Looking for the best Italian restaurants in York?
There are countless excellent places to eat in York, so choosing where to eat can be difficult when visiting this historic city. The city boasts a superb reputation as being one of Yorkshire’s leading foodie hotspots so pretty much every preference and mealtime is well catered for in York.
You’ll find everything from contemporary hotels offering bottomless brunches and quirky cafes serving afternoon tea to independent gastropubs serving Sunday lunch and independent bistros offering family-friendly dining.
Sometimes, however, nothing will quite hit the spot quite like Italian cuisine. If you’re seeking somewhere in the city to satisfy your craving for carbonara or tantalise your tastebuds with tiramisu, read on to discover our guide to the best Italian restaurants in York…
5 Italian Restaurants in York You Need To Try
Marzano Italian Grill
13 Fossgate, York YO1 9TA
Marzano Italian Grill is a cosy bistro-style restaurant on Fossgate serving classic and contemporary Italian dishes.
In a convenient city centre location and open from midday, it’s a great choice for those seeking an authentic Italian lunch during a day’s sightseeing. The set menu they offer Monday to Thursday lunchtimes enables guests to order both a starter and a main for just £14.95. Begin with Arancini, Bruschetta or perhaps the Capra Grill which comprises toasted ciabatta topped with crumbly goats cheese and caramelised onions. There’s an impressive assortment of main courses to choose from too – probably more than one would usually find on a set lunch menu.
Marzano’s offers another set menu on weekends. This one is priced marginally higher with two courses for £19.50 but there are more dishes to choose from including some of the restaurant’s premium dishes like the 8oz Rump Steak and Linguine Gamberone. For an additional £4, a dessert can be enjoyed also.
Of course, if you prefer free reign when choosing your dishes, there’s a great main menu at Marzano’s, packed with tasty mains, starters and desserts. On there you’ll find ravioli, risotto, sharing platters, pizza, calzone, baked pasta dishes and some superb meat dishes. Starters cost £7.50 – 9.50 and mains are priced from £11.45 (Margherita Pizza) and £24.50 (8oz Ribeye).
Delrio’s Restaurant
10-12 Blossom Street, York YO24 1AE
Delrio’s is an independent Italian restaurant in York, housed in an underground cellar next to Micklegate Bar. Exposed brickwork, cosy alcoves and rustic decor combine to provide a relaxing and romantic ambience, making Delrio’s one of the best Italian restaurants in York for a date night.
The family-run local favourite is open Tuesday to Saturday evenings only and serves menus based on traditional Italian recipes, plus a number of Sardinian-inspired dishes. The majority of the dishes are prepared using locally sourced ingredients and the delicious desserts on the menu are made by their very own talented pastry chef.
The menu features a delicious array of starters like fresh burrata with cherry tomatoes and pesto, homemade soup, garlic mushrooms and stuffed aubergine. Many of their fish and seafood mains are also available as a starter.
Main course choices are varied with all the expected Italian favourites on offer like Tagliatelle carbonara, Risotto ai funghi and Lasagne in addition to a number of Sardinian delights that the Sardinian owners of Delrio’s have masterfully perfected.
Expect to pay £5.25 – 9.75 for antipasti and anything from £10.50 to £26.95 for a main. I particularly like the sound of the Moscardini alla Diavola, which comprises baby octopus cooked in chilli, garlic and tomato, served with toasted bread. Squisito!
Il Paradiso del Cibo
40 Walmgate, York YO1 9TJ
Prior to opening Il Paradiso del Cibo on Walmgate, Paolo Silesu held roles at numerous Italian restaurants in York. Although upon first glance, the unassuming exterior of Il Paradiso may lead one to believe it offers nothing different or particularly special, this compact and homely restaurant is a must-visit for lovers of Italian cuisine.
Paolo heads a small team of staff who are as dedicated to providing an authentic Italian dining experience as he is himself. Drawing on their personal heritage and impressive culinary experience, they create appetizing menus of Sardinian-influenced Italian classics plus, creative specials which showcase seasonal ingredients.
In addition to expected starters like Bruschetta and Caprese, you’ll find specials such as the £9.95 Cozze e Vongole (fresh mussels and clams with tomato, garlic, chilli and basil) and the £8.95 Crostini di Burrata (toasted sourdough with fig compote, burrata and crispy prosciutto). There are a number of pizzas and pasta to choose from plus, a few risotto mains. Special mains include the delicious-sounding Porceddu alla Sarda which is priced at £19.95 and comprises slow-roasted free-range pork, braised baby broad beans, pancetta and rosemary potatoes.
Little Italy
12 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LQ
Little Italy first opened its doors in 1992 and boasts an enviable reputation for its welcoming atmosphere and superb, gourmet cuisine. It’s one of the most recommended Italian restaurants in York but also, one of the best delis in the city too. Once you’ve savoured the culinary delights on offer in the restaurant, you can pick up some excellent quality ingredients to recreate the tastes and flavours you’ve enjoyed at home.
As is often the case at most Italian restaurants, the menu at Little Italy is varied and features a great selection of traditional starters plus a mixture of pasta, fish and grilled meat mains. Starters are priced from £4.95 for marinated olives served with freshly baked bread to £12.95 for the delectable Fritto Misto – a mixture of lightly fried calamari, tiger prawns and fresh salmon.
Again, main courses vary considerably in price but average at around £15 for a pasta dish, £15.95 ( Pollo all Griglia – grilled chicken breast) to £30.95 ( 400g prime ribeye steak) for meat and fish-based dishes. My choice for the main course would most certainly be the Mafaldine Pistacchio Gamberi – homemade ribbon pasta served with tiger prawns and pistachio pesto then topped with a whole burrata (£21.95). Wow!
La Vecchia Scuola
62 Low Petergate, York YO1 7HZ
If you’re looking for Italian restaurants in York suitable for special occasions and celebrations then look no further! La Vecchia Scuola is housed in a 300-year-old Georgian college building and boasts the most beautiful decor. If the opulent elegance of La Vecchia Scuola’s interiors isn’t enough to tempt you then you may be swayed by their carefully curated menu. Inventive and varied, it caters to both traditional and contemporary tastes.
Those visiting for lunch can order from a dedicated set menu which offers one course for £10, two courses for £16 and three for £22. The options on here are spectacularly good with starters including calamari served with courgette crisps and fried polenta topped with mushrooms in a gorgonzola sauce and hazelnut crumbs. The varied range of main courses includes favourites like pizza, calzone, carbonara, lasagne and arancini as well as a couple of meat and fish mains.
Evening diners also have access to a special set menu which offers multiple courses for a set price, however, there are fewer options in this one than there are on the lunchtime set menu. With so many delicious dishes to choose from on the main menu, we’d recommend browsing that first. Starters cost £8.95 to £11.95 and mains range between £14.95 and £29.95, with the highest price dish being the fillet steak.
As with all our articles of this nature, we will add to this list as and when we discover, visit or are introduced to other businesses. To recommend your favourite Italian restaurants in York or request our media kit, please email business@theyorkshirepress.co.uk
