Rarity, York Review

Put simply, the restaurant, Rarity, lacks any kind of atmosphere. The waiting staff were uncharismatic, inattentive (ignored when trying to order more drinks) and clumsy, plus the food was disappointing considering the cost. We were sat at a table at the back of the restaurant, in full view was an untidy desk area with cleaning solutions, paper towels, etc.



I ate there last night for the first time and won't be going back. I had a bad feeling the minute I walked through the door. Due to the no smoking policy, we were met with freezing cold smokers hanging out of the door in an effort to keep warm whilst puffing on their cancer sticks. For me eating out isn't just about good quality food, it's about the atmosphere and service and general vibe. Rarity lacks charisma in all senses, from the service to the decor (which was reminiscent of a travel lodge reception area) to the food. It's overpriced; for the price I paid (£17 for a 12oz steak, plus on average an extra £2 per vegetable), I would expect a much better experience. My steak I ordered medium - it was burnt around the edges. One of our starters was a warm goats cheese salad - it was cold. We also waited almost one hour for our main dishes.



Guys, if you're in York and want gorgeous steak, excellent service and a great atmosphere, then my advice is to check out El Guacho. Just remember to book!