La Piazza in York

After a few visits now, i wanted to review what i have decided is my favourite Italian restaurant in York. The last visit I had here was on Sunday. It was a quiet and calm atmosphere. I'd definitely book for a busier night, such as Saturday. The staff are very friendly and happy to chat and recommend things. It cost just under £60 for 2 of us. We had a starter to share, a main each, a dessert to share, and a couple of alcoholic drinks. For York city centre, this is about the average price. Portion sizes were great. The food tasted absolutely delicious. The calamari rings were the right amount of softness, with a beautiful crispy batter. However, a couple still had the stringy outer bit. This wasn't an issue for us and was still by far the nicest calamari we have been served in a while, but worth noting to set expectations. I had the Tagliatelle pollo e tartufo which tasted really good. Just the right amount of creaminess, and not watery. The overall experience is well worth the cost. I would definitely recommend this Italian restaurant to anyone visiting York.

Just popped in for a last min craving of pizza after a very busy work day, have to say food was top tier and service from staff was beyond excellent 👌 not the 1st and definitely won't be our last visit. Thankyou see you again soon x

I just have to start this review off by saying it's a shame I live so far because this is by far the best Italian I have been to!! The food was gorgeous and there is a wonderful wine selection to accompany it. Sam is a fantastic waiter and he delivered excellent customer service. We felt really welcomed here. The food and service was so good that we went everyday during our visit. I would highly recommend La Piazza to anyone visiting York.

Came across this place by chance. Didn't book a table as it was a Monday night but it was still quite busy. Food was delicious and the service was very attentive. Would definitely go again when in York!

Went here for a meal and loved it. Great service and warm welcome. Food was amazing Quick service and top quality food. Great flavours and a reasonable price.

Beautiful restaurant. Lovely staff. Good food. Recommend. Buon appetito! 🇮🇹

Lovely italian food served in a beautiful old building that captures the very essence of York. Service was quick and the food high quality. The mussels were some of the best I've ever had. I would've loved a larger portion, but I understand that might just be me. I definitely recommend it

Italian restaurant, located in the center of York, with delicious food, fast service, friendly staff.

Food was 10/10 and the staff were lovely, would recommend to anyone visiting York

It can be quite loud downstairs, but we were upstairs which was fine. Excellent food and friendly and attentive staff.

We stepped into the restaurant to be greeted by really friendly waitress. They accommodated our walk in for 2 request on a busy Saturday night so it was a great start. The Buratta with avocado and tomato to start was perfect. Shared between the 2 of us. The pasta was lovely. I ordered the 8oz fillet steak as medium-rare. It came cooked nicely on the outside. The inside was honestly raw. It was “blue” on the scale of cooked steak at best. I ate through as much as possible. Didn’t particularly want to make a fuss. When the waitress came to clear up, she asked how things were.. I replied it was all fine thank you. She noticed I wasn’t ecstatic but I didn’t make any further comment. When the manageress later returned to take payment, she insisted on receiving any feedback. At this point I did let her know the steak was a bit under cooked for my liking but no big deal…her response was to thank me for the feedback and let me know that “next time, maybe you should order medium instead of medium rare 🫠”. Other than the blue steak and the sarcy comment I thought it was a really nice atmosphere inside with charm and character.

Food was amazing and good value for lunch. Waiter and waitress were both very friendly and pleasant. Nice ambience in the restaurant with old Italian music playing. Magnificent! 👌🏼👌🏼

Probably the worst Italian in York. In a city where you have so many options I’d avoid at all costs

Incredible restaurant, with incredible food, service at the highest level, special thanks to Xhulia, she made the day even better😊❤️

Xhulia and Gianfranco served us tonight, they were so very kind and funny! Great service and atmosphere. I’ll be back again for more of the tiramisu ♥️

The best food I have had for ages. Fab.

The food was good. Ambience is lively, with crewked walls, paintings and flooring. But the best part was Julia who served our group of 30 people, happy to accommodate our last minute changes and not complaining about it. 😀. She was the star of night for our group and the big chunky piece of Tiramisu 🫠 Thank you.

Best Italian in York, I know because I live here. The food menu is excellent. The staff are always caring and attentive. Always checking that you are OK. Lovely looking restaurant and plenty of room for a couple or large party. Ambience is perfect. If you visit here you will definitely go back again and again. Thank you.

The pizza and the calzone we tried here were fabulous, as was the dessert. The service was friendly and extremely attentive, and the atmosphere was sublime. One of the best Italian restaurants I have ever had the pleasure to try. We will definitely be back.

Very tasty food I had the calamari then sea bass ,my daughter arancine then lasagna & garlic bread delicious

We were regular customers but we have moved away from York. They made great efforts to get USA table in the main restaurant. Food , service and atmosphere were as we remembered great night, thank you.

First time here under the present ownership. We had been here before, but under the previous ownership. It was a good experience. Excellent food, good choice of wines and superb service. Very nice atmosphere and clearly a popular choice. Definitely worth a visit.

One person in particular makes this restaurant a true delightful experience

The best calzone I've had in a long time. The service was superb. Our host was world-class. The quality and freshness of the ingredients left a well-balanced aftertaste.

We were 3 friends in York and had lunch in this lovely restaurant. Very cozy atmosphere, service 10 of 10. Delicious food and good prices. We recommend 💯

My husband and I had a lovely meal at La Piazza last evening. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding. Xhulia and Sam were very helpful and handled dining room with ease and aplomb. If we were staying York longer we would definitley dine there again.

Great food and very friendly staff

Excellent restaurant in York central. After a long day strolling around York, we incidently came over and it was so great cause of delicious food, friendly staffs, cosy atmosphere with super super beautiful Italian music playing on. Every corner of the restaurant is pretty and made people feel really comfort. Absolutely come back, and highly recommended.

Walking past this I got drawn in by the smell and the food was amazing. If your looking for an Italian restaurant in York this is the place to go

Thanks to Lydia and the team especially chef, for an amazing dinner. Kids menu - hand stretch pepperoni pizza was fantastic. Pork medallions were amazing, lasagne was great and the calamari the best we have had in a long time. Great price for fixed menu. Lydia and the team made our daughter feel very grown up, and were attentive, great service. They do you proud. Chef, your food was delicious.

Lovely food and atmosphere 👌 proper carbonara which is rare but was absolutely gorgeous

Wonderful place. Cozy atmosphere and high quality food!

Very good Italian restaurant with good food and excellent service.

Had the set menu, starters were lovely. drinks great. Service initially was great. The mains came, a ball of mud was on my plate in the spinach. My partner cut into it thought it was part of the dish, turns out, it was mud!!!! I offered to pay starters and drinks, until the owner came out and accused me of putting mud in my own food!!!! He was rude, condescending and arrogant. Would not recommend.

Had lunch there in a group of 15. Usually large groups need to choose the either the same dish, or two different ones but we were free to choose anything on the lunch menu. Everyone thought their meal was delicious.

Great food! Excellent service!!! The two Italian staff were super super sweet and kind! Will definitely go again if I visit York again.

Wonderful food, friendly staff, good service, still as good as I remember it!

Very average food. The place is run by authentic Italians but the food was not very great. The prices are quite high because it’s York but you don’t get quality in return. The music is super loud and people have to scream to have a conversation. The waiter will also burst into opera singing at any moment. We tried a salad, pizza and two vegan options.

This has to be our favourite Italian restaurant in York. The lasagne is absolutely delicious, really cheesy creamy bechamel sauce. Some lasagnes are too dry, some are too tomatoey but this one is just perfect! I would also recommend the garlic mushrooms as a starter. The staff are all lovely, special mention to Gianfranco, he’s a real character!

Nice food and hot when given to us

Give La Piazza Antica a try. I can vouch for the food, which hits the spot as something very Italian, with just the faintest hint of adaptation for a British palate. The service must be lauded above all else, however, as the staff were all very charming. I would like to call out Toni specifically for giving us a good hearty laugh and very genuine friendly treatment. Take your family, take your friends, or take yourself. You certainly won't be disappointed with what is on offer here.

Friendly service staff👱 Had a delicious dinner 😋 Unforgettable dinner I will come again😍

Decent food with great service. Beautiful old building and atmosphere. Good value for money.

Food was great really nice pizza All served at pretty much the same time Staff was amazing, we were a larger group (6+a highchair) and our wait time was the same as a table of two amazing! The atmosphere was fantastic with both owners present and seemed very involved All their staff were very friendly and attentive The restaurant gave a very personal and home feel Overall would come again!!

Got a pepperoni pizza, an Americano and 2 scoops of gelato. The Americano was probably the best coffee I've ever had. The pepperoni pizza was warm and crispy. And the gelato was nice and smooth. The only downside is that there was no disabled toilets and no downstairs toilets.

Great central York Italian restaurant. Excellent service (you might even get Italian singing from the owner!). Staff very friendly. It's a cosy bright place with lovely food and wine at a good price. My Wife and I will certainly return on our next visit to York.

This restaurant is very special in many ways.Delicious food(I recommend vegan Risotto Zafferano), fascinating stories about historical building,super helpful staff(Maya is a great a asset to the place,so is Gian Franco with his amazing voice singing to the customers on the special occasions),beautiful Italian music and more (like cheeky limoncello on the house;-).In my opinion it is"MUST"when in York.

Me and my girlfriend had lunch here today and we was so impressed with the food quality,Portion sizes and lovely staff,I would give the food an easy 15 out of 10 so so tasty and fresh!

First class food, service with a smile (and a few bars of opera!) and a really lovely York building make for a great meal. Highly recommended.

Was looking for a place to eat in York with my sister, brother in law and their two children. One being in a pushchair. And a lot of places we ruled out because of the pushchair accessibility. However, when we came across La Piazza Antica, they couldn't of been happier to host us. With absolutely brilliant service from all the staff, truly amazing, authentic Italian food! And a lovely building and atmosphere. 10/10 experience all around. Whenever next in town, will certainly be calling in again. Can't wait to try some more of the menu!

We were given a warm welcome from the start, we had literally just arrived and were looking for somewhere to eat. This lovely lively place did not disappoint. Food was delicious with a good selection to choose from. Friendly staff. Will definitely be returning.

Nice place to lunch!! (In our case) We took a lunch, eating pizza and cesar salad, very good both!! Pizza was delicious and salad too. Waiter was very kind and friendly I do recommend

Good menu and good entertainment by the waiter who sang to use in Italian. Fabulous. Xx

Absolutely fantastic meal, such friendly staff, especially Gianfranco the most friendly, intelligent and best looking Italian in York. We will definitely come back. x

Lovely Italian restaurant in the centre amazing staff Gianfranco was great and food was really nice

Accidentally stumbled into an interesting building steeped in history. Didn't pre-book and the only availability was the upstairs room, after a quick chat with staff it turns out it was a room worth visiting and a famous old building in york

Excellent properly cooked food. Pasta is 'aldente' as well as the delicious risottos. Friendly, attentive staff.

Visted last week on Bank Holiday Monday and had the lunch menu. Food amazing, had 3 courses, service excellent and great value for money. Will definitely return.

Very very good food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Eat lunch here with my 3 young girls. The lovely waitress was very friendly and welcoming. She made the children feel welcome too. Not all places do that! The girls chose from the Kids menu. This offered a good selection. The meals were all very tasty and plentiful. Prices were very reasonable for such a lovely setting in a prime location. Yes, I'd definitely recommend La Piazza.

The food was fantastic! Several members of our party advised it was the best Italian dish they had ever eaten. The service was excellent, and the staff were very welcoming and friendly.

Xhulia served us and she is so lovely and attentive! The food was delicious, my friend even said it was the best meal she’s ever had. I was very surprised at how cheap the lunch prices were. The 1,2 and 3 course set prices are great. If we’re in York again we will definitely be returning x

Exceptional. My wife is Italian and it isn't easy to persuade her that Italian restaurants do her country's cuisine justice. She loved the place. She also has some food allergies and the owner (also Italian) could not have been more accommodating and helpful. So whether it's a simple pizza or a lovely rissotto, this is the place I recommend,

Enjoyed a great meal with expertly service to boot

Always amazing food, service is incredible!

Very nice and old building, I was sitting outside in a little garden. Food and personel was outstanding

Excellent food and lovely staff! :)

Gianfranco and Julia with the rest of the team provided a wonderful evening. Food was excellent. Gianfranco sung his heart out to those with special celebrations. A thoroughly enjoyable evening and would highly recommend. See you again mr tambourine man👍😂

Amazing Italian atmosphere in old English house. Great wine and pizza. Very friendly staff. Highly recommended

My experience at La Piazza Antica was truly exceptional, I'd say I haven't had a meal this good at a restaurant in a very long time. I ordered the garlic king prawns to start followed by a creamy pasta dish for mains and both were mouth-watering. The service was truly superb and the waiting staff were warm, attentive and had a brilliant sense of humour. I mentioned to a waitress that the restaurant had a wonderful family feel to it and that this comes across in how happy the staff seem to be; she said she loved working there and that the family approach was very real. If I lived in York then I'd be there as often as I could!

I highly recommend this restaurant. It is deceptively large inside. We had the 2 course menu for lunch, and wow, very nice, tasty, rich amazingly cooked food. We will definitely be returning. This is now our favourite restaurant in York Centre. (Only marked it down on atmosphere as we were only 1 table of 3 that were seated, so there was not a great deal of customer atmosphere. But, tge staff were amazing and attentive.

Food was fantasticico, staff were very cheeky... Good fun, would recommend a visit.

Very warm atmosphere. Waiters were on point Food and drinks fabulous

We visited today and had the lunch menu which was fantastic and such good value for money. Not only was the food delicious, and good portion sizes, but the customer service was impeccable. Such an authentic feel to the restaurant and the waitress who served us was amazing, so so lovely. We had a two year old with us, and the children’s menu was incredible the baby left his plates clean! Children get a starter, main and even an ice cream and a drink for just about £10 I think it was, absolute bargain!! We will definitely be visiting again more often as we can’t fault the food, service, atmosphere, or price at all. Thank you for a wonderful meal, as I said we’ll definitely be back again!

Disappointed with the arribiata pasta. Service excellent. Staff offered another dish of choice to replace.

Excellent food real Italian cuisine! The staff is very friendly. I recommend it to you. I'm here again...fantastic food and environment!

Awesome and welcoming staff, amazing food, best spot for a first time visit in York. Love the energy here!

Perfectly cooked, fantastic food. Amusing service with a song!

All delicious meals, service is perfect. Menu has many options.

Lovely food Pleasent knowledgeable staff Really enjoyed it Will visit again

We had booked the restaurant couple of days before with a clear note on the comments that we will have a small dog with us, only to get a phone call (after the booking was confirmed twice) 2 hours before our dinner that dogs are not allowed. Extremely disappointed as we were here for a night and had to look at alternatives last minute on Easter weekend.

Amazing food and service! By far the best Italian food that we have eaten. The staff was very friendly and attentive, made us feel like friends.

One guest did not receive their food and the server did not offer and parmesan with pasta. Overall, food was quite good if you got it, but staff poorly managed.

We decided to try the swordfish option from the specials menu, so glad we did. The food was amazing, full of flavour and cooked to perfection. The waiting staff were friendly and attentive, an all round great experience. This is a perfect Italian restaurant, and definitely worth a visit, you won't be disappointed. We are fortunate enough to live in York, so we will definitely be back to try more of their amazing food. Hopefully the specials menu will continue.

We tried new special menu more expensive but worth it. Had the swordfish absolutely recommend if you a fish lover! Awesome restaurant been going years and never had a bad meal. The seabass is also wonderful a must try!

All good Xhulia waitress superb.

Lovely restaurant in a lovely historic building. Food was awesome and the service from Dennis was spectacular and so friendly! Will deffo be back !

Had a really nice calzone in a beautiful old building. Staff were friendly and service was fast and efficient. Prices are reasonable too.

Excellent restaurant! Warm, friendly and attentive service with a smile and great sense of humour. Tasty, wholesome food with great flavours. Only sad I didn’t have space for dessert. 😃 Thank you so much for a wonderful evening! Highly recommend.

We took our daughter for her birthday, the staff and head waiter went the extra mile to make her night. The food was gorgeous, lovely staff, lovely place, will definitely be going again.

Fantastic meal, very friendly service and very good value too. We chose from the midweek set menu (£25 for three courses) and the food was delicious, as well as the serving staff being really personable and chatty. Great to sit in the window as well and watch the world go by in such a picturesque building, would absolutely recommend!

Excellent value for money, very good service.

Love this restaurant ,Great staff service and atmosphere .Found you once and wont eat anywhere else when visiting york .

Ahh the food, the authenticity of it, not easily found in the UK. Amazing authentically Italian food, wonderful vibe and very professional staff.

This has quickly become our favourite restaurant in York. Beautiful building a stones throw from the Minster with a peaceful atmosphere inside, friendly staff , excellent freshly cooked food at very reasonable prices. Really can't think of anything to improve. :-)

Moulding dishes basis on customers choice. Very good staff and their services. Good to visit for peaceful atmosphere and enjoy drinks and food.

Fantastic meal excellent service could not fault it WELL worth a visit.

Very quaint old building. Great atmosphere and good food and wine at a reasonable price

GREAT food, perfect location and wonderful staff.

What a fantastic night myself and my partner had. It was a last minute booking on new years eve and I'm so glad we chose La Piazza Antica. The food was authentic and very tasty, the service was impeccable and we felt so well looked after and included during the evening. Genuinely impressed and couldn't have asked for a better evening. Highly recommend this beautiful restaurant and its kitchen/staff. Much love and appreciation from the both of us!!