The Astronomer in Calderdale

I came here for brunch with my partner. After ordering our food and drinks I became aware that the venue had only just reopened and the staff were getting used to a possible new system of tables or service. The staff were friendly. You could tell they were starting to get overwhelmed as there had been a busy flurry when we arrived. I overheard a team member saying they were going to stop serving for a short while they all got the team together and refocused which is such a good idea as you could tell they were wanting to deliver good service etc rather than just cramming people in. The food and drinks we got we were very happy with. My only criticism is that the inside was quite chilly, it is November I get that but there was no inside heating on and I didn't want to sit with my coat on. I would definitely come here again though. Staff and food both great.

Went for lunch when xmas markets were on - great decor, great atmosphere and great food. There was a bit of a wait for food which was expected as the whole piece hall was packed, but the staff made us aware of this before we came in. It was the first weekend since they reopened so the staff said and was hectic but they kept smiles on their faces and went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. We had burgers with wine and beer and the strawberry chocolate pancakes. We will definitely be back again. Thank you all.

Booked a last minute table and so pleased that we did. Food and service were brilliant and not too hard on the pocket! We will definitely be back.

First time visit for us. Not over busy, Good choice of food and cocktails. I ordered the pulled honey pork in Bao buns which was absolutely delicious. Husband ordered the Moroccan pulled brisket on flatbread which, when served, was almost cold and had to be sent back. Waitress very apologetic and did offer to replace the entire meal which was declined by us. When the reheated meal returned husband said it was first class and much improved - which it should have been from the start!! Great cocktails - Margaritas to die for! All in all a very pleasant experience and would return again BUT this restaurant needs to get its act together from the start. The place is nice, the food is good so why serve something that has gone cold?? Would have given five stars but for this!

It's possibly the worst Sunday lunch ever. 'Steak' was well overdone. Everything that had been brought out had clearly been previously cooked and then reheated. Gravy tasted like it had been burnt. Waste of time and money. We ended up going to our local to share a pizza after.

Myself and husband went here for some lunch just before Christmas. The food was so underwhelming and so overpriced for what it was. The fries were literally frozen oven chips and from when I remember were £5 plus. The lunch dishes were tapas size although this wasn’t stated on the menu. I had a prawn flatbread, however it was a few king prawns in a tandoori sauce with two tiny pieces of flat bread. We left hungry and whilst the food was okay, we won’t be revisiting. There are much nicer places to eat in Halifax.

Our arrival was fine, greeted, shown to a table, order taken promptly. Not especially friendly, but fine. Time passed. 25 minutes with not even drinks, we started to ask. Second time of asking they explained a faulty system had delayed the drinks order. O-kay... but better if someone had come to the table and explained. At no point was there an apology or a timing update. Around 35 minutes after the order, the larger table behind us who had ordered after us had been served food and drinks were coming out to other tables who'd arrived just a few minutes beforehand. So around forty minutes or so after arriving, foodless, drinkless, not even a glass of water served, without any sense of customer service or the restaurant giving a toss, we upped and left. I had been sussing the place out for a pre theatre meal I am looking to book. Um... No.

Went to the Astronomer today for a belated birthday meal! Overpriced, reheated food, cooked in old oil. Ordered Patatas bravas - charred bottom, reheated, no paprika or spices with a sweet chutney - NO resemblance on any shape or form to the dish. Tempura tenderstem broccoli - NOT a tempura batter at all… more like a thick fish batter. Tandoori chicken wings - dry, battered chicken wings with negligible tandoori/ spice. Smoked cod fritters - a mass of batter/ mix with minuscule fragments of cod. All underseasoned and fried in old oil - laid heavy on the stomach!! Extremely disappointed and shall not recommend it revisit!!

First visit , great food.we will be back .

The cocktails we had & the food were delicious. The Xmas markets were on when we visited so we were one of 2 tables in & then just us at one point. So imagine the atmosphere on a normal busier day would be better. My only constructive feedback was actually the I felt a couple of the dishes could have been smaller portions & therefore mauve slightly lower prices. I'd seen reviews online that all small/side type dishes so we ordered expecting a selection of smaller sharing plate style but we deffo over ordered 😂 For me, a selection of mains & then a distinguished section of smaller plates that could act as sides or for sharing would be spot on

What a gem! I've been here before for coffee, but today I went with a friend for lunch. It was all absolutely delicious, and there was plenty of it, so much, in fact, that I couldn't eat all of mine, so she put the leftovers in a box for me to bring home. The coffee was good, and the owner, Keira, was friendly, and nothing was too much trouble for her. Next time - and there definitely will be many more next times - I'll try the cakes.

Beautiful food that is very pleasing on the eye,tastes fantastic. The staff are very attentive and friendly. I will definitely be back. If you are ever in the Piece Hall please call in.

I visited the Astronomer on Saturday afternoon for a bite to eat. From the menu i picked out the cod fritters, patatas bravas and chemula skins which me and my husband shared alongside a side of truffle and parmesan fries. I chose to have a classic espresso martini and my husband went for a long island ice tea. Both cocktails were amazing and just hit the spot! To my delight, all of the dishes we chose were spectacular! The chemula skins were different to anything i’d ever had but were my favourite by far. I also noticed they had a Veganuary specials menu on the tables which looked amazing and i’m glad to see all dietary requirements are catered for. The service from staff was just right, they were all attentive but not too full on. I would highly recommend visiting The Astronomer whether you fancy food or drinks! We will definately be back soon!

Tucked in the bottom corner of the Piece Hall you could almost miss this small but perfectly formed gem. It serves tapas style options for sharing but also has individual menu options if you are dining alone (or don't want to share!) Being hungry and also indecisive we chose a number of the small plates and 2 of the individual options. Everything was beautifully presented and delicious. Particularly nice was a squid and prawn tapas option in a creamy chilli and tomato sauce, mini battered cauliflower bites and a chicken schwarma flatbread. We also sampled the cocktail options with a after eight and gingerbread biscoff both being delicious. It's a shame it was so quiet as food this good at a fair price should have been queueing out of the door. We will be back very soon.

Had a very tasty lunch, crispy pork in bao buns, cassoulet and a side of duck fat potatoes, pancetta and alioli. All delicious and good sized portions. A very pleasant lunch, we hadn't booked but it may be advisable.

Stopped here for lunch. It's a cute little place with a very diverse and extensive menu. It took me a long time to decide what to eat. Staff are friendly and attentive. The food was really tasty and I was absolutely stuffed afterwards.

A quirky little restaurant in The Piece Hall. Very friendly and attentive waiting staff. Good choice of tapas style food (although the portions are larger then your usual tapas) Plenty of vegetarian and vegan choices. We had four dishes between the two of us and were stuffed. Good flavours and ingredients. A good choice of alcoholic drinks plus cocktails. A bit on the pricey side but worth it. We were in on a Wednesday early evening and it was very quiet so not much atmosphere. The Piece Hall was quiet in general though so maybe it does get busier at the weekend or later on. Nicely decorated.

Such original and tasty dishes. Was blown away wish I took pics. Definitely will go back.

This is a little gem of a restaurant. We chose a selection of the sharing bites all of which were superb but special mention to the ribs and the prawns and squid in lobster bisque. I’m not a dessert person personally but we shared a posset and a pear and ginger sponge and they were two of the nicest desserts I have ever eaten. The staff were efficient, friendly and non invasive. The only criticism I could make is that it is a little chilly inside.

Called in here on a rainy Saturday pm. We aren’t local and needed a bite to eat quickly. Food was very nice and service was good too. Very glad we stopped here as it was definitely a good experience

Nice food, pleasant service, slightly pricey. I think they can take the screens down though as you can’t take in the atmosphere of the Piece Hall.

I had a 60th birthday planned for my sister at The Astronomer which I had to cancel at the last minute due to Covid. I really appreciated that you were so understanding when I unfortunately had to cancel. Thank you. (Posted on behalf of Steven Cartwright)

We called in on a Thursday tea time for a birthday celebration. Very happy to receive a free cocktail - they decide based on your DOB. We went for the social dining plates - these are much bigger than tapas plates - the server advised 3 between 2 of us plus a side - this was plenty. Piri Piri Prawns - large juicy prawns in a spicy tomato sauce with lovely sourdough Chorizo and Squid - soft tasty chorizo and well cooked squid served with aioli Canadian pork ribs - very tender pork which fell off the bone. this was from specials menu which seems to change regularly Salt and pepper fries - crispy - plenty of chillis but not too spicy. We were too full for dessert but ordered one to share anyway - slightly disappointed with Biscoff Blondie with ice cream - perhaps because we were stuffed Total bill including a glass of wine and 2 bottles of low alcohol lager was £63 Would definitely recommend

I visited on Saturday 9th September to meet a dear friend for lunch. We sat in the outside dining area which is really well sheltered by a lovely canopy across the whole area … I noted heaters throughout so I imagine it will be lovely...

Wow! Just wow! Iwas more than pleaseantly surprised at the delightful location, the decor, the ambience and most importantly how delicious the food is at this restaurant. Everything on the menu sounds mouthwatering. I am not exageratting. I had the Prawn Bao Bun and my...

Having looked at the reviews, our experience was nothing like some of the negative but I completely agree with all the positives. What a wonderful venue this is. We travelled 30 minutes to come back here after discovering it at an event. 100% will be coming back. We have 2 children which also enjoyed the children's menu and our meal was faultless. Well done to all the team, both front & back of house. Thanks!

A really lovely place for a drink or 2. We sat in the outdoor area which was cosy and nicely decorated with flowers. The seats were very comfortable too. The staff were very friendly and attentive. My friend and I had a really nice mocktail...

Kira served us ,what a star! Menu suggestions,mocktails.Eletto were playing fabulous

Hugely disappointing, booked online after checking there were no events at the Piece Hall on that day but the inside of the restaurant was closed to the public so had to sit outside with tinny dance music blasting from the speakers, a shame because part of the appeal of the place was the interior decor. Also had to pay for the drinks in plastic cups as we went along. 'Fresh' orange juice at £3.50 was from a carton, not only that but tasted like the cheapest long life supermarket juice, fresh juice to most people means freshly squeezed or if cartoned, at least premium quality. I returned it for a Whites lemonade at £3 - plastic cup half filled with ice so I was literally only getting a half fill of a cheap lemonade. The food was surprisingly good and the young waitress was sweet and really made an effort but I wouldn't return.

I think this place doesn't make it clear enough that they don't actually serve anything other than nibbles and light starters. I went there under a wrong impression that I could have my birthday meal out at this restaurant. To my surprise the waiters were just as confused as we were so to aid their confusion we decided to just stick to a round of cocktails which were decent. Thankfully the place next doors was able to provide exactly what we needed that evening so we didn't go hungry. I think the idea is there with the Astronomer, just needs some decent food, slightly better execution and some customer service training.

Only went for a hot coffee to warm up ! Coffee and service so very good we decided to eat. What an experience ❤️ perfect waiter Harry, choose two delightful vegan side dishes for us . Thankyou chef x so very contented and happy with our visit x

Went today for breakfast staff were very welcoming and friendly, food was amazing had Turkish eggs and poached pear with French toast. Would definatly recommend.

Amazing food! Amazing service x the specials were certainly special. The most lovely lunch with my husband.

I came here for a bite to eat needing something more than burger and chips that the center of Halifax seems to only offer. I had the Lebanese shawarma with a side salad followed by Japanese Fluff cake which was delicious. Not to mention a few large Bombay & Sapphire Gins. Excellent in a word and highly recommended.

Quirky yet polished interior, and seriously tasty food. Impressed by the take on vegan shakshuka with root veg.

My new favourite, food is delicious, great service and a great variety of dishes to choose from (plenty for vegetarians). Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Booked a 14 person lunch/brunch here catering from kids to grandparents. Vegetarian and vegan diets catered for also. Excellent service, helpful and friendly. Don't be intimidated by the menu, the food was amazing and really different to anything we'd had before. Everyone made a point...

This is currently a 4 out of 5 but potential to be a 5 out of 5. I have been for lunch and evening meals. The food is very good, but last time we went the food wasn't particularly hot and seemed to arrive too quickly to have been freshly prepared. Menu items are on the expensive side but portion sizes are different. What let's this place down is how quiet it is. There's no atmosphere. Other restaurants don't have the same issue so the problem is resolvable. Good food, good service and has the potential to be great!!

Second time visiting the Astronomer and I just love it! The food and drink are amazing quality and flavour. Furthermore, the staff are lovely and can’t do enough for you and the decor is beautiful. 100% the best meal(s) I have had in Halifax (or...

Great menu and service, can’t wait to go back

The Astronomer is small but perfectly formed, well it is unless you want to make use of the outdoor seating, and it was a bit chilly for that. The atmosphere is welcoming, the staff are pleasant and efficient, and the food is good and imaginative....

What a fantastic find, the food was excellent, very different choices which was so refreshing from an ordinary menu. Very tasty food, well presented. Wish we lived nearer to visit again but I would 100% recommend 👌

What an amazing breakfast! The place itself is lovely inside! The food was brilliant and reasonably priced. The staff lovely and friendly. Will definitely be back!

Dissapoiting food Visited for quick lunch snack.. ordered the Halloumi waffle. Very odd flavours of food, the overly sweet waffle was not a good match for the Halloumi, etc. the waitress was very excited to explain that the new spring menu had just been launched..!...

My partner, daughter and her partner stopped on a cold lunchtime in early March, whilst visingThe Piece Hall. I was showcasing the wonders of the North to my daughter, who lives in London. We sat outside where there were toasty heaters and blankets. Each luncheon...

Amazing place, definitely recommend here if you haven't been, fantastic food and cocktails too ❤️😋 brilliant evening 😀

Strolled across this place in the piece hall. First visit and the breakfast burger took our fancy. Very good option, including the hash brown bites -they were gorgeous, very moreish. The waitresses were cute Abby attentive, we sat outside and it was very comfortable with blankets and heat lamps. Lovely plates! Flat white and breakfast/brunch £15 a head, left a tip cos they were worth it! Good value!

Decent food and nice staff with decently fast service

£43 for 4 cocktails that took 30 mintues to make. Extremely slow service with an over priced menu. Unfortunately we won't be returning.

Superb food and brilliant service from everyone. Thank you for a wonderful night

Lacking authenticity - Ordered a range of sharing plates and it became apparent there was some serious confusion as to what the restaurant theme is…Japanese, Spanish, Italian (ahem…fusion?) all was very poor & deep fried. Venue lacked atmosphere with poor lighting. Drinks lacked lustre (and apparently measure, when we were served a half glass of premixed margarita). The only saving grace for this venue is that the staff were reasonably chipper! Overall, I wouldn’t recommend for drink or food.

Visited this week. The food was very good and tasty but the overall experience was very poor. Firstly, seems that all the waiting staff are very young and inexperienced, the place wasn't overly busy but seemed rather chaotic. Most concerning though, about 5 minutes after ordering we were presented with our main course (still not received drinks at this point), then a couple of minutes later the same young lady came across and stated "sorry, this isn't your food" and proceeded to remove the food from our table and take it to the next table! Baring in mind the food had been in front of us for around a minute and I had touched it, which we told the waitress but still proceeded to serve said food to another table. We then received a portion of fries around 5 minutes before receiving our mains and then our drinks.... £3.40 for a 200ml glass bottle of Pepsi was literally warm enough to be considered a hot drink. We will not be back.

Visited at Piece Hall during busy Xmas Maker's Market on, we didn't realise we needed to book, it was full & busy. Polite staff, the artwork was a space above the ceiling but all planets hanging down were the same pale colour, not various planet coloured designs that you would expect, disappointed as other friends raved about the deco. We may return at a later date, buy will ensure we book prior to visit.

Phenomenal food in a great location. All the staff were very friendly. Only giving four stars on the food as it would be great to see vegan options also available on the menu.

Friends had nice food. Chicken in my order had lots of gristle and was fairly bland.

We had an early evening meal and chose sharing plates. Every dish was delicious and the perfect portion size for sharing. We finished the meal with some great cocktails. The staff were very friendly and attentive. Will definitely be going back.

The staff made us feel very welcome & the service was great. We chose food to share: duck flatbread, haddock fritters, patatas brava & house salad. Everything was fantastic - really well cooked & good portions. Would highly recommend.

Service and quality of our main courses were the highlight. I don’t believe they’ve got their prices right though. Out of kilter for the quantity and quality. The lemon meringue dessert was appalling value for money. It was such a rip off we were all...

The (lunch) atmosphere was lovely & probably even better in the evening, given it’s subtle astronomy theme. The service was first class and the menu really good, with lots of slightly unusual and interesting dishes… we struggled to choose! The place isn’t overly expensive but...

We had booked a table for 2 people at 3 PM but the dreadful weather made us decide to call and cancel. We had pre-booked the parking but it was a 5 minute walk away from the Piece Hall. The prospect of covering even a...

Four of us dined and had the best meal. The ladies had crayfish and the men the breakfast bun. Food was very well presented. We decided to try desert and that again beautifully presented and tasted just as good as it looked. It is a...

Wonderful quality restaurant with great staff. Not the cheapest place to eat but quality does cost. Food and drinks were perfect.

Had lunch in this little gem within the Piece Hall in Halifax. The food was delicious, service was excellent and the desert was to die for. Totally different to any other restaurant I have ever been to. The choice on menu was divine and the...

We called in to try the new opening at the Piece Hall and I’m sad to say we won’t return. We stood at the bar and were ignored by staff until one of the staff members told us it was table service only. That’s fine,...

Amazing, delicious food served hot and fresh. Great attentive service make this restaurant an excellent addition to the Piece Hall portfolio.

Have been here twice now and the food has been fantastic. Great options for vegetarians and interior and exterior makes it a really relaxing place. It is on the pricey side for drinks but other than that service and food is great.

You definitely get what you pay for, exquisite food which was definitely worth it. The staff are extremely friendly, and made us feel very welcome and well looked after. They even went the extra mile to provide me with an off the menu cocktail. A very clean and well maintained restaurant. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. Five star service and five star food ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Far too expensive 😪 £8.75 for a large wine £6.00 for a beer poor menu not enough choice.

Pancakes where greasy, and it took ages

Came here for brunch on Sunday. Very impressed with the food. I had the tomato crumpets with halloumi which was a great dish. I also had the side of brocoli with roasted almonds which was excellent too; cooked very well. Dutch pancakes are also very good and my daughter really enjoyed them. All in all, this is a great place to come for brunch/lunch. Seating inside and outside. Service was efficient and attentive with polite and helpful staff. Fantastic surroundings in the Peace Hall add to the overall experience.

A highly anticipated visit following its opening, its location within piece hall if great and there’s lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The food, we found to be of god quality but pricey. We ordered: Fish tacos Breakfast pretzel “burger” Charcuterie board Fries and white...

I cannot even begin to describe how amazing the food were at The Astronomer. I can't wait to come back 10/10! 5 stars. Superb. Amazing. Well done.