February 20th, 2008
The weather hadn’t been great and we just fancied a little trip out to a local pub for a spot of lunch, before returning home to put our feet up with the cats beside us and take in an afternoon movie. We drove along the A64 and took a few turns left when after trying the Tiger in Haxby (it didn’t serve food and had some very dodgy looking customers stood outside smoking) we came across Caesars at 169 York Road, Haxby, York. We had tried Caesars Goodramgate branch previously (see review), so thought this would make a nice place for lunch.
Driving up to park the car at the rear was not a good start to the experience. The outbuildings at the back were run down, had broken windows and were generally in a poor state of repair. At this point we noticed a sign that said this was a hotel and pitied the poor people who had to stay here. As usual though in the interests of our readers, we stuck with it and went in.
The restaurant, or to be more precise, the space between the open plan bar and the hotel reception was large and spacious or as I prefer to say, vacuous an soul-less. We were seated at a small square table near a door, even though the place was near empty. This turned out to be a poor place to be seated because on a number of (very annoying) occasions, people travelling between the hotel reception and bar would walk past your table and gawp at your food occasionally making ‘hello’ comments, which I just don’t want in a restaurant.
Anyway, we looked through the plastic menus and took the paper napkins (I hate these things so much) out of the cheap round wine glasses on our table. While still pondering the food menu, our rather grumpy waiter took our drinks order and left a basket of bread. When I say bread, I mean, rock hard, flour, yeast and water. We assumed not cutting your gums while eating this stuff was a quaint tradition for this place so carefully chewed away while adding what little moisture we could from the small satches of butter.
Our food order was taken (he was no more happy at this stage). I went for a Bruschetta starter and Penna Supreme. Dusty went for a carbonara starter and chicken dish for his main.
While waiting we read an interesting article about the latest Audi car on a poster on the wall and soaked up the atmosphere of this place. We could not explain it, but as each moment went by, we just felt less and less at ease. People kept walking past our table, the staff were laughing in the bar area (probably at the misfortunate customers in the restaurant) and it just felt ever so slightly oppressive. It’s a bit like being in a relatives house when you know they want you to leave.
Anyway, our food arrived and to be fair it was actually very nice indeed. The starters were fresh and flavoursome and the mains were well presented, tasty and plentiful. Good food, all in all and very reasonably priced.
It was the atmosphere though that spoilt this restaurant and frankly we were pleased to get out as soon as we could. It was at this point we noticed the poster with the interesting article on Audi cars was bellowing in and out. It was actually a newspaper covering an old large expel-air air vent.
Score: 1 Star. No cute looking staff either. Visited February 2008.
Tel York 01904 758864
Posted in Food and Drink