Oscar's Wine Bar & Bistro

I went to Oscars which has relocated to Swinegate (nest to the Biltmore) on Saturday and WOW! What a great night, the staff were brill, the food simply amazing, and the general atmosphere was so happy. Will definitely be going back this weekend. It was really busy tho so get there early if you want a seat!!

The Legendary Oscars is relocating to 27, Swinegate, York (next to the Biltmore) on Wednesday 11th Feb 2009. We are delighted to be able to offer the same menu in a delightful new setting where we have created the Oscars vibe and ambience. Look out for our new late night for 2009.

Oscars is arguably one of the most popular places in York to eat these days. Great food, great wine and great atmosphere.

Prices are a little on the high side but portions are more than generous; in fact I have never seen anyone finish the nachos, and even two people struggle!

Eat outside under the awning, warmed by the numerous patio heaters or enjoy the cosy atmosphere inside. Upstairs is perfect for friends and there are a number of tables for two for a more romantic meal.

Booking for large parties is essential. If you pop on down on a Saturday lunch time, don’t expect to get seated without a significant wait. Occasionally there are vouchers around and about for free wine or buy one get one free.

Fantastic bar! It offers a great heated outside seating area, the food is great and quick and they offer many choices at the bar with lots of lovely premium lagers.
As mentioned in the other review, the nachos has to be seen to be believed and its a brave man or woman who tackles them on their own! I also highly recommend the burgers which like the nachos could feed any normal sized human for a week!

THE place to go if you want Nachos. We used to go there solely for the Nachos. Piled high with cheese, salsa and guacamole perfect for sharing, It’s pretty tough to get through a bowl by yourself. Decent prices and extremely tasty! Really nice atmosphere and outdoor seating area. Got gas heaters outside so pleasant in cooler evenings too. Decor is quite natural and some of the eating areas inside are a bit cramped. Quite traditionalish bar style interior. Drinks are not badly priced. Generally very busy and popular place. Good more for lunches than evening meals I’d say. The sandwiches are a bit over priced for what you get.

A realyl great place for drinks in the evenig and for lunch at…well…lunchtime!

Oscars is a relaxed bar where you can sit and enjoy the high quality but reasonably priced food and drink that is available!

The atmoshpere is always really ambient inside. They also have outdoor seating if the weather is on your side!

The burgers here are fantastic!

Worth noting that they are due to relocate to a bigger building just round the corner in the next couple of months, maybe early 2009!

I havn’t given a 5 rating before. We are NEVER disappointed when we eat out at Oscars! The food is FANTASTIC! the size of the portions are really brill. far bigger than you remember from the time before!! The food itself is delish. never had a bad meal here. The drinks are reasonably priced and they have happy hour on Sunday and Monday after 4 and tues to Fri (I think!) from 5. The appertisers are like a main meal too! If you like Chilli the Muchos Natcho’s are fab to share but veeery filling!
The only bad thing I could say is that inside it can get VERY warm. if you sit upstairs in thw summer it isn’t always a great experience. You can sit outside too. (which we always opt for) as even in the winter they have the patio heaters on, and its like bing abroad ;o)

I have been to Oscars quite a few times over the years and mainly for meals through places I have worked and I have to say every time I have been I have been impressed.

The food is great and the drinks are reasonably priced and there is plenty of room both upstairs and downstairs and for me its a place that I feel that when I go there I can just chill out relax and unwind.

I would say my best experience was when I went for a meal with my current employers and the meal and drinks were free because we had performed so well at work and I had not been for a bit before then and it was so great to go back and I had such a good time and its a place I always like going to.

The music they play sets the right mood too its not too upbeat and its not too negative its just right which is just what I like.

Was surprised to read a bad review for this bar-suggesting that it gone down hill over 20 years.The opposite couldnt be more true.This used to be a horrible place full of shady looking business types.It is now simply the best all round bar and restaurant I have found in the golden triangle of York-Leeds-Harrogate.The staff are really friendly,knowledgable and well trained. The food is real and simply delicious.The portions are very generous and always made from really good ingredients. Some establishments with similar menus often use cheap ingredients. I can only assume the bad review was written by a jealous competitor.Shame on you!

Compare Oscars to Biltmore (they’re owned by the same people) and it’s like comparing sackcloth to silk.

Yes, if you’ve never been there before it seems funky but after seeing it go downhill over 20 years it’s saddening. The food is good but you wait an age for it, the barstaff look after their own needs rather than the customer and you have to go in the first hour to get a (pricey) ice cold bottle of beer which is disastrous. The bar staff claim that the fridge is not cold enough - well fix it then!

You can always tell sub-standard bar staff if they “fill from the front”. Any decent bar trains its staff to bring the coldest bottles in the fridge (i.e. from the back) to the front and put new bottles at the back to get cold. Not degree level bar management - but beyond these guys.

Summing this bar up - COMPLACENT

Raise your game guys…!!

Oscars is one of my favourite restaurants in York. It offers good food and a good amosphere. The prices are reasonable and the portion sizes are massive. The menu offers a good choice with light bites and snacks such as nachos and wraps, or main meals such as cajan chicken, curry or bugers. The food is fresh and tasty.

It is also a good place to go for drinks with friends on a night out. If offers a good choice of wines and also does an excellent Sangria.

My friend who lives in York took me here and promised me I would love their big portions, well she wasnt wrong! As a visitor I felt I was experiencing the real York coz the locals seemed to love it, which is always a good sign. The outdoor heated area is great coz it did seem difficult to get a table inside. The cobbles in the courtyard also add to the authentic York experience.

I adore Oscar's! The food is fabulous! Favourites include cajun chicken or their homemade burgers, all served with the best homemade chips, salad, onion rings - the works! Everything I have ever tried here has been delicious.

Service can be a little slow because everything is made fresh - but it's definitely worth the wait.

I cannot recommend this place highly enough for lunch with friends.