One of the best restaurants in Ilkley. it is always packed on a Friday and Saturday so book well in…read moreadvance. The food is excellent and is a must try. You won't of tasted anything like it. The food is fresh and flavours vibrant and exciting. The staff are very good too at looking after you and the head chef Loc is one of the best in the business. If you fancy something new and exciting to eat there is no better place to go. p.s. the chicken wings are AMAZING!!!

This was my first foray into Vietnamese food and to be honest i wasnt hopeful when i found out we…read morewere going for ethnic food in the middle class strong hold that is Ilkley. The name upon arrival was also i thought a really bad choice, the connotations of bistro is not one that is synonymous with any part of South East Asia. The atmosphere upon arrival was verging on hostile, the three people who worked there clearly had some issue with us, im not quite sure what, but they were lovely with the old middle class group just in front of us. We ordered spring rolls for starters, not my choice but they turned out to be really nice. I had never eaten them by wrapping a mint leaf then a lettuce leaf around it before dunking it into some dipping sauce; a nice touch i thought! However, one again the service from the three women was steely in its resolution and the wait for food was just far too long! Upon arrival we were given a few prawn crackers between five of us, for the amount of time we had to wait for our order to be taken let alone the food arrive, i would have have thought several more would have been in order. When the food eventually arrived we were asked if we knew how to eat the food, it was at this point she, the manager it would appear, noticed we had a South East Asian girl with us, and said 'ohh of course you know how to eat it'........................ Words literally escaped me! Christine is of Vietnamese descendants , but what an unholy assumption to make! The girls then asked for Sriracha, a standard Vietnamese sauce, which they had no clue what it was. And instead got really quite funny about them asking for it and interrupted the meal several times wanting the name of this illusive sauce. In the end they brought over chilli chopped and raw. The food i had i thought was utterly delicious, i order the green curry as my first baby step into Vietnamese food and was delighted! The girls who all ordered Pho, said it was okay but they had had better. The one saving grace in this place in the cook, without him this place would have closed long ago! It is fair to say though that the massive wait for food is directly due to the fact that he is the only chef. In summary food very good, service absolutely crap! The chef on his own would get 4-5 stars, the service 1, so it really depends how badly you wanted to be treated to get a reward. People with sub ordination fetish' s, i feel you might love the service!

Piccolino's is one of the better Italian restaurant chains in the country (I'm thinking it…read moresurpasses Bella Italia for sure), and having tried the restaurants in Liverpool and Leeds city centre I decided to try Ilkley's own Piccolino. A relatively new edition to Ilkley's restaurant scene (it used to be a pub/bar/eatery called Johnson's) it is in a building which gives quality views over the moors - I know this from when it was Johnsons, unfortunately I couldn't get a seat by the window this time. And it was lunchtime! Yes, it was very busy at lunchtime, but that's because it's very, very good, especially if you regard Italian food in the same way I do - i.e., the best cuisine in the world. The pastas and more adventurous dishes all sounded great but knowing my Piccolino's, I went for a garlic bread pizza followed by another pizza (pollo) for my main. Their pizzas truly are some of the best you can get, and, other than Salvo's in Headingley, I can't think of anywhere I'd rather have on than at a Piccolino's. Little pricey though.

My stomach is talking to me again. It has had a firm old word and told me to sort it out with some…read moretreats of the highest order. Well when a stomach talks to you, you either have to check into those padded walled rooms or listen to it. I went for the latter and some cheese action at Piccolino. With my best fake (and rather foolish) Italian accent I head on down. I love this venue. Not too far from those beautiful rolling hills and famous moors, it's in Ikley and it is Italian food served the real way. We're talking woodstone ovens here. It's nice to start with some traditional antipasta and then I move on to the pizza baby. It's all about the pizza and for me the goats cheese one is out of this world. Great bit of cheese action if I say so myself. There are plenty of other options too from fish to meats and it's just how an Italian should be. Simple yet delicious. Try save some room for the array of sweet delights and I'm always partial to a nice coffee served with the hard stuff after. Good service, great venue and as to be expected cracking wine list. It's not cheap but it's not the worst either. Plenty to sing about here in a good Italian operatic tone (or lack of).

Very healthy and funky cafe/restaurant open all day and in the evenings. Superb cakes and…read moresandwiches.

I've come to Ilkley and I've not even had any booze yet. What on earth is wrong with me? I know…read morethat makes me sound like I have issues (and quite frankly I do but I won't go into them), but I just like some liquid refreshment. Quick then get me into the Ilkley Moor Vaults. This is a cracking pub. It's nicely done out and has a very warm friendly atmosphere. It's laid back and chilled all the way. Now onto the important bit and the drinks. Well I love it. Simple as that. The wine list has some excellent tipples on and it isn't ridiculously expensive either. The ale is finely kept and there is a nice selection as well. My only problem is deciding my beverage of choice. As for the food, it's real served pub grub of the highest order. This place deserves a good old pat on the back. They are also super relaxed about dogs and walkers too, which is good to know if you want a walking stop off point to refuel.

While Leeds city centre has no shortage of pubs, bars and restaurants catering to every imaginable…read moretaste, if you're on a mission to impress it's worth looking to the city's outskirts for some traditional, log-fires-and-all country pubs. Just down the A65 in Ilkley, this food-focused walkers' haunt is one of the best. With low lighting, dark wood and cosy seating to compliment the all-important open fire, this is prime date territory, and the restaurant-quality food and extensive wine list (plus a good soft drink selection for the driver) will ensure an evening to remember. On my visit I enjoyed a spinach, squash and goat's cheese lasagne - a deliciously fresh-tasting use of seasonal, local produce - and a melt-in-the-mouth cheeseboard accompanied by a tart quince jelly. I can heartily recommend both. Although food is clearly the main event here, a decent selection of house and guest ales means its also worth just popping in for a drink, and with the pub's position just five minutes from the centre of Ilkley, a quaint, up-market spa town, and at the start of the Dales Way, there are plenty of opportunities to walk off any excesses.

If you love Indian food but are getting a bit bored by the identical menus on offer at every…read morerestaurant across town, Kashmiri Aroma is definitely worth a visit. Serving Kashmiri cuisine, which is tangier and fruitier than much of the standardised Indian fare we are used to in the UK, this is a bright, modern and airy restaurant that's a world away from the chintzy carpets of your local Indian. It's a bit pricier, of course, but still not excessive, and you can easily get dinner for two with drinks for £30. Try the Hyderabadi with meat or mixed vegetables for something a bit different or, if you're feeling brave, try the lethal 8% Cobra beer... just don't blame me in the morning!

I'm not going to pretend I'm a knowledgeable conesiuer of Kashmiri cuisine! All I am going to say…read moreis, I ate it, and I liked!! Bored of Frankie and Bennies and Pizza Hut I suggested a little drive out to Kasmiri Aroma a few months ago with my boyfriend! Often chain brands and restaurants plus city life get a little too much, so a drive past the countryside to a stand alone, modern restaurant is a nice break away! Located just outside Ilkley just off the main road with acres and acres of countryside directly opposite Kashmiri aroma is contrasting from other restaurants. It's not only the location that is different but the menu and it's versatility.On arrival the very friendly staff told me they would make anything I would like to order depending on my tastes....I thought I was in heaven! The decor is very, very sophisticated. The venue is large and everything is prestinley clean and layed out to peerfection! A high class of curry eating! I felt pampered as the service was so fantastic. The menu not only has a MASSIVE range of curries, starters, breads, rices and sauces but an extensive wine list with some really aged red wines! Prices are a more expensive than your average curry house however this Kashmiri cuisine is to die for! This isn't Hyde Park takeaway food, this is genuine Kashmiri, quality cooking. A king prawn balti can cost up to £10.50 but trust me it tastes like heaven! For a nice change and a drive out to the hills and fields pop to Kashmiri Aroma for a curry and glass of oaky red wine! The only downfall is if you don't drive it's almost impossible to get to which is a bummer (unless you don't mind walking through sheep for your dinner!)

My friend and I decided to go to Ilkley one Sunday, as she had just passed her driving test and I…read morewas long overdue a good shop. We had intended to stay for lunch and it was getting to around that time, our tummies were certainly on the rumble, and so we decided to head back to Oakleys since we'd spotted it earlier. I can't tell you how glad I am we made this decision. I mean, there was Betty's but their queue was as long as my childhood, so we'd already decided not to bother there. Oakleys was different. Don't get me wrong, it was really buzzing for a Sunday in the arcade - almost everything else was shut. But, there was only a small queue and most of their patrons were of an elderly age, which meant the place was very civilised and peaceful. The decor was cosy, they had a very rustic vintage feel with some nice plants and cute little round tables. At the tills was a large deli counter, filled with the most delightful looking cakes ever. Had we not been stopping for a proper lunch I would have definitely gone with the lemon cheesecake. Then again I seem to remember coveting all their cakes and discussing that, if we had room, we could get one each and share so as to try two at once! This never happened in the end, but I am certain those cakes would have been to die for. Now for the food. What can I say? YUM! It was nothing too fancy, simplistic, but my it was effective. They had a specials board with the cooked meals, everything else was sandwich based, although we noted that it was more than likely they weren't specials in that each day they were something new - more that they were the hot meals, and that's why they were special. Crikey they were cheap too - nothing on the board was over £6! I had the lasagna and my friend had the salmon. Both of us had a bit of salad and chips to accompany our mains too. The chips were perfection, chunky, not too greasy and totally melty. Salad made me feel less guilty and the lasagna was perfect. Like a home cooked pub lasagna but a nicer price. It was utterly delicious and totally a delightful stop for lunch. Service was great too, friendly and polite. Highly recommend!

If you like your dining mighty fine, then the Box Tree is the sort of place that will interest you…read more- voted the best place to eat in Yorkshire and previously an employer of Marco Pierre White, it is definitely more Michelin than McDonald's. In the affluent town of Ilkley, a place like this is not out of place - inside the beautiful old building is a simple but elegant decor and some highly professional and attentive service in a husband-wife run business. The food itself is imaginative without being ridiculous - think classic European with contemporary twists - think venison, veal, pigeon etc. If you prefer your traditional meats like me, they do a gorgeous cut of beef, which I had on my visit. Though the food was delightful, the prices were probably a little bit off - i.e. you pay slightly more than you should despite the quality of food. Luckily, when I went, my parents footed the bill but we all left feeling that it was slightly too expensive all round, meaning that it's probably best to go on rare special occasions.

We went to the Box Tree as a birthday treat for my Grandmother. From the moment of arriving we were…read moretreated with impeccable service which followed throughout the meal (and even after when my nan realised she had left her walking stick). The house is beautiful and super cosy on a cold winters day. We ate the set menu which was lovely but I was jealous of neighbouring diners who were eating the taster menu which looked fantastic. A great restaurant with possibly the best service ever.

Charging 50p for a tea just because you like strong tea have reviewed you on several sites too the…read moretea cost about couple of pence per bag

The Cow and Calf Restaurant was lovely and had lovely food. The waitress was very nice and…read moreattentive! The food was super delicious and left us full but wanting more. My only negative was that the bar staff could have been slightly more friendly and welcoming! Other than that it was lovely, and had a lovely calm atmosphere

We're really rocking now. I must admit I'm loving some Ilkley action and there are so many nice…read moreeateries I'm finding it hard to actually move. The Wells café and Bistro is yet another one. It's a family run restaurant and all they use are locally sourced ingredients for an ever changing menu. Now for lunch this is a real stomach buster. It doesn't have to be but if you are hungry and want a salad that isn't actually two leaves and a cucumber you have to try the Wells Ploughman. This is how salads should be. Try this bad boy for size and you'll get home roast ham, Wensleydale cheese, plum tomato and apple, homemade chutney, coleslaw, chips and granary bread. Now we're talking. If you want something lighter the muffins are nice and they've got omelettes, sandwiches and jacket potatoes too. The bistro menu is small but stunning. Two courses will set you back £16 but the herb crusted local trout fillet with warm plum tomato, potato and olive salad is excellent. Yet another corking place to dine.