Roots York

Absolutely faultless. The food and service was out of this world. Deeply knowledgeable staff went above and beyond to make our visit utterly unforgettable. Delicious food grown with care and cooked to perfection. Ingenious creativity to delight the palate.

We had a wonderful time at Roots where we were lucky enough to enjoy their “Sunday Feast”. The servers were attentive and welcoming, the space is warm, cozy and relaxed, and the food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. For a Michelin Star restaurant, the whole menu and experience was very approachable and unpretentious, but still very much elevated, as you would expect. Before we finished our meal we had already decided we would go back, and we can’t wait to do so.

To start, I can't fault the front of house, the team were excellent, spoke well about the wine, food and pairings. Their enthusiasm was excellent and earnt their wages for sure. Wine pairing is actually good value (unfortunately this is the only part of the experience that justified the spend). We went for the £80 pairing over £130, but did add £10 when we got the scallops (£30 extra). The wine was top, so no problem there but when you look at other options in York, it's really not worth the spend. Onto the food. Id love to say it was knock out and the best, if not the best, meal we've had but it just wasn't. At the price point (£650 for wine pairing with added course and service for two) I can name 10 other restaurants in York that you can go to on the fine dining level that outshine in. None of the dishes had a "star" quality or power you'd associate with something in the Michelin world. At that price, regardless of pairing or setting, you should expect each dish to blow you away, but they didn't. I don't think it's too much to ask that you leave thinking "yeah, that was a cut above". We've been to nice restaurants in our lives, and paid a fraction and had a better meal. We're not food snobs or seasoned chefs but we both appreciate what food, and what value for food looks like. If we had paid £300 for the experience, we'd be ok with it, it's more the vast inflation of the price. I've worked in hospitality for 10 years, in restaurants, pubs and events, and understand the strain places are under on labour, running costs and ingredients, but there doesn't seem to be any justification or reasoning for the charge here. Now - despite this slight tirade - I'm not saying don't go, it's your money, your choice. This isn't to speak unfairly on Roots, it's just a reflection of what consumers should get for their money. If you go expecting excellence be prepared for disappointment. For the money you could go pretty much anywhere else (at a certain level) and get something better. I have no horse in this race, but places like Old Liqueur Store, Fish and Forest, The Star, Rustic, Skosh, would be a better shout. Even better, jump on a plane for a week. I love Tommy Banks' story and history but this just seems to be a massive overvaluation on what's delivered.

The first time was in 2022 and the second time is in 2025. Honestly, the second time is worse than the first time. The flavors of the dish are not as exceptional as I had expected. I feel like it’s difficult to grasp the story the chef wanted to convey through the tasting menu. The pairing wine is good.

I had the pleasure of dining at Roots in York and the entire experience was nothing short of extraordinary. From start to finish, this tasting menu felt like a masterclass in culinary chess. Every ingredient and pairing was carefully thought out and connected across the courses. • Highlights: • The Oldstead Charcuterie with Aged Beef Toast was incredibly flavorful. • Mackerel with Sungold and Elderflower was one of the most unique dishes I’ve ever had, already great on their own, but together they created the perfect bite. • The Sourdough and Butter may sound simple, but with honey in the butter and the perfect crust, it became an unforgettable moment. • The Scallop with Celeriac and Spruce was a standout, perfectly cooked with unreal honey notes. Well worth the supplement. • Desserts were equally impressive, especially the Strawberry, Rhubarb, and Sweet Cicely which was smooth, complex, and left me craving more, followed by the Elderflower Tart with crème fraîche, truly the perfect closer. • Service & Atmosphere: The staff were amazing, accommodating even though we arrived late and needed to leave early. They made us feel completely at ease and kept the pacing of courses thoughtful. • Drinks: I chose the Experimental & Adventurous pairing, and it matched brilliantly with the menu. The dessert wine was especially memorable. The only slight note was that the gap between the Cod and Pork courses was a touch longer than expected. But overall, from 6:20 to 9:20, the evening flowed beautifully. Roots truly delivers a complete dining experience. If you’re in York, this is a must-visit restaurant. 5/5 stars — highly recommended.

One of the overall best meals I've had for a while. Everything was incredibly fresh and light. Service was lovely and friendly without being overbearing in any way. If you w joy any of Tommy Banks restaurants, this is well worth visiting. A lovely restaurant that we will most definitely return to

We ate here for my 50th, it was the Great British Menu dinner. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!! from start to finish we were treated like friends, This was the best Yorkshire food served in the best environment. I'll Def be back for their normal menu, thank you Tommy / Will / Callum and the whole team at Roots for such a special night

Fantastic and memorable evening. Took my boyfriend here for a birthday dinner. They greeted him with a card at arrival which was really sweet, and generally it was just such a good night. We had the pescatarian core menu which we both loved (bit surprised the scallop was an add-on as it was one of only three seafood dishes, but ok). Every single course was memorable, which is not a given even for a Michelin star restaurant. Love that they have a choice between a classic and more experimental wine pairing. I could go on and mention everything from the scallop to the autumn salad but bottom line this is a restaurant that is so worth the price and that had us leaving with big smiles and a great memory from our trip to York. Thank you!