Oshibi, Fossgate

Located in Franklin’s Yard, off Fossgate, Oshibi was York’s first Korean restaurant. Here, you can tuck into a barbeque buffet with meats that you cook for yourself on a tiny tabletop grill. These include spicy pork, bulgogi beef, chicken teriyaki and seafood, all of which are served with rice, salad, dips, banchan and kimchi. Oshibi’s dining style is informal – its food is intended to be shared and its guests are encouraged to order as little and as often as they please. If you’d rather leave the cooking to the professionals, there are also many speciality dishes to choose from, such as Ojingo Bokkeum (spicy stir fried squid) or Korean favourite Bibimbap. Among the desserts are Bingsoo – a snow dessert that comes in a variety of flavours – or hot filled Korean pancakes.

Jorvine, Main Street

This independent wine shop in Fulford is just the spot for those who want to chill out while discovering their new favourite wine. Jorvine has several atmospheric spaces, from its stylish tasting lounge to its garden room and sunny courtyard. There are more than 400 wines to try here, including some unusual varieties that you certainly won’t have heard of or tried before. Jorvine offers you the chance to create your very own tasting flight with a choice of three or five cheeses. Alternatively, you can order a cheese and charcuterie board to eat alone or share between two or four people. This features Italian cured meats such as salami with fennel, coppa di Parma and Serrano ham, while the cheeses include manchego, Yorkshire blue and taleggio. These are accompanied by Haxby Bakehouse focaccia, balsamic pickled onions, stuffed peppers, artichoke, tomorosso, roquito pepper pearls and a balsamic onion chutney.

Zaap, Lendal

With lively, colourful decor and a menu devoted to the very best offerings from the world’s street food capital, this Thai restaurant turns a casual meal out into a mini adventure. Behind Zaap’s unassuming frontage you’ll find a bustling Bangkok food market, complete with neon signs and faux stalls. There are more than eighty authentic Thai street food dishes to try here, including summer specials like ‘Larb Gai Krob’: pieces of crispy wok-fried chicken breast in a spicy larb-style dressing, or ‘Guay Tiew Hang’, rice noodles with bean sprouts, spring onion, coriander, lime, peanuts, garlic oil and pork or mixed seafood. If you’re a fan of Dim Sum, you can tuck into steamed or fried dumplings here, or share a ‘Bangkok Platter’, which features five of the restaurant’s most popular nibbles. Zaap’s drinks menu features refreshing bubble teas with fruity, fizzy and boozy options, alongside smoothies, cocktails and exciting new soft drinks like Coco Chan coconut juice with butterfly pea and maraschino cherry.

Los Moros, Grape Lane

Los Moros celebrates the culinary heritage of North Africa with a modern menu that’s bursting with bold flavours and new ideas. Many of the restaurant’s ingredients are made on the premises, including its preserved lemons, chermoula and Merguez sausages. The meat, fish and ‘squeaky’ cheese are also sourced locally, and there’s plenty of choice for vegans and vegetarians here. You can start a meal with small plates like mussels on Haxby toast or Boulettes De Sardine. Los Moros’ larger plates are also ideal for sharing and these include such delights as grilled octopus with hazelnut muhammara and squid ink balsamic, or a roast aubergine ‘boat’ accompanied by baba ganoush and vegan nduja chickpeas ragout. To finish, there are peach melba cigars or rose cheesecake with a raspberry puree and turkish delights pearls. Los Moros’ interior boasts colourful souk-style tiling and the restaurant has a walled courtyard garden where you can dine al fresco among the palms.

Pairings, Castlegate

If you’d like to catch up with a friend over a platter of delicious cheese and charcuterie, Pairings might be the place to head. This sophisticated bar is run by two sisters who wanted to create a relaxing and sociable environment in which to savour great wines. For those looking to increase their own wine knowledge or try something new, one of Pairings’ flights is a must. These include three glasses of wine that have been expertly paired with a selection of cheese, meat, fish or vegan accompaniments. You’ll also find whiskies, gins and cocktails on the drinks list here, and these can be enjoyed while grazing on plates of pork rillettes, smoked mackerel pate or the ultimate Pairings offering: a deli platter for two. For afters, there are puddings like a summer fruits brulee tart or lime and ginger crumb cheesecake.

Cresci Pizzeria, Piccadilly

Pizza is the ultimate comfort food and the talented team at Cresci are proud to share their passion for the traditions of Southern Italy with the people of York. Cresci serves authentic neapolitan pizzas that are wood fired for a thin base and crisp crust. In fact, the restaurant is accredited by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), an organisation which promotes and protects this regional speciality. After indulging in starters like Frittatina Di Bucatini Cacio e Pepe – battered, deep fried pasta in a béchamel sauce – you can choose from a menu of classic pizzas or seasonal specials like the spicy Calabrese with Spilinga ‘Nduja and Calabrian spianata, or the Salsiccia e Porcini with sautéed porcini mushrooms and fennel flavoured sausage. The pizzeria’s interior has been kept satisfyingly simple and down-to-earth, just like the food that it serves.

Coconut Lagoon, Clarence Street

This fuss-free Indian restaurant provides honest, home cooked South Indian food in a welcoming environment. The south of India is a vibrant part of the world that’s renowned for its gastronomic delights – Coconut Lagoon offers its diners a chance to experience the region’s original flavours in traditional dishes, some of which are even served with a fresh banana leaf. Among the starters here are Uzhunnu Vada (savoury lentil doughnuts) and marinated deep fried beef. You can then move on to a vegetarian Puttu and Kadala Curry made with brown chickpeas in spiced sauce and accompanied by steamed rice flour and grated coconut. Meaty mains include Chef Sail’s special sizzling Chicken Kadai. There’s also the rich and creamy Fish Moilee, which features tender pieces of fish cooked in coconut milk with almond paste.

Images- @tascafrango, @pairingswinebar