enjoyable meal at Karoo. The staff were really friendly and helpful. The food was also delicious and plentiful. It was nice to try dishes you don't see anywhere else in York. Will definitely be back

We went during York restaurant week and we'd been to 3/4 other places through the week. Karoo was the best place we had visited by far. The food (enormous portions) was delicious and some great SA food to try. Good value and all the staff were lovely and helpful/chatty. Would absolutely recommend a visit and we will certainly go back at some point!

My visit in this restaurant with my family was soo amazing loved every single bite here ,more than that these guys here were so fantastic can never forget them best service i ve ever seen. Mist visit place

Best service,lovely food ,excellent people .. definitely worth it to visit Karoo bar &kitchen .. and lovely atmosphere for every event

We had a warm SA welcome from the hosts, and the food was excellent. We were not rushed and the hosts were very attentive. A home from home.

Third visit to this lovely restaurant. Excellent food that is that little bit different; very welcoming and friendly hosts; good prices; appealing decor and design. Absolutely nothing to dislike. Left full and happy, and immediately recommended it to a group of friends.

Fantastic Authentic Experience at Karoo We had a wonderful time at Karoo, an authentic Afrikaans restaurant run by such friendly and welcoming people. The staff made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived, and their warmth added so much to the experience. The food was great—authentic homely Afrikaans menu that was delicious. The SA wine was great, complementing the meal perfectly. What made the experience even more enjoyable was how accommodating they were with our family, especially with our toddler. The staff was incredibly understanding and helpful, making the meal stress-free for us. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Karoo and will be back again. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great meal, fantastic wine, and a truly welcoming atmosphere.

A really warm welcome, a great menu of South African dishes and wines, very reasonable prices. We had the Bobotie, the Chicken Schnitzel, good red wine, the Cape Brandy Pudding and Rooibos tea. We really enjoyed our meal and remembering past travels, thank you.

First opportunity to eat South African food. Everything was fantastic; food cooked perfectly, outstanding personal service provided by the owners, and excellent drink options. Highly recommend Karoo!

Really friendly owners and super food!

Great meal, outstanding service - highly recommended 👍👍

Good quality authentic South African food!

Excellent meal and absolutely exceptional customer service, really made everyone feel welcome. Very highly recommended!

Came here on our last evening visiting York and what can I say the two owners are amazing so friendly and welcoming, I have allergies which arnt like the normal 14 he sat there and listened to me describe it, he was so understanding, the food is amazing I had porchetta which is pork belly and it just fell apart the same with the baby back ribs my partner had, would highly recommend coming here not just for the amazing food but the atmosphere aswell, thankyou so much for such an amazing end to our weekend away!

Fantastic food great service ribs Fantastic lamb shank lovely best meal in York

We were running late so I left a message on vm letting them know we would be about 15 min late. We were greeted at the door,by name, by a welcoming host. He was our host and server. We were not familiar with South African food, but he patiently answered all our questions. We ordered drinks and apps and asked if we could enjoy them before ordering main courses. No problem…in fact nothing was a problem. The service was exemplary. The food was delicious - well prepared and tasty. Prices quite reasonable. Lovely experience!

Top choice restaurant. Authentic tasty South African food, even our gluten free guest was well catered for. Food was prepared speedily and much larger than the portion photos! Great service too. Would not hesitate to recommend Karoo to everyone. Great place!!

Had an absolutely wonderful meal with my family here to celebrate my brother’s birthday. The service throughout the evening was personal and very friendly. We shared several really tasty starters. I had the ribs for my main and they fell right off the bone, delicious and perfectly cooked. All of the mains were very generously sized. My family all ordered different dishes and everybody had nothing but praise for their dish. The puddings looked incredible but we didn’t have space for them - we’ll be back to try them soon! My sister is gluten free but the owners were very communicative about the (many) dishes she could eat across the menu, making this a very easy experience for her. There were lots of drink options, and I will definitely try the cocktails next time (especially at £8.50 each!!). We had a wonderful evening and will certainly be repeat customers. The food was delicious and authentic, with options for both the adventurous and less so. The service was top quality and made the experience so memorable. I cannot recommend Karoo highly enough!

Very lovely people - the food was great, very unique

Ate our tea here recently and the staff are friendly and attentive. Food was lovely would definitely return when next in york

Nice people nice food and got lots of south africa stuff its lekker, nice area and easy to get too, price is good amd affordable

An unexpected delight on George Hudson Street. The South African spices and hints of Malaysian flavor make for a truly unique dining experience. Modern attractive decor and gentle African soundtrack is very relaxing.

Delicious ribs for me and a very light sponge pudding with brandy and ice-cream. Reasonable prices, tasty food and excellent service. Thanks!

Wow what an amazing find!! A real taste of home, absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. If I'm in the neighborhood again will definitely be back.

Highly recommended. Outstanding, friendly service and exceptionally delicious meal.

The friendliest welcome; delicious food and great value - what’s not to like?

Absolutely amazing, Highly recommend. Our servers were very knowledgeable & super friendly even came over with different sauces with our mains which were super tasty. The cocktails tasted freshly made too. The Malva pudding was too die for! Would come again & again

Best Ribs I’ve ever had and perfect chunky chips to go with it. Great service and very welcoming.

Excellent experience, service was amazing , very friendly and attentive. Food very good portions and flavours.

The staff were very helpful and friendly, The food was incredible, a really amazing restaurant

Very beautiful people. Food was excellent and the atmosphere very pleasant. Spoke with the owners was just a great experience. Would recommend 100%.

We had a fantastic meal in a very relaxed atmosphere. The guys can't do enough for you. My husband and I shared wings , meatballs and gherkins to start. Accompanied by a golden delicious cider, described perfectly. Food was simple but delicious. Curry and ribs to follow. Again very tasty. All in all a relaxed evening where nothing is too much trouble. Well worth a visit

Lovely restaurant, so friendly. Great experience

Amazing food. Had three courses. The curry is lovely as a vegetarian meal or adding meat or prawns. Service is friendly and welcoming.

Went to Karoo for a work meal and the atmosphere was wonderful. The wait staff were very attentive and made some excellent recommendations for our meals. The food was wonderful, we will definitely be coming back

Fantastic and authentic South African food. The flavours reminded me of my time in Cape Town. Also good selection of SA wines and delicious desserts, too. 100% recommended for a lovely dinner date or an outing with friends. Staff is super friendly too.

Came here with my team as part of our work excursion to York, upon our arrival nothing was too much trouble for the staff. A wonderful, vibrant and clean restaurant with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The food truly is great, with a real depth of flavour, and the drinks were equally as good. We were a large group, and everything was brought out on time, and piping hot.

Great food great service one of the best places we have been in York for food. Small but very well run s revive couldn’t be better we will be back next time we are up n York well done to the team for the quality and service you give 5 stars

Fantastic dining experience, incredible food and services with an authentic South African experience

Absolutely brilliant restaurant. The service is so personal and welcoming. Food is outstanding. Highly recommend the Nshima! Thank you for having us! Would come back to York just to come here! See you again one day!

Great place to visitant too expensive, had the boerewors meatballs for starter followed by the baby back ribs, the ribs are delicious... wasn't sure id like this style of restaurant and food but quietly surprised.

Very nice staff, some interesting and tasty food and not too expensive.

Excellent food, friendly service and a great location close to the Grand York. We really enjoyed the variety of food. The lamb shank was super tasty and good portion.

Food was absolutely delicious and reminded of home. A very warm welcome and the atmosphere was homely and comfortable. Excellent service. Baie Dankie

This is where you go if you want a FULL and comforting plate of food. There is a lot of love in the dishes, mirrored by the care and attention of the service provided. Comfy places to sit, and nice and roomy. Careful attention given regarding my food allergies. The ribs were tasty and the most tender I've had, the corn ribs were to die for - perfectly cooked, and the dessert was like a hug on a plate. Lovely selection of drinks, the only thing I would suggest is the addition of mocktails. I would also looove a dessert platter to try a small slice of each as I live too far away to return often (am just being greedy tho 🤣) Thank you for a wonderful evening.

Great food and fantastic service. Quirky and had a ball with our waiter. Would heavily recommend to anyone.

First time visiting this lovely restaurant, the food was amazing great service and great staff. Definitely will visit again next time we are in york. Jaime and kirk from hull.

Very friendly owners. Best burghers had in a long time. Sauces great. Service excellent. Highly recommend.

Great service from start to finish and the food was amazing will definitely come again

Had a lovely meal, the food was delicious, hot, fresh & tasty. Zach & Nathan were very welcoming and knowledgeable about the menu.

Very good food and Nathan and Zach have amazing service. Highly recommend.

Eaaily the best food I've eaten in the UK with great and friendly service!!! Couls not suggest enough

Very friendly, cozy restaurant. Food was delicious and owners were very attentive. Would definitely recommend it.

Amazing experience from start to finish, the owners were very friendly and the food brilliant. Would highly recommend the Karoo Bar & Kitchen.

Food was extremely tasty,perfectly cooked, varied selection. The service was polite and timely. Would definitely recommend.

Good food with warm, attentive, but non intrusive, service.

Nice place with super interesting food and great service

Found this place as we were walking around after travelling for 5 hours and have to say.....absolutely amazing, food was fantastic plenty of it and extremely good value for money and the owners...well....they were absolutely brilliant, it was so good that we booked a table again the night before we left York and will definitely go there again when we're next in York. Would 110% recommend this place.....you will not be disappointed in any way.

Not to be missed. 6 stars out of 5. The staff were friendly, laid back, attentive, and with a wonderful sense of humour. The food was absolutely amazing. The prices are very reasonable. I hosted a table of 12 (including some picky eaters) and our table was tended to with great efficiency, warmth and friendliness. I've always said that you can see what an establishments food is like by seeing if there are empty plates afterwards, and every plate was, picky eaters included. The Bar had an excellent selection of local and imported drinks, including alcohol free options. The establishment is LGBTQ+ and alternative subculture friendly as well. Very well done. All 12 of us will certainly be returning in the future. It was a great taste of home.

Great place! The team were really friendly and chatty. Service was quick and the food was delicious! Great menu too. I had the deep fried gherkins for starters and the oxtail for main.

Divine food, full of flavour, and generous portions too. A wide range of drinks available, including alcohol free options. Fantastic atmosphere, really friendly and relaxed, and we were made to feel welcome from the moment we walked through the door. Excellent handling of a sudden party of twelve on a busy Saturday evening.

Excellent food, great atmosphere, great friendly staff the o ky disappointment they had run out of Castle lager due to its popularity 😀. Highly recommended and will be back again!! Thanks for a lovely evening to all there.

Really like the set up and owners and staff could not be more attentive. Enjoyed the starters my friend and I had the prawns he had garlic I had the tomato & chilli, we both opted for Steaks quality of the beef was outstanding loved the fries, we had to send his back we asked for a medium and a rare and both came out medium rare, I ate mine so there was a significant delay in getting meal back but they couldn't have been more apologetic. Thought the flavours could do with more punch for my taste.

Lovely meal and environment. Zach and Nathan were very friendly and helpful to any requests and we loved conversating with them while enjoying our beautiful meal. Highly recommend the lamb shank, was so tender and succulent it immediately fell off the bone. Corn ribs was the best corn I’ve tasted, so simple yet so tasty. Environment and food was nice and cozy, I wished I lived in York or the surrounds so I could visit them more frequently!

Excellent food, still hot when delivered

Lovely food, friendly staff. We'll be back next time we're in York!