It’s barely been six months since 1 York Place opened, but it’s already impressed everyone. But what else would you expect from the littlefrench team? This cosy 46-cover neighbourhood restaurant from the dynamic husband and wife team (Freddy and Nessa Bird) is every bit as lovely as their French bistro – but shines the spotlight on all European cuisine has to offer.
It’s now been shortlisted at the National Restaurant Awards for this year’s best new opening. It’s up against a number of London spots – The Devonshire, The Dover, Sune, Mountain and Chishuru – Manchester’s Fenix, Edinburgh’s Lyla and Jersey’s Pêtchi. They’ll now be up against each other, when only one will be crowned the Opening of the Year on June 10.
1 York Place is described as “stripped back and casual but packs a punch gastronomically”. Visiting all corners of the European continent, with an informal style and with an affordable wine list, you’ll be able to enjoy such dishes as “crispy fried mussels; hot roast shellfish with tarragon butter; and morel and oyster wet rice.”
The menu draws inspiration from Freddy’s career – from his training at Ballymaloe Cookery School to working at the prestigious two Michelin-starred The Square with Phil Howard, and at Moro with Sam and Sam Clark. There’s something for everyone’s needs too – from bar snacks and sharing plates to starters and mains.
It’s surprisingly flexible in atmosphere too. Whether you want to nibble on poached oysters with a glass of wine at lunchtime or tuck into a whole squid stuffed with pork rib and trotter rice in the evening, 1 York Place has every base covered. Open seven days a week, from midday to midnight, there’s no reason not to try it out yourself.
1 York Place is also dedicated to supporting the local community. It’s working with other local and family-led, independent businesses to support the area – by mostly using producers and suppliers closer to home in Bristol. To learn more about the National Restaurant Awards’ Opening of the Year shortlist head here.