Izakaya Restaurant & Lounge Bar

An absolute diamond of a find! The food is imaginative and a very high standard, the service is attentive and very pleasant and the setting is chilled and informal, but classy. Lunch menu was great and not too much to eat midday. We will be booking the evening tasting menu based on the high quality lunch. Local seasonal produce and decent cocktails make this place somewhere to return to.

Dined at Izakaya last night overall a very enjoyable experience. The staff were very professional, attentive and welcoming. It’s a very small restaurant which makes it more exclusive and a much better dining experience. The food itself was perfect for a tasting menu very tasty and delightful. Every mouthful was a bomb of fantastic Asian Japanese flavours. My only very slight criticism of the menu was the Wagu beef it’s was a supplementary £50 extra - an extra I was more than happy to pay but I really did think it could be little larger in presentation and more of the beautiful meat. I recognise it’s an expensive cut of meat but for the diner I felt it was a little over priced. But what was presented was stunning and delightful and tasty I just wanted more of it on the plate. Overall an excellent experience and would recommend to fellow diners, family and friends 🙌🙏

Admirable for Izakaya to be different in a vibrant city like York but too many things fall slightly short. The fusion elements distract from any attempt at Japanese cuisine. The omakase was far too small to be so expensive at £75pp not including drinks or supplementary options - a good omakase should leave you feeling full and satisfied. There is a wide range of dishes to showcase Japanese cuisine. However, much of it was over seasoned, with umami rich ingredients over powering delicate flavours. It is a real shame to see fresh seafood and quality ingredients clumsily handled. As such, the best dish was the pickled mackerel where the cooking was minimal and the fish itself was allowed to shine. The winter omakase also featured a chocolate and venison course which is an acquired taste to say the least. Wonderful staff and atmosphere but let down by the food.

Everything about this place was amazing. All the staff were really friendly and knowledgeable, the setting is cosy but stylish. All the food was incredible - we ordered one of each vegetarian option to share between two, which was plenty. Every dish was exceptional, full of flavour, and we tried ingredients we'd never heard of before. Reasonably priced considering the quality. Cannot recommend enough!

The quality of ingredients and cooking technique shone through in a fabulous lunch serving at Izakaya. Attentive and friendly service with the chef coming to say hello at the end. Overall a fantastic experience, do not miss if you're visiting York.

The tasting menu was absolutely divine; excellent presentation and the ingredients carefully considered in every dish. The staff were very friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Cannot wait to try the rest of the menu and cocktail selection. A new, wonderful place to eat in York with a great twist on authentic Japanese cuisine.

I'm so thrilled and over the moon with everything about this place!!! Amazing people, amazing food and I mean that, the best food I've ever had!!! Highly recommended and nicely priced too for how much you get!!!! The staff know exactly what tastes well and what works. So so amazing!!!

It's easy to do fusion; slam together multiple cuisines and hope for the best. It's difficult to do it well, but Izayaka have managed it fantastically, serving up innovative and well executed dishes fusing the principles, styles and flavour combinations from Japan with thoughtful touches of modern British (with an emphasis on local Yorkshire produce). Served with care and love in an environment that evokes minimalist Japanese aesthetics yet retains a warm cosy feel. Top marks, guys. Looking forward to the Winter Omakase already!