Old Liquor Store at the former Terry’s Chocolate Factory: ‘I tried what might be the best Sunday dinner in the UK’

This was used for the rum truffles inside Terry’s All Gold boxes.

It's been two and half years since the venue opened as a neighbourhood bistro, so we went to try out their Sunday dinner menu.

York is often dubbed as the chocolate city thanks to the growth of the confectionary industry between the 18th-19th century with chocolate powerhouses Rowntrees and Terry’s booming in York.

Many people who grew up in York will reminisce about the sweet aroma of chocolate lingering in the air when walking through streets.

It’s even believed that chocolate dust would settle on the buildings.

In 2005 however Terry’s Chocolate Factory, on Bishopthorpe Road, closed as production moved to Europe ending almost 240 years of Terry’s in York.

After hearing so many stories about Terry’s Chocolate Works’ site behind York racecourse in its heyday, I am here to try the Old Liquor Store located near to the iconic clocktower.

Inside is a cosy treat of a place with industrial touches.

My husband, who is a foodie, was drawn to the aroma coming from the open kitchen. For me, it was the history of this special Grade ll-listed place which lured me into the bistro.

The menu looked exquisite. Three courses for under £50 which isn’t cheap but the dishes sound value-for-money on the menu but were they up to scratch?

For starters I had a truffle mushroom soup served with a sticky Guinness bun.

My husband had a crayfish and prawn cocktail. Both dishes are not typically eye-catching when I’ve eaten them previously.

The Old Liquor Store however manages to transform these staple dishes into something exquisite.

My mushroom soup is served with a Parmesan crumb drizzled with oil. You get a large portion of this flavoursome mushroom soup. It’s quite possibly the best soup I’ve ever had.

Normally I find mushroom soups overly creamy or I can taste the stock, whereas the flavours in this are balanced to perfection. The sticky Guinness bun made of oats is a welcome addition to dunk in the soup.

My husband’s prawn cocktail looks like a work of art piled high with prawns, crayfish, edible flowers, capers and caviar.

Other than the display of lettuce leaves, my husband devours his hearty starter which is all fresh and somehow the flavours dance together to perfection.

I enjoyed my mushroom soup so much that I asked to take my left overs home as I eat slowly and it meant I could devour every mouthful at home.

Despite the busy Sunday lunch service of guests in the bistro including dogs and children, the staff were attentive and couldn’t do enough for us. It showcases the power of an independent restaurant done right.

I couldn’t help but eye up everyone’s Sunday dinners and trimmings as they were being served.

We were delighted to see ours arrive, piled high with vegetables and a huge Yorkshire pudding.

I had the vegetarian option of large flat mushrooms covered in a crunchy pesto served with crispy roasted potatoes, with a huge roasted carrot and parsnip served with vegetarian gravy.

My husband had the fillet steak served with roast potatoes, a crispy croquette, a carrot, a parsnip and a huge Yorkshire pudding served with a red wine gravy.

We were then also served with sides of red cabbage, seasonal greens, a cauliflower gratin, and green beans with toasted almonds and an onion relish. Each side dish was tasty in its own right.

The red cabbage was like Christmas in your mouth and the green beans with almonds added a lovely fresh crunch to the meal with the sweetness from the relish coming through.

I devoured my Sunday lunch as the mushrooms had a nice crisp to them.

My husband couldn’t get over how every part of his dinner, including the fillet steak and croquette, was cooked to perfection.

We certainly didn’t need a dessert but wanted to try the banoffee sundae and what I can only describe as a chocolate macaron meets a profiterole.

The desserts didn’t disappoint either. Attention to detail had been given to each element.

The boozy banoffee sundae was finished off with edible gold leaves and the pastry of the chocolate dessert had been hand made in house.

The Old Liquor Store is in an ideal setting. It was just like a chocolate orange, as it’s a real hidden gem but once you’re inside you're in for a treat.

I don’t think we’ve ever had a Sunday dinner this good. It’s all gold.