Star Inn The City in York

High quality food, reasonably priced on a 2 course menu. Nice drinks too. Lovely outdoor terrace in full afternoon sun. Service was very efficient despite how busy it was.

Emailed regarding the use of a private room. We were offered the River Room at a minimum of £1300. Website says £1200. When queried about it was gaslighted and asked to stop shouting on the phone. The lady on the phone asked me for a screenshot to prove this... here it is...

This was our first time at The Star Inn the City. The venue is lovely - a mix of old and new with great views onto the river. The lighting gives a cosy feel. This is a big venue and it was very busy. Tables are quite close together, but the acoustics are good so we weren't aware that it was noisy - there was a lovely atmosphere. Our server was hospitable and made us feel very welcome. Nothing was too much trouble. She asked us if we were celebrating something in particular, and at the end of the meal brought us desert wine, and a "happy anniversary desert" on the house, which we both thought was a particularly lovely touch. The food service was perhaps a little slow with our mains coming around 45 mins after we'd finished the starter. We hadn't said anything as didn't mind. We were in no rush and enjoying our evening. This delay perhaps explains the discount which was applied to our bill. The menu was good. The dishes were beautifully presented - pretty plates. The food very tasty and well cooked. And though I have perhaps had better at a similar pricepoint elsewhere, I was not at all disappointed. The wines were excellent and very fairly priced too. I would definitely recommend this place and would look forward to eating there again.

Perfect Terrace to capture the sunshine! The only beer gatden with dun qe could find and it was overlooking the river too. Fab cocktails

Daryl was instrumental in us having a great time. Food was excellent too! Thank you!

Did not have food. Loverly place with nice cocktails close to the river near the bridge.

Lovely restaurant with delicious food and friendly staff.

the bartender (ginger with tattoos) was so rude, shouting at us from behind the bar in front of all the rest of the customers “leave the fire alone we will sort it!!” It was humiliating and we felt like school children!! We very nearly walked out. It totally ruined our day. If they have a log burner they should keep it going we simply were trying to help as we could see how busy they were and placed a log on as the fire was about to go out and we were sat next to it on a cold day. He then proceeded to tell two other staff members about it while we could hear every word he was saying. Please hire staff who can control themselves and not shout at customers who spend a fortune on drinks with you!!

We had a great Sunday Roast here. The food was excellent. Outstanding pork crackling. Interesting fact, The Star Inn has been continually licensed since 1644, which coincides with the siege of York during the English civil war.

We celebrated our birthdays at Star in the City on Wednesday and both the food and service were fantastic. Our waitress Lumi was absolutely outstanding and helped us with choosing what to have to eat. We informed them that we were celebrating and they even gave us a free desert! We had the same experience last February when we dined for our birthdays last year so had to go again. Would definitely recommend.

We went for Sunday lunch. We only had a main course,a glass of wine & a non alcoholic beer....cost £80+. Didn't feel it was good enough to pay that amount of money. The meal wasn't very warm and the beef was tough, only one slice too. Staff were friendly, very noisy, but it was busy. I was disappointed as I know the chef /owner has a good reputation. Will not be returning.

Had a lovely birthday dinner, lumi was a fantastic waitress and gave me loads of advice on veggie options, we would definitely recommend a visit

Amazing experience. Loved the location, food and service.

One of the best roast dinners I have ever had. Melt in the mouth roast beef and the biggest Yorkshire pudding! Booked online that morning after seeing some good reviews online and did not disappoint. Not in a location you would just stumble upon so glad we found it online. I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often. Only criticism is that we were asked if we wanted water when we sat down and didn’t realise it would be charged £5.

We had high hopes for The Star Inn The City, but overall, our experience was a mix of highs and lows. ⭐ Atmosphere (1/5) The location is undeniably stunning, set by the river with a beautiful view. However, the atmosphere inside didn't match the setting. It felt somewhat chaotic, with a lack of warmth and charm that you’d expect from a place of this caliber. The noise levels were high, making it difficult to have a relaxed conversation and the music choices left much to be desired and didn't seem to match the venue. ⭐⭐ Service (2/5) The service was polite but lacking attentiviness and staff seemed rushed and disengaged. It felt as though we were being hurried along at times, rather than being able to enjoy a leisurely meal. While nothing went disastrously wrong, the overall experience lacked the smooth, professional touch that would elevate it to a higher standard. ⭐⭐⭐ Food (3/5) While not mind-blowing, the dishes were well-prepared and some were flavorful while some seemed basic and bland. The ingredients were fresh, and there was clear attention to presentation. That said, given the price point, we expected a bit more flavour and originality. Some dishes felt slightly underwhelming, while others hit the mark well. Overall, The Star Inn The City has potential but didn’t fully deliver on expectations. With such a fantastic location, it could be an outstanding spot, but improvements in atmosphere and service are needed to justify the premium pricing. Would we return? We wouldn’t rush back.

The food is good, but not impressive. The view from the garden room is nice. However, the overall experience was so-so, as the staff seemed to rush everything—rushing us to order and then hurrying to get us to pay the bill. I hadn’t even finished my drink when they asked if I wanted to pay. The food portion is relatively small compared to other high-standard restaurants. For the same price range, there are better options in York. It’s okay to try once, but I wouldn’t come back again.

I had a small wedding reception at the Star in the City 18/2/25. I want to compliment the waitress on the day who looked after the whole event 10/10. Nothing was too much trouble, her service was amazing & the food was great. So pleased with the whole event. Thank you for an amazing wedding reception & evening. We will definitely return again.

Fantastic meal and service for me, my husband, his brother and partner. My husband and I had the terrine for starter and duck breast for main bother were sublime. I don't remember what his brother and partner had but we all cleared our plates 😂 Would definitely visit again when we're next in York.

Absolutely gorgeous Sunday dinner in beautiful surroundings and great service from our waitress Katy who couldn’t do enough for us. Will definitely be back!

We celebrated a birthday here and would definitely return. Great food, friendly efficient staff and a good night.

Went here with two friends for Christmas lunch. Catered quite well for coeliacs. Felt rather rushed. Wanted time to digest main course before dessert and coffee but was told the table was needed. So we decided to leave and take our custom elsewhere! Very disappointing. Cocktails of a very good quality. Food ok but my friend actually had to ask where the turkey was! She wasn’t even joking! It was minute! Expensive. Probably won’t return.

Wonderful food, staff were polite and attentive.

Food was pretty tasteless...expensive which i don't mind if it's worth it...it just wasn't....won't be back

The food was amazing. We had a partridge starter along with a sourdough to share. I had chicken and my partner had phesant, both were gorgeous. Our waitress was very knowledgeable and able to help us with wine pairings. The atmosphere was lovely, and they even managed to squeeze us in last minute! This did mean we weren't sat in the best place, so didn't get the full effect of the view, but it was worth it for such a lovely meal.

Impeccable service (in fact some of the best ever!), great location and good vibes. However, the food was lacking. The risotto was dull in flavour and colour; it did not look great at all. It tasted probably even worse. Would not recommend this place, much nicer restaurants round the corner.

Came here for an evening meal, for my girlfriends birthday. Loved the ox cheek and scallop starter and chicken with veg gratin was equally as nice. Would definitely return!

Amazing cocktails and service as always 🍸 💫 With most gorgeous river views 📸

Breakfast was amazing. Best sausage I've tasted, made by them. Very quiet and calm environment, perfect for early morning breakfast. Waffle is fantastic as well

We came here for a special birthday celebration and it didn't disappoint. The food was fine dining at its best; the children's menu meant that we could enjoy this experience as a family, and the special happy birthday pudding was a perfect finishing touch.

Didn't have food but the cocktails are great and bar tender was tops

Always arrange to visit when in York with work, we always have a good time. Very relaxed vibe and the staff are always good. Food was excellent, and drinks good also. Not to keen on the squid ink risotto served with the scallops, but other than that very enjoyable.

Very good. Very well cooked steak, good wine, knowledgeable staff.

Excellent food and good friendly service

Amazing food and great atmosphere. We ordered ox cheek and chicken as mains. They were both delicious

Service amazing . Good food . We loved it

Lovely food and well paired wines

My wife and I came on Christmas eve afternoon, it was very busy but it always is, good food I would say is our hobby and we both can cook so our expectations are high, this is why we come, the food was excellent my wife decided to have the rice pudding as a dessert and to be honest with you my first thoughts was, what! , but my wife is no fool, and me being the comme chef, I knew she was doing the right thing so I joined her, she said "really would you expect just that of this restaurant" and I knew then she had a valid point, in short it was beautiful and different, the whole meal was. I said that I would put a review on because the food was faultless and different and a surprise and that takes imagination and talent. PS, the staff are excellent. Mr, Mrs Woolass, see you soon.

Been here a couple times now and the food and service is next to non . So accommodating to every request which I love . Absolute MUST if you visit York . Mine and my partners fav can’t wait to come back 🫶🏼

Lovely food and good atmosphere. Sebastian was an excellent waiter with good humour. We would definitely come back again

Came for a special meal and liked the look of this pretty restaurant. The staff were friendly and efficient. The food was very average for the prices they charge. Some of our choices were good (the ox cheek was great) but the mini loaf with the terrine was hard, the partridge chewy and flavourless and the custard tart was mostly pastry with a bit of tasteless filling. It was presented beautifully but overall so disappointing.

My wife and I have just visited The Star Inn The City and had a fantastic meal. I chose the braised ox cheek, whilst my wife had the seabass. Both meals were excellent and we would definitely come back here again. The service was also excellent; the waitress was attentive and the food served quickly. I definitely recommend this restaurant if you're looking for a nice meal whilst in York.

Always a good time, lovely food, service and atmosphere. Can be pricey but you get what you pay for!

It is a nice place to go to eat, a lovely restaurant and with outdoor seating also, overlooking the river, The food is good but a bit pricey, The staff are excellent.

This night we had Seb as our waiter. We are from out of country. Seb was absolutely amazing in helping us with all our questions about the menu as well as fun places to go afterwards to spend the new years. He made the whole experience extra wholesome and fun. I will always recommend this place to anyone. His hospitality is phenomenal.

We had a fantastic time, Sebastian was so attentive and helpful! An all round great guy! The food was exceptional! The service was second to none! Truly a fantastic evening!Thank you x

We had a fabulous dinner with a spectacular server Sebastian! His recommendations were spot on! Thoroughly enjoyed our Anniversary dinner!

Excellent. Will definitely be back.

Fabulous and Sebastian was great.

Very delicious food and good service- I just don’t like the sticky toffee pudding but except from that everything was really good.

We have been to the Star Inn every xmas eve morning for the past 3 years - Service is always exceptional even when our party consists of 20 ( 4 families ) - Thankyou to all the staff who work hard to make our Xmas special

We had a group 6 ladies, had the worst table in the restaurant, near the door so every time people came and went we sat freezing. Food ok but wouldn’t rave over it, desserts very disappointed, could have had a Xmas dinner in any restaurant and would have come too there standards, coffee cold. I visit Star in Harome frequently and does NOT come anywhere near there standards. Will not be returning, I chose this restaurant and said how impressed I was all very disappointed. ,

Didn’t have any food although it all looked lovely, but thanks to our server Sebastian we will be coming back soon enough.

We had our wedding reception at The Star Inn The City on the 5th December and it was absolutely wonderful! The team worked so hard to make our day very special and helped so much with coordinating and arranging our table decorations. The food was delicious and timed so well- we got a lot of compliments from our guests on the fantastic food, atmosphere and amazing staff. Special thanks to Neringa, Joanna and Ellen for helping so much to arrange our reception. They were incredibly kind, supportive and attentive throughout the whole process. Also special thank you to Sebastian who was one of our servers on the day, he remembered everyone's names, and went above and beyond to help everyone and was just a friendly, warm person - thank you for carrying my margarita up the stairs whilst in my wedding dress! Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a wedding reception venue. We will back again for our first wedding anniversary!

Went here twice for lunch. Overall experience was very pleasant, though the prices are on the higher side. Ordered the ox cheek, lamb, Yorkshire pudding, scallops with some desserts and drinks. We all enjoyed the flavours and quality of food we had received, and some allergies noted were taken seriously by the staff here. Location is beautiful, and it's wonderful sitting in a classy dining room with a lot of natural light while enjoying a nice meal with family and friends. Only thing we did not enjoy as much was the steak, but everything else made our holiday very special.

The food is good but not exceptional given the prices you pay. Starter was very salty and the fancy fish and chips were £30 (including £6 for the chips that weren’t included) Seems a little overpriced for a small portion of fish and chips. The desserts were exceptional however. Service also very good and a lovely atmosphere. Two of us paid £160 including drinks.

Amazing from start to finish! Greeted and welcomed at the bar to wait for our table to be ready, no problem there. Food, oh my gosh, out of this world, I would say 2 of the best dishes I've had in some time. Will 1000% be back, I would recommend the Ox Cheek and Black Pudding Bon Bons

Great food great service will definitely go back

A group of us had dinner there yesterday and it was a great experience! We had some amazing food - every course was sublime. We started by sharing the bread (the cob was freshly baked, still warm from the oven and had both olive oil and butter with it) with some plump olives. Our mains were lovely and ranged from game to fish to vegan. All were original, full of flavour and perfectly cooked . The fat chips and red cabbage made for excellent accompaniments. We squeezed pudding in - a profiterole (light as air!) and zingy blood orange sorbet. The coffee was rich and strong, the perfect end to a perfect meal. The place itself is great, full of atmosphere yet intimate too. The best part of the experience though was Katie who looked after us: she sets the standard for all her colleagues to follow - she was warm, attentive, witty and knowledgeable about the food.

I don't get to go to The Star nearly as much as I'd like. But always try and grab a table whenever in York. The service is second to none in York.

Best place we ate in York over a long weekend. Lovely atmosphere, calm comfortable and relaxing. Service was thoroughly professional and attentive, they kept our glasses duly charged. Food was very very good. I can recommend both the Hake and the Ox cheeks.

A very special restaurant for a very special occasion. Perfect.

Airy dining room with view. Good lunch fixed price menu. À la carte quite fancy, deserves time and attention.

On our way back to the train station our family called in for a little bit of food. Wife children 13/14 and myself had few starters to share. Our little girl loves a Sunday dinner so asked for pudding and gravy. We all thought it was a nice place to eat, good service and calm atmosphere.

Small portions - ox cheek was nice. Nice presentation, not too salty. Quite pricy for one person.

Sat outside the other day mid November. Beautiful views, the staff were lovely and helpful. The food looked amazing. I would highly recommend this place

Really very disappointed with this restaurant the food was very average even though it was really expensive, the waitress was really rude & it was very difficult for one of our party who is a disabled person to get to unless advised before hand. After visiting the star at harome I am totally shocked.we will not be going back again & since our visit lots of other people say the same about this place shocking.

A cheerful welcome and totally excellent service and friendly menu recommendations from Sebastian, who is a charismatic asset to this very pleasant and sophisticated venue.

Very average and pricey for York

This was a unique and very pleasurable experience made so very enjoyable by our waiter Sebastian who was a joy throughout and very attentive. He is a credit to his profession and l wish him all the very best for the future. A very nice young man . Thank you .

This place was a real positive surprise. After a coffee in the morning that was best not mentioned, we booked for dinner because of the reviews. The food and the service was terrific. Particularly worth mentioning was the starter which was a pumpkin and cheese cream, with a chutney in a thin pastry cup. It was incredible. The meals were all good but the rice pudding dessert was also worth mentioning. One of the most clever flavour combinations ever and just astonishing. The service was excellent start to finish, friendly, knowledgeable and just pleasant to have around. It’s convinced us to come to York more regularly.

Food was amazing! We had the steak and ale pudding, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding - simply amazing. Our nine year old was along and raved about the fish and chips. Friendly staff, with great beer recommendations to go with the food. Child friendly environment and meals!

What a great spot for Sunday lunch . The roast dinners were amazing, Yorkshire puds incredible. Our server, Katy, was fabulous. Friendly and attentive with a sense of humour. Would definitely recommend and will go back if ever come back to York

Superb Sunday lunch. Food plentiful and excellent. Service was also wonderful, with amazing staff. My friends and I were very well looked after.

What a great restaurant. Our server, Sebastian, was amazing. He bent over backwards to accommodate our needs. Good jokes and brilliant contact with our table. What a star. The food was incredible too. Thanks to Sebastian and his colleagues for a great evening out.

So today I booked for Sunday dinner in a pub I love & as dining as a solo person felt it would be seamless. I was sat on a table that very close to the bar & very busy with people passing . The Sunday dinner was well below par, very little chicken & veg & unbelievably frozen roast potatoes ! For what they charge it was disgusting. I told the waitress that I thought frozen potatoes wasn't good but no response! Never again

Went for food after the York Marathon, and it did not disappoint. Food was copious and cooked perfectly. Would recommend.

Great food, fantastic service. Lovely building and views.

First time visit to the Star and it won't be the last. Friday 1st Nov @ 2pm and it was very busy (outside not in use) but luckily we got a table. Our service was very good but the food was even better. One thing I really appreciated was that each main advised an accompanying wine, very clever. Food was rather pricey but it was that nice it was worth it. We hit York regularly so this restaurant may be seeing us regularly going forward

Good food but the real star is the location, right on the river. I would recommend going during the warmer months so you can enjoy dinner on the veranda by the river. Food is probably a little over priced and the portions were a little small for my personal taste (probably says more about me than them though). Highly recommend the ox cheek and sticky toffee pudding. Can't fault the staff, friendly and prompt and even get visiting recommendations. Worth going to while visiting york if you are after a fancier meal with a larger group, and fancy some decent wine.

This is a really lovely restaurant. The location is great, food is of a really high standard and the Service is up there with the best I've ever experienced. We were large group and our host Sebastian took the time in advance to learn all our names and what we had ordered, meaning for each member of the 23 strong group he referred to each of us by name, knew each dish we'd ordered and even remembered what each of us were drinking - so no unprompted refills etc. Exceptional sums up our experience.

Stopped for a coffee and tea break. Good and friendly service.

I recently celebrated my mom’s birthday at the Star in the City Inn in York, and it was a fantastic experience! The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfect for a special occasion. Our server, Lumi, was wonderful—attentive, friendly, and made the evening even more enjoyable. The food was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious, with flavors that delighted us from start to finish. I highly recommend the Star in the City Inn for anyone looking for a memorable dining experience in York!

Each time we visit York, we always book in at the Star. The staff are amazing and the food is always outstanding. We think it's worth ever penny. It's not cheap, but if you want good quality food, this is the place to go.

Amazing place to dine. Slightly on the pricy side, but great food, great service and wonderful staff.

All I can say this is a must visit if your in york great food

Quality cooking but the food was a little rich and heavy for my tastes

As us from Yorkshire might say nowt flash! For starter I had fishcakes which were nearly all potato and very dry, for main we had a beef dinner which cost £26 one overcooked roast potato and very little other veg tbh it seemed like we got what was left at the end of the day. We did get £20 off the bill but still won't be returning.

Appalling nobody came to take our order

Fantastic Sunday lunch with high quality good and drinks and excellent service. Will certainly be back soon

20/10/2024 Everything else was good, the food ( a bit pricey for a sunday roast) , the atmosphere ( some of the 2 seater tables are in squeeze between the big tables, the girl in the front desk was helpful and the service was really good and fast , except for the girl who was wearing a white top, sky-blue trousers with braces in her teeth, blond long hair. She was rude. The way she told off my husband " step away from the table, someone is going to sit there". It was really not nice and she was loud. I know they were busy that day but the attitude of the rest of staff was way better than her. Everyone else was nice, friendly and helpful except for her. She didn't say thank you, please or even a smile on her face and just walk away. We are very disappointed with it. It was an experience but will never come back Anymore. We will definitely reach to the management with her attitude.

Can't comment on food and drinks prices at the higher end of reasonable (£30 for 4). Could recommend many more, better value drinkeries in York-that said this place is really set up for food.

Excellent food and beautiful setting

The experience here was top notch, the food was great and our server Sebastian was really good, accomodating and created a perfect atmosphere for the evening.

Went to The Star Inn The City as I have been before. Whilst we were in York lucky with the weather and the sun was out. Knowing about this place I knew a nice outside table would be good overlooking the river. The waitress took us outside and unfortunately the last table at the front had just been taken. I asked if we could move to the front if a table became free. I was immediately shot down that this was never acceptable. What sort of service is this - I've never been anywhere where the customer experience isn't cared about and talked to like a moron. Anyways, a table two minutes later was free so we hopped across. The view from the tables at the front are lovely of the river and one of the only reasons guests want to be here. We were then told off by the manager, and then subsequently again fifteen mins later, and then we could hear her moaning to other guests about us moving. Such a strange business decision. Other reviews online look to be for similar feedback regarding service. We then opted to have lunch somewhere else in the city.

Been waiting a while to get seated, sat down, only to be moved again back into the queue. Not recommend, poor service

We have been a few times when visiting York absolutely excellent food,service and surroundings

Lovely staff, a bit run down. Great food though

Went for Sunday lunch and wasn't disappointed.

Perfect Place for an afternoon drink and snack

We spent our wedding anniversary meal at this fab York restaurant a couple of Sundays ago, the food was so fresh, and really really tasty! That chicken skin butter and that bread has to be believed, and the Yorkshire pudding starter was incredible. The wine list was great too. We were served by the most wonderful young guy called Seb (I think) who went out of his way to offer recommendations and explanations on the menu in a casual but knowledgeable way! He even managed to convert us from our usual Bombay Sapphire and Tonic pre dinner drink to York Gin, which was so good we went to the York Gin Shop the next day to grab a bottle. Above all, he shared his memorable wedding winning story with us, which really was a great highlight of our York trip. At the end of the evening, Seb and his manager even gave us a list of top pubs to try on our travels the following day, which we gladly did. The staff and of course the food make The Star Inn The City a winning place to enjoy a fabulous and fun evening - thanks guys xx One tiny comment, maybe update the playlist, some of the tracks were very retro, but maybe thats the idea, it just didnt feel like it always matched the room, but of course I get that music is a personal thing!