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The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace, York, North Yorkshire

The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace

3.4
3.4
111 Reviews
£26 to £40
British
Top tags:
The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace sits within the Grade II-listed Principal York Hotel which dates back to 1878. Situated next to York train station, the Refectory Kitchen & Terrace sits comfortably in the Grade II listed Principal York hotel which dates back to 1878. This latest addition, which includes an outdoor terrace, comes from award-winning architects Michaelis Boyd, whose previous work includes London’s Groucho Club and Soho House Group.

The restaurant sources the very best seasonal ingredients, with an emphasis on local Yorkshire produce. Being local at heart is the order of the day at the Refectory Kitchen & Terrace, with a classic Sunday roast and seasonal dishes that are bursting with flavour, whilst championing the world-class quality of ingredients found throughout Yorkshire and the Yorkshire dales.


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2 people
19:00
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 07:00–22:00 Sat, Sun 07:15–11:00 Dinner Daily 18:00–21:30
  • Phone number
    01904 688688
  • Website
    https://www.therefectory.co.uk/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Aaron Craig
  • Location
    Station Road, York, North Yorkshire YO24 1AA
  • Area
    York
  • Cross Street
    Station Road
  • Parking Details
    Onsite car parking within the grounds of The Principal York Hotel, charged at £3.00 per hour
  • Public Transit
    1-minute walk from York Station
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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Experiences

  • Festive Afternoon Tea

    £29.00 per person

    1 Dec - 31 Dec 2023
    Served in The Garden Room Indulge in our festive themed afternoon tea, inspired by York's rich history associated with chocolate, our Executive Chef Aaron Craig has created & developed a truly magical indulgence of mouth-watering flavours using some well-known classic inspiration from the nation’s favourite Christmas chocolates.
    Festive Afternoon Tea photo

What 111 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.4
3.4 based on recent ratings
  • 3.6Food
  • 3.4Service
  • 3.3Ambience
  • 3.1Value

Noise • Moderate

111 Reviews

  1. OpenTable Diner

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall2food2service2ambience2
    Staff were for the most lovely, but felt that there were not enough of them for the few diners that there were. However, some were poorly turned out and not a credit to any hotel. We had to ask for our wine to be brought out and had sat an hour before our food arrived. Diners who came in after us were served before us, some were served the same dishes we ordered. The Refectory was cool and quite unpleasant to sit in and a few other diners put on their jumpers/jackets. The menu was pretty limited; the food was OK, but not the quality I was expecting from this hotel restaurant.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall3food3service2ambience1
    Room was very cold with cold air blowing in when it was snowing outside. No ambience. Staff Keith coming and asking is the same things…. But get well organised.

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  3. SharonB

    Manchester

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall1food1service3ambience1
    Food is terrible, place is huge and at 7.30 on a Saturday night there was barely 8 tables of people which does speak volumes in itself when you can’t get seated anywhere else in York

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    Newcastle

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall2food2service2ambience2
    A disappointing experience. We waited over an hour for food, which was “ok” when it arrived. Staff were polite but indifferent, very difficult to get eye contact when requiring assistance.

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  5. CliveB

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 November 2023

    overall3food4service2ambience4
    Afternoon Tea is served in the Garden Room not the Refectory Kitchen (as described on the website and this survey).The setting is lovely and the food nice but a bit lacking in presentation perhaps.For example the jam and cream came without spoons and instead of cake forks we were given main course knives and forks.At these prices everything should be perfect - more staff training needed?

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  6. Lukingden17

    London

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 12 November 2023

    overall3food5service3ambience4
    We arrived for an anniversary tea at 3pm only to be told that there was one serving left but two couples had shown up - us, who had booked on this system earlier after a late plan change, and another who had phoned in. We were effectively sacrificed so the other couple could be seated, and we got told that the glitch was because their Reception should have closed the OpenTable but didn’t, meaning they got a double booking for their last slot. Next the server said the manager would either offer us a smaller portion or gladly serve us later in the day. We were very disappointed by this because it was through no fault of our own and little compensation was offered at the time, to say nothing of the manager not even coming to apologise. We did return later - long after the tea service had clearly ended - and were given a nice table with complimentary Prosecco and an anniversary message. This was a nice touch and most appreciated - I just feel, for service befitting the hotel, the manager should be coming out and offering this in the actual moment earlier when we were effectively being told to leave because another couple beat us to it. The food was exquisite and cleverly-themed to York’s confectionery history. Only minor snag was they gave us both pescatarian savouries when I’d made a point earlier of it only being one of us. Ambience was quieter (because it was nearly 6pm) but this suited us fine.

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  7. TinaR

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 27 October 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience1
    Very poor , sent food back . My partner finished his meal before I received my food . Won’t be back . Very disappointing!

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  8. JoanneS

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 September 2023

    overall4food3service3ambience4
    Had a lovely afternoon tea with two friends earlier this week. The garden room is beautiful and the service was good (if a little slow at times). The presentation of the food was excellent and the food was good. A bit too much margarine on the bread spoilt being able to taste the sandwich fillings but it was a nice mix of fillings. The scones were quite dry and we actually received all plain scones where there should have been two different types. The desserts were lovely but extremely sweet. The hot drinks were luke warm despite asking for them to be extra hot. Having said that, we had a really lovely afternoon and you just make the best of an afternoon off and a glass of really good Presecco in your hand :o)

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  9. Kate

    Surrey

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 12 September 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Lovely hotel. Nice afternoon tea, very nice cakes. Good value for money.

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  10. MaureenM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 September 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    The ambience was excellent and it was useful that the room is straight across from the station. All the food we had was tasty and well cooked and the service was very good. Only criticisms were that it was a very warm day when we went and the dining room was very hot despite open windows. We do not like a service charge being added automatically to the bill-this should be at the customers discretion.

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  11. MarieW

    Yorkshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 31 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good friendly service and excellent food as always

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  12. Xxxxx

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 August 2023

    overall3food2service2ambience4
    We had the afternoon tea. Staff seem unhappy and are not very friendly. Not very helpful (duty manager in particular). Was not offered tea. Need to ask for it. Food was too sweet and not very good. Savoury volume was too little for vegans/vegetarians.

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  13. KenB

    Kent

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 14 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Very efficient, friendly service. The food was simple but just what we wanted

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  14. MandyS

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 August 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Lovely place decir immaculate service excellent had afternoon tea some of the cakes where slightly 2 sweet for us

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  15. ShelaghM

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 31 July 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    The food was actually served in the Garden Room - which was fine, but only found it after wandering around the whole floor. No one seemed to know where it was. Minor detail though, it was very nice.

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  16. Billy

    London

    18 reviews

    3.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on 30 July 2023

    overall3food3service4ambience2
    Good service, seating uncomfortable and low.... food good but expensive..

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  17. Melw

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 30 July 2023

    overall3food4service1ambience2
    Very slow service which was disappointing. When eventually seated the seats were covered in crumbs and pieces of food from the previous people. The food was lovely but the whole experience was let down by the slow service and cleanliness.

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  18. StuartM

    London

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on 23 July 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    V tasty fresh food and friendly smartly dressed staff. Nice relaxed atmosphere too

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  19. SharonR

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 July 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    The staff were very attentive and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was excellent and good value.

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  20. NataliiaM

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 July 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience2
    Terrible service. We have pre-booked afternoon tea experience. We have not been served for 15 min, then waiter didn’t know food availability, then forgot the order. Another waiter came to take order from beginning. 30 min completely waisted. Finally we left.

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  21. MarkS

    Cumbria

    2 reviews

    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 5 July 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Very disappointed. Poor customer service and the food was greatly overpriced. Very basic food disguised as something more. Tiny portions too.

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  22. Jodie

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 July 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    This was booked for my mums birthday and relatives had travelled to York from different parts of Yorkshire. After 45 minutes we hadn’t received any part of our afternoon tea, not even the tea! We raised concerns twice and were told that someone would ‘try to find’ the supervising colleague but she never came. We paid for the Prosecco that we had drank and left. We were so disappointed with the service.

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  23. Tod123

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 30 June 2023

    overall3food3service1ambience2
    The afternoon tea was nice, the service was terrible. Overall it was okay, but there are much better options in and around York for £30 - it didn’t wow or leave you thinking you’d rush back which is a shame.

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  24. Twinks

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 29 June 2023

    overall4food4service2ambience4
    Three friends had afternoon tea. The food was very good, the mini quiche was tasty. There was the traditional selection of finger sandwiches and a good selection of cakes. The downside was the service. The two staff were very attentive on our arrival and brought drinks straight away. Unfortunately, there was an extremely long wait between finishing our sandwiches and eventually having to ask for the cakes to be served. The two members of staff were in the room chatting to each other, whilst this is not a problem in itself but we felt they should be alert to the needs of the guests. There was only one other table having afternoon tea at the time. It was disappointing to be automatically charged 12.5% service charge for what we considered below standard service.

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  25. MichaelH

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 20 June 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Good food and excellent service. Really enjoyable afternoon tea in the garden room

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  26. LanaE

    Newcastle

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 17 June 2023

    overall3food4service5ambience3
    Thank you for your hospitality. Our experience was good but we were hoping for more! The service was excellent and so was the quality of the food, however please make sure that the cutlery is clean and your upholstery is in dire need of a clean. Stained chairs are not a good look for a fine dining restaurant in a really nice hotel...

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  27. PaulO

    Dorset

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 4 June 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    We both had the pea volute which was lovely. The quails egg was particularly nice. I had wanted the crab but they had ran out. Steaks for main course we're good. Service was very good.

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  28. SharonD

    London

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 23 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    A lovely taste of elegance! Service , food and surroundings were perfect!

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  29. SarahM

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 21 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We were in the garden room for afternoon tea. The afternoon tea was fab, plenty of everything snd the staff were very attentive. One of our party had very specific dietary requirements snd they were catered for without any fuss at all. We had a lovely afternoon/ thank you.

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  30. Roberts

    County Durham

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 18 May 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience4
    Menu wasn't clear about what food was included in the cost Beautiful location but 2 of our meals were served cold a shame

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  31. JennyS

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 May 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience3
    A beautiful setting, but the service and some of the food was disappointing. We arrived for afternoon tea at 2pm, but it must have been an hour before we were offered drinks and we had to ask for the food to be served. Sandwiches were very bland, and my request upon booking to have the smoked salmon substituted (as a number of us could eat this for dietary reasons) had not been recognised. The cakes were delicious but also very late in coming.

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  32. JuicyLucyMarkie

    Yorkshire

    5 reviews

    3.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 7 May 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4
    Disappointed, beautiful salon and seating, unfortunately the service was not on par. Our afternoon had been pre made, that is our sandwiches and cakes were all soft, and warm. The crockery was pot and not china, I would have expected more from a 4 star hotel.

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  33. WayneD

    Dorset

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 April 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience2
    Service not good. Staff need to be more attentive to their customers

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  34. SimonW

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 April 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience3
    Staff were not properly trained and were disorganised e.g. soup was served but no soup spoon provided and no understanding of allergies. The food was acceptable but had little flair e g. the ice-cream was just 3 scoops plonked in a bowl.

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  35. BrianS

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 April 2023

    overall2food4service3ambience2
    The food was very good and the service was good except the coffee took ages and was subsequently cold on delivery to the lounge. The administration was irritating. I do not need to reconfirm 3 times that I am coming to dinner, I do not expect to have to pay to park at the restaurant and do not expect to be limited to 90 minutes for dinner in a half empty restaurant! The food was good value but £17 for a glass of ordinary wine? The sparkling wine on arrival for our wedding anniversary was a nice touch.

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  36. Shones

    Kent

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 11 April 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    A lovely meal in the restaurant, great staff. Taking our coffee to the Garden Room was a nice and relaxed ending to the meal. Would recommend a visit, whether staying in the hotel or local resident.

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  37. OpenTable Diner

    Worcestershire

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 1 April 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Afternoon Tea - The Garden Room Wonderful afternoon tea in The Garden Room with great customer service from Anna and AJ Exquisite sandwiches and a wonderful Wensleydale and caramelised onion tart perfectly baked with warm crispy pastry. The home made scones were delicious and the sweet items all based on honouring Yorks long history of chocolate confectionery. Added bonus for all those who book for April is a complimentary glass of champagne. Much more atmosphere and a luxurious feel than many places where it’s more of a conveyor process. This tucked all the boxes.

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  38. SusanK

    Yorkshire

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 26 March 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Lovely food, staff very attentive despite being busy. No complaints

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  39. YojYelesom

    Yorkshire

    8 reviews

    4.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on 23 March 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Very good. Not been for quite a while. Expected new menu from highly publicised new Head Chef, but we were too early. Excellent lamb dish.

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  40. OpenTable Diner

    Yorkshire

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 19 March 2023

    overall2food5service1ambience4
    Food was great however took 40 mins before we even got to order drinks and I had to In search of a waiter to request someone take our order, then another half an hour before they arrived . It didn't improve the same wait between courses....and it wasn't busy either !!!! They then have the cheek to include a service charge.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitising

    • Surfaces sanitised between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitiser or wipes provided for customers
    • Contactless payment available

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace is rated 3.4 stars by 111 OpenTable diners.

The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 6 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The Refectory Kitchen & Terrace

Station Road, York, North Yorkshire YO24 1AA

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Station Road
  • Area
    York
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Mon–Fri 07:00–22:00 Sat, Sun 07:15–11:00 Dinner Daily 18:00–21:30
  • Price
    £26 to £40
  • Cuisines
    British
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking Details
    Onsite car parking within the grounds of The Principal York Hotel, charged at £3.00 per hour
  • Public Transit
    1-minute walk from York Station
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Aaron Craig
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Outdoor Smoking Area, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

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