The Hairy Fig in York

Appalling service! In on 14.12.24 at around 3.50pm. Our first visit and our last! We should have known really as everywhere else was so busy, yet this place was practically empty. Only 2 other couples in there, yet we were ignored by the young female waitress. There were two other staff in besides the waitress, a male and another female who apart from him replacing some mince pies on the display shelves, didn't come out from the back room area! After around 8-10 minutes, I asked one of the other couples if it was self service as non of us had seen a waiter/ress. I was told it was table service by the one couple who had had their order taken. Shortly after that, the waitress came out with coffee and cakes for the that couple. She was turning to return to the back room/kitchen when I asked her if it was possible to have some service. At this she smiled weakly and appeared to be going to take our order. However, I was aware that the other couple in there who also hadn't been served might have been in before us. So I asked her if they were before us. I've never seen anything like her reaction except a rabbit caught in headlights or a goldfish in a bowl gulping water! She appeared flummoxed, put on the spot and she appeared unable to make a decision. At this point I just said please serve them first, and she went over and took their order. Again she disappeared into the back area. We waited another 5 minutes, during which she came into the room, went into a 'cupboard' area, then out of the front door. Not once did she speak to us, either to take our order or apologise for any delay. Naturally, we left. Also no toilet paper in the loo, I had to ask for that too. The loo opened out onto the kitchen area which is actually is not totally environmentally friendly. Can't review the food or drink as we didn't receive the opportunity to order any!! After we left we went into a pub ( can't recall the name ATM) just along the same road, where we were greeted and served quickly by a welcoming, professional barman. We received our food, which was lovely, quickly. The young female bar manager, who can't have been much older than the dumbstruck girl in The Hairy Fig should be asked to give a course of customer service training to the Hairy Fig staff, as they appeared to have received non. She was chatty and engaging. Not recommended!

Fantastic cafe in York. I don’t do many reviews as I’m quite difficult to please and often disappointed but this place would get ten out of ten from me. I had their butternut squash soup and a toasted sandwich. The soup was deliciously savoury and the sandwich was made from decent bread and well filled. There were 8 of us and the place is very small but they managed to accommodate us and all of my friends enjoyed the food too. Do try it, to my mind it’s a cut above.

We happened upon this little place on late Wednesday afternoon. We just had wine and olives, so can’t review any food. Our server was so lovely and friendly, and the wine was so nice, we ended up buying a bottle to take home with us. I enjoyed it as it was quiet and away from the hoards a few streets over. Definitely one to go to again.

Sad to see the deli gone. Now it is just a cafe and unlike its neighbours with queuing customers outside, no longer a popular one either. Not to be unkind, their sausage sandwich looked good, less so my tea which was served with the teabag in a cup. If this review was helpful please give it a like below.

Lovely coffee stop and lovely people

This review is based on my recent experience on Sunday, October 13th at about 2:00pm. My husband and went to the Hairy Fig for a Sunday lunch. This was his first time there, mine was the second. I had already been there with a friend a few weeks ago and it was all great so I was quite keen for him to try it. At that time it wasn't that busy so we got seated straight away. A lady approached us and said that there were a few items off the menu (pies, sausage rolls etc) so we were OK with that. As I had already been there, I knew they had gluten-free options (the sandwiches are also available on GF bread) so I was going to order the bluecheese one. I was the one who ordered first and, to my surprise, the lady said that they didn't have GF bread and she said that she'd give us a few min to read the menu again. At that point, I sort of knew I didn't have many options. I thought about the quiche but I would need to ask if it had gluten. When she came back again, my husband asked what the options (for me) were. She said that they had GF crackers and that they could serve the cheese platter for me and/or soup with crackers. Unfortunately, we had to leave. I was expecting to have PROPER lunch like I did the first time I went there (a toasted sandwich with salad and crisps on the side). My whole issue with this experience was the lack of proactivity and the overall poor service. I did not understand why she would just leave us to to read the menu again when my options were so limited (she could have said it from the beginning). What was the point of waste time when my second choice (quiche) was not suitable either? Had I ordered it, would she have stepped back to let us read the menu again? It was quite a disappoinment. I know the food is really good but, once they run out of GF bread, there's a lack of choices for people who can't have gluten. Also, the service wasn't the best. It is not that they were really busy so they have no excuse. We ended up going to Mannion and Co. There, we were greeted by a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable man who got us sorted straight away. Such a shame we didn't experience something like this at the Hairy Fig. After this incident, we won't go back or recommend it to anyone else.

This review is based on my recent experience on Sunday, October 13th at about 2:00pm. My husband and went to the Hairy Fig for a Sunday lunch. This was his first time there, mine was the second. I had already been there with a friend a few weeks ago and it was all great so I was quite keen for him to try it. At that time it wasn't that busy so we got seated straight away. A lady approached us and said that there were a few items off the menu (pies, sausage rolls etc) so we were OK with that. As I had already been there, I knew they had gluten-free options (the sandwiches are also available on GF bread) so I was going to order the bluecheese one. I was the one who ordered first and, to my surprise, the lady said that they didn't have GF bread and she said that she'd give us a few min to read the menu again. At that point, I sort of knew I didn't have many options. I thought about the quiche but I would need to ask if it had gluten. When she came back again, my husband asked what the options (for me) were. She said that they had GF crackers and that they could serve the cheese platter for me and/or soup with crackers. Unfortunately, we had to leave. I was expecting to have PROPER lunch like I did the first time I went there (a toasted sandwich with salad and crisps on the side). My whole issue with this experience was the lack of proactivity and the overall poor service. I did not understand why she would just leave us to to read the menu again when my options were so limited (she could have said it from the beginning). What was the point of waste time when my second choice (quiche) was not suitable either? Had I ordered it, would she have stepped back to let us read the menu again? It was quite a disappoinment. I know the food is really good but, once they run out of GF bread, there's a lack of choices for people who can't have gluten. Also, the service wasn't the best. It is not that they were really busy so they have no excuse. We ended up going to Mannion and Co. There, we were greeted by a very enthusiastic and knowledgeable man who got us sorted straight away. Such a shame we didn't experience something like this at the Hairy Fig. After this incident, we won't go back or recommend it to anyone else.

We dined here for lunch yesterday. We had the Yorkshire board which was nice but they had to swap some items because they had ran out. I found two of the staff quite miserable but there was a teenage girl who was very friendly. The York food trail was on so people kept coming in but they all got turned away because they didn't have any food for them, which was a bit awkward as we sat there eating our meal.

This cafe has changed since the last time we came in. It was very empty in terms of decorations. The menu was forgettable but the prices weren't! I didn't really care for seeing the pile of washing up on the counter. I miss the jars of Danish liquorice and other deli products that they sold. It looked better as half cafe/half deli in the one building. Serving tea with the teabag in a cup is not a pull for me or I expect anyone else. The food was okay but not presented well at all. The butter was not even curled, but scooped from its tub and put in a ramekin. I was very disappointed.

Absolutely stunning Yorkshire board! Lovely service and great sitting outside watching the world go by. Thank you

amazing individual pies. The creamy chicken is incredable. i had 3 last week!!!

I’ve been twice this week once for a cheese board and the other for lunch - toastie and coffee. The food was great, portion sizes good and well priced in the city. The service both times was good too! I live in York there’s a lot of competition but equally it’s hard to find good places that have seats both ins side and outside which serve a nice lunch. Highly recommend a visit

Oh dear! I think it's all about timing. Met up with friends we hadn't seen for ages and wanted to go somewhere nice. The waitress was an unfriendly and unprofessional young woman. She went out of her way to be disagreeable (try a smile every now and then, it really helps). I saw her actually sniggering at a woman who had tripped coming out of the toilet. She did not ask her if she was okay instead quite openly continued to snigger at her the walked on. A person at a nearby table went to pay for her bill and smiling asked the (same) waitress for her receipt. Quite shockingly the waitress told her 'no'. I'm sure there are also lovely staff there but as I said at the beginning it's all about timing and we certainly won't be risking being served by someone with such a severe attitude problem and who really should not be anywhere near the front of house. (Saturday morning).

This deli has insane vegetarian pies! The best I've had

I had high hopes for the hairy fig having heard good things about it from friends. The cafe was quiet and I was seated straight away. The menu was on my table already and they were quick to take my order. A simple pate with bread , salad, as chutney, and tap water. The tap water then took 15mins to arrive at my table and then a further 10mins for my food. My food was missing the salad garnish and no one came to spot check my table for me to inform them as such. I then asked for the bill once I finally saw someone and they proceeded to forget and other tables received and paid their bill before I even got mine. Extremely poor service when only 3 tables of pairs were in. Also heard another table they had forgotten their oat latte. The pate and bread were lovely tho just a shame about the rest. Come on guys get it together.

Delicious lunch at The Hairy Fig; sourdough toastie and coffee. Will visit again!

We stumbled across The Hairy Fig in York by chance, initially we decided to stop for a drink as we loved the cute outdoor tables in the sun; we couldn’t resist ordering off the menu—and we’re so glad we did! The food was absolutely delicious, complemented by a fantastic selection of drinks. This charming cafe wine bar, and delicatessen is full of character and the perfect spot to sit outside and soak in the beauty of York. We loved it!

We had a couple of the toasties and they were super good! This place is only slightly out of the way, and so not too crowded. Inside is well decorated. Staff was helpful and nice.

Well, we sat there for 20+ minutes being completely ignored by the staff…and it was not that buisy, 2 more tables were there, so could not tell you how it was, shame

Great food and friendly staff, everything you can ask for!

We had mixed feelings about this place. It’s opening times are not displayed, the telephone number is ‘temporarily unavailable’, and no one replies to emails. When we eventually got there on a day when it was open we were advised that ‘we don’t serve food till 12’. However, the food we ate was good although the menu is limited. There was no evidence of heating in the small dining room and it was chilly. We wouldn’t rush back.

We collected a picnic box from here the staff were very chatty and the food, quality and amounts were superb 👌 I’ve passed the Hairy Fig many times next time I’ll be calling in to eat inside. Can’t wait for another trip to York 😋😊

Lovely selection of cheeses and pastries. Bread was divine and a good selection of chutneys and crackers,balsamic was amazing.

Incredible yorkshire pasty (must be this places take on a cornish pasty). Honestly so nice, plenty of filling and gorgeous pastry. Will definitely be back for another one

I would love to tell you about the food but we didn't get any. Terrible service. Poor communication. After an hour waiting for Sausage roll and a sandwich, we left....

Best steak pie in York! They also have excellent Beers. The staff is really lovely and helpful!

Lovely place. Best meat pies I've had. The steak pie is amazing.

Best sausage roll I’ve ever had! I’ve lived in the UK for 20 years and I’m always trying different types of sausage rolls, even tried the ginger pig in borough market which isn’t great tbh, so stopped over in York for work and randomly saw the hairy fig, I had never heard of it and I picked up Some sausage rolls and pies, the pies were also the best I’ve had in England.

My wife and I won 1st prize that was donated by you, in the raffle at the Lord Mayor and Sheriff’s Christmas Cheer Reception this afternoon. What a beautiful hamper. Thank you 😊

Lovely little place with top quality food. We first came here a few years ago on a trip to York but haven't been able to get a table when we've visited since. This time we had the Yorkshire platter (very nice selection of cheese, ham, pork pie etc), rustic veg soup and scotch egg. All really nice and proper stuff. It's a little small so not great for big groups but that suited the two of us just fine. We had a large wine and a craft beer and the total bill was £44, which we thought was good value, especially as we had plenty to take home.

Disappointing meal, small potions and not properly hot. Ordered chicken pie as a main meal, was not asked but it arrived with half a handful of rocket and a few sun dried tomatoes, I had expected mushy / garden peas etc as shown on menu. My wife ordered quiche, very small and again a small amount of rocket. Food tasted OK however, probably direct from the adjacent deli. Mediocre service, plenty of chatting in the kitchen, only three people in restaurant, but somehow staff forgot other persons order of a coffee. Won’t be back.

Lovely ambience, varied menus, welcoming and polite staff. We called in for lunch to the re launched cafe, and it was delightful . It has been a long time since I enjoyed lunch in a cafe as much as this. We will definitely be returning soon.

Stellar pork pie. I’m not a big fan of aspic so it’s nice to gets a cold pork pie with great flavor, consistency and a superb crust Their scotch egg is also very good. Picnic lunch, train ride stop here!

Coffee was lovely staff was lovely

Great food and coffee and had a wonderful chat with Memo who served me, nice friendly place

Delicious😋 , Friendly staff , Chicken and ham pie !! The best pie I have ever tasted . Thank you

On the off chance passed by saw a person eating decided it looked fantastic ,we weren’t disappointed. Delicious,fresh and fantastic value and friendly attentive service Highly recommend

Run by the loveliest ladies. Great coffee, fresh figs sometimes, interesting collection of cheeses (a mad truffle gouda!), and they store those Yorkshire parkin biscuits that have been such a struggle to find otherwise.

What a wonderful place … intimate tea room, amazing range of balsamic vinegars and creams lining the shelves behind the counter (plus chocolates on other shelves), and a deli to top it off next door.

Cute and cosy. Fabulous slabs of cake. Very cute. Traditional English china cups and saucers. Only 3(?) Tables inside but perfect little place if you get a seat

Lovely coffee, quirky, friendly place and decent sausage rolls and pork pie!

Had a lovely quiche and salad in this quaint tiny cafe situated in the rear of a shop selling amazing things to eat and drink. There are only four tables and it is tiny. Staff are really friendly and everything was great.

The front of this place is a shop selling all sorts of delights including Dutch liquorice and Italian balsamic oils. The rear area is small with just three tables. The coffee we had was good. Not really much else to say.

Could’ve been better. Should have realised when it was empty when we walked in. 2 young lads serving who let’s be honest we’re less than enthusiastic to serve. £2.95 for 1 crumpet is a bit steep to say the least and it does actually say crumpets on the menu. Yes we could’ve said something but it just felt like we were not welcome.

I always heard such good things about the hairy fig and was so excited to go and have a nosy round and a sit down - I don’t think I’ve ever been so dissatisfied! The cafe area was small (very poor design only three tables inside) which left very little room for my girlfriend and I as well as the other patrons not to mention the staff! The food was of poor quality and very little verity for how they claim to be very inclusive and have a wide option of food and drinks (no vegan, gluten free, or dairy alternatives). The staff were so very apologetic when we were told that they wouldn’t be able to accommodate my girlfriend and I dietary needs, as disappointed I was with the food the staff certainly made the experience so much better! They were very kind and helpful towards us and anyone else who needed their help, the young man who was at the front of the store was very charismatic and witty - I found that his personality really brightened up the place and he was very knowledgeable, especially when he let us know that he hadn’t been working there for very long! He was very straighten forward in his approach to his work and people, which to me was a strong indication that he knew what he was doing, he handled some rude customers very well when they had an issue with the fact that they would not be able to sit down due to the lack of room. I won’t be returning to the hairy fig and time soon!

Me and my family where in York for the weekend, we found this shop with a tiny cafe with at most 5 tables. The younger blonde boy member of staff was very accommodating to us while looking at vinegars and was helpful with what would pair well with them, meanwhile I overheard the other members of staff making comments about other customers including my family. They were discussing how they hated the busyness of the place and that the customers could go elsewhere for such products, i can’t quite remember what else they said but i know it wasnt great things. I think the boss may want to rethink their hired staff.

We visited the Hairy Fig on 4 Feb 2023 at about 1430. Unfortunately there were a number of issues we experienced, some of which were raised with staff upon leaving. Firstly, it is worth mentioning that the food is pretty good and is the reason my review is 2 stars (it would have been 1 otherwise). The pies in particular are very good, albeit ours were served cold or, in the case of the steak and ale pie, lukewarm. I suspect visiting the deli next door (part of the same place) and getting food to take away is the way to go with The Hairy Fig. Secondly, the bin in the toilet was overrun with used paper towels and the facilities are clearly not maintained throughout the day. When using it after a member of staff, they left the tap running and the seat dirty, and had made no attempts to clear up the mess that was already there. Lastly, but most importantly, the attitude, behaviour and “service” provided by one member of staff in particular was appalling. There was one female member of staff, and three male. The woman was very friendly and clearly keen to do as best she could. Two of the men we did not interact with (aside from the toilet situation). All staff members would benefit from hygiene training; for example, we watched as staff were touching their phones/faces/clothing and then immediately and directly handling food without washing in between. However the third man would also benefit from additional customer service training or a non-public-facing role. He was regularly on his phone: taking selfies, sending voice notes, and texting. In addition to this, both myself and my mum observed him making snide and sarcastic comments under his breath and to other staff members about customers who had just left the premises. Words I heard included ‘ugh, thank god they’re not staying’. Worst for us though, was that my mum overheard him talking specifically about me. Prior to me going in, she went to check if it would be accessible for me, as I am a wheelchair/crutch user. She made some enquiries and then came outside to tell me I would be ok, and went back in. As she did, she overheard the same staff member say something to the effect of ‘ugh people in wheelchairs…why can’t they just talk for themselves?’ And then, upon seeing her, immediately acted as if he were talking about someone he knew who was also a wheelchair user. Regardless of whether he was talking about me or someone else, such blatant displays of ableism are unacceptable. His attitude towards me was further evident as he expected me to move out of his way and was not content to wait a few extra seconds whilst I sat down/put my coat on/went to the toilet, bluntly commanding “coming through” (aka move) rather than “excuse me” or just waiting. Upon leaving, I proffered that it would be in the company’s best interest if he didn’t make comments about customers in front of other customers and that it would be more inviting if he didn’t make it so obvious that he blatantly didn’t want to be there. The response was ‘which customers?’ (I suspect he talks about people so frequently he loses track, or was worried I would mention his ableist comments about me) followed by a very insincere, ‘oh right, sorry about that’. Suffice to say we shall not be returning, and I suggest that unless you are fully able bodied, and don’t mind cold food on a cold day, you save your money/go elsewhere!

We visited the Hairy Fig on 4 Feb 2023 at about 1430. Unfortunately there were a number of issues we experienced, some of which were raised with staff upon leaving. Firstly, it is worth mentioning that the food is pretty good and is the reason my review is 2 stars (it would have been 1 otherwise). The pies in particular are very good, albeit ours were served cold or, in the case of the steak and ale pie, lukewarm. I suspect visiting the deli next door (part of the same place) and getting food to take away is the way to go with The Hairy Fig. Secondly, the bin in the toilet was overrun with used paper towels and the facilities are clearly not maintained throughout the day. When using it after a member of staff, they left the tap running and the seat dirty, and had made no attempts to clear up the mess that was already there. Lastly, but most importantly, the attitude, behaviour and “service” provided by one member of staff in particular was appalling. There was one female member of staff, and three male. The woman was very friendly and clearly keen to do as best she could. Two of the men we did not interact with (aside from the toilet situation). All staff members would benefit from hygiene training; for example, we watched as staff were touching their phones/faces/clothing and then immediately and directly handling food without washing in between. However the third man would also benefit from additional customer service training or a non-public-facing role. He was regularly on his phone: taking selfies, sending voice notes, and texting. In addition to this, both myself and my mum observed him making snide and sarcastic comments under his breath and to other staff members about customers who had just left the premises. Words I heard included ‘ugh, thank god they’re not staying’. Worst for us though, was that my mum overheard him talking specifically about me. Prior to me going in, she went to check if it would be accessible for me, as I am a wheelchair/crutch user. She made some enquiries and then came outside to tell me I would be ok, and went back in. As she did, she overheard the same staff member say ‘ugh people in wheelchairs…why can’t they just talk for themselves?’ And then, upon seeing her, immediately acted as if he were talking about someone he knew who was a wheelchair user. Regardless of whether he was talking about me or someone else, such blatant displays of ableism are unacceptable. His attitude towards me was further evident as he expected me to move out of his way and was not content to wait a few extra seconds whilst I sat down/put my coat on/went to the toilet, bluntly commanding “coming through” (aka move) rather than “excuse me” or just waiting. Upon leaving, I proffered that it would be in the company’s best interest if he didn’t make comments about customers in front of other customers and that it would be more inviting if he didn’t make it so obvious that he blatantly didn’t want to be there. The response was ‘which customers?’ (I suspect he talks about people so frequently he loses track, or was worried I would mention his ableist comments about me) followed by a very insincere, ‘oh right, sorry about that’. Suffice to say we shall not be returning, and I suggest that unless you are fully able bodied, and don’t mind cold food on a cold day, you save your money/go elsewhere!

The Hairy Fig is a beautifully quaint food shop and exclusive tea room with only 3 tables in the back kitchen area. It has a lovely cosy family appearance with locally sourced goods, a little independent business to be proud of. However.. all the efforts and love put into this little gem are quickly erased by the awfully rude young boy serving in the tea room area (Saturday 21st Jan, between 3-4pm). With other reviews I see he has been mentioned as management, I truly hope this is not the case as his front of house skills are appalling. Within seconds of walking through the door we were bluntly greeted with the attitude of 'What do you want?' He was chatting to a group of others (not customers) when we entered and appeared annoyed we had appeared! He was quick to mention we can't have anything from next door (I had no clue what next door was at that point.. but thankfully I then knew CAN'T have it) Once seated I was speechless to watch how rude he was towards the other family seated in the tea room already. Every word he said about this family to his colleague could be heard by everyone in the room - including the man and woman he was speaking about. Throughout our drinks he shouted from the back of the store to other people entering that the cafe is closed in a very assertive manner. He let it be known he wanted the door kept open so it was no longer 'cosy', pretty much implying that he wanted us all out. After wandering lovely York all day and past the hundreds of other tea and cake shops we chose this one and we left completely shocked at what we had just experienced!

The Hairy Fig is a beautifully quaint food shop and exclusive tea room with only 3 tables in the back kitchen area. It has a lovely cosy family appearance with locally sourced goods, a little independent business to be proud of. However.. all the efforts and love put into this little gem are quickly erased by the awfully rude young boy serving in the tea room area (Saturday 21st Jan, between 3-4pm). With other reviews I see he has been mentioned as management, I truly hope this is not the case as his front of house skills are appalling. Within seconds of walking through the door we were bluntly greeted with the attitude of 'What do you want?' He was chatting to a group of others (not customers) when we entered and appeared annoyed we had appeared! He was quick to mention we can't have anything from next door (I had no clue what next door was at that point.. but thankfully I then knew CAN'T have it) Once seated I was speechless to watch how rude he was towards the other family seated in the tea room already. Every word he said about this family to his colleague could be heard by everyone in the room - including the man and woman he was speaking about. Throughout our drinks he shouted from the back of the store to other people entering that the cafe is closed in a very assertive manner. He let it be known he wanted the door kept open so it was no longer 'cosy', pretty much implying that he wanted us all out. After wandering lovely York all day and past the hundreds of other tea and cake shops we chose this one and we left completely shocked at what we had just experienced!

Fantastic products on offer and gorgeous coffee which they ground for us to take home. Spoilt only by the uncomfortable atmosphere caused by the manager very harshly "training" a very new, very young lovely boy in front of us. Having worked in hospitality for 10 years myself, I can't imagine staff last long there from what we saw.

Fantastic products on offer and gorgeous coffee which they ground for us to take home. Spoilt only by the uncomfortable atmosphere caused by the manager very harshly "training" a very new, very young lovely boy in front of us. Can't imagine staff last long there from what we saw.

Popped to York and stumbled upon the Hairy Fig… I saw the sign for a medieval merchant hall, my other half saw sausage rolls in the window..: It also happened to be the day that England played France in the World Cup… the only good thing to come of the day was the cheese that we purchased from this great store, and the service from the staff… Thoroughly recommend the Baron Bigod and anything else the cheese geniuses recommend. Super impressed and encourage anyone to keep an eye out when wandering along Fossgate

We popped in and loved the beautiful array of goods in the shops, especially the teas and oils. I asked to buy some tea and gave cash. I was shocked by the incredibly grumpy customer service which made me feel like I was hugely inconveniencing the staff member by not paying with my card and for interrupting his day. And then I was horrified when he used his bare fingers to pick up the tea leaves to get to the right weight. Not service with a smile or good hygiene, very disappointing.

My wife and I had a few days in York and found this place. Had a nice lunch in an intimate little place. Seats outside as well. Be we chose inside. The food was good and the service was slightly slow bit OK with the staff they had and the business. We had our lunch and because it was outside the main centre we were able to get a seat.

We have always made our visit to the Hairy Fig a highlight of our visit to York.What a change!! Totally different menus and quality of produce served by a young lady who had to call for help organising lunch platters for two.My scotch egg was replaced by a sausage roll without consultation and all pastry was very thick and not up to usual standard.Non of the amazing desserts just some rather tired looking cake under plastic covers. I was looking forward to taking home produce which I had seen before as we were not flying home this time.The things which had been available before had disappeared. What a disappointment.Look carefully at the new offerings before you go again. Sent on great sadness!!

After many ears enjoying the “quirky” but delightful lunches, and good wine , polished off with the amazing figs cooked in marsala, balsamic, with mascarpone,our lunch, yesterday, under new ownership, it was a catastrophe, a melange of uninspired and desultory mains, with most of the promised ingredients missing, No favourite dessert offered, just an apology from an inexperienced young woman, who was new to the business. I had booked this lunch the best part of a year ago, ( having had many successful lunches in previous years) To measure how poor the whole experience, a family of four arrived during our lunch, and left within minutes, as each of their requests, was met in the negative. Sorry, the meeting with the Manageress, and subsequent, constructive, comments relating to this disastrous lunch, fell on deaf ears…. , That’s it, goodbye !!

What a rubbısh Cafe delı Nothing to eat Wasting time Also day time robbery Expensiveeeeeeeee

An amazing, varied platter for a very reasonable price, and they double checked our cheese preferences before assembling their presentation. Fentiman's lovely range of offbeat soft drinks was a welcome addition, and my sole quibble was my inability to book a table by phone. Given the three table maximum indoor capacity, I was (unnecessarily) concerned we might not get in.

What a wonderful experience. The two tall guys who are called ewan and will. They were wonderful, incredibly polite and helpful and helped us find exactly what we were looking for. They were very patient with my elderly aunt and I left feeling so happy. They just made my day. Would recommend to anyone who loves coffee or a wide range of balsamic a

Tried to call in for an afternoon coffee and snack. The curly haired man working in the deli was blocking the doorway and chatting to a group of women. They took their time to say goodbye and embrace each other before he went back inside and I could enter the deli. Same man then told me they weren’t doing food anymore (was approx 80 mins before they close at this time). No problem, a cake and a coffee would do. I sat outside and he brought me a menu (which was tired looking and stained with food and grime from previous customers, I presume). Then I never saw anyone again. I waited 15 minutes to order and then decided to go elsewhere, where they might actually take my order. I felt more like an inconvenience than a customer.

Great little shop, lovely selection of goods. Would recommend to all friends and family. But beware of the rude blonde guy behind the deli counter. I’ve been there twice in the past month and he definitely leaves a sour taste in your mouth.

The photos of the sharing platters look good, but as I was solo this wasn’t an option. There wasn’t much of a choice, and it was either a pork pie or a sausage roll with chutney. It was only £2.95 so I wasn’t expecting much, but it was pretty grim. A warmed up roll with pastry that was so tough that I couldn’t cut it, accompanied by a portion of what tasted like Branston pickle. I expected better given that it was a Deli. I looked at their selection of cheese before I left but wasn’t impressed. There is better elsewhere in town. And the person serving didn’t smile once. I won’t be going back.

Small shop with amazing selection of cheeses, pies, pasties, and lots of other beautiful things.

An excellent little deli with lots of interesting things on the shelves. The pie and peas were to die for

Fantastic little coffee ☕ shop Fantastic food and sweet items to buy as well plus friendly and helpful staff 😀

So many delicious things to browse! Friendly, helpful staff 😊

This was our first visit to York as a couple celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. We'd dome some homework of places to visit and decided to call in the Hairy Fig for just a light snack as we were eating out later in the evening. Both the staff members were excellent and very welcoming. While sat down deciding what to have and waiting for it to come to the table I asked the staff member if she could recommend a place to eat to celebrate our anniversary that night. Both ladies could not have helped more and made us a list of places to try clearly showing both a pride and knowledge of their city. While waiting for our food to come we were even given a bowl of olives and pickles as a kind gesture as it was our anniversary, before what we ordered arrived which we thought was a lovely touch. Our food that came was amazing and went down well with a nice glass of wine. Give the Hairy Fig a try you won't be disappointed and thank you again to the two ladies you are both a true example of doing everything right and spot on, never change. Highly recommended 👌

We have often walked past the intriguing windows of this deli & cafe, but as it was a cold, damp day we decided to go in for a break. We were told by a customer the coffee was wonderful, but we found it bitter - perhaps she drinks it with milk & sugar, but we have it black, so we get the full flavour, good or bad. And this was not good! My wife’s fruit scone was beautifully presented with fresh berries & loads of butter, but the base was overcooked - hard & inedible. My “Yorkshire Pasty” looked lovely, but was somewhat greasy puff pastry filled with minced beef & onions - nothing to write home about. We were very disappointed because it promised so much better. Sorry, but we will not be back!

Really good quality food at a great price. The platter is very generous and us big enough for two. Very nice service as well. Highly recommended!

Managed to escape the chaos of the Christmas markets for lunch. Enjoyed a yummy chicken pie which was just the perfect amount for lunch. Friendly service and plenty of bits and pieces to treat yourself to in the deli!

A Special trip to York and always call in here for something to eat. Cosy place great food and great staff. Wish I’d stocked up to come home with their Luxuries will do next time x Keep up the good work great value also

Lots of interesting foodstuffs sold here between the two next door shops, one of which also contains a tea room. Cheeses, locally based pies, sauces, ingredients, chocolates, sweets, licorice, oils, drinks, you name it and they have it! All in all just a really lovely deli.

Fantastic food, chatty friendly staff, and some amazing produce available, I can't recommend this highly enough.

We visited just after they opened in the morning during the weekend and the place was quickly full (they only have 3 tables inside - for 3, 2, and 2 people), so that is something that you maybe want to keep in mind before coming. We only had black coffee and their specialty tea, which both were great. I highly recommend their Japanese cherry green tea, it was very lovely. We are not sure about the food menu, but we saw they had some pastries available.

Nice bistro, good friendly service, quality food, would recommend 👌

Dimly lit, quirky setting. Table for 3, 2 and 2 inside, similar outside. Good drinks menu, no alternative milks. Food menu good, though few vegetarian options. The main vegetarian option (Mediterranean Vegetable and Feta Roll was out of stock). Service pretty standoffish. On another day, might be brilliant. Today, unfortunately, just ok.

Food is lovely however the young man at the deli counter needs some training in manners. Very rude and unhelpful. Would not recommend for this reason.

Very small Lovely people and Very friendly. Green tea was lovely

Loved the pork pies lovey place for lunch

We happened upon this little deli and cafe by chance and ordered the Italian platter. I was with my friend, queen fussy-eater of the fussy eater tribe and we both loved it all. It was unbelievable nice (literally; we kept saying we couldn’t believe how...

Great little shop and deli and great little restaurant as well. The smell alone is fantastic. Was so tempted to call in. But as I was on the job I had to remain professional. Will definitely go in next time I'm in the area. If you would like to see more pictures of our cars please check our Facebook page at Best Weddings Wedding Car Hire York.

Lovely friendly, nice food and coffee great service

Great place. Don't go though, because then it will be too busy and I won't be able to get my lunch.

Friendly staff and wonderful food 🙂

Stopped here for a light lunch. We ordered a continental platter and a hairy fig platter and both were fabulous. Very colourful, tasty and good value. As we were on holiday we accompanied this by a glass of wine and a local cider, both went...

Lovely, quaint, quirky, little deli and cafe.

Coffee and cake for two for under ten pounds, which is good for York.

Really pleased to stumble across this deli. Was enticed by the smell of delicious fresh food and was not disappointed. Picked up a pie, sausage roll and some cheeses, all of which are excellent. The staff were very friendly and pleasant to talk to as well.

Negozio fantastico !!! .... ho comprato pig pie ...yorkshire pie ham and mushroom. ...e steak pie...fantastiche ....personale simpatico e gentile !!!!

Love this place when vis but recent service poor Tap water requested 3 times. Never materialised so went elsewhere to eat after my coffee. Shame really

We were looking for a takeaway spot. We were very impressed with the quality and range of the vegetarian options available. The service was great and so was the range of products available.

Popped into this interesting deli for a ‘mid morning pick me up’. I wasn’t disappointed, a wonderful fresh scone beautifully presented as you can see, along with a great cup of coffee! Came out with some very tasty oil and balsamic vinegar, from their very...

Small cafe within shop with a couple of outside tables. Friendly staff. Excellent cream tea. Highly recommended. Dog friendly.

We popped in for our lunch, great homemade food and really friendy staff. Shop & deli next door also sells more of the same food you can choose from the menu. Will return before we go home for sure 😋

Stumbled upon this, and bought loads of cheese and loads of tea. All delicious. Lad on Sunday 8th Aug recommended the most beautiful creamy blue cheese and it was so yummy. And the dark chocolate covered orange peel! What a treat. Really lovely shop, will be back for the gins as well!

Well known amongst locals, this deli is packed with tempting delicacies and treats, as well as offering table seating inside and out as a cafe. You could easily be spoilt for choice! You can be sure of enjoying something different which is not on everybody's...

Wow what a find. We wanted to go local and not a chain for lunch. We saw the hairy fig and was pleasantly surprised food excellent We shared a platter as more than enough for 2 people. My friend Is vegetarian and had a great choice of food which makes a change. The spannish hot chocolate is a must. It is so reasonable friendly querky fun a real gem. Will definitely be going again as nothing was too much trouble.

Came across this place as we were looking for something to eat. What a great find!! From teas, Spanish hot chocolate to savoury croissants, scones, crumpets and vegetarian platter everyone enjoyed their food. I had the scone it was so fresh and lovely. The vegerarian...

Went to The Hairy Fig where my partner bought licorice and I bought some tea. Then we decided to get some afternoon cheese and the waitress, Alison, expertly curated a hand crafted cheese board for us and it was absolutely delicious. Will certainly be back.