Little Italy York Review: Menu, Atmosphere and Verdict

Little Italy restaurant and deli in York has become one of our favourite places to eat. Since we moved to York back in 2017, we had been meaning to go — we even turned up one Sunday afternoon to find it closed. So it was genuinely exciting to finally get a table. Here’s my honest Little Italy York review after now visiting more times than I can easily count.

About Little Italy York

Anyway, a few weeks ago when my boyfriend’s little sister came to stay, we managed to make reservations to Little Italy on a Friday afternoon. A really HOT Friday, I might add, at the start of June.

Little Italy is a cosy Italian restaurant in the centre of York on Goodramgate. The restaurant has been serving authentic Italian food since 1992 and has built quite the reputation – Little Italy restaurant and deli reviews on TripAdvisor speak for themselves — it’s currently ranked in the top 20 out of over 900 restaurants in York with thousands of reviews. So yeah, we were excited to try it!

The Little Italy York menu features a range of classic Italian dishes, including pasta, pizza, seafood, and meat dishes. There are also vegetarian and gluten-free options available, as well as a selection of Italian wines and desserts.

The interior of Little Italy is rustic and charming, with exposed brick walls, wooden tables and original beams running through the roof. It’s quite intimate and cosy – the kind of place that feels authentically Italian rather than a chain restaurant. There is also a deli downstairs where you can buy Italian meat, cheese, olives and a selection of dry goods, which is a lovely touch.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and reservations are recommended, especially during peak times because this place is popular and busy for both locals and tourists. Trust me, we’ve tried to walk in a few times and been turned away!

The Little Italy York menu

Little Italy has been on Goodramgate since 1992, tucked between York Minster and Monk Bar, and there’s a reason it’s survived when other restaurants haven’t. The cooking is proper Italian — not in a ‘Italian-inspired’ sort of way, actually proper. All the pasta is made fresh on the premises, which you can taste. It makes a difference.

The menu runs starters, fresh pasta, main courses and a grill section, and it’s an upmarket night out — budget around £30-40 a head for three courses without drinks. Worth knowing before you go.

For starters, the Antipasti della Casa is their most popular (£13.50 a head sharing, £14.50 solo) — a generous selection from the deli with Italian cured meats, cheeses, olives and Sardinian bread. It’s a proper show of what they do. The Gamberi Piccante (£14.50) — whole tiger prawns in garlic, chilli and white wine with cherry tomatoes — is brilliant if you like something bold to start. There’s also a Fritto Misto (£14.50) of calamari, tiger prawns and fresh salmon if you want a bit of everything.

The fresh pasta is where you should be putting your attention. The Ravioli al Porcini (£22.50) comes stuffed with porcini mushrooms in a four-cheese truffle cream sauce, which is as good as it sounds. The Crab and Lobster Ravioli (£23.50) is the treat option. If you want something a bit simpler, the pasta dishes start from around £17.95 — the tagliatelle with bolognese, the linguini with seafood and tomato — all freshly made. Gluten-free pasta is available if you need it, which is worth knowing because a lot of Italian restaurants can’t say that about handmade pasta.

For mains, the fillet steak with porcini mushroom sauce (£34.95) is their premium dish. The sea bass (£26.95) comes with a white wine, garlic and cherry tomato sauce and is consistently good. The seafood misto (£26.95) — king prawns, scallops, mussels and langoustine on fresh black ink tagliolini — is one of those dishes you have to be in the mood for, but when you are, it delivers.

One thing I’d always flag: the weekday set lunch is really good value. £24.95 a head gets you a starter and a main (or a pasta dish), available every day from noon to 2:30pm. It’s the smart way to try the place properly without the full evening spend.

And if you haven’t already noticed the deli counter on the way in — worth a look. They sell Italian cured meats, cheeses and produce to take home. It’s a bit of Italy right on Goodramgate.

Our Food at Little Italy York

We shared one of the sharing boards for starters. An amazing platter of cheese, cured meats, olives, mushrooms and Sardinian music bread. As you can see from the photo below, it was stunning. I LOVE cheese/meat boards like this and though they are totally against my diet plan, a treat every once in a while is much needed.

I was so impressed with this platter that we have ordered it every single time we’ve visited Little Italy York since. It’s generous enough for two people to share comfortably and the quality of the meats and cheeses is excellent – you can really taste the difference.

His little sister had one of the fresh pasta dishes. Naturally, I picked fillet steak. I know that Italian places are known for their pasta and pizza, but I’ve had some of the nicest steaks from Italian restaurants!

My boyfriend picked roast belly pork. Again, this is typical of him as he loves pork.

The presentations of all the dishes at Little Italy were all stunning. As you can see. I would say it’s a very ‘standard price’ menu, but the food was worth more. If that makes sense. I would have happily paid a bit extra per dish because the quality was just that good.

What We’d Recommend

After visiting so many times, here are the dishes we keep coming back to:

• The Sharing Board (always!) – perfect for starting your meal
• Fillet Steak – cooked beautifully every time
• Fresh Pasta Dishes – you can tell it’s made fresh
• Tiramisu – if you have room for dessert, get this

Service at Little Italy York

The service was also great. Most of the staff were Italian which is always a nice touch and adds to the authenticity. There was an English lady there who I assume was the manager or owner. She was answering the phone and taking bookings, while also guiding the staff. It all seemed a busy but organised and happy operation they had going.

The restaurant was absolutely packed but everything ran smoothly. Even when it’s busy, the staff are attentive and friendly. We’ve never had a bad experience with the service here.

Little Italy York Prices

Prices at Little Italy are quite expensive, I’m not going to lie. It’s a lovely meal and definitely a place to go for a special occasion rather than a casual Tuesday night dinner.

Current prices (2026 — always check as these can change):

• Starters range from £7 to £13
• Mains range from £15 to £30
• The sharing board is around £15-18
• Desserts are approximately £7-9

They do have a set menu available Monday to Friday lunchtime which is better value if you’re looking to save a bit of money.

We have since been back to Little Italy York about 8 times and each time it has been a delicious meal and is worth every penny. Yes, it’s pricey, but for a special occasion or when you want to treat yourself, it’s absolutely worth it.

Pros & Cons of Little Italy York

What We Love

• Authentic Italian food and atmosphere
• Lovely Italian staff
• The sharing board is incredible
• Quality ingredients and presentation
• Cosy, intimate setting
• The deli downstairs is a nice touch

Things to Consider

• It’s quite expensive
• You can’t book online (phone only)
• Gets REALLY busy, especially weekends
• The space is quite small and can feel cramped
• Not the best for large groups

Little Italy Restaurant & Deli Menu Highlights

The Little Italy restaurant and deli menu covers what you’d hope for from a proper Italian — pasta, pizza, seafood, steaks, and sharing boards. What stands out is that it doesn’t feel like a generic chain menu. The dishes are put together with care and the ingredients are genuinely good quality.

After visiting more than eight times, here’s what we always end up recommending to people: The sharing board is a must. It comes with cured meats, cheeses, olives, mushrooms, and Sardinian music bread and is generous enough for two. We have ordered it on every single visit.

The fillet steak is one of the best we’ve had anywhere in York. It sounds odd to order steak in an Italian, but don’t let that put you off. The fresh pasta dishes are excellent and you can tell it’s made properly rather than dried.

For dessert, get the tiramisu if they have it on. The deli downstairs is also worth a browse — you can pick up Italian meats, cheeses, olives, and dry goods to take home, which is a lovely touch.

Little Italy York Opening times and booking

— correct at time of writing, check their Facebook page before visiting

Day	Opening Time	Closing Time
Monday	10:30 AM	10:00 PM
Tuesday	10:30 AM	10:00 PM
Wednesday	10:00 AM	10:00 PM
Thursday	10:30 AM	10:00 PM
Friday	10:30 AM	10:00 PM
Saturday	10:30 AM	10:00 PM
Sunday	11:30 AM	9:00 PM

Important: These opening times were correct as of our last visit, but it’s worth checking their Facebook page or calling ahead to confirm, especially around holidays.

To book a table for Little Italy, you need to call them: 01904 62 35 39

Unfortunately, you cannot book online on the Little Italy York website. I know it’s a bit old school, but honestly, just give them a call. They’re friendly on the phone and it only takes a minute.

Little Italy Restaurant & Deli
12 Goodramgate
York
YO1 7LQ

Phone: 01904 623539

Their website currently isn’t working properly, but they have a Facebook page here where they post updates.

My top tip: I would strongly advise booking a table before turning up, especially if you’re planning to go Friday-Sunday or during peak times. This place fills up fast! We’ve been turned away a couple of times when we’ve tried to walk in. Book at least a few days in advance for weekends.

Getting There & Parking

Little Italy is right in the centre of York on Goodramgate, so it’s very easy to walk to from most places in the city centre. If you’re driving, there’s no parking at the restaurant itself, but there are several car parks nearby including:

• Piccadilly car park (about a 5-minute walk)
• Monk Bar car park
• St George’s Field car park

Expect to pay around £3-5 for a few hours parking.

Is Little Italy York Family Friendly?

Yes! We’ve seen families with children eating here, and our toddler has been welcome every time we’ve visited. They don’t have a dedicated kids’ menu that I’ve seen, but the staff are happy to do smaller portions or simpler dishes for children.

The atmosphere is quite intimate and it can get a bit noisy when busy, so bear that in mind if you have young children who might get overwhelmed.

Dietary Requirements

Little Italy caters well to dietary requirements. They have:

• Vegetarian options throughout the menu
• Gluten-free pasta and pizza bases available
• Vegan options (though more limited)

Just let them know when you book or when you order and they’re very accommodating.

Little Italy York Reviews: What Others Are Saying

With over 3,800 reviews on TripAdvisor and a 4.7/5 rating, it’s clear we’re not the only ones who love Little Italy York! Common themes in recent reviews include:

People love:

• The authentic Italian atmosphere and staff
• Quality of the food, especially the fresh pasta
• The cosy, intimate setting
• Friendly and attentive service

Some criticism includes:

• Can be expensive for what you get
• The no-booking-online policy is frustrating
• Can feel cramped when busy
• Service can be slow during peak times

Overall though, the reviews are overwhelmingly positive and most people say it’s one of the best Italian restaurants in York.

Final Thoughts: Is Little Italy Restaurant & Deli York Worth It?

Food Quality: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 3.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Little Italy Restaurant York is probably the best Italian restaurant in York and is definitely worth a visit if you’re looking for authentic Italian food. Yes, it’s pricey and yes, you need to book in advance, but the quality of food and the atmosphere make it worth it for a special occasion.

We keep going back time and time again, which says it all really!

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, just make sure you book ahead and be prepared for the prices.

Little Italy Restaurant & Deli York — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Little Italy York worth visiting? Yes! If you want authentic Italian food in York, this is one of the best places to go. Just be aware it’s quite expensive so it’s more of a special occasion restaurant.

Do you need to book Little Italy York in advance? Definitely. Especially if you want to go on a weekend or during peak dinner times. We’ve been turned away when trying to walk in. Call them a few days ahead to be safe.

What are the best dishes at Little Italy York? The sharing board is amazing and we order it every time. The fillet steak is excellent, and all their fresh pasta dishes are lovely. For dessert, get the tiramisu!

How much should I budget for Little Italy York? Expect to spend around £40-50 per person including a starter, main, and drink. More if you’re having wine and dessert. It’s not cheap!

Can you book Little Italy York online? No, you need to call them on 01904 623539 to make a reservation. I know it’s a bit old school but that’s how they do it!

Is there a downstairs area at Little Italy York? Yes! The downstairs area is on the ground floor and has the deli on the left and tables on the right. In between, there are stairs to the upstairs area which is the main dining space. Both areas are nice – don’t worry if you get seated downstairs, it’s not dungeon-like at all!

Have you been to Little Italy York? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!

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