Cafe No.8 Bistro

We both had a lovely meal to celebrate our anniversary. A "proper restaurant" that strikes exactly the right balance of doing excellent food, without feeling too formal. They also have vegetarian and gluten-free options which is good on a small menu. Excellent wine, starters, mains and desserts.

Been here a few times for Sunday lunch and it has never let me down. Today I had beautifully cooked beef with a bucket load of gravy, a glass of red and all the trimmings. Personal, small and independent and the staff are very friendly. I would advise you to book in advance.

I visited Cafe No 8 before Covid and really loved the food. They shorten their operation hours after Covid and we finally made it for Sunday lunch today. We had a starter, mains and dessert. The food was just as good as I remembered. Service was good too. This place just celebrated their 20 years' anniversary in York which tells you that they got to be good to last that long given the ultra competitive food scene here. The food was of top quality, refined and cooked with care. We had beef and pork tenderloin and they were so tender. The potatoes were roasted perfectly. And we had a selection of vegetables (Broccolini, Parsnip, Carrots, Spring Onions etc) not over cooked like many places. And I was so glad to try the Dark Belgian Chocolate Truffle with Black Sesame Ice Cream. I love black sesame ice cream but is a rarity to find them in York. I wish I could buy a tub of their black sesame ice cream and bring it home. If you are looking for a place with a relaxed atmosphere, serving non-pretentious and delicious food, I recommend Cafe No 8 Bistro.

We had a wonderful meal here on a Wednesday evening in August. I really could have eaten anything from their menu. There was such a great choice. The service was friendly and personal, the food portions were just right, and the prices were very reasonable considering the quality of the food. Make sure you book in advance, and you will thoroughly enjoy your evening.

Absolutely lovely brunch with the new menu and opening hours. Food choice was unique, and all delicious looking. Options for vegetarians and vegans if necessary. Peaceful atmosphere with good service. I'd highly recommend if you're in York looking to support a local business.

Wonderful, unpretentious but delicious bistro food! My husband reported the lamb was the best he'd had in years, and my steak was equally excellent. What really makes it all the more special is the service - friendly and knowledgeable without being the least bit stuffy or formal. They seem to stick to seasonal ingredients (we arrived in time for the first of the forced rhubarb) and the wine list is very acceptable. All in all, a quality experience at a fair price. Book if you can - the restaurant is not large, and you don't want to miss out!

Such a wonderful way to spend a cold, wet Sunday afternoon! Wonderfully cosy atmosphere, a fabulous roast, and incredible puds. Lots of effort has gone into making this seem all seem effortless... I'm sure it's anything but! I wish we had a place like this in my neighbourhood. A real class act, and definitely worth visiting. Ignore the large chains and big eateries and seek out this little gem.

Absolutely fantastic food here, every bite is delicious! We have been coming here for years for special occasions and have never had a meal less than exceptional. Warm welcoming service and amazing food. Can’t recommend highly enough

Great stop for a quick bite and a local brew of course! Tired tourists needing refreshments and we were treated very well indeed.

Good god, people. Eat here. I don't often leave reviews on Yelp (see my profile) but I must praise this unassuming restaurant. I found myself taking smaller and smaller bites hoping to extend the experience of eating the most savory dinner and no matter how small, each bite exploded with flavor. Do yourself a favor. Eat here.

We came here for a quick lunch and the food was fantastic. However I feel I cannot give 5 stars since I the prices were fairly high for small portions. It felt slightly pretentious. I went for the goats cheese and pesto on a toast which left me wanting more. This was because of two main reasons. 1 it was absolutely fantastic. 2 I was still hungry. For the £8 I spent (one of the cheaper options) I only got 1 piece of toast which was a little disappointing. The actual bistro is very cute and has a pretty garden out the back.

Recommended in a few local lists but distinctly overrated as far as Sunday lunch is concerned. Too at least 10 mins to get menus then longer to get served. Only then did they mention that it might take longer to get served because they were switching to lunch menu. Starters of soup and bread basket were actually pretty good but beef roast mains were distinctly average and relatively expensive. Meat was fine but gravy was too cold and not enough of it. Yorkshire puddings didn't do the county proud and were too dry. Likewise the roast potatoes were sub par and veg too soft. They might have got away with all this with more attentive staff who noticed our disappointment but as it was, they didn't. Too bad - we won't be going back. As a postscript, it looks like it could be really nice in summer with the garden out back.

Our daughter never wanted to taste chicken livers or pate, she begrudgingly tried mine and ate most of it--astonishing. The roast beef and pig platter were delicious. Can't wait to go back, an unexpected delight.