Willowgate Bistro

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#3 of 45 Restaurants in PickeringEuropean, British, ££ - £££

What is Travellers’ Choice?

Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Willowgate Bistro

Review

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Website

+44 1751 476300Improve this listing

About

Travellers' Choice

2024

Features

CUISINES

European, British

Meal types

Dinner, After-hours

Special Diets

Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options

FEATURES

Accepts Credit Cards

Full Bar

Non-smoking restaurants

Reservations

Seating

Serves Alcohol

Table Service

Wheelchair Accessible

Wine and Beer

Location

Willowgate, Pickering YO18 7BE England

Does this restaurant offer highchairs for toddlers?

Yes

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Hours

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Closed now

Sunday

Closed

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

17:00 - 21:00

Thursday

17:00 - 21:00

Friday

17:00 - 21:00

Saturday

17:00 - 21:00

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4.8

1,084 reviews

Excellent

936

Very good

114

Average

Poor

Terrible

Earls on Tour

15 contributions

Exceptional !!!

Mar 2025 • family

A small bistro style restaurant serving exceptional food. Service was second to none and the meal was unhurried, unlike some restaurants who only allow a limited to eat. Other family had scallops to start whereas I had the cheese souffle with beetroot crisps. All were good sized portions and tasted delightful. For mains I had the chicken wrapped in Parma ham, filtvhad the steak and the sea bass all which were exceptional. Wine was reasonably priced but we had no room for dessert after the very generous portions so they did 2 cheesecake portions for us, to go! A very pleasant evening with exceptional food and service. If I had one tiny observation it was that the surroundings would benefit from a little subtle decor but that certainly doesn't detract from the excellent food!

Written 17 March 2025

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Emily K

8 contributions

Delicious food!

Sept 2024 • family

Came here this evening having not tried the restaurant but live locally and had heard very good things about it, for mains i had the steak and my mum had the vegetarian crumble which she thoroughly enjoyed and said it was the best meal she’s ever had , the steak i had was cooked perfectly along with season mushrooms tomatoes chips and a delicious sauce , puddings were amazing presented beautifully and tasted delicious! for £48 for two courses it was definitely worth every penny and will be definitely coming back more often. Additionally the complimentary tapenade was a lovely touch and very tasty.

Written 26 September 2024

Katherine N

1 contribution

Exquisite

Mar 2024 • couples

Beautifully intimate, relaxed yet modern. This stunning restaurant has been here for, believe it or not, 11 years! We're sited at Allerston and ashamed to say this is our first visit. Staff were so welcoming and friendly, we were instantly at ease and made to feel valued. We were given time to pursue the food and drinks menu - choosing was tough, so nice were the dishes on offer. Three courses for £50 we thought was reasonable considering the quality of what was served. Complimentary amuse bouche added an extra special touch. This eatery screams quality and the meals have so evidently been prepared with love. We couldn't fault it, at all. Our only 'gripe' that we'd not been before now! We've found something very special here, and we'll be back for sure. Thank you Willowbank Bistro x

Written 29 March 2024

green62

Skipton4 contributions

Really - £48 for two courses?

Sept 2024 • couples

Visited the Willowgate Bistro after we had heard good reviews. We live local and planned an evening out to visit the place. First impressions when arriving was a very small room, nothing special in the decor a little tired to be honest. Was seated to a table in the corner with bench seats to the back of the wall. White table cloths (which I like). Other than the white tablecloths nothing stood out. No elegant table settings, no nice glasses, no nice crockery. It was a set price for either a two or a three course meal with a supplement if you wanted steak. The two course meal was £48 per head and a the three course meal £55. The menu was ok but I could not understand how they could justify the price charged. Was it £30 for the main and £18 for the starter???? I had pork fillet starter which was 2 small pieces of sliced fillet. extremely dry. My partner had scallops (2) with dry black pudding and beetroot puree. We both had belly pork for mains and although the dish tasted very nice it was presented on a very small dinner plate having to find every vegetable crammed on the plate. The wine was mediocre and expensive at £32. All in all the meal cost £150 with a tip. I was left with a feeling that we were paying for a standard of food and surroundings /service that this establishment just did not deliver. I am sad to say we will not be returning

Written 26 September 2024

Tessa B

1 contribution

Well worth a visit.

Jun 2024 • couples

The Bistro was welcoming, stylish and comfortable. The set price menu is small but varied . I am always encouraged when I see that, it suggests real thought has been put into what to offer. I was also pleased to see a clear gluten free menu rather than codes. We opted for two courses, main and dessert. After the drink arrived we were served complimentary bread with tapenade (lovely). It was not a long wait for the main which was truly delicious but if you are a dessert person then definitely visit Willowgate Bistro, both of ours were glorious. A very enjoyable evening.

Written 2 July 2024

Kg2011

Stockport51 contributions

Great front of house staff. Poor quality food.

Sept 2024 • friends

Wanted to really like it here. Firstly, the staff were excellent and very charming. Pleasant and informative. The food however did not live up to expectations. All of the food was poor. Really didn’t think I’d be writing this, but think reviewing can help others. The scallops were slightly undercooked and had a fair bit of sand in them. They were very ‘fishy’ as well. They were on a very small plate with beetroot jus and carrot crisps. Not perhaps the best combination, but it was chosen by us to be fair. The venison was the toughest we have ever had. It was extremely hard to cut and hence a lot was left. The mashed potatoes were poor. As a result we chose not to have desserts, although they looked lovely on other tables. Ambience was not great. Restaurant needs a bit of ‘doing up’. It was very expensive at £48 a head for 2 courses of frankly very mediocre food. The additional tapenade and fudge they gave was a nice touch at least. I would not return. Price well too high. Food just nowhere near good enough to pay that. Staff in the restaurant as said were truly very good, hence 3 stars, or it would have been less.

Written 8 September 2024

MStanley

Crawley80 contributions

Wonderful food and service

Aug 2023 • couples

What a find! We were so lucky to get into the bistro when we found ourselves let down elsewhere on a Tuesday evening The restaurant offers fine food at a reasonable cost with set prices for 2 and 3 courses. Bearing in mind we had paid an eye watering £35 for a mediocre sirloin steak the previous evening at the White Swan, the bistro also represents great value for money Lovely food. Fab service and an informal but exclusive atmosphere which sets it apart from the local pub satieties

Written 20 August 2023

DavidandCarol2

Brampton318 contributions

Excellent meal with superb service

Dec 2024 • couples

This was without doubt one of the best meals we have had this year. The starters of scallops and belly pork were both delicious and generous portions. We both had the venison which was tasty and the fresh vegetables were well cooked and tasty. The chocolate dessert was smooth and rich. The service throughout was personal - you felt that these were people who enjoy serving people. Can’t recommend this place highly enough.

Written 19 December 2024

Lovemyholidays

27 contributions

Perfect meal

Aug 2023 • friends

Decided to try somewhere new and we were delighted with our experience at the Willowgate Bistro. Really impressed with the quality and presentation of the food served by the attentive and efficient owners. It was delicious! There is a small but perfectly adequate choice on the menu. Booking is essential I would say as a number of people were turned away during our visit as it was fully booked. We will definitely visit again.

Written 16 August 2023

123Michelle123

Sheffield46 contributions

Perfect!

Dec 2024 • couples

We went here for dinner and it was amazing! The service was warm, friendly and attentive from start to finish. The food comes at a relaxed pace, giving you time to savour each course. The food itself was excellent, the soufflé was to die for and my partner said his scallops were perfect. Highly recommended!

Written 8 December 2024

rubyinsuffolk

14 contributions

Great place to dine, drink and enjoy really good food

Sept 2024 • family

The Willowtree Bistro is family run with the emphasis firmly on good food and friendly service. It is a intimate place to dine with a warm welcome, good menu with meat and vegetarian choices. Lovely atmosphere, attentive staff. The homemade bread was delicious as was the smoked cheddar souffle, oven roasted venison haunch and sundried tomato risotto with balsamic glaze and cherry tomatoes.

Written 23 September 2024

harters

Greater Manchester13092 contributions

Wish there was a "good" button - place is better than average but not really "very good".

Sept 2022 • none

With times still being very tough for the hospitality industry in many parts of the country, it was good to see the Willowgate full on a Friday night. It offers a well priced set menu (£36 for two courses, £42 for three) , with four choices at each course. In fact there’s three menus – the main one for omnivores, another for vegetarians and a third for folk needing gluten free. With them all priced the same, the profit margin on the veggie one must have them hoping they get lots of vegetarians at every service. You can, of course, mix and match, so my companion’s starter came from the veggie menu whilst the main course came from the omnivore version. So, that was a tasty tomato risotto – sun dried and cherry tomatoes. In comparison with the fairly wet ones you get in Italy, this was quite dry –no doubt so the chef could press it into one of those metal cooking rings, so it sits on your plate like a hockey puck. A balsamic drizzle round the edge set it all off. That was followed by sirloin steak, accurately cooked as requested. Classic accompaniments of tomato, mushroom and chips, with an equally classic peppercorn sauce. I went with a twice baked soufflé which was OK but really needed more oomph from a more mature cheese. No issues with my duck main course. Breast cooked to “pink”. Spuds – a really well made dauphinoise. Red cabbage and some mixed greens ( sugar snaps, kale and broccoli), Good sauce as well. I finished with cheese. Yorkshire Blue and a Wensleydale with cranberries. There’s crackers, grapes, slices of apple and a nicely tangy chutney. My companion’s Eton mess was whipped cream, not overly sweet fruit compote, topped with meringue. It worked. It was a nice evening to finish off a week’s stay in the area.

Written 11 September 2022

holidaymanWashington

Washington4846 contributions

Something Special.

Jul 2023 • couples

Wherever we stay, we like to have a special treat on our last night, to put the finishing touches to our holiday. Willowgate Bistro did not disappoint. Situated at the top end of the town, the bistro is compact, thus providing a more intimate atmosphere. We received a warm welcome and comfortably seated, set about enjoying the delights that the menu had to offer. It was an easy decision with the starters, crab and ham hock respectively. The main course was more of a dilemma as there were three choices that I could have enjoyed equally and eventually we both decided on the Pork Wellington. Before our starter, we were brought some homemade bread and olive tapernade, which was delicious. All the food throughout was beautifully presented and very tasty. A chocolate torte and cheeseboard made for the perfect end to a delicious meal. A bottle of wine would have been nice but the absence of local taxis, meant that I had to drive to the restaurant and therefore water was the drink of the evening. Service was attentive throughout and the pace was relaxed. Lovely place for that something special but don't forget to book in advance as space is limited, as are opening times.

Written 23 July 2023

Mike

North Yorkshire10 contributions

Fantastic Dining Experience - Highly Recommended

Feb 2023 • none

We went to Willowgate to celebrate my wife’s birthday and, as usual, the food and service were excellent. Gemma and Matt and their staff provide a warm, welcoming, professional and very personal experience, which, together with the excellent, varied menu, makes for a fantastic dining experience. With a gluten intolerant family member, we also love the fact there is a gluten free version (the gluten free Eton Mess is a favourite with all of us) . A visit to Willowgate Bistro delivers a fantastic dining experience and exceptional food at very reasonable prices. Cannot recommend them highly enough.

Written 18 February 2023

Companion17581431258

1 contribution

Excellently cooked meal and service.

Oct 2023 • family

We had the pleasure of eating in the Willowgate Bistro on Saturday 21st October. The welcome was very pleasant and friendly with coats being taken and hung up for us. The drinks were served with a very nice Tapenade on sour dough as a welcome before the meal. We all had different dishes for starters and main course each one of us really enjoyed them, including the perfectly cooked vegetable's. The deserts were also spot on. It is rare that I can say that each one of us had an excellent meal, but that was one brilliantly tasty and perfectly cooked meal. Compliments to the Chef and his staff. We will certainly return when in the area.

Written 9 November 2023