Owned and managed by Giovanni Delrio and his family since 1992, Delrio’s cellar restaurant offers an extensive blend of classic and popular Italian dishes with a strong Sardinian influence.
Delrio’s restaurant is located in a distinctive cellar setting with a labyrinth of secluded tables for private dining, as well as several larger areas for corporate bookings. A covered patio area is available during the warmer months (weather depending).
Giovanni and his team of Italian chefs use traditional methods of home-cooking with locally sourced and fresh Italian produce. Delrio’s menu boasts mouth-watering seafood, poultry and meat dishes as well as a variety of home-made pasta and rice dishes and an excellent choice of vegetarian options and desserts made in-house by Delrio’s own pâtissier. Not forgetting the Pizzeria, boasting first-rate authentic pizzas cooked to the traditional Italian home-made style!
And naturally all dishes are complemented by cocktails and aperitifs and a fine Italian wine list.
All dishes are prepared in an open kitchen within view of customers.
Our Food
Delrio’s restaurant has built its reputation for quality through offering a wide variety of dishes using the highest standard of ingredients in a relaxing and friendly environment. As you would expect from a family-run restaurant, the menu offers traditional recipes, including Sardinian dishes which have been handed down through the generations.
All dishes contain the freshest of ingredients, which are specially sourced and prepared with great care by the team of chefs at Delrio’s restaurant.
The Restaurant
Delrio’s restaurant is located adjacent to Micklegate Bar, the Royal entrance to the City of York and just a few minutes walk from York train station.
Delrio’s restaurant is located is cellar based. Access to the restaurant is via a green door opposite the Punchbowl pub on Blossom Street.
Delrio’s Restaurant offers an informal and vibrant dining experience.
A private seating area is available for large party bookings up to 32 people.
An outside seating area is available for alfresco dining in the summer – weather permitting!
Our History
Established in 1992 by Giovanni Delrio, Delrio’s restaurant has built up an enviable reputation for providing food of the highest quality in a relaxed and intimate setting. Giovanni’s concept is simple – he uses traditional methods of cooking and sources the best of fresh produce, both locally and from Italy.
Giovanni is Sardinian and maintains close contact with his family on the island. He studied traditional Italian cuisine at one of Italy’s top catering colleges and then worked in some of Tuscany’s most exclusive hotels before arriving in York in 1978 on a college placement at the Holiday Inn on the Tadcaster Road.
Giovanni subsequently worked in a variety of York hotels and restaurants before opening his unique, underground restaurant at the corner of Micklegate and Blossom Street on 1 July 1992:
“In those days, it was tough and the hours were very long. However I just thought it was time to take the risk and set up my own place. I wanted to prove that it was possible to do great Italian food using local produce. In those days I drove to the markets in the morning for fresh produce, then prepared the food, cooked it, served it and provided the entertainment in the restaurant too!”
After years of hard work and dedication, Giovanni and his team have well and truly established Delrio’s restaurant as a popular eatery on the York map.