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Harden's says
'Great British Menu' winner Tommy Banks and family, who run popular restaurant-with-rooms The Black Swan at Oldstead, have opened a new restaurant in central York. The PR info for Roots says: "Make a choice. Order as much as you like, eat, drink and be the creator of your own menu."
Harden's survey result
Summary
“A go-to-restaurant in York!” – Tommy Banks continues to inspire delight at this converted pub in the centre, which is one of our most commented-on destinations in this ever-more foodie city. Central to its appeal is a menu that fans “love, love, love as it’s so creative and sophisticated”, using ingredients grown on the Banks family’s 20-acre farm. There’s only one caveat, and that’s increasing concern over creeping prices: “not sure the Tommy Banks hype is improving things at his two restaurants, and value for money is certainly reducing”. The team is not standing still, though: in November 2021 Will Lockwood transferred from being head chef at The Black Swan to run the kitchen here.
Summary
“A magnificent addition to York's burgeoning food scene” – “Tommy Banks does amazing things with the most simple of ingredients” (“how can anyone make a humble brassica such as kale so bloody tasty that we were all fighting over it?!”), at his family’s “converted pub, close to York city-centre”, which – in one short year – became the survey’s most-mentioned destination in this increasingly foodie town. “The intense flavours and imaginative combination of sometimes-unlikely ingredients are a delight” and “the wine to match is excellent, and very well thought out”. “Young, friendly, helpful and enthusiastic service” contributes to a highly impressive debut. “Get in quick, before the prices match those at his Black Swan in Oldstead!”. Top Menu Tip – “his best-known dish is the epic crapaudine beetroot, the beetroot cooked in beef fat”.
Summary
“A magnificent addition to York’s burgeoning food scene” – “Tommy Banks does amazing things with the most simple of ingredients” (“how can anyone make a humble brassica such as kale so bloody tasty that we were all fighting over it?!”), at his family’s “converted pub, close to York city-centre”, which – in one short year – has become the survey’s most-mentioned destination in this increasingly foodie town. “The intense flavours and imaginative combination of sometimes-unlikely ingredients are a delight” and “the wine to match is excellent, and very well thought out”. “Young, friendly, helpful and enthusiastic service” contributes to a highly impressive debut. “Get in quick, before the prices match those at his Black Swan in Oldstead!”. Top Menu Tip – “his best-known dish is the epic crapaudine beetroot, the beetroot cooked in beef fat”.
Summary
’Great British Menu’ winner Tommy Banks and family, who run legendary country-inn-with-rooms The Black Swan at Oldstead, have opened this newcomer in central York: a converted Tudorbethan pub near the river. Early press reviews says the menu features dishes of similar obscure inspiration to those at The Black Swan, and are by-and-large ecstatic.
For 31 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Roots?
Restaurant details
Roots Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Excellent food every dish on the tasting menu was delicious the flavours and textures were all marvellous hard to pick out a favourite!"
"Superb personalised reburbishment of a local inn. Serving high end food much of the produce from the family farm at Oldstead. Good wine pairing to complement original dishes based on the Bank's ethos of local produce and sustainability. Tasting menu shortly to rise to £160 from £145."
"Service excellent but tasting menu huge disappointment. Only two memorable dishes, lots of clever prep but far too little flavour. Dining room like a slightly up-market pizza express; And the cost! Most expensive meal I have ever paid for, just short of £500 for two with wine flight. The locals say it is going up to £160/180 a head. They won't see me there again."
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £42.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £5.00 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
68 Marygate, York, YO30 7BH
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑1:30 pm, 6 pm‑8 pm |
| Sunday | CLOSED |
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