Betty's Cafe & Tea Rooms

Onwards toward Ilkley, where we knew there was a branch of Betty's - the renowned delicatessen and tea-rooms. We arrived just as they were closing at six pm - but they confirmaed that the Harrogate branch was open until nine pm - so off we went...

Arriving at about seven pm, we had a short spell of window shopping - there are a few antique dealers in the neighbourhood, then in to Betty's.

I had a bottle of Black Sheep Ale, Marg a pot of tea, while we decided on what we were going to eat. The waitress recommended the Spring Onion and Mushroom Rosti, topped with Raclette - and I went for that. Marg went for the Masham Sausage. Both were very good, but the raison d'etre of Betty's is less the (undoubted) quality of the produce, more the genteel ambience, redolent of a more relaxed age - for example, a pianist was playing unobtrusively - I only really noticed him when he played someting I liked!. I didn't mind spending what I would have considered exorbitant in a lesser establishment.

After eating, we browsed the delicatessen, and came away with (another) jar of Betty's Tomato Chutney, and a packet of Ginger Biscuits. The Chutney would have warranted the trip on its own, according to Marg! Betty's also do Mail Order.

Betty's also run events - Musical Evenings and Gourmet jaunts, for example:

Magical Mozart
Join Flautist Fiona Mclaughlin and Pianist Pavlina Ognayanove for an
evening of Mozart Classics
Wed.25th August - Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms, Harrogate
Thu. 26th August - Betty's Cafe Tea Rooms, York (Belmont Room)

This is another place I'll be visiting again: the meal is very good value, the ambience suitably purposeful, and a pretty good pub next door as well!

Sandro

More

York Food Festival

A Hunter Gatherer's Tale

Betty's also has branches at:

York
01904 659142

1, Parliament Street
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 2QU
01423 502746

Ilkley

Northallerton