Arras Restaurant in York

Went last night as my wife had booked a surprise meal for my 60th Birthday. The food was truly amazing and the service couldn't have been better. The assistance provided in selecting the wine and items on the menu was second to none. I managed to end the meal with a visit from the cheese trolley and had a couple of ports which had been recommended for my selection of cheeses. Would recommended this to anyone as one of the best fine dining experiences I have had. Thank you.

Came here for my birthday and was not disappointed. The food was cooked perfectly. I had the duck starter and lamb main. Absolutely delicious! Highly recomend and will definitely be back.

Great food, great wine, great service. Cannot wait for our next visit. Thank you.

What an amazing hidden gem! Went for dinner and chose the three course à la carte menu and wow wow wow! The food was absolutely fantastic, freshly cooked, exceptionally presented and tasted divine. The waiting staff knew their menu, explained everything well and knowledgably and were very attentive without being intrusive. The restaurant is well laid out, not too many tables and although was busy, we didn't feel rushed at all and were able to take our time and enjoy the whole evening. Would highly recommend.

Thought long and hard about this review. We had so looked forward to coming here as the menu looked fantastic and the food did not disappoint. Our main issue was with the service and the manner of the service staff. Not eaten here before so didnt know about daily changes to the menu, when asking the server she reeled them off so quickly we couldn't keep up, but the vibe she gave off, we didnt feel comfortable getting her to repeat it. When i asked about the wine menu which is extensive she even seemed to sigh and roll her eyes when asked about specific wines and when i asked about the price as the wine menu is mot easy to follow, she made me feel lile i didnt belong. There was no atmosphere at all. Other tables sitting in silence. The highlight of the evening apart from the food was meeting the chef patron with the cheese trolley. He was suxh a down to earth guy and so easy to talk to it is difficult to believe that the others actually work for him. Eaten is some pretty decent restaurants over the years, helped out by the fact our son is a chef in a very well known restaurant, so no stranger to fine dining, but we have never felt so uncomfortable or unwanted whilst eating out. The server only seemed friendly when we paid our bill. Its a real shame as the food was some of the best we have ever had and the interaction with chef patron over the cheese trolley was truly memorable. Unfortunately the servers let the whole experience down and we would never book here again which is such a great pity.

A superb meal in a nice atmosphere with passionate and knowledgeable service. We couldn't find a single fault with our meal, all the food was fantastic, rounded off with an excellent selection from the cheese trolley masterfully described by Ben! We were looked after so well by Jonny and the team! We'll certainly be back.

The most amazing meal! We had 8 of us for a meal last week and had the most amazing meal the service, the food and atmosphere were amazing! Can't believe it was nearly 3 hours, time flew by and i can't wait to go back! Thank you so much! Cannot recommend them enough!! Also anyone that comes and doesn't have the cheese is missing out! It is SOO good!!

I’ve been lucky enough to eat twice at Arras and both experiences have been absolutely incredible. The food is delicious and thoughtfully presented, and the service is incredibly attentive with an unmatched attention to detail. Arras has quickly become my go-to for special occasions and I hope to return very soon!

Excellent service, food was amazing, attention to detail was clearly evident.

Just simple THE best restaurant in York hands down. Gourmet, beautiful, just amazing.

Popped in for lunch, we are so lucky to have a place like Arras in York. The little parcel, is actually the bread I had left over and they kindly wrapped it up for me to take away, keeping food waste to a minimum!

Always excellent. Lunch is amazing value for the quality of the food you get. The menu is interesting and delicious every time. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable about the food and wine. And make sure you save some room for the petit fours. And the cheese. (you'll need a lot of room for the latter).

An excellent experience with great food and service. Knowledgeable and attentive staff, comfortable setting. We were surprised that it was not more full but possibly this was because it was an exceptionally wet evening. We would highly recommend this restaurant.

It's a while since we ate at Arras but we won't leave it as long..very worthy of 5 stars

We had an amazing experience at Arras, the service stood out most of all, with friendly, attentive staff. The food was very high quality and clearly a diligently planned menu. Would recommend the cheese trolley, one of the staff took the time to walk me through all of the local cheeses and they were top level. For £30 per set menu of this quality, it’s a really rewarding experience.

I was tempted to go to Roots ,at over twice the price it was just too expensive. Arras offers those with the taste but not the wallet a chance to enjoy fine dining with sensible portions and lots of little extras which would be a course on a tasting menu. Surprised it was so quiet an oasis of calm on a wet Thursday night Arras deserves to be busy. The food is top notch and beautifully presented served with a good selection of wines. Highly recommend!

We were welcomed by Johnnie who was very enthusiastic about the food served here, he and Ben obviously enjoy their jobs. Modern restaurant with good service and cooking. We followed Johnnie’s advice on the wine which was spot on and went so well with the stand out dish of Lamb - absolutely delicious. Couldn’t resist the wonderful Cheese Board which we shared even though we already had dessert! Arras will be on our list when we return to York.

This place is a gem. Treated ourselves to a long, lazy lunch here and had a wonderful time. Service was excellent. Attentive, friendly, knowledgable and very professional. We had a delicious round of pre-dinner cocktails before the three course lunch menu. All plates were beautifully presented and delicious. Abundance of flavour. Wine list is varied. Had an excellent bottle of Californian Chardonnay, recommended by the waiter. Deserts were particularly delicious. Treated ourselves to the petit fours which were a fun ending to a great afternoon. Dining room is a bit dated but didn’t detract from the meal. Highly recommend.

Excellent, great service and a fantastic wine list.

My partner and I booked a table here on our week's holiday to York, we pre-booked the tasting menu online when we booked our table and we did not look at the menu when we arrived as we both love food and are not fussy eaters so wanted to be surprised. We certainly were not disappointed! The food - We started off with canapés, which were light, delicious, and inventive. We were then served lovely crusty bread from Little Arras - the restaurants own bakery in town. The amuse bouche was a take on fish and chips, which was simply amazing. The first course was my personal favourite of the night, pan seared scallops with basil puree, hazelnut and a roasted fish sauce, I can honestly say I never would have thought to put these three things together, nor would I have ordered if I saw it on a menu as it sounds so strange, but it was just incredible. The flavours worked so well together. The whole dish was delicate and well balanced, with a lovely mix of textures. Second course was my partners favourite of the evening, a cuttlefish stuffed, squid ink pasta, with squid, pumpkin and salsa verde. Again, the whole dish was perfectly cooked, well balanced and delicious! Third course was pan fried seabass with apple gel, burned apple puree and celery. The fish was perfectly cooked and seasoned with a beautifully crispy skin, the apple and celery notes worked so well with it. The fourth course was lamb rump, with quinoa tabbouleh, date ketchup, yogurt, and a lamb jus. Yet again, the lamb was perfectly cooked and the whole dish was perfectly balanced and delicious. Dessert was an amazing lemon and malt concoction, with popcorn which gave the dish a lovely crunch to contrast the sharp lemon and subtle malt flavours. The service - When we arrived we were seated and taken care of by a lovely server. The restaurant seated around 18-20 people and was being run by two lovely guys Johnny and Ben. Both of them were down to earth, attentive without being invasive, knowledgeable and amazing servers. Every dish was explained at arrival, every glass of water that was almost empty was refilled, and other drinks were kept on top of and replenished when needed. Plates were cleared efficiently, and new cutlery was re-layed in time for the next course. Honestly could not fault either of these guys. After the meal we requested a menu to take with us, as they did not have any Johnny took the time to type up what we had eaten and printed it for us to take away. This place is simply a great experience with delicious food and down to earth great servers. 10/10. We will definitely return when we are next in York! Thank you Arras.

Pricey but impeccable food and service.

Booked in advance. Arras was a great experience. Lovely restaurant, quiet, music playing in background. We decided to choose our own dishes and not the kitchen menu and so pleased we did. Each item that was put in front of us was just amazing, both in looks and taste. If we had room, we would have done the cheese selection, but we decided to go for petit fours instead with coffee. We would highly recommend Arras to anyone visiting York, and we do hope to return someday.

This is a really excellent fine dining restaurant located just outside of the city centre. Just a short walk or taxi ride, well worth the effort. We had the A La Carte menu with some amazing dishes and a great Albarino white wine.

This is a really excellent fine dining restaurant located just outside of the city centre. Just a short walk or taxi ride, well worth the effort. We had the A La Carte menu with some amazing dishes and a great Albarino white wine.

Fantastic food, served by very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Visiting York, on short notice, my wife picked this restaurant randomly, and they managed to squeeze us in. Trust me, we will be going back to York, even if it is just to dine here again.

We went for lunch on a scorching hot day. The food was pretty good and very good value for money. Service was friendly and helpful. What i did not like was their negroni. Super sweet and made from cheap low quality ingredients, but costed 12 quid…

This restaurant never disappoints! In our opinion, the best York has to offer. Outstanding food, service is flawless and the wine list is extensive. In particular, their lunch menu is great value too. It remains our favourite.

I have wanted to try Arras for some time and last night I finally made it. I was not disappointed. The food was so beautifully presented and tasted delicious. The staff were outstanding in every way and the cool decor of the restaurant struck just the right note with us. All in all, it was a fabulous experience and this could just be my new favourite restaurant.

Beautiful and interesting food, fine wine, and excellent service. A visit is recommended, as is the locally made sparkling wine!

The food was amazing, every mouthful was a delight. There was so many elements to each dish and beautifully presented. Drinks started at a reasonable price with plenty to choose from if you wanted a special treat. The service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Loved it.

Stunning food from the homemade soda bread to the excellent plates of food. Attention to detail is a priority here; from the decor in the restaurant to the delicious choices of food. The two lovely servers take their responsibilities very seriously to make every diner enjoy a memorable experience. The kitchen staff obviously love their craft and creativity which is apparent when their delights are served to you. Thank you guys so much. Jan and Nigel R

one of the best in Yorkshire; very fortunately my job involves visiting restaurants for a travellers living. This restaurant is always top of my list when in York, great food, fantastic wines and lovely service. Pretentious No just a great occasion to experience Excellence

Didn’t have a very good experience there. Arrogant, overrated and pretentious would be the best description for this place.

Just had a delightful lunch there. Perfect for a relaxed meal. Excellent food and wonderful service.

Lovely menu, great wine and intimate ambience. It’s on the pricey side but wonderful for a special occasion.

Fantastic service and a real surprise of dishes, we had the kitchen menu and a little unsure of what was coming but equally was not disappointed! a lot of effort has gone in to what was presented, wouldn’t even like to say what my favourite dish wash, a full British cheese board is a real credit however! A very relaxed setting.

Our first visit and we were thrilled with a delicious dinner with great flavours and ingredients. Service was excellent! We shall be back!

A restful restaurant with quiet music and attentive but unobtrusive service . The food was high quality, delicate flavours carefully presented , and lunch combined lovely food and quality wine with a calm atmosphere.

Staff absolutely fantastic, very welcoming and attentive. Stunning menu, every dish was a treat, would not hesitate to go again when next in York.

Wow! An amazing night at Arras. We are working our way through the Michellin recommended/starred restaurants in York and so far this is the best. A hidden garden sits behind the restaurant under the city walls surrounded by old stables; this set the atmosphere perfectly. The service was superb with an extremely knowledgeable member of staff who could advise and discuss wines and all ingredients from the meals. He recommended the nicest - not the most expensive! I had the vegetarian options, which were exquisite (to eat the vegetarian tasting dish 24 hours notice is required). The cheese board is a must if you love cheese! The owner is an absolute expert and knows all the farms, farmers, and subtleties of each cheese. He will talk you through each one or not of you'd rather just choose! A wonderful night. For 3 dishes, canapés, amuse boucle and fresh bread with half a bottle of wine each we spent £100 per head.

Food was amazing and the ambience is perfect. Lots of room between tables and a great, but gentle, playlist. Service was exactly right, friendly but not intrusive. The cheese trolley is magnificent. Quite pricey but completely worth it for a memorable meal.

Great value lunch menu, excellent service, lovely restaurant.

Picked this restaurant from trip advisor. We certainly weren’t let down. Generous canapés, beautiful bread . Scallops beyond divine . We let every morsel linger as we did with mains of stone bass and monkfish. You simply have to have something from the cheese board,...

Had an excellent meal in Arras last night. The food was delicious and the service spot on.

Amazing food and drink, great atmosphere and very helpful and accommodating wait staff

Incredible doesn't even begin to explain the dining experience here. It's not cheap but it is worth every penny. The team are warm, welcoming and knowledgeable and the food is phenomenal.

We booked at Arras for our wedding anniversary whilst visiting York for the weekend. Location wise this restaurant could be described as off the beaten track given it’s just outside the centre. We also found ourselves checking we’d found the right place as we approached because you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a Solicitor’s office or an Estate Agents. However, as you step inside you can see this is a modern restaurant with friendly staff who do all they can to ensure you have a memorable experience. The menu included starter choices of roast scallops, roast pigeon, pot roast artichoke, trout and a truly delicious ‘burger with the lot’. Obviously I went for the bavette burger dish and my wife chose the trout and the combinations of flavour provided a strong hint of what was to come with our main courses. I opted for the pork loin with smoked celeriac and prune ketchup, again a well crafted dish with so much going on. I also got to taste my wife’s lamb rump which was fabulous. There’s also a fairly decent selection of wines and the helpful staff provided some guidance on flavours to complement our food choices. All in all a wonderful fine dining experience which I would recommend for special occasions or if you just feel like splashing out

We booked to celebrate my wife’s birthday and daughter visiting from Australia for the first time in 4 years. We had a lovely evening, fantastic food and service. Adam’s cheese presentation and selection was great !!

The cooking was high class. Each dish was well constructed and each element had a purpose. Everything was well presented. The front of house team of two were pleasant and efficient. The pace of service was good. The wine pairings were well chosen, the size...

Excellent meal for all four of us. Quality cooking, lovely relaxed ambience with a stroll around the rear garden of this interesting location in York. A quiet and relaxed kitchen area providing elegant food. Comprehensive wine list. Delightful staff. In particular Johnny was outstanding. Friendly...

Excellent food, fantastic service from Johnny who made us feel very welcome and was able to talk us through the menu as well as a great knowledge of the wine list. Very much recommend this restaurant as someone who lives in York and eats out...

I went for a saturday lunch with my friends for a one day stay visit of York and we had a wonderful time! I am gluten-free and I had load of options! The cheese were very good and so well presented! I would really recommend taking it! I also would like to recommend the lime pie for dessert, one of the best dessert I ever had! Thank you so much!

This place should be fully booked every night! We booked for our 20th wedding anniversary as we were staying in York. We chose to have the Kitchen Menu with flight of wine, which we booked ahead of our visit. From the moment we walked in, we were very well looked after, spoiled even! What we had ordered was 5 courses, but we received canapés, an amuse bouche, a loaf of sourdough bread (essential for mopping up amazing sauces which you don't want to leave), five courses, and a tray of petit fours. Each course was cooked to perfection and full of flavour; we were surprised and delighted by elements which were crafted together into dishes which kept amazing us. Each of these was paired with a delicious range of wines which we would not have chosen ourselves, but which complemented and enhanced each part of the meal. We were introduced to every bottle, with an explanation of their origin, growers, and tasting notes. It's a lovely, comfortable restaurant for a special occasion, and the team is attentive and considerate. We definitely plan to return.

This place should be fully booked every night! We booked for our 20th wedding anniversary as we were staying in York. We chose to have the Kitchen Menu with flight of wine, which we booked ahead of our visit. From the moment we walked in,...

The waiter Johnny was so welcoming and friendly- so knowledgeable about the menu and anything he was unsure of he went and asked the chef for us Amazing food Amazing ambience Will definitely visit again when in York

Thank you for a wonderful dinner and ambiance. Food and service was superb ! We keep coming back to celebrate and appreciate good food and passion for it. Cheese board was an exceptional experience! Marzena & Berwyn

Our second visit to this lovely restaurant. Excellent service from the host in a relaxed minimalist but comfortable environment. Interesting menu, with our favourite dishes beautifully presented and cooked. Surprise extra courses make this a fine dining experience on a par with the best but...

We came for lunch just before heading back home from york. everything was fine! the food was good, not outstanding for the price, but good. Place has a weird vibe, its a bit quiet, and museum like.. but staff were fantastic, and made the experience.

A lovely three course meal. Ossett Buco was outstanding. Starters perfectly balanced. Sweets - Tiramichoux - a delight. Lovely atmosphere and excellent service. And all reasonably priced. Thoroughly recommended. Our friends felt that all three dishes were of Michelin * quality.

Had an excellent dinner at this understated restaurant. Although very central, you would not find it by chance. There are two and three course options preceded by excellent canapés, gorgeous bread and a chef's starter. The head waitress was on her own but still managed...

Excellent restaurant serving delicious food. Staff were very efficient. Great place for a delightful experience.

Simply outstanding. Every detail was spot on. Not a single misstep. Try Arras out, you'll not regret it. Innovative British food. Impeccable and friendly service. Innovative menu without being pretentious or just following latest trends.

This was an amazing last minute find for us as we managed to get a table a day or two before our trip. We were pleasantly surprised by all aspects of the food, venue and service. The menu must change frequently as we looked online...

An elegant, modern restaurant which offers a small fixed price menu with a few choices for each course. The food was outstanding, beautifully presented and very fresh. They asked if we had allergies and I said I disliked butter and cream but it wasn’t an...

I've been lucky enough to have eaten at York's best restaurants this year to celebrate my 50th year. I can confidently say this is my favourite! It was our 5th visit and it's so consistent for incredible food and superb service. I've included a few...

Although we Iive in York, this was our first time into this restaurant that's been there for c.5 years. We were a table of 4, and our friends were visiting. First inpression on entering was very clean, chic and modern decor, and comfortable. Everyone enjoyed...

Outstanding and innovative combination of flavours, colours and textures in each....EVERY morsel was delicious. Thoroughly recommend.

Décor -For me loved the simplicity and décor, although was unsure of the circulation of tables around a central wine station (although it was stunning!) which meant everyone was viewing each other -the wife found it austere Food - went for the 3 course, very...

Perfect in every way. Unexpected extensive beer menu with local brews. Out of this world wine list. Wonderful service and the kitchen provided an off the menu non mushroom vege starter. We found it to be more enjoyable than the Michelin stared restaurant located in...

Can I dine here every month or at least every excuse for a celebration rather than for the occasional big birthday - the one with a zero in the number. Because I love this restaurant. The menu, the cooking, the presentation and the tastes. How...

We came this week for a special celebration, having had to cancel due to Covid last year! We were warmly welcomed and taken to our table. The dining area was beautifully decorated and had a relaxing ambience. The waitress offered iced water and gave us menus to peruse. There’s such a fabulous choice that we were stuck on which to choose! Once our orders were taken, we were offered some canapés. They were described to us and we couldn’t wait to tuck in! Amazing bursts of flavours and beautifully presented! We also had a loaf of quinoa bread made from Little Arras. Next came the amuse bouche of Roscoff onions which again was delicious! The starters and mains were perfectly cooked and full of interesting flavours that hit the palate like a party! The desserts were amazing too! The service was impeccable and the staff were friendly! We absolutely enjoyed our experience and have no doubt that we will return again! We have frequented their other business, Little Arras regularly and appreciate the quality of the food served! Well done to the chefs for putting on a memorable meal for us!!

Fantastic food, service and ambience. It was all top notch. Would highly recommend. Best food we have eaten in a very long time.

Always exceptional quality and service!

Cool place with great views of the garden and the city walls. Great wine list. Excellent service. The food was delicious. Unusual menu but so tasty. Mackerel kedgeree, beautiful beef with griddled cabbage and a mix of scrumptious root veg. The desserts were to die for, quince meringue and tiramachuoe. Exquisite

This is a classy establishment with a stripped back decor with lovely views of the secret gardens and the York walls. The service is top notch with pleasing to the eye cutlery, glasses and crockery. The food is delicious. It is beautifully presented with tastes...

A simply sublime experience from the service, wines and the food, oh the food! We had the tasting menu or ‘kitchen menu’ and were taken on a culinary journey around the globe. What was special was the confidence of the cooking, using bold tastes but...

Our second visit and hopefully many more to come! Definitely worth eating here if you enjoy beautifully cooked and presented modern British cooking. The room is light, airy and comfortable and service on both occasions absolutely perfect. We thought lunch at £33 for 3 courses...

The food is the best I have been served in York. It's a great kitchen, and the staff care for you like you are the only people in the restaurant! We will be back next month.

This is undoubtable one of York best restaurants. A hidden Gem, with fantastic Food, great service and the best wine menu in the city explore this vast list and fine some top end wines. Its a fine dining restaurant and shall I say: not for...

Brilliant. Decent food and actually great value (if you go on a lunchtime). Also the best cheese selection I've ever seen. Some absolute bangers there.

Only down graded the atmosphere as we were the only couple dining. Everything else was superb, as was our delightful front of house host.

This is a great find…. We had the 3 course lunch … lovely food , great portions and stunning flavours … the staff are attentive and friendly, we will be back …. Def have the cheese board ! It’s the best I’ve had !!!

I visited Arras in January for the 3 course lunch with my wife as a birthday treat. When I initially suggested taking her to Bella Italia to use some some of our Tesco vouchers it never went down well, so when I searched somewhere a...

We ate a mostly good meal - many other guests seem to have enjoyed the same. We had concerns over the clarity and honesty of pricing as well as questions about the quality of cooking from the kitchen. I took down previous online reviews and...

Love this place, their ethos of the full sitting at their own pace is brave and puts you at the centre of the experience. Food, staff and atmosphere brilliant .

Do not wait. Book Arras. Enjoy the kitchen menu with 6 or 7 surprise dishes, the lovely attentive service in modern surroundings and a well chosen wine list with superb highlights. Thank me later for my recommendation. This was a great evening and when i...

Wonderful leisurely dining expeience. Superb food, just the right level of attention. Great friendly service. Great wines, with a carefully selected range. Just what fine dining should be.

Not your average restaurant, wonderful food, lovely setting and excellent staff. Expensive yes but worth the money as a treat. One of the best in York.

Food and service was excellent nice surroundings, even though it was a bit pricey it was thoroughly worth it and cannot wait to return, 5 stars to the staff.

Amazing food. There is no surprise that it is in the Michellin guide. An unassuming building which has been decorated to a smart style inside with welcoming and knowledgable staff. We had the Kitchen table menu - a surprise 5 course menu chosen by the...

I've been dreaming I'd see that dessert platter again for the last 10 years. 🫣🤤

We had never really heard of this place until we had a voucher given for Christmas,so booked well in advance for a Friday lunchtime. Well what a fantastic surprise as to how good this place is. I got an e-mail the week before confirming the...

Fine dining with reasonable portions.

We had an excellent meal here. The food and wine were brilliant and the atmosphere was very friendly for a fine dining restaurant. It only seats a few tables but still feels very relaxed and has very nice outdoor seating area in the garden. They...

Fabulous... had lunch - everything was superb. Will definitely return for dinner next time.

Attended as part of wedding party and had 7-course meal, food was lovely and well paced, came with alcoholic drinks to compliment the meals. Staff were lovely and accommodated individual requests e.g. non-alcoholic drinks for drivers and low alcohol tolerance people (like me!). Chairs and set up was very comfortable and environment was airy and well maintained temperature (given heatwave). Restaurant stayed open past usual close time to accommodate the wedding guests and no drink was left to run dry. My favourite course was the scallop and squid which (like the rest of the food) was built with complex flavours. Would recommend for a special occasion experience, or even a one off meal. Compliments to the serving staff and chefs!

Amazing food, incredible service! 😋

Today we had lunch at Arras, a Birthday treat for me. What a lovely experience. We loved the lay out and ambience and couldn’t fault the service or the food. We have been trying out other hi end restaurants in York, some “taster type” menus but prefer a decent portion from a small selection of dishes. (The poached chicken starter was fab) Thank you for a lovely day, we will be back !

Visited again for lunch when staying over in York . Cannot praise this place enough ,its relaxed light and airy and the food is to die for what more could you want .Front of house Anastasia is most pleasant and helpful looked after us like...

Lunch for 6 and it was an absolute delight. The restaurant has a very nice, relaxed atmosphere and the food is amazing. One of the best meals we’ve had for years. Excellent service too. Also, the chairs are so comfortable. Will be back.