The Whippet Inn is a complete hidden gem on North Street. The quiet exterior belies the quirky and cosy rooms that await you inside. I am going to talk about the restaurant and the fabulous lunch we had to start with, but don’t miss the photos of The Whippet Inn’s new courtyard garden at the end of the post (as it deserves a special mention!)
The restaurant has a very grown up feel with an air of an old fashioned private club. The pub area and garden are dog-friendly.
The decor is stylish and quirky, but more than anything, it is comfortable. The staff are personable and friendly and you can just feel relaxed and at home there.
The Whippet Inn specialises in steaks that are dry aged from ex-dairy cows. All the other produce is sourced as locally as possible. The quality of all the courses we tried really shone through. We visited on a lunchtime and indulged in the lunchtime ‘Meal Deal’. This is priced at £100 for two people (but look at what it includes). Prepare yourself for four courses (we only managed three and then took some home at that!). You can also choose to take their wine flight at £22.50 per person which includes a gin and tonic, a glass of white, a glass of red and a dessert wine to finish.
Our lunch began with Potato ‘Doughnuts’ with a mushroom and bacon ketchup. These were lovely and tasty (and a bit different!).
This was followed by Queen scallops, shell baked, with chorizo, creamed cauliflower puree and a herb crumb. You can’t really tell from my photo but this was served in a shell on a bed of samphire.
Then came the main event – 600g chateaubriand of ex dairy beef! This was pan roasted with garlic and thyme and was so tender and delicious – simply an excellent steak!
We were recommended to have this cooked rare or medium rare. I usually go medium so we decided on medium rare and it was perfect.
This was served with fabulous chunky triple cooked chips:
Beer battered onion rings (these were so good, I could frankly just eat a bowlful to myself).
Warm pea salad (my friend ate loads of this!)
Garlic field mushrooms (mushrooms always look so pretty, but I am just not a mushroom fan – my friend loved them though).
And finally you could choose two sauces or butters to go with your steak. We went quite traditional and tried the brandy peppercorn sauce and the smoked garlic and tarragon butter. Both delicious.
The last course was a classic sticky toffee pudding, which we just couldn’t manage (gutted!).
Now, I also checked out the new courtyard garden while I was there, and it was beautiful. It’s fully enclosed and there are tables and comfortable lounging spots.
The planting really makes it an urban oasis and I can imagine a summer’s evening with a meal and cocktails out there will be like being on holiday. It was a dull day when we visited but it still looks pretty!
A final note I want to add is that while we chose the decadent option for lunch, you really don’t have to break the bank on a lunchtime to experience how lovely it is there. If you are short of time (or funds) then do check out the lunchtime menu as you will find Steak Frites (hanger steak, fries, peppercorn sauce and watercress) for the very reasonable price of £15. A Classic cheeseburger (steak burger, melted cheese, burger sauce, brioche bun and fries) is priced at just £8 which to me seems crazy low. Especially to eat in such lovely surroundings!
Whether you want a superb, long and decadent meal or a quick lunch in a stylish and comfortable spot, then definitely give The Whippet Inn a go!
Have a look at our posts on steak restaurants and seafood restaurants in York.
1 Comment
The Whippet Inn. A good, if expensive restaurant in York. There are work places to eat, and worse places to eat steak, in York. However, there are better. I recommend El Gaucho. The best steak I’ve tasted in York, my dining partner agreed. Definitely give the Whippet Inn a try, but then try El Gaucho, and tell me which restaurant you prefer. I returned to El Gaucho.