(visited in February 2022) This place aspires towards fine dining, with a good selection of intriguing options to choose from. It was a little difficult know what to expect or to judge how large the dishes were and how much to order. However, the staff were very helpful in explaining it. We started by ordering a bottle of wine (the wine list is on the expensive side as restaurants go, but we selected a nice bottle and it certainly didn't disappoint). When we visited it was on a very busy evening and they were clearly struggling with the numbers a bit, so I think that might explain some of what followed. After placing our food order, there was a really long wait. They seemed really busy so we decided to wait a little longer, although we noticed a few later arrivals had been already been served. Eventually, we decided something must be wrong so we asked them and discovered that our order had been lost. They were very apologetic about it, immediately gave us a complimentary starter and took our order again. When our food did arrive it was very good on the whole. Much of it was delicious and all of it was beautifully presented. Only one of the dishes (Hanger Steak) did disappoint a little as it looked absolutely beautiful when it arrived (I couldn't wait to dig in) but turned out to be cold when I took the first bite and, although Hanger Steak is reputed to be a particularly tasty cut, this example unfortunately was a little lacking in flavour (perhaps I had high expectations). All the other dishes were excellent however. Obviously there were a couple of issues when we visited in terms of service and consistency, but I do think this place has a lot of potential and they are clearly trying to offer something different in Helmsley which is laudable. On the assumption we were just unlucky on that particular night, I do plan to come back and try it again when I'm next in the area.

Really nice atmosphere inside. Great service and fantastic fresh food. Would definitely recommend Bantam if you are near Helmsley. Even if you're not it's worth the trip.

It was our second visit to Bantam, interesting wine menu and the food was amazing, a place not to miss when visiting Helmsley. The cheese gougeres were a highlight and the courgette pasta dish and chicken schnitzel were spot on, Dover sole was MEGA. We will definitely we back!

Didn't understand the bit about sharing when we ordered, wasn't explained very well, too rushed, so had conventional 2 courses. Husband's dish was served on a flatbread, and one main ingredient was pigs cheeks - was not expecting in the form of lardons, so disappointing. If only the young staff would explain things better.

A short menu is usually a good sign, and so it is here. The food is simple and hearty but executed to perfection, and matches the friendly, informal service. The lardo toast was a perfect salty starter and the pheasant pie a delight large enough for 3. It's the best meal out we've had in ages and superb value at just £30 a head. I can't wait to visit again.

What can I say, if I could give 10* I would. Lovely unpretentious restaurant, great friendly staff that know about their food and wine. Wonderful food and a great way of eating. Prices right, and no salt pepper etc on tables, now there’s a sign of a confident chef, as well he should be. Well Done.

Took my mam for a fabulous lunch today. The food is imaginative and cooked excellently. The service was attentive, friendly and professional. It is so rare that I find a restaurant that doesn't disappoint. I hope it gets the custom it deserves.

Walk in lunch for two on a Thursday. We had four dishes + dessert. Gnocchi, fried chicken, pork croquettes and crispy potatoes, with malted baked yoghurt to finish. Can’t fault any of it, the food is excellent. Menu carefully considered, each dish perfect size for sharing between two people, lots of thought given to flavour combinations. The wine list is equally attractive and will have something for everyone. A must visit spot if you find yourself in Helmsley.

Incredible food and wine, and for the standard of food very good value. On the menu the dishes go from small to large. We’d two large dishes and a small and a side and it was perfect. Special shout out to the blood orange sorbet.

What a wonderful place this is, every dish we had was absolutely fantastic! The flavours were amazing! Would definitely recommend this restaurant. So glad we decided to eat here and will definitely return.

We were regulars at Rawduck in London and were gutted when it closed down, so you can imagine how quickly we booked into here when we walked past while on holiday and then read that this is where the chef had moved on to. We went for Sunday lunch and it did not disappoint - the food was delicious, the drinks list was short but well thought out, and all served in a lovely space at a very fair price. We will definitely be back for dinner if we’re in the area again.

Had a lovely lunch there. The food was very nice, so was the glass of wine. The lady who served us was really nice, I am guessing she is the owner. Everyone was friendly, I cannot fault them. Will most definitely go again when we are in the area.

Definitely recommend! This scones…you can know this is exquisite even from outside. I also like dishware like nambu cast iron teapot.

Really good food and nice old building. Such a relief from the usual tea room that serves cheap sarnies with some crisps (of all things) sprinkled on the plate. Tasty and well made all day breakfast, nice selection of meals and drinks and snacks and some super tasty cakes. Only problem is that you can't book.

Lovely cafe in the beautiful Helmsley that serves a great cream tea. Dog friendly too 🐕

We’ve been to Mannion in York for many years and so a trip to Helmsley wouldn’t be the same without a visit here!! We know the food is always delicious, so definitely know what to expect!! We got a table upstairs and perused the menus on the wall. There’s plenty of choice and the standard is second to none! Our food came and couldn’t wait to tuck in!! The ravioli was amazing! It was delicious and full of flavour!! Such a great combination!! The rarebit was great too!! We loved it here and will definitely come back on our next visit!!

What an amazing find! Basics are done right. Hot tea in a warm cup. Most amazing scones, tasted so good and big! My husband had cheese of toast but it’s nothing like we’ve ever had before, the taste was so good. Great atmosphere, polite staff, clean. I wish I lived near this place.

First of all the food was great. A breakfast is always improved with quality products and you could tell that the food is sourced carefully. We were the nightmare customers, we went upstairs first and a loud large table of 10 were so noisy we asked to be moved outside. They made space for us outside! ( They were that sort of people who shout even when sat next to someone) Then we were attacked by lots of wasps. So much so my daughter got upset. So the food and service was great but the atmosphere was spoilt somewhat! I'd try again next time in the area.

Fab food, fab service👌🏼 Definitely returning very soon 😀

A really nice, quaint little café with great service and great quality food made fresh right there!

Super calm restaurant with fantastic service. Staff are super friendly and food is brought very quickly. 100% Recommend.

Special thanks to the lady who took our order who we assume was the owner, the service is outstanding! The food and coffees are delicious, one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time. It’s a quirky building and setting, right in the centre overlooking the castle ruins. Cannot fault anything and highly recommended. Helmsley is a great place to visit and this was the highlight.

Definitely worth the 5 stars! Lovely friendly staff, upsold my lunch brunch to come with a portion of parmesan truffle chips that were pure evil.... I could not stop eating them! My little one loved the iced hot chocolate, perfect for the heat wave. Place is relatively small and quite expensive but it was damn busy and where isn't expensive nowadays however this place and quality of food made it worth every penny 😊👍

We stopped here for lunch on Sunday 11th July 2021. There were 7 of us comprising 3 adults and 4 children. They were very accommodating and due to covid restrictions we had to have 2 separate tables upstairs with the kids at 1 table and the adults at another. They provide you with menu for drinks but the food menu is featured on blackboards on their walls so I assume their menu changes on a daily basis which I think is fantastic as it's clearly very seasonal. We really fancied a Sunday roast which they are pleased to announce on the menus provided that Sundays are all about their roasts. Unfortunately they had sold out of the lamb so we settled on roast beef. I have to say that it was the best roast beef we have had. The beef is served on a plate with a large Yorkshire pudding and some rich beef gravy. Another plate contains a medley of roasted carrots, tender stem broccoli, mangetout and roast potatoes with extra gravy on the side in a little jug of it's own. The carrots were quite incredible... I would love to know what they done to make them so tasty. They even catered for our incredibly fussy daughter and went off menu and whipped up a batch of American style pancakes, with sausage and scrambled eggs for her and the pancakes were light, soft and fluffy and a lovely vanilla taste to them. If these feature as a breakfast item I would most definitely have them. If you are in the area and looking for a really good meal, do not hesitate and get yourself to Mannion & co.

Enjoyed an amazing lunch here. A little wait for a table but absolutely worth it. One of the best lunches out I've had for ages. Fantastic stuff. Highly recommended.

We had the most delightful lunch at this charming cafe! The staff were attentive and efficient, the food was absolutely scrummy and the atmosphere was just lovely. We are not local, but if we ever come back to the area we'll be sure to visit again.

I love a good Italian and thought I would give La Trattoria Italian in Helmsley a try while visiting family for the Christmas break but I was absolutely disgusted what was delivered to us and how they sent a Pizza out like this is just beyond me (burnt, dry and the wrong pizza toppings, photos show exactly what we got delivered). Definitely not going back here and wouldn’t recommend to anyone after a good Italian.

Beef shin ragu special was absolutely sensational! Very generous portion too considering this was a small plate. Pizza was pretty good, but more of a New York style than Neapolitan style (I prefer the latter much more). Tiramisu was a bit of a letdown though, a bit of a strange sour taste and almond heavy. Not my cup of tea.

£3.50 for a cappuccino and a pastry, I must say that both were exceptional. And friendly efficient service. Highly recommended

Great Italian in this fab little town. Freshly cooked food. Visited with a large group for a birthday meal all served at the same time to a great quality. My prawn ravioli was excellent!

Absolutely first class Italian restaurant, great food at reasonable prices, excellent service, and nice atmosphere. Great location in the centre of Helmsley (parking in the square right outside). They also serve breakfast, which we did not have as we were staying in a local hotel, but this was recommended to us as also first class (by a staff member at our hotel)! We would definitely eat here again if staying in or around Helmsley.

First time here yesterday evening. Lovely staff and food, with a great 2 course special for only £13.00. Only live 25 minutes away so will definitely return. One(minor) gripe was £11.00 for glass of wine, but the wife said it was very nice as I was paying...again. :)

A great Italian place in Helmsley. Quite a few options to choose from including the veggie ones. I really liked their prawn risotto. The service is great and it’s a baby-friendly place.

Whilst visiting Helmsley decided to try La Trattoria for lunch, which turned out to be an excellent decision! Had the three course lunchtime menu. The portion sizes were excellent for a light lunch, the quality of the food was tremendous. I would particularly recommend the chicken and mushroom risotto, delicious. Just to add the service was very very good too. Highly recommended!

Absolutely sublime menu every meal was DEVINE service was quick professional and very good canny fault this place at all. Would certainly give it a thumbs up 100 per cent and will definitely be back

Very good service, excellent quality food! Had the meatball starter and ham and mushroom pizza both were delicious, my partner had the tomato soup and then meatballs as a main and he was also very impressed! We had the lunch time special (2 courses for £13) and thought they were very good portion sizes. The waiting staff were very pleasant and attentive. We'll definitely be back, thanks 😊

Amazing service. Quick food. My fiancé explained to me that it was the best pork sandwhich he has ever had. Kind staff x Would definetly go back!!

I took my daughter here as part of a shopping day treat and we weren’t disappointed. We had the excellent value £13 for two courses lunch time special. The soup was delicious and the mussels large and tasty. Our pizza and risotto didn’t disappoint either. The staff were friendly helpful and polite. We will definitely be returning.

Delicious food, great menu, excellent service and friendly staff. Dog friendly and a lovely interior and great value. Highly recommend.

Friendly service. Good fresh food. The Tiramisu was excellent. The lunch menu is good value.

The beers were great, nice staff, food was fairly priced but not quite right for an Italian appetite ;) overall we enjoyed our experience in there.

Visited here for lunch and had the lunch menu. The meatballs for starter and risotto for main course were lovely. My husband chose the lemon mousse for dessert which he also enjoyed, but my tiramisu which looked amazing was a bit of a let down. There was hardly any sponge in it, so when you put your spoon into it, it quickly resembled a milkshake and I was unable to eat it with the teaspoon I'd been given. As it'd been served in a glass my husband joked, why don't you drink it, which I did rather than waste it. Overall a great little place and we would return just wish the tiramisu had been better.

We booked for 6pm and the four of us arrived on time. From the moment we arrived we felt under pressure to eat and leave because the table was obviously required for the 2nd sitting. We completely understand that but to take plates away when others in our party are still eating and drinks away when not finished is pushing it too far. Food was good but our dining experience was spoilt by the restaurants desire to move us on

Would normally leave a glowing review but following the menu change from April my friend and I won’t be returning again for breakfast (unless it changes again). To make others aware when going for breakfast you can’t ‘modify’ anything on the menu or order any sides. We wanted to add bacon to our poached egg and avocado on toast which we’ve never had an issue with before and now it’s not possible. It’s also not an option to order sides AT ALL which we found shocking considering hash browns only come with the full English, we wanted some on the side. Was disappointed as what we ordered could’ve easily been made at home and that’s not why you go out for food. It was also very slow and server wasn’t able to give alternative options for food. Disappointing because we’ve always loved it - can’t imagine other people will be happy with these changes either.

Absolutely fabulous hidden little treasure a short walk from the village square. Wife has dietary restrictions and they were so understanding and accommodating. Staff were wonderful, friendly, efficient. Food came out in great time and was so flavourful. Will be returning soon.

Whenever we're in the area, we try and make it for lunch here, we've been regular customers over the years and have never been disappointed. Beautiful delicious food, can't recommend highly enough.

We visited on a very rainy day having walked from our holiday rental in Helmsley..15-20 min...sought refuge with dripping coats soaked through and with dog...they coped well with us! Was lots of exciting things on the menu but we opted for sharing a tasty pork and leek sausage and slightly 'lighter' cakes...lemon cakes and me a treacle tart. Everyone happy. Mocha coffee was excellent too. Quirky and rustic atmosphere.

I visited Helmsley yesterday with family to specifically visit the walled garden cafe for lunch. As my journey was 1hr 30mins I checked their opening hours before setting off (their website and Google stated they were open), I also checked their socials to check they weren’t shut like they have in the past - to my surprise when I arrived, it was closed!! The signs advertising them being open today were also all out across Helmsley. Very disappointing and frustrating, especially as I paid to travel and paid for parking. Our family were also disappointed. Too bad they missed out on a large table. I’d recommend Mannions instead as they're more reliable, especially since this is not my first experience of them being closed when they’ve advertised they’re open! ** Originally posted in January but updated my profile 3 days ago which has changed the date on this review. I don’t appreciate the cafe replying several months later saying this is a false review, when it is not!!

After spending time round the garden, we had a great lunch at the cafe. It was very busy due to the lovely weather but we were not waiting long. We both had an open sandwich and they were very tasty. My fresh mint infusion was delicious as was the elderflower drink. Resisted temptation as the baked goods looked delicious.

Absolutely delicious sandwiches and decent portions. We shared a sandwich between two, which was ample. Lovely conservatory for a winter lunch.

Been here a few times for lunch and today for coffee and cake. Previously the lunches have been good and we’ve sat outside. Today we had 2 coffees and 2 scones which were £18!! Overpriced and not even great scones. Service as unfriendly as usual at the counter (serving staff outside have previously been great) and tables not cleared. Suspect it’s playing on its location which is lovely for outdoor seating but otherwise I wouldn’t recommend it.

I've just read CW's review, and im disappointed with the owners reply.Hence, i thought I'd leave one as we've been going here for years.and live in Leeds.We have also called and been surprised to find it closed in the past. It's my wife's favourite cafe. I like it too, but I find it expensive and can sympathise with the comments regarding the staffs unfriendly manner at times behind the counter. However, the cafe is still worth visiting in a beautiful location. The food is good, and the coffee is the best. So I bite the bullet and pay the little extra as a treat for my beautiful wife.

Gorgeous Food & Setting Positioned next to the walled garden in the North Yorkshire village of Helmsley is the popular Vinehouse Cafe. As the name suggests it is situated in an old lean-to greenhouse. The greenhouse gets very hot on warn days but there is amble seating outside with parasols to shade diners. The seats look out towards the tranquil walked garden. The food is delicious. We had a Buddha bowl, a large mixed salad with choice of toppings, and the frittata of the day, also served with a large selection of different salads. Service was quick, efficient with polite staff.

Came here for lunch while out on a weekday bistro Helmsley, the food we had was really nice and well presented. We saw other items of the menu served which looked equally as nice. We are planning a return soon.

Lovely home made food including vegitarian options. No entry ticket for walled garden required. Nicely presented food in a modern style in the vinehouse within the walled garden. Highly recommended.

If you're thinking about coming to this garden just for the food, then think no more. Absolutely delicious dishes, garnished with a whole manner of different tasting relishes which was the highlight for me. A must visit location 😁

This place needs some sort of award. It's a glorious place to eat, with great food and fantastic service. It was v busy when we went and there was a notice advising of staff shortages, asking customers to help out a little if they could by clearing their tables. This didn't put us off as the setting and general atmosphere were so welcoming. Good customer service is about managing customers' experiences, so this was a good move by them. As it turns out the service was excellent and better than most other places we've been to, which is a credit to the hard-working staff there. The buddha bowls and gin cocktails were just sublime. We've been here a few times in the past and it never disappoints! Easy 5 stars.

Fantastic locally sourced food, good selection, great prices, great ambience inside or sat outside in the walled garden. Staff really cheerful and helpful. Parking close by. One of my favourite eateries. Highly recommend.

The most exquisite and delicious meal I’ve ever had! Each dish was completely different and used the most incredible ingredients. The space was so cozy and created a perfect environment for conversation over a glass of wine.

Our third time at this fabulous restaurant. It never fails to delight on every level. We chose (again) the four-course tasting menu and added a few extras. The wine pairing is well worth the small investment to have perfectly matched drinks with each course. The flavour and innovation of each dish is so memorable. We can’t wait to come back for more.

Must go! Food & Service was absolutely amazing. At the end of the meal I genuinely couldn't decide which dish was my favourite. If you are local I would definitely book in and if you are a little further away it is more than worth the drive!! Car park 10 second walk away free after 6:30pm.

The tasting menu was absolutely amazing, each course packed with intense flavours. Service was excellent, lovely relaxing restaurant. Would highly recommend a visit, will definitely be visiting again.

4 people. We had the full tasting menu. £90 per head is not a cheap meal, but it was very good value compared to similar meals we've had elsewhere. There were some unusual flavours without being challenging. All of us thoroughly enjoyed the food and the (shared) wine flights. A minor complaint was that two round tables for four people was a bit awkward. We highly recommend Pignut.

Had a really fantastic lunch here. 8 courses of brilliance! Each course unique and showcasing the local ingredients. The wastage starter was a great way to get the ethos of the restaurant across. The Brill and Mussel dish, and aptly named Beef II! were simply superb. This is a great place run by just 2 people, this comes across in their service and quality. Put simply, we will be back.

Amazing food and wine lovely staff. It's worth treating yourself.

Excellent food and service We go to a lot of tasting menus and this is my favourite. The main event is about the food rather than faffing with white clothes and making it too pretentious. You have a set menu and option for additional dishes. Really liked this take. The wine paring was delicious! Can’t wait to come back

What an amazing food experience that was. I've tried quite a few tasting menus in the last few years, including The Star Inn at Harome, and I think this was easily the best of all. Service was impeccable and the combination of flavours and order of courses was amazing. Apparently the menu changes quite regularly as many of the ingredients are seasonal, so there'll always be a surprise. I didn't try the wine pairings, as I was driving, but I'm sure they wouldn't have been a disappointment. Will definitely be back.

I have been to lots of Michelin star restaurants and even though this hasn't got s star yet as it is fairly new it eas amazing. The food was stunning and delicious. The wines were fantastic. Amazing place.