Lunch at The Guy Fawkes Inn Review – The Guy Fawkes Inn can be found on High Petergate, right next to St Michael Le Belfrey Church and in the shadow of the Minster.
It’s a gorgeous and historic building and according to their website the “very birthplace of the notorious plotter, Guy Fawkes.”
I’ve had drinks in the bar of The Guy Fawkes Inn plenty of times, but I’ve never eaten there, nor did I know what a simply huge place it was!
As well as the two bars at the front there is a large candlelit dining room at the back.
Beyond that room there are two large and cosy beer gardens (if the first one looks full, do check the second, it’s quite hidden, but very pretty!).
Both beer gardens have cushions and warm throws as well as large gas heaters.
The secret beer garden is darker than the first but is lit by festoon lights and candles on the table. Perfect for cold winter evenings or balmy summer ones!
We visited at lunchtime when they have an à la carte menu as well as a competitively priced set menu. Now, the first thing I must say is that the portion size is simply huge. My friend chose the ‘Hand Battered Haddock Fillet, served with hand-cut chips, mushy peas and tartar sauce’ (she requested garden peas rather than the mushy variety).
This was the largest fish and chips I have ever seen in a restaurant. I have two pictures for you – firstly the pretty food picture, and secondly a picture with my hand in it for scale as I don’t think the pretty picture does it justice!
I have to say it was very reasonably priced too. We had fish and chips in Whitby at the weekend and this was the same price but twice the size! I chose one of my favourites – steak pie, but not just steak pie, ‘Guy Fawkes Famous Steak Pie’, with baby onions, button mushrooms and smoked bacon, buttered mash and gravy.
Again, you can see that the portion size is large. It was also an excellent quality pie with lots of meat and a bit of a twist on a traditional steak pie.
Finally, my other friend chose the Irish Stew (I must pause here and ask if anyone else completes that name in their head with ‘in the name of the law’? No? Just me? Ok). Anyway, Irish Stew – braised lamb shank, cabbage and bacon, champ mash, Guinness and rosemary gravy.
Even though we were significantly full, two of us managed to sample the dessert menu. My friend went for Spiced Plum Crumble Tart, vanilla ice cream, orange and ginger syrup.
While I chose the Chocolate Orange Cheesecake with Oreo biscuit base, and marmalade ice cream.
Both were delicious. A really splendid and rich cheesecake with a glorious biscuit base.
The restaurant holds a AA Rosette and the food is made from locally sourced ingredients. The website states that they balance ‘hearty pub grub with fine dining’ and I think that this sums up our experience completely.
Great quality food at competitive prices, in a comfortable environment with friendly and welcoming staff. It has our seal of approval.
I shall leave you with this photo of the doorway of St Michael le Belfrey from the doorway of the Guy Fawkes Inn.
We were invited to visit and review – but as always, all opinions expressed are our own.