Delrio’s Restaurant

Amazing calzone and great service will be back every time I’m in York …that’s all I’m going to say

I didn’t expect to walk into one of the best Italian restaurant I’ve ever been to. The foods from appetizers to pastas to the affogato are just extraordinary. Waiters are fun and talkative. The wine they recommended for us goes well with the foods. I couldn’t ask for more.

I wanted a quirky restaurant to dine in one evening, so I did a bit of research on a very popular search engine and up pops Delrio’s — a restaurant situated in a cellar!
This is a fantastic place to dine in York, and probably one of the best in the city. I really like the décor, and the service was relatively quick and friendly. I ordered the steak with vegetables, and it was cooked really nicely. The only thing I wasn’t a big fan was, was the soured beetroot, but overall a really nice main course. After a satisfying main course, I had to have dessert. I was in a phase where I was obsessed with profiteroles, so I ordered their homemade profiteroles with chocolate sauce and boy did they not disappoint!
I would definitely recommend this restaurant to any restaurant lover, and this was the best Italian restaurant I have dined in, is also very competitively priced!

Having been staying in York for a couple of weeks in digs, I found this place and have now eaten there alone three times over a week. It’s a Sardinian restaurant. The waiting staff operate in the way I am used to Italian waiters in Italy, where it is vocational. They take care over their work. By the third time I came in they remembered me and understood my requirements. As a solo diner, they always managed to find me a little tucked in place where I could enjoy my meal, and I never felt rushed or ignored. It’s pretty good value, if you’re restrained. I had the Syrah, which they sell by the glass, and the first night I had the special, which was a lovely squid ink linguini. I was surprised that the specials didn’t change over the course of a week, but I’ve tried a few of the other options on the menu and have always been satisfied. The five star rating is not to say that this is the best Italian food I have ever had. But it is to say that here, in York, you’re not going to get better. And the atmosphere, décor and staff add to the whole experience. Great service, good food, good atmosphere. I noticed that service is not added to the bill, and they do not do that thing of making you say yes or no when you pay by card. So if you did enjoy it, don’t forget to tip!

This is an amazing restaurant, fantastic food with out a doubt this is mine and my wife’s favourite restaurant to visit when in York, the service is great, the atmosphere is also great. I can’t give high enough praise I love this place, went on about it to my friends and they thought I was exaggerating until they went and quote «Some of the best food we have had in a long time». Check this place out!
(Based on 4 visits)

Excellent food and atmosphere
Worth finding this gem
Nice for couples place relaxed unhurried meal
Will be back again soon

Ate here 24^th Oct, it was a recommendation from our hotel. We didn’t book and arrived around 9 pm, we were shown to seating at the bar whilst a table was prepared, the very short wait was worth it, a cosy table in a alcove. The food was excellent, with great service and very well priced. Would recommend this place to all

Was here the other night with a couple friends and was terribly sorry we had to catch a train and couldnt stay longer. I have never encountered a more friendly staff in the UK than I did at Delrio’s. From the host to the server to the food runner everyone was absolutely lovely and really gave our meal that extra spark.
It isnt the best Italian food I have ever had, but it is certainly very good and done well with obvious attention given to each dish. I have dairy issues, but was desperate for a side of spinach. Without even having to ask, our server checked with the chef about making a side of spinach without butter (yes!). THAT my friends is a sign of a good restaurant. Id give 5 stars alone for that.
We all commented that the restaurant had a particularly homey feel and that even though it was full, the small room we were in gave it a cozy feel. Maybe it was the nice bottle of red wine we had that made everything seem so rosy, but I will definitely be returning to Delrio’s on my next York trip.

Excellent food, service, price and atmosphere. A good menu and a specials board with a selection of quite unusual dishes. A decent selection of wines and beers. Can get very busy.

I have eaten here a few times in the past but to be honest… the 5 star is only if the head chef is working… Garrissimo I think the waiter called him which must be Italian for Gary.
Man that man knows how to cook. He is one awesome chef and that place should be renamed Gario’s if there was any justice in this world.
He knows how to make bass succulent and even goldilocks would find his meals, just right. And I don’t think he is even Italian. Avoid this guy’s days off– you can ask when you call and they are really helpful because they are so used to people asking apparently so long has that chef worked the joint. He is Delrios. Cook in peace Garrisimo from a satisfied Los Angelean.

Ace. V traditional downstairs Sardinian trattoria. Great atmos. nice food freshly cooked from open-​fronted kitchen. Extensive menu inc pizza/​pasta & specials. Fast paced friendly service.
A little old-​fashioned but in a nice way.

Had read elsewhere that this was a well rated restaurant, we turned up without a booking at around 8.15pm on a Friday, so would not have been surprised if there was no room, and it did look full! But, no worries the very helpful maître d’ scanned the restaurant booking sheet, thought for just a moment, beckoned one of the friendly waitresses over and asked her to take us to a table.
Nice location, corner of the room. The whole restaurant had a pleasant bistro/​bohemian ambiance to it. We were given sufficient time to study the menu and drinks were delivered promptly whilst we were deciding.
I had the Sea Bass in lime and coriander, my date the Tuna Steak. Both were excellent. After our meal we say in the bar area for coffee. We asked if there were any mints, which there were not, but the waitress behind the bar returned shortly with a couple of sticks of her own mint chewing gum for us!
My only, and it’s a very small, criticism was that it got rather warm inside and as the restaurant is located downstairs in a sub-​basement area was a little bit stuffy. But then this was late July and probably as warm as it’s ever going to get.
Would definitely eat there again.

My husband and I love nothing more than taking weekend breaks around the UK to experience the different culture of each city. He enoys showing Britain to his American wife, and I enjoy seeing the width and breadth of this tiny island.
Unfortunately, we tend to use the following pattern unfailingly:
–rock up in city
–look around a bit
–eat too much food at lunch
–have a cheeky drink (or three)
–see more of city
–have ridiculous amounts of food for dinner
–drink enough alcohol to float York Minster
–spend Sunday slogging through tourist attractions, bleary-​eyed, trying not to take our hangovers out on each other.
And where does Delrio’s fit into this? In the «have ridiculous amounts of food and alcohol for dinner» bit.
After having Googled around a bit and seeing nearlty unanimous 5-​star reviews for the restaurant, husband made a booking. Apparently Delrio’s serves its own take on traditional Sardinian food (not the fish, the island, in case you think to ask, like I did).
Delrio’s is located just the other side of Mickelgate, one of the gates in the walls around York. It’s a cellar restaurant, so one goes through the entrance, and down a flight of stairs.
There is a delightful montage of Italian, American and British photos, memorabilia and souvenirs gracing the walls as you descend the stairs.
Upon entering the restaurant, diners see the bar located on the left and the restaurant straight ahead. There are about 25 tables, so booking is essential.
The décor is welcoming, warm and quaint, replete with crumbling brick walls, dried herbs, ceiling decorations and wine bottles tied with string.
The atmosphere is small and homey, just like many tiny Italian eateries in Little Italy. There are several small nooks with tables for two.
There is nothing worse than being in a small restaurant and feeling as if you’re sitting right on top of other diners, but Delrio’s makes the best of their space. They also play Italian music loudly enough so that the table next to you can’t hear your discussion of bodily functions — always handy.
Each table is graced with a table cloth and a Chianti bottle overflowing with multicoloured candle wax. Anywhere else, this would come over as naff, but Delrio’s managed to make it kitschy and charming.
Onto the food…
Hubby had ordered a bottle of champagne to arrive at the table when we did. The manager brought it over with gusto and flair, and made cheeky comments, which I love, but some may not enjoy.
A waitress walked around telling diners each of the specials, asking if she could get anything. We were then presented with menus, which are heavy on the meat dishes (most females under 30 aren’t heard ordering lamb’s kidneys) and pizza.
However, portion size is small enough that dishes aren’t overwhelming. And what Delrio’s gets astonishingly right is their sauces — gorgeously aromatic enough to make Posh Spice want to lick her plate.
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever tasted such delicately flavoured food.
For starters, we both had Scallops wrapped in Parma Ham, with a ginger vinaigrette sauce. We were in Foody Heaven! Score one for Delrio’s.
After that we had some garlic pizza bread, very light, well-​raised pizza dough, not too heavy.
Hubby had Whole Baked Seabass for his main, and it was grilled to perfection with minimal seasoning.
I had Chicken breast pan-​fried with tiger prawns
in white wine, mustard and cream sauce.
This sauce was so divine, I really wanted to bathe in it. Even with the smallish portions, I felt like I was eating a feast. Each bite tasted better and better.
For dessert, we had the Special: Whipped Cheesecake with chocolate-​covered honeycomb. Dear God, I nearly spontaneously combusted, it was so good.
We were pleased with everything we tried, and would gladly go back, just to wash dishes in the kitchen and eat diner’s leftovers — drool-​worthy cuisine in the heart of York!
The wine list isn’t extensive, and is mostly by the bottle. Unless you skip the starter and order a pasta or pizza dish, expect to spend no less than £50 for two.
Absolutely worth it, though.

Sit downstairs and your in the old cellars. Good food and service.