Karoo Bar & Kitchen in York

Great family dinner (with a dog as well), food, service and owners all excellent. Portions are great and atmosphere relaxed and friendly

Super friendly and welcoming. Food was delicious and impressive portion sizes. Bbq Corn, Ribs and oxtail at their best!

Very tasty We had starters mains and desserts My husband had an allergy to dairy and the team was very accommodating and reassured us a safe experience. This is the first time there and definitely not last.

The friendliest staff & delicious food. The mushroom sauce was the best I've had, & crunchy schnitzel & perfectly cooked veg. Eating alone can be awkward but they could not do enough to make me comfortable. Sweets with the bill was a nice touch. Highly recommend.

Food was well prepared and offered some South African favourites that made the 50 mile round trip well worth it. Interesting choice of drinks including green cream soda (if you know, you know) which some of the family had instead of wine! Little touches like Mrs Ball’s chutney added to the experience. Great puddings. Chatty owners offered personal service and helped make the evening an overall brilliant meal out. We will definitely be back.

There’s a warm welcome at Kazoo in York. The owners are friendly, engaging and attentive. Nothing seemed too much hassle for them. The food was lovely, it looked good a tasted great. All that and it won’t break the bank. Well worth a visit and if you’re local it won’t be your last.

We visited for a second time for our anniversary and the service was just as amazing as it had been the first time. They remembered us (even where I was from), timed my small plate and side to come in time with my partner's main and brought me some extra bread plus reheated my camembert to make it all gooey again for me. Above and beyond what I would expect for service and so incredibly friendly and attentive. My camembert and sweet potato fries were delicious and my partner previously enjoyed the steak on our last visit. We've both had the Chicken Schnitzel before which could be slightly thinner and with a little less pepper in the sauce for our tastes, however, being German I know I am quite particular about Schnitzel! Something that has really impressed me both times I have been here has been how open they've been about the improvements they are continuously making (such as talking about ways they're thinking of to keep the cheese heated longer, changing the melktert to better fit the restaurant serving format etc). It really makes you feel like they care a great deal. We will definitely be back again for more excellent conversation, hearty food, and a lovely atmosphere.

The best ribs I have had. I can't recommend it highly enough. I need the chef to start a restaurant in my country.

We went here for York Restaurant Week and received fantastic service and really great food. Definitely planning on coming back!

A really relaxed feel to the place with really friendly and helpful staff topped off with a good portion of very tasty food. Reasonably priced too.

Amazing food and great portions, offering excellent value for money. Star of the show really though was the friendly welcoming atmosphere and service. Would highly recommend for people looking to avoid chains and try something a bit different.

We visited on Saturday evening and it was the most wonderful meal and atmosphere, with excellent and relaxed service. The food was cooked perfectly and the wine was superb - it genuinely took me back to when I lived in South Africa in the 2000s. Have no doubts, go to Karoo - it is amazing!

Highly rate this lovely South African restaurant, staff are very friendly and the food is delicious. Generous portion sizes and great selection of dishes. It was my 3rd time and will definitely be back.

Incredible vibes, just a super chill place with lovely waiting staff and great, wholesome food

Great atmosphere and amazing service 👍🏼 Pigs in blankets are to die for !!! 🤤

A warm welcome, convivial hosts, excellent food and a great atmosphere - there was nothing that we didn't like.

Amazing food with a great atmosphere! We had the meatballs and braised Oxtail and both were really tasty and some of the best food we've had! Our server Nathan was really lovely and funny and kept us entertained. Thank you for a great experience!

Biltong is top notch, best in UK, atmosphere is amazing, food is amazing, thanks from the CPT / Edinburgh's ❤️

You have to go to this place. Brilliant hosts and food. My wife had Bobotie and I had OxTails... Lush....

10/10. From the warm welcome to the friendly goodbye we were absolutely blown away. The 2 gentlemen serving (didn't get their names) were chatty and friendly and answered any questions we had about the food and flavours and gave excellent recommendations. The husband had the Bobotie which was so flavoursome and the Miele Pap which was creamy and tasty. I like to nibble so hard the meatballs OMG and the Pikante Varke - pigs in blankets, absolutely delicious and not your usual pigs in blankets! Husband had the cheesecake to finish, I was full at this point but had a spoonful (rude not too) and it was creamy and light with just the right amount of sweetness. A good range of drinks, the house Merlot was lovely. So much food we came away with a doggy bag!!! The 2 chaps made time to chat to all the guests but were never intrusive and we certainly never felt rushed. One of the best dining experiences we have had and reasonably priced too! Can't wait to go back. Thank you Karoo!

Fantastic food and service. Great value for a three course meal wine and drinks. Such friendly and genuine service, so sadly lacking in many restaurants today. Thoroughly recommend.

Lovey friendly atmosphere, the staff were attentive and very lovely which made for a very lovely evening The food was delicious especially the Malva cake! Would definitely recommend anyone visiting the area to try the food here

Would definitely recommend. Very friendly staff. Amazing food and a very nice atmosphere. I would go again.

What a find!! Great for veggies and carnivores! Great welcome, great menu, amazing food and flavour! We’ll be back. Try it and you’ll come back too.

We came out for a nice family dinner. This is by far the best restaurant you can come to in York. The food is so tasty, so full of soul and flavour! You will not be disappointed. By far one of the best experiences I've had eating out in the UK in the last 4 years Fantastic food, friendly atmosphere! Loved it and will definitely be back

Incredible food and the best service I've ever had

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

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

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.

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

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!

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

Cannot fault anything. Highly recommended

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...

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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.

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

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!

Very lovely people - the food was great, very unique

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!

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!!

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

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!

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