Restaurant Review

Name: D.C.H. The Restaurant

Address: Duncombe Place

Location: York, United Kingdom

Call: +44 (0) 1904 625082

Website: www.deancourt-york.co.uk

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

During a recent trip to York, uncovering some of the highlights the city has to offer, I was pleased to enjoy the ambience and dining experience of the Dean Court Hotel Restaurant.

The Best Western hotel is located directly across from the York Minster and the dining room has a particularly good view of the elegant front entrance of the enormous cathedral.

The restaurant is recently renovated and looks as stylized, with contemporary decor, as any restaurant in Yorkville (TO) or Manhattan (NY). As the breakfast room transforms into a dining room whilst the sun sets outside on the Minster, the restaurant became an alcove of serenity, beauty and palette pleasing dishes.

You have an extensive wine menu to choose from and you can sample multiple choices as you can have 175ml or 250ml glasses as an option. I sampled the Rose de Syrah 2008, Jean Didier, Vin de Pays d’Oc from France, which was a strawberry red colour with lovely red fruit flavours to it. Light but not too sweet, it complimented my dinner nicely.

For that time period, the first course choices were Smoked Duck with Ginger, Pork & Black Truffle Pressing, Scallops, Moules Mariniere or Moules Poulette. Second course choices are Guinea Fowl, Roast Cote de Boeuf, Canon of Lamb, Shepherd’s Pie, Halloumi Cheese & Winter Vegetables Brochettes (vegetarian option) or Pan-Fried Tranche of Cod (vegetarian option). As for dessert, you have a choice of Turkish Delight Panna Cotta, After Eight Parfait, Baked Figs or Yorkshire & British Cheeses. Of course, the menu will change with the seasons, but this does give you an idea of the type of cuisine and style you can expect when going to the Dean Court Hotel restaurant. Entrees range from 15 – 37 English pounds.

Should you be fortunate enough to go on a Sunday Lunch, you can have a three-course meal for 22.50 (pounds). You are also afforded a wide selection of choices such as Shoulder of Lamb, Leg of Duck, Grilled Smoked Haddock, Baked Salmon or Ratatouille Pancake Gratin, or you can have the traditional Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding dinner.

I sampled the Scallops to start, which were cooked to perfection – crispy on the outside while being soft and plump on the inside. The Halloumi Cheese entree and Cod entree, for dessert the Baked Figs. I asked a group of four sat across from me if they were enjoying their meals, which were predominantly the Lamb and the Beef entrees and they gave an enthusiastic response without even knowing I was reviewing the restaurant – which allowed for an authentic response. They were also customers from York who came to the D.C.H. Restaurant repeatedly and always enjoyed the meals. For myself the entrees seemed too salty and the desserts too sweet, but it was observed to me by the trained chef I had brought along to dine with me that the new trend in dining is to have the two extremes be a little more pronounced than usual. I also discovered this to be true at one of Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants in London the following week. It seems a little ironic to say, but this trend has not caught on in North America yet, which is a culture known for its attachment to salt.

I did find the baked figs with macadamia ice cream, walnuts and maple syrup to be one of the most divine creations I have ever tasted.

Overall, the meal was incredibly delightful. The food was great, the staff were beyond exceptional, the scenery and ambiance were incomparable and enchanting. If you are looking to dine somewhere “special” in York, consider it to be the Dean Court Hotel Restaurant.

You can see images of the Dean Court Hotel, The Restaurant and the meal I had on our “Highlights of York” video HERE.

Written by :

Kindah