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'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 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.
Roots Restaurant Diner Reviews

"Absolute joy to be back at Roots. Large airy rooms so no sense of being on another planet. Tasting menu sublime. Bravo!"
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £25.00 |
Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
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Service | 10.00% |
68 Marygate, York, YO30 7BH
Opening hours
Monday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
Tuesday | CLOSED |
Wednesday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
Thursday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑2 pm, 5:30 pm‑8:30 pm |
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