Ate O Clock Reviews

My husband and I had lunch at Ate O' Clock today and we could not fault it. We chose from the special lunchtime menu, which is served from 12 pm – 2 pm, Tuesday to Friday. The restaurant is reached via a fairly long alley but the restaurant itself is nice and welcoming, although the music was a bit too loud for me. My husband had mushroom soup with cheesy toast followed by the Thai fishcake, while I had the duck pâté also followed by the Thai fishcake. The food was wonderful and the staff were friendly, cheery, and helpful. This we chose from the not so extensive, £8.80 per person menu, and we thought it was really good value for money. We'd definitely pay Ate O' Clock another visit next time we're in York.

We have just returned after spending the Bank Holiday weekend in York. Our trip was a memorable one made all the more special after our pre-booked meal at Ate O Clock on Saturday evening. The restaurant was reached down a small alleyway off the main drag of shops, whilst the alley was very quaint in the evening it looked a little tired in the day. The ambience as soon as you open the door to the restaurant and welcoming décor is perfect. We received a very warm welcome when we arrived and were shown to our table within 5 minutes although the restaurant was fully booked. The food couldn't be faulted and we both agreed is amongst the best tasted on our many trips away. The complementary bread, raspberry and black pepper, and small tureen of soup was a lovely touch. My husband also particularly liked the idea of his main course of beef cooked in 3 different styles. I had a chicken and mushroom dish which was perfect and we enjoyed the cheese soufflé to start. We had 2 bottles of wine, brandy and a coffee, which came with parkin cake, for just over £70 which shows, as well as being a great place to eat it's also good on price. We'll definitely go again to eat and have already started to tell our friends what a hidden gem it is.

I eat at Ate O Clock several times a year and the menu offers plenty of tantalising choices. There is always local produce and unsustainable cod has been removed from the menu to help with conservation. Yesterday the Valentine's weekend was extended to include Sunday. As ever we were not disappointed. Once you have ordered you are offered a choice of homemade flavoured bread. We both chose to eat dishes from the specials menu, which adds 3 or 4 choices to the 6 or 7 on the printed menu for both starter and mains. The tomato and herb bruschetta was delicious and the duck confit with oriental salad was also very good. Lamb shank and sirloin steak were both beautifully cooked and desserts were also good. We paid £67 for two including two individual glasses of wine. The service is friendly and Kenny steps out of the kitchen several times during the evening to see that his guests are happy, which doesn't happen in chain restaurants. It's a pleasure to recommend Ate O Clock.

My hubby and I went on a freezing cold Saturday night to this lovely restaurant. It was busy but not over crowded at all. The members of staff were friendly and assured; they offered advice on the specials menu but didn't push anything in particular. They were all charming and smiling too, which is nice to see. We opted for different meals each in order to sample a wider range and none of it disappointed. The 'amuse bouche' which came as a complimentary appetiser after ordering was delicious - a canapé sized tartlet of herbed cheese topped with 1/4 cherry tomato and a tiny basil leaf. There was also a selection of breads to choose from - tomato and olive or pumpkin. We both opted for the tomato one and both these little tempting morsels just took the edge off the hunger while we waited. Our starters were chilli and garlic king prawn kebab for me, which had just the right amount of heat and the prawns were cooked perfectly and the belly pork with Ate O’clock chips - the crackling was so divine and the pork meltingly tender, I could have eaten it all but it was hubby’s so I resisted! This was followed by Bolton Abbey lamb shank with chorizo mash and poached pear for me, which I enjoyed but not too sure about the pear bit. Other half had a trio of meats - lamb, pork and beef, which were served with their own little sides and were all cooked perfectly. We ordered a side of chips and were not over stuffed by the end although we had to leave one chip behind.

The puddings all sounded nice, but nothing really stood out to tempt so we were good and had a coffee and port instead. There is a wide selection of cheeses to choose from and a special pudding, which was rhubarb and apple crumble. The service was steady and un-rushed, which made the whole atmosphere relaxed and friendly. The only little thing was that our table was right next to a service door, which gave an icy blast when it was opened but they were not in and out of it all the time and the food more than made up for it. I might ask to be seated somewhere else next time though. Please give this a try - I think lunchtimes would be an excellent time to try it out and the offers are good value for money. There is also an early bird menu mid week, which offers a set meal with something for everyone. Our evening a la carte meal bill came to £65. We were more than happy to pay that, we've paid a lot more for mediocre food in York. This gets 5 stars in our book. We've even re-booked for a special birthday meal in May and will be recommending it to all our friends. Get yourself booked in!

Sometimes, part of the fun of eating out is finding that special place; well this restaurant is secreted at the bottom of a passageway near the centre of York. I found the place relaxing, friendly with welcoming, efficient staff. The service had that personal touch, not stuffy but just spot on awareness where needed. It’s not a large establishment, opening a few years ago, a characteristic mission of a well known chef, who has been in the York area for some time. Familiar food on the menu with interesting diversity made it an easy choice. Our food was delivered fresh and on the whole was sourced locally, which was good to see. It was cooked to order straight from the kitchen. The food style I would say is modern European with a Mediterranean feel. An establishment I would have no qualms recommending for any occasion, including those imperative business lunches.

This is the second time I've eaten at the Ate O'Clock and once again it was superb. The food was absolutely fantastic, locally sourced and well presented. The ambience of the restaurant, along with the guitarist, was great. Too many restaurants in York fall victim to good press and then become complacent, this has not happened here. The chef pops out to check how the food is being received and the members of staff were extremely attentive, efficient and friendly. An absolute must for locals and tourists alike. Make sure you book though.

Finding the right place in Central York to entertain our American friends is always a challenge but not so at Ate O'Clock. The food choice provided was excellent, the quality and presentation of all meals, truly superb, and the atmosphere, wonderful, added to by the musician. The service we received from arrival to departure was spot-on. Our waiter was very attentive and professional and we enjoyed the interaction and humour of the other members of the team. What also meant a huge amount to us was the chef-owner's visit during our meal and that he found the time on a very busy evening to come and say goodbye. We had high expectations following our previous visit and these were most certainly surpassed in every way. Perfection! Ate O'clock is certainly the number one restaurant in York, which we are recommending. Long may they reign.

My husband and I ate at the restaurant last Saturday, and it was superb. We had our seven month old baby with us and the members of staff were very attentive and accommodating. The food was first class and as we did the early bird menu, we had a free bottle of wine with our meal. We were very impressed with the restaurant and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others. We will definitely return there.

We ate there on a Saturday as this place was recommended by friends and were not disappointed. The food was fantastic and the service was excellent with very attentive and knowledgeable staff. It was nice to see the chef come round and talk to customers about their food. I think this is the best meal we've had in York and we’re looking forward to go again - if we can get a table!

This was highly recommended to me by friends and I was not let down. The restaurant is only small so we were lucky to make a reservation as it was fully booked by around 11:30. We arrived early, which gave us a chance to view the wine list in the comfortable waiting area. We were seated five minutes before our actual reservation time. When seated, we were given short but specific details of the specials board, how fresh the main ingredients were and where they came from. My partner and I both ate starter and main courses off the specials board although the main menu looked both original and appealing too. All the food seemed fresh, local produce prepared on the premises. The staff were all well presented and knowledgeable about the food and wine. I found the atmosphere very relaxing and comfortable and the service was excellent throughout the night. After fantastic food, wine and service I would rate my experience of this restaurant very highly and will certainly go again in the future.