I’ve been lucky enough to eat and rest at The Dev‘ before and was confident that it would justify the drive to the Dales so we earmarked a day to make the most of its delights, also planning a stroll up to the Abbey and nearby stepping stones. Evidently when we arrived I still had my blinkers on, needing a bit of a pointer to the Devonshire Arms Champagne and Seafood Terrace that was just the other side of the building from my parking spot. The structure in which you dine here feels very far from those traps of anonymity some less imaginative venues have fallen into, the surrounding view, the terrace and the hotel itself all complementing one another to produce a striking and memorable place to dine.

The menu hits all the notes you’d expect of a seafood restaurant with a broad selection of dishes that strayed notably from the sample menu on the website, indicating the dishes reflecting the availability of different seafoods and evolving to accommodate. Unsurprisingly Laurent-Perrier Champagne is also available by the glass, something we were more than happy to indulge ourselves in while getting into the detail of our choices. We started on some whitebait with garlic aioli that came to life under a good squeeze of fresh lemon before moving onto a more substantial crab rarebit served on brioche. Alternating mouthfuls of whitebait and crab meat with sips of champagne proved as enjoyable an occupation as you’d imagine, the crispy whitebait pairing particularly well with the fizz. Crab rarebit can be a bit of a tightrope but the delicate meat wasn’t overwhelmed by the well judged cheese sauce and the sweet brioche underpinned the lot admirably. Mackerel pate was also served on slices of brioche and delightfully executed, really letting the meat make itself heard along with some pickles to provide sharp relief. We also took down a large bowl of crayfish tails and rounded off the selection with a baby potato salad dressed with miso mayonnaise and a subtle dash of oyster powder. To finish off we shared a selection of cheese, that had come from the superbly consistent Courtyard Dairy and represented their high standards very well along with some chutney and fruit breads. We also grabbed some seashell chocolates to nibble on with coffee.

In the midst of challenging times, The Devonshire has done a fantastic job of maintaining its sense of prestige and occasion, with the Devonshire Arms Champagne and Seafood Terrace instantly marking itself out as a desirable destination. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, which was given the best possible platform by the environment and represented greater value than I expected with hearty portions a little at odds with the fine dining backdrop, though none the worse for that generosity! Hopefully next summer we’ll have the option to eat inside, but options to enjoy the Yorkshire outdoors in surroundings such as this will always be appreciated.

Disclaimer: PR visit supplied for purposes of review.

The post Devonshire Arms Champagne and Seafood Terrace appeared first on York on a Fork.

Hotel du Vin York is just a short stroll outside the city walls, through Micklegate Bar toward the Racecourse, and presents a smart frontage to welcome you away from the bustle of the traffic. The interior is as classy and understated as you’d both expect and hope, with various spaces available to relax and dine in. We passed through the bar on the way to a dining space made airy by the large glass area in the roof. We chose a table in a quiet corner and made ourselves ready for the treats to come.

Being a Champagne Afternoon Tea, champagne was a logical starting point and staff were on hand quickly to start pouring for us to relax into the food, which arrived after a polite but short interval. We worked from the bottom of the tiered cake stand upwards, tackling savoury first. These included a couple of the usual suspects such as egg mayonnaise on brioche and smoked salmon & cream cheese on rye along with more unusual offerings. It’d be hard not to enjoy a mini-croissant stuffed with ham & Gruyere but we particularly liked the goat’s cheese & spinach quiche and heritage tomato galette.

With the lower tier cleared, we started about the sweet elements while enjoying all the tea we could possibly want. The cakes were certainly pretty and the taste lived up to the presentation. The “Tutti Frutti” macaron was a delightfully speckled mouthful to start off (though don’t hold them too long, the food colouring runs and turns your thumb embarrassingly yellow) and all the more satisfying when followed with a pistachio pin wheel that brought to mind a rather more prosaic Swiss roll in its presentation. My favourite was the rhubarb and custard tart which didn’t let the acidity of the rhubarb overwhelm the sweet custard.

Afternoon Teas are often deceptively filling and this proved no exception. We took the majority of the scones home with us, but not before checking they were up to scratch and well paired with quality jam and cream.

I seem to have been invited to more than my fair share of afternoon teas over the last couple of years and this one happily holds its own in good company. It was also a pleasure to reacquaint myself with Hotel du Vin York and be reminded of what a lovely venue it is.

Disclaimer: No charge was made for my attendance. Opinions remain impartial.

The post Afternoon Tea with Hotel du Vin York appeared first on York on a Fork.