Bon Appetit Wine Bar & Bistro Whitby

I found this little place on a walkabout on the Saturday of the November Goth Weekend, I have visited Whitby twice a year for the past seven years I just love the place. So this was my first visit to Bon Apetit, but it definitely won't be my last. It wasn't too busy, it was around 8pm, and I just called in on the off chance and they managed to squeeze me in, on a table for one. I love the decor and the ambience of the place, (there are some cool chairs, that you must see, and sit on. Obviously make sure nobody else is sat on them first), I was just browsing the menu and the waitress brought me a nice pint of 'Hells' lager, and then she hit me with the bad news; There had been a power cut in the kitchen and they were unable to provide many of the dishes on the menu, but they could definitely cook me a steak. Well as luck would have it, I was actually eyeing up the Serloin and was just picking my accompaniments, so I ordered just that, with the Blue Cheese sauce. When it arrived (with a second pint of Hells) it was presented beautifully, the service was very apologetic, but immaculate and the steak was cooked to perfection, the blue cheese sauce was fabulous, it was all piping hot and the rustic chips and vegetables were delicious. The waitress informed me that it had been cooked by candlelight, well it may or may not have been true, but I cannot have one single complaint about how I was treated by both of the owners and the waitress, and of course the chef/kitchen staff. I had a fabulous experience and the owner and his wife and the waitress all thanked me for bearing with them, how could I complain? They gave me a brilliant experience and the owner's wife even said I won't charge you for the blue cheese sauce! A lovely place, lovely food, lovely staff, and reasonably priced too! Well Done to you all at Bon Apetit, I will see you again in April 2026

We booked a 2 night stay in Whitby on Boxing Day, Booked Bon Appetite for dinner on Boxing Day night. From the moment we stepped into the lovely bistro which had a lovely atmosphere the member of staff and owner were so friendly. We had belly pork to start with and then sea bass for main the food was absolutely delicious and perfect, credit to the chef. Everyone in the bistro that evening spoke about how well they enjoyed their food. We had been looking at places to eat and drink on the evening and couldn’t have chosen anywhere better than Bon Appetite and a bonus when the owner said she owned the pub round the corner in which we had already planned to go to see the entertainment that evening. Voted the best pub in Whitby. So if anyone is visiting Whitby, please go and try for yourself and also visit the pub it’s called Elsinore. Which we had a great night the act was fab and everyone had a dance and singalong. Will definitely be back to both when next visiting Anne & Kevin York

Food was fabulous, steak cooked to perfection. Smoked salmon was lush for starters. All done for (Gf). Soup tomato and pepper, Cheese and bacon burger 🍔 with fries, staff and chef work well together, good communication friendly atmosphere. Will definitely be going back. Best steak i have had cooked right in a long time.

We can’t comment on the food, as we left shortly after sitting down due to how we were treated by the owners. Our group of seven had stopped by earlier in the day to see if we could book a table, and a 20:30 reservation was agreed upon. We arrived at 20:20 and were told to wait in the bar while a table was prepared. When the staff finally set one up, they made it clear that the kitchen would close at 20:30 and that we needed to order immediately. The woman behind the bar (presumably the owner’s wife) kept insisting that the food order be taken before drinks, while the man repeatedly pressured us to decide quickly, saying, “the chef is about to have a mental breakdown.” He also admitted that he thought we were drunk when he accepted the booking earlier that day (we weren’t) and assumed we wouldn’t actually turn up. In reality, we were a group of sober couples simply enjoying a weekend away. When one of our group asked about pizzas, referring to a sign outside advertising them, the woman curtly replied, “It’s only 3–6, darling,” in a patronizing tone. From the moment we sat down, the atmosphere was uncomfortable. It would have been far better if they had simply told us upon arrival that they couldn’t accommodate us, rather than rushing and scolding us. Ultimately, the woman seemed irritated with her husband for accepting our booking, and we decided to leave. A really disappointing experience. We don’t doubt that others may have had good experiences here, but unfortunately, ours was not one of them. Having since read the owners’ responses to other negative reviews, it only reinforces our view that the customer service and attitude we experienced were unacceptable.

Dining out in Whitby usually means good food, friendly service, and a bit of seaside charm. Sadly, Bon Appetit offered none of the above. What started as a simple booking for a relaxed evening meal quickly turned into one of the most uncomfortable restaurant experiences I’ve ever had. Our group of seven, 6 couples and our 7th wheel, popped in earlier in the day to book a table for 8:30 p.m. — a straightforward request, or so we thought. What we weren’t told, however, was that the kitchen would be closing at 8:30. That small detail would’ve saved everyone a lot of time and frustration. When we arrived, our table wasn’t ready, and we were told to wait in the bar. Fair enough, these things happen. But when one of our group tried to order a pint of beer, he was snapped at and told to “wait five minutes.” Even after clarifying it was just a pint — not some elaborate cocktail — the same curt response came back, this time with even less patience. It set the tone for what followed. About five minutes later, we were shown to our table. Before we’d even seen a menu, we were told we needed to order food straight away because the kitchen was closing. The irony wasn’t lost on us — a restaurant that happily takes an 8:30 booking but scolds you for showing up at 8:20. The place seemed to be run by a husband-and-wife team, and they were arguing openly across the dining room while we sat there awkwardly. When we tried to order drinks first, the woman jumped in, saying we had to order food immediately because “the chef’s having a nervous breakdown.” The man, clearly caught in the middle, tried to keep things on track, but she interrupted again — louder this time — insisting we order right now. The final straw came when one of us asked about the pizzas written on the board. The response? A snide, “If you’d actually read the sign, you’d see they’re only available from three to six DARLING.” No attempt at politeness, just pure attitude. At that point, we’d had enough. We put our menus down, stood up, and left without ordering food or drinks. We found somewhere else nearby and ended up having a great evening — once we’d escaped. In all my years of eating out, I’ve rarely come across such rudeness or chaos. It wasn’t just bad service — it was downright hostile. Maybe the food is decent, but with staff this unpleasant and disorganised, I’ve no interest in ever finding out.