IT'S not often a restaurant really exceeds expectations but, when I visited York's newest eating out spot, I was pleasantly surprised.
I went to Revolution, the riverside vodka bar, with my friend, Kate. At first glance, it seems to be geared more towards drinkers, with every flavour of vodka shot on offer and a range of exotic-sounding cocktails and pitchers of fabulous-sounding drinks emblazoned on menus across the bar. We couldn't find a food menu.
The music is turned up loud, but not so loud that you can't hear what someone across the table has to say, so it's somewhere you might want to catch up with a friend over dinner, but not really ideal for that getting-to-know-each-other first date.
After inquiring at the bar whether they were serving food, one of the friendly staff presented us with menus.
Expecting to find the usual sort of bar fare from a trendy chain, we were surprised to discover a fairly extensive menu. Presented in an easy-to-follow booklet, it not only tells you what's being cooked, but all about where the ingredients are sourced and some facts about food and recipes, all of which makes for an interesting read.
Breakfast and brunch is served on weekends, as is Sunday lunch, but as it was Friday, we were interested in what the rest of the menu had to offer.
And there's plenty, believe me.
With a range of homemade soups, sharing and nibble dishes, including potato wedges and mezzes and a variety of nachos, we were not stuck for a starter.
Turning the page, we were impressed by the vast range of wraps, sandwiches and paninis - perfect for a lighter bite or lunch perhaps - but we had big appetites and so the main courses grabbed our attention.
From fresh Greek salad to baked Tuscan chicken, and gourmet baked potatoes to grilled 8oz steak, plus a dizzying range of burgers, there really is something for everyone - even three low-carb options for those thinking of their waistlines.
On recommendation of the barman, Kate went for the grilled 8oz steak (£8.95). After pondering the roast butternut squash penne pasta, I went for one of the lowcarb choices, grilled Portobello mushroom (£6.95), but then decided to have a blow-out with a side order of chunky chips and beer battered onion rings (£1.50 each).
We also shared a portion of roasted pepper nachos (£7.95) to start, and went for a thirst-quenching tropical pitcher (£13.50) to slake our thirst.
We ordered at the bar, and the menu has a "15 minute promise", whereby if your first course doesn't arrive within 15 minutes of ordering, the meal is complimentary (though not on well-done steaks and not to parties of more than six people).
They needn't have worried, as not three minutes after I arrived back at the table, pitcher in hand, the nachos arrived.
Tucking into the beautifully presented plate of food with gusto, we were pleased with the freshness and quality of the food. The nachos were made from tortillas, the succulent chunks of pepper were fresh, the salsa and guacamole were tangy, and there were jalapenos, spring onions and limes as garnish. Kate, not a fan of cheese, was pleased to find that the nachos weren't smothered in it.
We had enough time until the main courses came to let the starter settle, and several attentive members of staff, including a manager, came over and assured us that the main courses would not be long. They weren't wrong, and when they arrived, the food again looked appetizing.
Kate had asked for her steak to be cooked medium, and she said that it was done to total perfection, with the meat succulent. It came with a rack of baked vine tomatoes, mushroom, and a pile of chunky, home-made chips, which ended up defeating Kate. She said that the meat was highly peppered, which she really liked, but said that there could have been more peppercorn sauce, which was served in a shot glass on the side.
My large mushroom was smoky and juicy, topped with courgette, onion and aubergine, also grilled.
Again, it came with a rack of tangy vine tomatoes which were a perfect foil to the meatiness of the mushroom. The beer battered onion rings were crispy and hot.
After such a feast, we didn't have room for dessert or coffee. The bill came to a few pence short of £40, which we thought was very reasonable, given the good quality and quantity of food and drink.
Revolution Bar, Coney Street, York. Phone 01904 676054.
Natalya visited on Friday, June 1, 2007.
factfile
Food:SubstantialService: Friendly Value: Good Ambience: LivelyDisabled loos: YES
