A couple of weeks ago I wandered past The Hairy Fig and the most amazing smells were wafting out, so I thought it was time for a visit! It’s a cafe and wine bar with a deli next door. They have outdoor pavement seating, which will be great in dry weather as Fossgate is a lovely street with very little traffic, and a perfect place to sit and watch the world go by.
Inside there is plenty more seating in a cosy front room.
They serve breakfast followed by lunch. We very much liked the sound of the Toastie special, advertised on a blackboard behind us (Mortadella, Pecorino, Mozzarella and Rocket served with olives, salad, chutney and crisps).
But instead we decided to try a sharing platter.
They all sounded fab to be honest but we plumped for the Yorkshire Board, which consisted of locally sourced pork pie (a cracking award winning pork pie at that, from Ged Bell), roast ham, and three cheeses (Harrogate blue, a creamy blue Wensleydale and True Grit Strong Cheddar). It was served with salad, an apple and pear chutney, balsamic pickled onions (divine!) and some fig. I’ve never tried fig before and I have to say, it’s not high on my list to try again, but it is very pretty!
It was also served with crackers, artisan bread and butter. The bread was absolutely spot on, soft with plenty of bite in the crust.
The Hairy Fig is an independent cafe in a lovely area of York, just behind the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall. It has a cosy vibe, thoughtful food and makes for a perfect spot for lunch or breakfast.
We were invited to visit and review. As always, all opinions are my own.