The Knapton Lion in York - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Great place to have food with lots of different people , good food and friendly staff in the small little village. If not fancying a whole fish and chips , ask for a small one instead

Booked The Knapton Lion after 2 recommendations and wasn’t disappointed,wonderful food we all had roast beef.The service was excellent from all the staff.

Amazing Sunday dinner great staff great atmosphere

Sunday lunch was fantastic 😊 as usual, brought a friend along who was most impressed, we will definitely be back very soon

I would like to thank Tom and all the staff for making my birthday celebration lunch very enjoyable. All our requests were carried out to a very high standard and nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent and served promptly so the food remained very hot. We were nor rushed which enabled us to chat. Thank you Tom for spending time with the elderly gentleman it meant a lot to me.

Had a lovely Sunday lunch. The food was excellent and the Yorkshire puddings were huge. Great value. Couldn’t resist the desserts either 🤣

Brilliant pub , warm welcome , great service , not rushed , lovely atmosphere, beautiful food, will be booking again ! Thanks Tom & the team

Excellent food, drinks and atmosphere. Staff very friendly. Highly recommended.

I’m not local so found this on Google with good reviews. Amazing food !! Great service and a great atmosphere. Corn chicken was fab, and one of our party had the lamb pie that was bursting with meat. This coupled with the free wine on Wednesday made it taste even better.

Perfect Sunday lunch, very welcoming staff and excellent service Will we go again...... Absolutely

Always enjoy good food and a nice pub, would highly recommend it.

Fabulous food!! Every time I have been it never fails to deliver. Well done you guys.

Really enjoyed a two course lunch off the afternoon menu, and at £19.50 pp it was great food well prepared and served. Could have had a third course for an extra £4 but none of us had room for it. Thanks for a good meal and being able to book online was a real bonus. Will be visiting again soon.

Had Sunday lunch today and I can highly recommend it the food superb waitresses very polite and efficient will definitely be back

Lovely meal as always, great service and staff never stopped on what was an extremely busy evening with all tables full! 🥰 Tom wasn't there but the staff were fantastic and found time to answer any questions with a smile despite being so busy! The only problem was we were really hot but maybe that's us as we didn't notice others with fans, and it'd been a hot day! The ice cream dessert was perfect to cool us down! I lost an ear-ring and was in the carpark when I got a call to say it'd been found! Great that they bothered to let me know and came outside with it! Cannot recommend highly enough! I'll be back soon.

Best pub meal we have had for years

First time there, lovely pub. Food was excellent, pricey but worth every penny

Tried Sunday lunch here and was not disappointed. Lovely meal with good sized portions and excellent beer/wine, what more could you ask for!!! Service was good, nothing was too much trouble, had to wait 10 mins for our table, but this was explained and handled well.

Superb Sunday lunch. Very friendly staff. Will definitely be back again

The staff were absolutely excellent. The atmosphere is missing something, perhaps some soft background music? I know you chefs love al dente veg but it would be great if the veg could be offered less firm

Great night at the Knapton Lion this week. Imaginative dishes, so tasty. I had the sea bream with crab arancini. Tom is an excellent host & waiting staff are friendly & efficient. Took advantage of the free bottle of wine offer for Wednesday & Thursday diners, brilliant.

Excellent food, service and hospitality every time we come here. Highly recommended.

Our first visit to the restaurant and overall we were very impressed with the food and service. I ordered the beef wellington, which personally I found slightly under done as the very middle of the fillet was still raw. For dessert, we had the creme brulee, which personally we found to be thick, not smooth and creamy as it should be. Overall satisfied with the food and service and we would visit to eat again.

I booked a table for 7 family members & we had a fabulous afternoon,the food as always was superb,beef,chicken roast dinners & the monkfish curry,the starters and desserts were excellent too.service impeccable by Tom & his staff,lovely atmosphere,we all had a great time!

Another excellent meal with a free bottle of wine! A regular customer.

We’ve heard so many good things about this place so decided on an impromptu visit. We were horrified that the bowl of chips I ordered for a lunchtime snack were cooked in what looked and tasted like beef dripping as this isn’t mentioned anywhere on the menu. Being vegetarian I couldn’t eat them and had to wait until I got home to have lunch. The chef/patron should take note that menu items ought to be accurately marked (I think it’s reasonable to expect that chips are vegetarian unless otherwise stated). We would not bother returning for this sole reason.

Our meal was delicious (as always) and the service was very friendly and helpful. A lovely place to relax with friends and enjoy good food. Would definitely recommend.

Welcoming staff as soon as we came in, shown to our table, drinks arrived lovely beer, food orders taken promptly and the food arrived very quickly hot and fresh. Would highly recommend this pub.

We had a lovely meal. All the food was cooked perfectly and enjoyed by all in our party. It was our second visit since the pub reopened and I'm sure it won't be our last.

Delicious food, beautifully presented & the waitresses were excellent! Thank you so much, we had a great evening. We wondered if you would look into offering dairy free cream/ ice cream with your dessert menu...one of our group is dairy intolerant so was unable to enjoy one of your lovely puddings!

A delicious meal was enjoyed by all. Particularly liked the option of a small dessert with coffee.

Excellent Sunday lunch. Our table of six was very happy with the quality and quantity of the meal. Service was excellent.

Nice pub to drop into on an evening while walking the dog 🐕 👌. Friendly staff . Allow dogs which is fantastic 😀 👌

Excellent top quality food well worth the extra few pounds you pay. Decent wine list and a good pint of beer. Went for midweek lunch. It was quite busy. Bit short of vegetarian options which we pointed out when we paid at the end and were asked if everything was ok with the meals. It was only then that we were told that there was a vegetarian menu. Quite why this was not offered on arrival or incorporated into the main menu baffles us. Only one of us (a couple) does not eat meat but the meat eater also enjoys vegetarian food. Hopefully management will look into this oversight before we return.

Just popped in for a quick pint (which was very nice) and will be booking for food soon.

Friday fish and chip lunch. Huge flaky haddock in a lovely crispy batter, great chips and mushy peas. Service was excellent, prompt and very friendly.

Attended with friends to celebrate a birthday. We had a wonderful evening. We were made to feel very welcome by the staff and the food was excellent! Thank you!

Really nice food, great service…thank you…

Lovely pub. Food and service excellent. Have been three times in as many weeks and it's fast becoming a favourite. Mushroom arancini is wonderful, as is Whitby Crab and the mushroom Wellington.

Nicely redecorated, lovely food and friendly helpful staff.

Absolutely perfect! That's how my Seabass dish was! The staff are lovely and very attentive. I was dining on my own but I was made to feel very comfortable and very well looked after. Will definitely go back . Thank you

Great range of hand pulled beer

Very flavoursome food. Very good service. Atmosphere was a bit lacking as we were in the side room. We will come again.

Fantastic service lovely and friendly Excellent food thankyou

first time we have been i will be back again with friends and family, the food was lovely everyone enjoyed it

The restaurant was buzzing when we arrived, great atmosphere and very popular. So glad we had booked in advance. The food was well presented and tasted great. Thank you Tom and team for a great night.

We have enjoyed both Sunday lunches and weekday meals in this excellent local pub. The service was exceptional, with waitresses showing initiative and great personal attention to the customers. The ambience was perfect, without the need for loud music. The food was so tasty and hot, with enough variety to suit everyone and all the drinks were popular too. Highly recommended.

Very good a la carte Sunday three-course meals with very generous quality portions. Service not included on bill.

Absolutely amazing pub/restaurant. Great staff and owner. Food was lovely. Would recommend

Superb food and great service, very accommodating for small kids.

3 generation went for a joint birthday meal, we have been before under the previous ownership (which was dreadful), this was our first visit back under the new ownership and it didn't disappoint. We had the Beef, Pork, Chicken Sunday lunch and Fish n Chips. All were fantastic. I like that there is a few other options if people don't want the Sunday lunch. A few of us who had room had desserts - again really good. Think the pricing is right as well for the quality of food. Service was great, nice beer, definitely gonna try the lunches and mid week offering. One thing I would say and a few places do this, they serve the beef a little too thick, slice the beef a little thinner, its gonna be easier to eat, but that's just me. Deffo be back, :)

Lovely Sunday lunch and nice beer

I had the chicken and my other half had the beef and both were delicious. We also loved that the vegetables included cauliflower cheese within the price of the roast and an extra jug of gravy so thought it was really good value. We both had the ginger and rhubarb creme brûlée for dessert which was the best I’ve had and the shortbread on the side was also delicious. The service was also great and our food arrived very promptly. We’ll definitely be back for another visit!

Would highly recommend the Sunday lunch. Excellent food, friendly and attentive staff the Knapton Lion offers a cosy and warm welcome.

A delicious Lunch for two, after walking the dog from Knapton to Harewood Wood, and back. I had a really delicious roast beef sandwich, with slightly rare beef, Thick cut chips, Very tasty Stock, and unusually a very tasty side salad. I found out that it was the pickled red onion that made it. Watching MasterChef at the moment, I think they would call it, balanced with the extra acidity! My partner had the brie salad and thoroughly enjoyed it too. The staff were very friendly, and looked after us very well. We were able to take our dog who rested on her blanket in our corner. There was Another group opposite Enjoying their food as much as we did. It was round the corner in the dog, friendly area, just as we would like it,so I’ve given it five stars, for dog friendly atmosphere. Looking forward to going back again.

Fabulous meals with a superb selection of drinks. Had the battered haddock triple cooked chips mushy peas and homemade tartare sauce which was outstanding. Excellent service from the friendly team. Was full on Wednesday evening and I can see why. Everyone in my party of 5 thoroughly enjoyed their meal and we will definitely be back soon. Highly recommended.

Went to the knapton lion today for lunch , first time we have been and definitely will be returning, the interior is superb with a nice atmosphere, the staff were top notch very polite and friendly the food itself was absolutely superb couldn’t fault it in any way , some of the best food my wife and I have had and very reasonably priced in our opinion We will definitely be returning to sample the evening and Sunday lunch menus I’d highly recommend a visit keep up the good work

Excellent service. All meals were so tasty. Lovely busy atmosphere. Will return.

It was our first meal at the Knapton Lion under the new ownership. We loved the warm welcome and lovely decor and ambience. We opted for the steak and ale pie and the daube of beef and were so impressed by the presentation and the quality of food. Looking forward to a return visit next week.

Excellent turn around with Tom and the family! Amazing pub with excellent beer!

Fabulous pub and wonderful food. Thank you too Tom and all the staff. Compliments to the chef!

Great British pub with great British food

This is a busy, vibrant place but clearly expertly run by the owner and staff. The food was first class and service excellent. It was always a good restaurant a few years ago when it was the Red Lion but this was just as good if not better. The sea bass with risotto was wonderful and sticky toffee as good as I have ever tasted. Highly recommended based on our experience.

Went to the Knapton Lion last night for the 1st time since Tom took over. It was absolutely brilliant, just a good as his other pub The Lord Nelson in Poppleton. The food was gorgeous and great service, they are such a lovely family and work so hard they deserve every success. Thank you

We do love a proper pub: one that takes care of its real ale and serves excellent pub food. My cousin recommended this village pub, that I haven’t been to for many years. It re-opened in November under new management and they are doing a great job. We drank beautifully kept Timothy Taylor’s Landlord ale and ate some excellent home-made food. A delightful evening of family, great ale and delicious food. Thank you Knapton Lion! I chose: - Twice Baked Yorkshire Blue Cheese Soufflé: A Light Souffle with Candied Walnuts, Mustard Dressed Leaves & Hendersons Relish Dressing - Landlords Steak & Ale Pie: Slow Braised Beef in Timothy Taylors Landlord Ale, Shortcrust Pastry, Beef Dripping Chips & Buttered vegetables As you can see, it was a proper pie: pastry on the top, sides and base - and it was excellent!

Just been for Sunday lunch everything was lovely and very reasonable, will definitely visit again. Been going to this pub a lot over the years but the new owners have made a massive improvement.

16 of us went for Sunday lunch and everyone loved their food. Great Sunday lunch, fish and chips, scampi, and steak and ale pie. All were very tasty and good potions. In fact the fish was massive !! Tom and all the staff are lovely, very accommodating, providing extra veg and gravy when asked. It’s just what the village needs and they welcome dogs too. We’ll be back there on Thursday morning after walking the dog, for a coffee and a tasty scone. So so pleased this pub is back open with friendly owners and a very good chef.

Staff and service are amazing. The food was faultless and they had a wine deal on which was a really great touch. Menu has some excellent options as well as offering a number of specials (our steaks were 10/10). My partner had mentioned it was my birthday and they made a lovely effort with dessert. It’s a great space that can accommodate couples and larger groups. Would like to pop in for lunch as well as that menu also sounds fab. Will definitely be recommending. Thanks.

15 of us went for Sunday Lunch today and I cannot recommend this lovely village pub enough. It is what I call a 'proper pub' which hasn't had the character ripped out of it and is so warm and welcoming. Tom, the new landlord, is an excellent host. Not to mention the really friendly staff for who nothing is too much bother. Now the food. Oh my god. Suuuuuper delicious Sunday Roast with all the trimmings. Properly home cooked. The beef, veg and roasties were delicious and a nice big Yorkshire on every plate. Yummy yummy yummy. People who went for other options to beef were equally as impressed, including the fish and veggie dishes. The desserts went down well too. I had the Kahlua Creme Brulee. Let's just say my tongue was in the pot licking up as much as I could get once the spoon had done it's job!!! Tee hee hee. I've not eaten there through the week but have seen the food which looks equally as amazing. I cannot recommend this gem enough and can't wait to go again. Well done.

Lovely service, amazing food beyond delicious will be booking again!

Great reinvention of this pub. Great choice of draught and cask ales. Good wine list but expensive. Really nice pub grub, well presented with fresh veg. Efficient friendly service. Good for families and couples etc.

As you walk into the Knapton Lion , there is a happy buzz around the place The staff are always welcoming and the food is delicious. You always feel the staff know you personally and are happy to help you in every way possible. Tom and Nicky especially make sure your needs are met and you have a special time whether it is a particular celebration or a lunch on your own

Great little pub food excellent

Delicious food and great service! Really lovely atmosphere too.

Lovely environment, great food, friendly staff! Definitely recommend a visit.

We had a lovely meal on the 23rd December. We were thrilled to find out that the owners of our local pub the Lord Nelson had taken over. It had been such a long time since our last visit to the pub at Knapton so was delighted at the food & service. Will definitely book again for my birthday in January. Good luck Tom & family, you have done a fantastic job so far.

Went for a family Sunday lunch before Christmas and all very impressed by the quality of the food and friendly, efficient service. Will definitely be back.

Visited last night and had a great meal with friends, and had a very warm welcome from Nicky.

Great staff who are friendly and helpful. Tom is a great host who's there to help you get a good experience at the Lion. Food is very reasonably priced and excellent quality, well done chef.

Fantastic village pub really cosy with fantastic tasting food plenty of menu choices and service with a smile highly recommend we will be back soon !

Brilliant food and the service was spot on . Well done Tom and team , we will definitely be back !

Excellent in every respect. Good menu choice, lovely, friendly staff and attentive service. Generous portions too! Enjoyed our couple of hours here, would come again.

Fantastic pub, beautiful food and wonderful service. A real gem.

Nice little local pub serving a good selection of everyone’s favourites cooked extremely well.

Friendly pub, warm welcome, happy helpful staff and excellent food. Definitely will return and recommended.

Good to see the pub back open and with Tom and family at the helm. Food absolutely lovely and staff friendly and helpful. Looking forward to more visits!

A very warm welcome, help to settle the kids in, and menus for all our needs. Children’s menu better than most, vegan/vegetarian enough choice and a great pub menu with daily specials. An affordable wine list with good service…who could ask for anything more? Well worth a visit.

Tom and the team have done a brilliant job bringing the hub of the community back to life. Great service and lovely food.

Great quality food in a lovely old village pub. Great atmosphere and the staff make you feel really welcome. Highly recommended.

Party of 18, all food was hot, all those with dietary requirements were well catered for. Good quality food.

Excellent food it's a must for anyone, the whole place is a gem.

Enjoyed the visit will come again. Food 4 stars as have had steak pies a bit larger and meatier than yours, but steak was very tender.

Fabulous food made from quality ingredients with efficient service from the staff

Thank you to Tom and all the team at the Knapton Lion. The food is of excellent quality and consistently delicious. We've travelled there by taxi knowing it would deliver and it most definitely did! The team are friendly and welcoming just as they are at The Lord Nelson, their Sister tapas bar/restaurant. They both serve excellent quality food for excellent value in my opinion. They have a very good vegetarian menu at The Knapton Lion, perfect for my Mum in Law, which she said is excellent. I must also say they have carefully selected their wines, so if its a bottle or a glass of house wine, you won't be disappointed. Amazing choice of other drinks and craft ale/beers too. We have taken many of our friends and family and they all love it. Well done Tom, keep it going. We just need a shuttle bus from Poppleton now 😊

We decided to eat out for Christmas dinner and chose the Knapton lion from the moment we arrived we received a warm welcome from Tom and the team with a fantastic atmosphere , amazing service and great food a fantastic experience all round.

Lovely celebratory meal with family. We were made to feel special even though they were busy. Excellent food beautifully presented.

Had a great meal with our friends Met up for pre Christmas lunch Lovely food great atmosphere, welcoming host Always a pleasure to visit Tom and staff at Knapton Lion See you again soon hopefully

Our group were all delighted by a birthday visit to the Knapton Lion! All of us enjoyed our chosen food very much. All high quality and beautifully served. We look forward to coming again soon!

We were delighted when we heard Tom and team were taking over at Knapton. We have visited twice for Sunday lunch. Both times food was fresh, hot and delicious. We were served by friendly welcoming staff.

Fabulous place, so friendly and welcoming. Delicious food better than anything in the city. Welcome back the Lion 🦁