Little Italy Restaurant & Deli

We had a fantastic dinner at this wonderful deli/restaurant. I personally found being seated downstairs near the shop deli counter very interesting with a unique atmosphere but others may prefer the more traditional tables upstairs. All our dishes were delicious and while some plates look a little bare it's just an illusion (large plates!) as the portions were ample. Service was very friendly and efficient & while not cheap think pricing is fair for the quality offered. Highly recommended.

This is by far my favourite restaurant in York. Located on Goodramgate and open since 1992, the restaurant (which is quite small) is upstairs above a traditional deli and really oozes tradition and charm. Been coming here at least once a year now since 2019 (even managed 2020!) and am never disappointed. Much nostalgia. You can book the restaurant online these days (via the website), which is handy. It is generally very popular, so I’d always recommend booking ahead to avoid disappointment – they also don’t open on a Tuesday. From memory, they usually shut for a couple of weeks at the start fo the year for a holiday as well. The atmosphere inside is traditional, the upstairs restaurant offers perhaps 50 covers in a compact space – the walls are lined with wine and mirrors – it gets busy, but never really feels crowded, in the way some places can. Lots of lively conversations taking place. Service is always friendly and professional. The toilets are on the floor above, reached via vertiginous stairs, the journey is an adventure. The menu is comprehensive, with an excellent range of traditional classics and specials – the pasta selection, in particular, is formidable. On this occasion, I opted for the excellent scalda n’duja to start – this is a traditional spreadable spiced sausage (served sitting on a burner) served with soft cheese and delicious crusty bread. This is a big portion and packed with flavour. Another good option I’ve had before is the arancini, which are served with a thick and rich cheese sauce. Beautiful. For a main, the cannelloni, filled with chicken and spinach and served with cheese and tomato sauces – this is also very rich. (Special mention also to the pasta with sausage and mushroom and the chicken roulade, which are both excellent options). Whenever I come here, I regret not having a bigger appetite, as there’s always more than one thing that I want to try… There is a dessert menu, but for me the standout here is and always has been the limoncello (yes, that is with lemon) tiramisu – this is a generous portion with mascarpone and a good hit of limoncello. This truly is ‘the’ pudding and worthy of celebration. There’s a small video featuring this pudding on Google – can’t imagine who made that… Overall, this is an excellent restaurant and definitely one that deserves your custom – the deli downstairs looks very good as well, although I don’t tend to be around at lunchtime myself. If you’re staying at the DoubleTree around the corner, that’s very convenient for this restaurant but, to be honest, it’s very walkable from most of the hotels in central York. A definite two paws up. One to try.

This is a really lovely restaurant—everything feels genuine. The service is warm and attentive, and the atmosphere is filled with happy people chatting over delicious food. The music is soft and unobtrusive, enhancing the ambience without overwhelming guests or adding unnecessary noise. Everyone at our table polished their plates — everything we ate was superb from start to finish. The food was by far and away the best restaurant meal we’ve had in a long long time. So often in recent years you go out for a meal and leave feeling the food and experience were just so-so, questioning whether it was worth the money. Little Italy was absolutely worth it and reminded us how enjoyable eating out can be when everything is done properly.

Visit this deli every year for my birthday visit to York for the best Salami and fresh sausage. This year decided to try the restaurant and we had a most excellent time! Trust the specials! The minestrone my husband had was the stuff of delicious dreams although I was in love with the arancini. The wine was excellent 👌 really excellent and the service was something you don't find anymore, real traditional Italian restaurant service, attentive, discreet and directive. Our main dishes were just as flavourful and attractive. My mushroom ravioli was earthy with silky pasta and an indulgent cream sauce. It was my birthday! I mentioned this when seated and we were quickly ushered to a more private table and at the end of our meal, I was brought a beautiful plate with a delicious cannoli with a birthday candle! Such a sweet and generous thing to do. I did have tears! Such a lovely experience 💕 Perfect for a good bottle of wine and a great feed or definitely for a special occasion. Thank you for making my birthday so sweet!

My wife and I enjoyed a New Year’s Eve meal at Little Italy Deli and Restaurant, and it was nothing short of exceptional from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and perfectly suited to seeing in the New Year — relaxed yet special, with attentive and genuinely friendly service throughout. We started with the Bruchette All’Italiana, which was beautifully simple and incredibly fresh. The toasted bread was perfectly crisp, topped with vibrant tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and oregano, finished with fresh rocket — classic Italian flavours done exactly right. Alongside this, we had the Bresaola Alla Siciliana, which was outstanding. The cured beef was delicately sliced and full of flavour, complemented perfectly by the rocket, sun-blushed tomatoes, parmesan shavings, and a light drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. A truly elegant starter. For mains, we couldn’t fault a thing. The Tagliolini Toscana was rich, comforting, and packed with flavour — the homemade pasta was superb, and the combination of fillet steak, pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes, aubergine, onion and garlic came together in a beautifully balanced sauce. The standout, however, was the Filetto con Crema di Tartufo. The Yorkshire fillet steak was cooked to perfection, incredibly tender, and the port flambé with the truffle cream and cracked black peppercorn sauce was indulgent without being overpowering. A real showstopper of a dish. Dessert was the perfect ending. The Cannoli Siciliani were crisp and light, filled with creamy ricotta, pistachios and chocolate chips — authentic and utterly delicious. The Tartufo Nero was equally impressive, with its rich chocolate centre, nutty coating and cocoa dusting providing a luxurious final note to the meal. Overall, the food, service, and atmosphere made this a memorable New Year’s Eve experience. Little Italy Deli and Restaurant delivers authentic Italian cuisine at a very high standard, and we left already looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommended. 🍷🇮🇹