http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro Cafe No 8 Bistro - York, 8 Gillygate, YO31 7EQ, United Kingdom en http://cdn.trustedplaces.com/i/uploads/placepics/124911_16d23517.140.jpg http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/162x17
Review by foodlovingbabe

Rating: 4.00
Tags: cosy, proper food, average brew, good brew
i have eaten in nearly every restaurant in york and i have found this to be the best place to eat if you want the food to be at a great standard everytime you eat. i hate it when you go somewhere really nice, then the next time you go its not as good. if i want to go for a meal that i know is nice, then i always go here.
they could do with changing the menu more often because it can be a bit samey but overall its a really good place to try, if youve not been before.]]> Sun, 31 May 2009 22:10:35 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/162x171959586368 foodlovingbabe cosy proper food average brew good brew 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/142xi8
Review by stevejack2000

Rating: 5.00
Tags: cosy, top food, delicious, cafe, atmospheric, friendly
If you don't like this place, my suggestion is to get yourself a 'check-up from the neck up', as a friend of mine would say. For me, it represents everything that is good about eating and relaxing. It's also an any-time-of-day kind of place, so - once you know it's there - you just have to wait for that 'Cafe No.8 urge' to descend upon you (it will) and, provided you're in the vicinity, you can try your luck and see if they've got a table.

There aren't many of them, mind you (tables, that is). I'd say about seven inside and a similar number arrayed around the delightfully overgrown back garden which lies within spitting distance of York's medieval walls. (Not that you're likely to get spat on here, given the largely genteel nature of the city.)

What the place lacks in size it more than makes up for in quality and atmosphere. While the kitchen itself is hardly large enough to swing a Spanish chorizo, its staff work diligently within its cramped confines to turn out food of consistently mouthwatering quality. Whether you stop by for a quick Masham sausage doorstop sandwich while reading the morning paper, or indulge in a full-blown meal, you're unlikely to leave disappointed.

If more fortification is required from your breakfast (perhaps before tackling a circuit of the ancient walls or hitting York's uniquely varied shopping scene), then go for the Full English, complete with Doreen's black pudding and creamy scrambled eggs. If you've already seen the sights and marvelled at the breathtaking Minster (conveniently situated just around the corner), then this is the place to seek out for a spot of well-earned R'n'R (those time-worn flagstones and cobbles can be hard on the feet, after all!). The daytime menu is served throughout the afternoon and features a tempting array of sandwiches, salads, risottos, bruschette and home-made burgers, as well as a choice of meat or fish dishes - the cod fishcakes with roast cherry tomatoes and smoked red wine, chorizo & butter bean sauce looked particularly tempting.

Most recently, I took advantage of the 'lunch deal' (any two courses for £11.95, Monday to Friday), taking the chance to relax in the peaceful surrounds of the garden while soaking up the unexpectedly warm springtime sunshine. This proved to be time extremely well spent. To start, the Cafe No.8 deli plate (char grilled artichokes; sun blush tomatoes; olives; fresh anchovies; goats cheese and tomato pate; creamy hummus and toasted bread) made my good mood even better. In spite of the warm weather, I talked myself out of the goats cheese salad, feeling unable to resist the char grilled rump steak with chunky chips, slow roast tomatoes and Madeira sauce. I didn't regret it. The steak was as succulent and as tasty as any I can remember (cooked just to the point of bloodiness - 'a point', as the French would describe it). The hand-cut chips, meanwhile, were a thick cut above anything you would get in the best of Parisian bistrots or brasseries. The Madeira sauce and tiny shallots just brought all the flavours together beautifully, as did my large glass of very acceptable Chilean Merlot.

And that, I'm afraid, was me done. The raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake was, on this occasion, surplus to requirements. As was the banoffee pie and the rhubarb & custard pavlova. A small tip: if you really want to enjoy the cakes here, then pop in during the late afternoon so as not to be distracted by the rest of the menu.

The only drawback this place has is one of its most charming features - its diminutive size. So if you want to bag one of those seven tables in the evening, be sure to call ahead. The service, as you would expect from such a place, is courteous, friendly and informal. They didn't bother bringing my bill out to me after my meal, leaving me to enjoy my book and the birdsong in the garden. Now that's the kind of civilised, European attitude that we should see more of in this country.
]]> Fri, 29 May 2009 14:22:19 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/142xi8921463251 stevejack2000 cosy top food delicious cafe atmospheric friendly 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1u9rc7
Review by DrewJardine

Rating: 5.00
Tags:
It really is rather unusual these days to first of all find a truly independent eatery within a city centre, and secondly find any establishment which genuinely exceeds expectations each and every time you visit.

I generally find that when eating out you would ideally like three things from the breakfast/lunch/dinner provided,

1. Food which you believe you wouldn't be able to cook at home
2. A good environment
3. Friendly service

Cafe No. 8 really does tick all the boxes. There are few restaurants in York that could match the quality of ingredients or the skill with which to cook it.]]> Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:18:16 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1u9rc72036563574 DrewJardine 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1l0k37
Review by zedowie

Rating: 4.00
Tags:
Went to Cafe No 8 on Sunday. The menu offers Sunday Brunch options such as full english breakfast, bacon or sausage sandwiches, toast or traditional roast sunday lunch or bistro style dishes such as meatball tagine, salmon steak. Our delicious lunch started with pea & watercress soup/ black pudding with apple, main courses of roast fillet of lamb and roast beef and yorkshire pud then lemon posset with vanilla ice cream. The quality of the ingredients is exceptional and they are treated with a lot of skill. We have eaten here several times and the food is always of a very high standard. Service is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is small, but has a very nice garden at the rear where you can also eat.]]> Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:50:31 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1l0k379185717 zedowie 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1q9gt8
Review by saffire

Rating: 5.00
Tags: cosy, top food, proper food, quiet & relaxed, good brew, quick bite, lively, cultured
Cafe no.08 is a tiny little place, with barely a handful of tables and a very pretty little garden. It is very easy to miss from the outside, but you juat have to try it!

I have been here far too many times to count, and have not yet been disappointed. They serve a great brunch/lunch menu, the breakfast is tasty and the soups and sandwiches are fantastic! The portions are very filling, much more than you would expect.

The evening menu, served from 6pm, is very impressive. There are just a few carefully chosen dishes to pick from, but they are all so good you wont know which one to pick!

The garden is lovely, so sit out there if you can! It is also fun for a coffee and some dessert.]]> Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:46:59 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1q9gt82006086045 saffire cosy top food proper food quiet & relaxed good brew quick bite lively cultured 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1o48y8
Review by oogywawa

Rating: 4.00
Tags: cosy, top food, amazing brew, lively
Unassuming is how you would describe this place: both in attitude and appearance. The outside of this increasingly popular little culinary star gives little hint of the wonderful assualt on the senses it delivers inside...and out the back with the lovely garden.

There is a vibrancy and colour to the cooking and presentation that uses as much fresh local produce as possible such as the Yorkshire reared pork and home smoked salmon. It's terrific value as well and the cheerful staff keep you coming back for more.

I don't know whether it's deliberate to keep away the hordes but their website doesn't exactly trumpet their reputation from the rooftops - not telling people that they were featured in the national "Observer Food Monthly 2008" awards (again as in 2007) as highly recommended...

Four stars might seem a bit tight - but with J Bakers on 5 stars this is still a hair's breadth below that experience...]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:50:18 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1o48y82013134879 oogywawa cosy top food amazing brew lively 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1f38q8
Review by Drinksinyork

Rating: 5.00
Tags: cosy, top food, quiet & relaxed
Amazing place but don't tell the tourists!!]]> Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:01:18 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1f38q81270016448 Drinksinyork cosy top food quiet & relaxed 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1272w7
Review by hsh

Rating: 5.00
Tags: cozy, british, average brew, good value, friendly staff, lively
This has to be one of the best places to eat in York. The food is fresh and as local as possible. The range of food changes on a regular basis with a good daily specials board. In the summer the outdoor area is a hidden haven. ]]> Wed, 04 Apr 2007 16:10:26 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1272w71768704850 hsh cozy british average brew good value friendly staff lively 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207 http://trustedplaces.com/review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1q81c8
Review by satsu

Rating: 5.00
Tags: relaxed, attentive service, good value, excellent food, informal
Hidden slightly off the main tourist track is one of the best places to eat in York. Sit inside and enjoy the bustle of the world going by on Gillygate or, if the weather permits, enjoy the quiet garden next to the city walls.

A wide range of lighter meals for breakfast and lunch with full meals served from 6pm. Food is interesting and varied - see the menu at www.cafe8.co.uk.

The atmosphere is relaxed and informal. The service is excellent - the staff are always happy to flex the menu to meet your needs.]]> Sun, 18 Mar 2007 22:22:47 +0000 /review/uk/york/cafe/1o22d8r/cafe-no-8-bistro/1q81c8928298236 satsu relaxed attentive service good value excellent food informal 53.963433101902 -1.0850715637207