The Biltmore Bar & Grill
Price guide: Mid-range
Swingegate, York, Yorkshire, YO1 8AZ
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#17 of 20
expert-rated restaurants in York- Recommended for:
- Couples, Families with teenagers, Stag / hen parties, Design and architecture, Nightlife, People watching, Trendiness
Expert review of The Biltmore Bar & Grill
Fashionable and popular, come the weekends this is a place to be seen if not always heard.
Occasionally I like my nights out to be loud and vibrant, so long as it comes with a good dose of comfort. Rich in character, this former church hall has been transformed into one of the city’s most stylish and popular night time rendezvous’ with a lively bar and grill downstairs overlooked by a restaurant with champagne bar on the gallery.
Food and drink:
Very much dedicated to meat, the 28 day matured steaks are the feature of the ‘vintage’ menu, though vegetarians are accommodated by a small selection of dishes such as
polenta cake with Yorkshire blue cheese, wild mushroom fricassee, spinach and chive butter. Peppered tuna, cod fillet with chorizo and lemon sole with capers offer a main course seafood alternative. The new world dominates the manageable wine list, while house cocktails and bottle beers from across the globe give plenty of alternatives.
Recommended dishes:
On my last visit I opted for the pan fried scallops accompanied by local black pudding and pea puree followed by the monkfish wrapped in prosciutto atop herb risotto. Both were perfectly well presented and proportioned with the monkfish particularly succulent.
Ambience:
The former mission hall has retained much of its cavernous layout and original features that combine well with luxuriant Art Deco inspired fixtures and decoration. I’ve only visited at weekends when the place is heaving downstairs with drinkers surrounding the island bar and diners tightly packed in upstairs on the 3 sided gallery. The restaurant demure is smart though the noise from below keeps the ambience informal, especially after 10pm when the sound system gets cranked-up.
Service:
One of York’s most popular hot spots, stylish staff dressed in black buzz around the tables with attentive friendliness.
Location:
In the heart of the city, The Biltmore is on a small side street known locally for its collection of bars and restaurants.
Price advice:
During the evening expect to pay £6.50-£8.50 for an appetiser, £12.00-£23.00 for a main course and from £18.00 upwards for a bottle of wine. Early bird pizza and pasta specials are available at £20.00 for two people including a bottle of wine, while the bar has happy hours from Sun-Fri with drinks at nearly half normal prices.
Tables to book:
Aim for a table upstairs next to the balcony to witness the good times rolling amongst the thronging masses surrounding the bar below.
More information on The Biltmore Bar & Grill:
- Price guide:
- Type:
- Bar, Brasserie, Restaurant
- Food:
- British, Mediterranean
- Address:
- Swingegate, York, Yorkshire, YO1 8AZ
- Telephone:
- +44 1904 610 075
- Website:
- http://www.thebiltmorebarandgrill.com
- Serves:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Opening times:
- Mon-Tue 5pm-midnight, Wed-Fri 11.30am-midnight, Sat 11.30-1am, Sun noon-12am.
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Reservations:
- Essential at peak times
