Rustique Restaurant — Restaurant in England

May I just say equal opposites. A month or so ago I dined at Rustique the other side of town and I was super impressed (see Lendal Rustique) I naturally talked about it and I was recommended Castlegate Rustique, the opinion was it rained supreme, of course I set my eyes on eating here as a comparison, so I decided to take my girlfriend and the parents. As a hardy crowd of people with years of restaurants under the belt with different tastes and expectations we were in for an interesting night either way. Note to begin with the service is good at worst, but the attention to detail seems in my experience very consistent, with knowledge and understanding of the brand, food and expectations of guests, speedy without seeming annoyingly efficient, happy and friendly with a professional edge, understanding of food with recommendations but leaving a little bit to be excited about. The drink selection is good offering, wines, beer, spirits and cocktails, naturally we went for wine as it was a team effort. The food came in a timely manner and the options were A la carter or set menu, either is good with the former having more choice but (I didn't do the math) possibly pricier but not noticebly. So my criticism would be offer something unique with the set menu, it seems on my second visit, the A la Carter doesn't pull you in unless it's for alternative dishes. That aside we had a mix of set and a la carte, we enjoyed it all and the big difference, we had Escargot over Frogs legs to share, this is possibly the only thing that divides both restaurants.. the frogs legs you can share feeling like you had your fill where as the Snails left you wanting more (the dishes were shared and most likely intended as an individual portion). These dishes are unique selling points and need celebrating, I would personally love a frog and Escargot platter to share with some unique trimmings, this is just an opinion and a very minor gripe at best. As the group we agreed that atmosphere was submerging allowing you to sink into a wanted bubble of escapism, I want to and will go again. But sometimes revisiting restaurants is to it's demise.... Thank you for a wonderful night. This is my review and I'll just place the one....

Rustique is a solid restaurant for anyone thinking of visiting York.

In a city that has a surprising number of French restaurants, Rustique makes a convincing case to be named the very best.

The atmosphere is very warm and comfortable, exactly what you expect of a French bistro.

The walls are covered in art nouveau film posters, and the seats are always stocked with very comfortable cushions.

The service is lovely. The staff are all very smiley and welcoming. Although, it's not quite on the same level as Blue Barbakan or the Fat Badger.

The food here is very good. When I visited, I tried the Escargots (snails), Cuisses de Grenouilles (frogs’ legs), and the Paupiettes de Poulet (chicken wrapped in bacon).

Whilst I have no complaints about the food, I do think that my ordering could have been a lot better.

The snails were as good as snails can be. They were chewy and covered in a generous helping of garlic butter.

The frogs’ legs were, likewise, subjectively good. The meat was more like poultry than fish (which I expected), but the bones were very thin and delicate. It was a task separating them from the meat.

If I were to visit again, I don't think that I would choose either of these dishes as a starter.

Instead, I would probably opt for the French Onion Soup, which my girlfriend and I stared at with envy, as bowl after bowl was brought to the other tables in the restaurant.

The Paupiettes de Poulet was also very good. The chicken was cooked well, and the sauce, which accompanied it, provided a nice little kick of flavour.

However, I must admit, my girlfriend's order of the Canard Confit (confit duck) with Dauphinoise Potatoes completely eclipsed it.

Overall, I would definitely visit again, though I would order (as I say) the French Onion Soup and the Canard Confit on the second...

This is a super, reasonably priced French restaurant in York not far from Clifford's Tower. If you enjoy typically french cuisine with lashings of garlic, it is the place for you. Book in advance. It is very popular.

Further information:

This is often our first port of call when in York and we love it for the following reasons: The food is authentic French cuisine. If you enjoy French dishes this is the place for you. The menu is extensive with lots of choice although we rarely stray from the comprehensive and very reasonably priced, set menu. Three courses cost £17.95 for instance. There is little I would not choose on this menu. Portion size is perfectly fine and the food is very tasty. The pate starter is very good and the baguette very fresh. We enjoyed all our mains including confit de canard, steak and chips and the pork in cider. The chocolate pot, the banana and caramel crepe and the crème brulee were just the job! An alternative a la carte menu is available Drinks are also comprehensive, both alcoholic and not. Water is provided at table. The prosecco was very refreshing and the wine we had very sound. The service is friendly, efficient and welcoming. You are not rushed. The restaurant is comfortable with a warm, traditionally French ambience. The seating is spacious and comfortable. If the day is warm and sunny, consider the balcony upstairs. It is so comfortable and relaxing. The stairs are steep but there is a sturdy rail. The set menu is frequently updated. Try the new white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake. Lovely! The house wines are perfectly fine. The white was...