Karoo Bar & Kitchen in York

Just had the best rump steak I have had in this country from the best hosts at our favourite restaurant.

The food was delicious, the service was incredibly friendly, we would love to come back!

Did a bit of research and found this place as a recommendation, so we came in with high hopes. It was a little quiet, which is a shame because it deserves to be busy. The flip side was we got to spend more time chatting to the wonderful, charismatic owners, Nathan and Zach, who were both attentive, happy to talk in detail about the food, the beer I had, and even the Stephen Brown Giraffe toilet seat (google it). So, our meal. My wife had the Bobotie, a superb blend of spiced minced beef, Mrs. Balls Peach chutney (again google it) with egg on top. They even brought us extra Mrs. Balls, a lovely treat. I had melt off the bone Baby back ribs. We followed with a couple of cracking desserts of Melktert and Cape Brandy pudding. I had a pint of Lupo Lion, lovely and Citrussy, which Nathan was quite knowledgeable about. Opening the place just weeks before lockdown, it’s not been easy for these guys, so if you read this and you’re in York, get yourselves down there, and give them your support, you’ll be chuffed you did. Good luck guys, and we hope to see you both again on our next visit

Lovely little place for traditional south African dishes, food was delicious and all the staff super warm and friendly. We went for York restaurant week but will definitely be back

Staff were really lovely, and food was just excellent. Will definitely be coming back.

We had a wonderful evening, thank you guys! The food and service were really top notch and I wouldn't hesitate to go back or to recommend to friends.

Fantastic food, very attentive and charming service :) everyone was very nice — great cocktails

Had a lovely meal last night with a friend and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly! The food was incredible (defo recommend the ribs!) and we had such lovely service throughout the meal. We were able to relax and have a drink after we ate and were not rushed out (as is sometimes the case at other places). We will be back soon!

We visited on a Monday evening with the 3 teenagers to sample the York restaurant week menu. The staff made us feel really welcome from the moment we walked in and were helpful throughout. The food was absolutely delicious, everyone enjoyed their meals, empty plates all round, despite being really generous portions. We were so full we couldn't fit in a dessert. Thank you Karoo kitchen - we will be back!

On a reunion visit to York with ex-colleagues from work. Booked the restaurant for dinner based on online reviews - not disappointed! The hosts were so friendly and attentive in a very relaxed way - made us feel welcome. The food was excellent, every one enjoyed their starters and mains though (un)fortunately - due the substantial portions of very good food - didn't have room to sample the desserts. Would highly recommend Karoo as a stop off on any visit to the city.

On a reunion visit to York with ex-colleagues from work. Booked the restaurant for dinner based on online reviews - not disappointed! The hosts were so friendly and attentive in a very relaxed way - made us feel welcome. The food was excellent, every one enjoyed their starters and mains though (un)fortunately - due the substantial portions of very good food - didn't have room to sample the desserts. Would highly recommend Karoo as a stop off on any visit to the city.

Karoo is run by Zac and Nathan who are wonderful attentive hosts, they even helped with our crossword Karoo is spotless the atmosphere relaxed, the food has a South Africa twist and is very tasty and wholesome We visited in march 2024 and will return Jim and Marg

We were visiting York, staying in a nearby hotel and just happened to walk past Karoo. The menu looked interesting so we went inside and were very glad we did. The owners Zach and Nathan are very hospitable and knowledgeable. They made excellent recommendations and gave us tasters of a few things to try. We went with biltong and deep fried gherkins to start, followed by Cape Malay prawn curry and bobotie . All absolutely delicious, washed down with a South African pink lady apple cider which was very refreshing. Sadly we were too full for dessert so might have to go back! Highly recommended. Good midweek deal too.

Absolutely amazing food, atmosphere was lovely and the hosts were absolutely marvellous 5* for everything Will be back

Great food, great atmosphere, great customer service, what more can you ask for. The adage you get what you pay for is true Karoo, the food wasn't the cheapest but it was good quality, well cooked, well presented and the service received was friendly and attentive. We will be back

It's got a really lovely friendly atmosphere - the owners are so welcoming and happy to chat. Nothing is too much trouble and you feel like you've had a very personal experience. We both had the ribs and they were absolutely delicious! The portions were generous and the meat just fell off the bone as it was so tender. Lovely place!

We really enjoyed our “taste from home” dinner experience. The bobotie was delicious, full of flavour. The oxtails was another winner. My daughter loved her malva pudding served with ice-cream. The hosts make you feel very welcome, as if you are enjoying a meal in their own kitchen

My husband and I visited Karoo for dinner last night and we'd thoroughly recommend it. The welcome was very warm and made us feel right at home. We had the lamb shank and bobotie and both were delicious and full of flavour. The wine and desserts rounded off the meal perfectly. We'd definitely eat here again.

Amazing. Not just SA food but worthy of a Michelin star

This is an excellent restaurant in the centre of York. We visited on a Thursday night and everything came together well: fantastic service, tasty cuisine and top notch South African wine to sip as the evening passed. Definitely look to visit this restaurant when visiting the city.

This restaurant feels like you’ve been welcomed into someone’s home. Relaxed and hosted by people who care about your experience. Small but interesting menu… we couldn’t fault any of the dishes. The Biltong & the rich prawn in tomato chilli sauce stole the show but the hosts are very happy to talk you through the menu. Drinks recommendations were spot on; Brew York Golden beer & Illusion Pinotage red wine were excellent. Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed!

Great food! Good prices, would recommend the oxtail or the lamb shank as a main, the meat on both is extremely succulent!

So happy to have found this place. So great hearing the SA accent. The food was incredible. The flavor exceptional. The wines! And the desserts! I can’t rate it high enough. I forgot to take photos! Wish I did. But I will be back really soon!

First time for us and we got a lovely warm welcome. Our hosts were friendly and chatty. We loved that the music was suttle and we could hold a conversation. What a treat to have a biltong starter and the lamb shank was melt in the mouth. The bobotie was lovely - just like the old days in Cape Town. Thank you folks We would highly recommend this lovely little restaurant

Absolutely incredible place, the best South African food you’ll find in England in my opinion. Staff are incredible and the food is second to none. Really makes me feel at home.

Was a lovely taste of home in the beautiful city of York. Delicious food and great South African hospitality.

Brilliant food, great atmosphere and 10/10 for food! I went with a South African and the food made him feel like he was back at home. We’ll be back. Thank you for a lovely experience!

Fantastic evening celebrating my nephew’s graduation! Being from Southern Africa ourselves it was a fitting venue for a momentous occasion. Nathan, Zach and the team couldn’t have done more for us. We arrived as customers and left as friends. We were even allowed to decorate our corner of the restaurant! Everyone commented that food was lovely and service first class. starters chosen ranged from biltong, Boerewors meatballs to prawns. All cooked well and very tasty. Main courses ranged from Cape Malay vegetable curry with chicken to oxtail (not something you see very often) pork spare ribs and porcetta. Again all well cooked and tasty. Portion sizes were spot on and there were no leftovers - testimony to how good the food was. We all (just about) had room for desert or couldn’t resist having a sweet treat . The majority had either Malva or Cape Brandy pudding with Icecream and the children had chocolate brownie. Again all were yummy! The evening finished with coffees and Amarula Cream liqueur. All in all a great experience and we will definitely return!

Absolutely cracking food and lovely hosts. One of the nicest nights out I’ve had in months. The ribs were gorgeous and my wife really enjoyed the pork belly!

Absolutely lovely food, charming and welcoming hosts. Would definitely come again (and will!)

Such a great place to visit for delicious food 😋. The atmosphere was relaxed, the staff were so friendly and helpful. I’m a proper wus when it comes to spice 🥵and my curry was a little too hot! They offered to change my dish for an alternative which was truly a lovely gesture! The drinks selection was fantastic and great prices too! The place is super clean We will return! They do a great mid week deal too!

We had a great meal at Karoo for the wife's birthday. The boerewors meat balls were a delicious starter. For mains I had rump steak, which was delicious, and the wife had lamb shank. She said it was one of the best lamb shanks she'd ever had. The place had a lovely atmosphere and the hosts were fantastic - very friendly and was great to hear a few stories from South Africa. Highly recommended!

Beautiful food and great service with a very chilled vibe. Not cheap, but worth it!

Very good, friendly service and a lively atmosphere in this chilled-out restaurant in central York, but the real highlight is the food I had braised oxtail, which was superb- my wife went off menu and they were happy to oblige (although it was very early...

We were looking for something different and really found it here. The atmosphere is a bit bland, but made up for by great service and excellent food. Our starter of meatballs was nice and our mains of bobotie and porchetta were really delicious. Even dessert...

We had a great early evening meal. Really friendly owners and great food. We’ll definitely be trying to get over next time we’re over in York. We had the Lamb Shank and Baby Back Ribs for our mains, both were cooked to perfection and would...

Friendly staff and lovely food! Prompt service, food came quickly and was hot and well presented. Nice atmosphere, nothing was too much trouble!

We have never had South African food before and were a little apprehensive. However after recommendation by the friendly waiter who explained the dishes to us they were delicious! Would definitely recommend!

Owners are lovely and food was amazing! Loved the limited menu overall superb visit

Great for a casual night out, food was amazing, I had the lamb shank and my partner had the oxtail and we were both very impressed😊! The staff were all really lovely and helpful. Overall I had a great time!!

Excellent service, food and drinks. Reasonably priced also. Great place for anyone. Great atmosphere and would go again.

Food was delicious and the staff were extremely friendly, I would definitely recommend a visit.

We booked our dinner table for a Sunday night online for our last night in York. On arrival we had a friendly welcome from Nathan and he showed us to our table. Menu was very traditional (SA) and offered for many tastes. Nathan was very...

My wife and found this from looking at the reviews here on Tripadvisor and wanted to vary our dining experiences whilst having a short break in York; we're so glad we did. We went on what must have been the wetest day in York so...

Excellent service, very friendly and acomodating, great food. The lamb shank was delicious! Highly recommended!!

Great find. Excellent food with a South African flavour. The beef shin bredie (stew) was full of flavour, tender and succulent. The porchetta was delicious. A small but excellent quality wine list. The hosts Zach and Nathan were friendly, engaging and attentive. Highly recommend.

Lovely experience at Karoo this weekend. Service very good, very attentive staff, food was spectacular, very tasty 😋. A little disappointed that the apple sauce came in a paper cup with dinner. Toilet could have been cleaner. Overall, we would definitely visit again if in York or surrounding area. Thankyou for a lovely and memorable evening.

We both had the porchetta which came as a generous portion and was absolutely delicious, as were the accompanying veg. I had the Cape Brandy pudding for dessert which was so enormous that I couldn't finish it. The service was excellent and the staff/owners very...

First night away since having a baby and it was just perfect! Fantastic service, amazing food and a really cosy, comfortable atmosphere. Beef shin was one of the best dishes I’ve had. Would definitely recommend to anyone thinking of visiting, little gem of a place!

Relaxed atmosphere with friendly service. The food was delicious.

Friendly and knowledgeable service, food sublime

A small restaurant with kitchen in view at back. Friendly service. A small menu but enough choice with a South African theme. All freshly cooked and delicious.

Splendid Atmosphere; Great service!

We always feel welcome here, it’s our favourite place to go for a family meal and we really feel special when we eat here. All our needs are accommodated and they always go above and beyond what we expect! If I could eat here everyday...

Perfect food and the service is second to none! Would definitely recommend this place every time! New Christmas menu is defined! Thank you so so much Nathan and Zac! You're the best!!

Awesome food and wine. Great service. Highly recommend From a vegetarian foodie. Also loved by my carnivore friend ! Service superb.

Great food, great people. Lovely vibe. Foo was excellent, family feel. Staff awesome. Using up more characters now just for the sake of it.

This restaurant is a little bit different. We were greeted warmly and felt welcome immediately. The menu is interesting and the food was delicious.

Came upon Karoo by chance on our first night in York and so glad we did. The food and wine were delicious and the owners friendly and attentive. My husband and I had the 3 course and 2 course options and both left comfortably stuffed!...

Great spot for a casual night out. We were in early doors before joining a ghost tour. Nathan & Zac were the very gracious hosts . Food was great and venue modern and beautifully decorated

My mum and I stopped in last night and had an amazing experience. The staff are super friendly and chatty but not overbearing, the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. The food was an incredible experience and a good price for it too. The portion sizing is generous, you won't leave there still hungry. I will definitely go back again

Went here never having had South African food ans thinking what have we let ourselves in for! This place delivered on a few levels and the food was high quality. Went for the two course Christmas meal and they threw in a free Mulled wine....

The four of us had a lovely time at Karoo last night. We were warmly welcomed, and left with our stomachs full. The owner went above and beyond to rectify a small issue, we couldn’t have left any happier. 10/10.

Found the same as previous reviews - food was great, never had specifically South African food! Rich food, rich wine, but both the gentlemen running the restaurant were lovely. Nice relaxed low pressure atmosphere, but you could still dress up and enjoy to the max. Would recommend

Food was very tasty. We had the festive menu and some drinks. Added bonus of complimentary coffees (with baileys or whiskey) service was superb with great explanation of dishes and care with reassuring us about allergens (one of us had a fish allergy). Atmosphere was...

Lovely place, Christmas menu only available but enough to choose from, Meal was lovely, My only suggestion would be to maybe offer a couple of extra sides ( bread or veg ) would have ordered more veg not because didn't get enough but it was...

Had an absolutely amazing time from start to finish at Karoo, the attention to details shines through in everything. The festive set menu was so tasty, the lamb shank we all couldn’t get enough! Peter the chef has done an outstanding Job! We will definitely...

We reserved a table for 2 ahead of an anniversary trip down to York from the leafy suburbs of Bathgate. Karoo did not disappoint, starters (Halloumi/Prawns) were excellent and the beef shin was just what we needed on a brisk late autumn evening. Desserts (Brownie/Peppermint...

We stumbled accross this place by accident and we're so glad we did. The food is amazing, the smoked chicken in particular was beautiful, the owners were fantastic, chatting us through the menu as well as the drinks. The service, food, atmosphere and even the decor was brilliant, well worth the trip.

Absolutely fantastic food, it was a while ago we visited if I’m honest but it’s taken me a year to write this..the staff a friendly a F@#K and the food is out of this world, well country at least, my family are not very adventurous,...

Fantastic service and delicious food. Great experience.

We enjoyed our time at Karoo, the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. Nathan, Zack and Angela were great and the food was reminiscent of home.

We had a really good meal. Everyone was so friendly. Gave vibes of back home.

It’s not very often nowadays that you can go out for a meal and have great food and amazing customer service. You will probably say ‘the food was lovely’ but the service was average. The team at Karoo however, have it spot on and out...

We had a brilliant evening at Karoo whilst staying in York for a conference. The staff were welcoming and friendly, and we really enjoyed the food. Highly recommended.

Hired out the restaurant for a work evening. The staff were excellent from the moment of booking until we left. Very personal, great options to pay, and so friendly to my entire team. The choice of drinks are great and the food is excellent. Highly...

Fantastic food and attentive friendly service.

Fabulous food in a relaxed atmosphere, absolutely loved it. We had two courses and the food was amazing. Will definitely be coming back.

Love this place the food I delicious especially the karoo classic burger The brownie is amazing aswell

Welcoming and very helpful, nothing was too much trouble. Great food, relaxed atmosphere and lovely staff. Great variety of food and great wine to match

Great meal out! Food was delicious and portions were generous. Dom Pedro - the perfect end to a meal. Will definitely be back.

absolutely AMAZING!!! yummiest food ever and such lovely service and environment to be in! not to mention the best sweet potato fries we’ve ever had, also a large range of drinks. Can’t fault it! Try something new!

Amazing food and service, reasonably priced. Portions were a good size and really lovely South African wine. We look forward to returning again soon.

We recently ate here on a Saturday night as a group of 4. As we couldn’t get a booking around 7pm we booked for 6.30pm. When we arrived there was only one or two other tables occupied. We were greeted pleasantly and shown to our...

Quiet night in November. Warm welcome on arrival and great food and service. Highly recommended if you are visiting York.

Varied menu, reasonable prices and friendly staff. I didn’t like the chicken shawarma too much but may just be personal taste - I am trying to try new things! Good experience overall.

Great place in York. Very well looked after as my wife has a number of allergies and the staff could not be more helpful. We will certainly be back.

We didn’t really know what to expect but this restaurant blew away all our expectations. The food was spectacular and the service was incredible! Will definitely be returning

Amazing staff. The food was delicious especially the brownie . The Lamb shank is seasoned perfectly and fresh. Loved it I recommend this restaurant. Definitely will be back.

Lovely food and fantastic hosts. Would totally recommend. We had Brie and prawns to start, then the traditional South African mains - but there’s lots of choice. It all looked really good

Menu is not too long and some unusual dishes. Portions are generous. Seems an unfair criticism to say the Biltong starter shared between two was more than ample and a bit less beef and a bit more salad would have been good. Lamb shank was...

Great food, lovely service, nice environment and reasonable prices. There were 6 of us and we all enjoyed what we had.

Incredibly pleasant service and authentic food. Here you enjoy good company and new tastes.

This was a real treat. Great service and delicious food. We had the ribs and chicken supreme as mains. Could not fault the quality of the dishes. Will definitely be back.

Partner and I took our little lad on a Saturday night, the service was great and the hot chocolate was 10/10. They have a local source of beverages and a family friendly service. The food menu looks great, we'll be back to try it out!

Nice relaxed atmosphere, with some lovely different food choices 😋. We were a table of 10 from Kent and they accommodated us very well.

Interesting and deeply satisfying cuisine with a great wine pairing, combined with excellent service and surroundings. This is the very best of comfort food with enough of a difference to make it really stand out. Great value and we are returning soon to try more...

First visit to this great South African restaurant. Super service. Superb pork belly and Pinotage. Will definitely come again.

Absolutely fantastic!! I have a family of fussy eaters & every single one of had a great meal! The ribs fell off the bone, the pork belly was out of this world, the prawns tasty with the sweet but spicy sauce & the chicken delicious....

Great customer service and authentic food . Very friendly staff. Will definitely be revisiting the establishment soon