Impress the Big Cheese

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Step Four Choose your venue, we wholeheartedly recommend…

19 Grape Lane 19 Grape Lane (01904) 636366 Specialising in high class English and Continental cuisine, this fine restaurant tends to cater to lunching businessmen and older couples.

The Blue Bicycle 34 Fossgate (01904) 673 990 Cosy, cluttered, friendly and a bit special, Blue Bicycle (you'll see it outside chained to the drainpipe if someone hasn't pinched it) is still the best restaurant in town, assuming you've got a few quid to spend.

Kites 13 Grape Lane (01904) 641 750 Set upstairs from their trendy wine bar, Kites serve characteristically flamboyant continental and international dishes. It tends to attract a fashionable and well to do crowd, so make sure you dress up, if you don't want to be mistaken for the cleaner.

Melton's 7 Scarcroft Road (01904) 634341 Many people still consider this to be the best in town. Head Chef, Michael Hjort is swiftly becoming York's resident celebrity chef following his regular appearances at the Autumn Food and Drink Festivals, and also for his very tasty food.

Rish 7 Fossgate (01904) 622688 This highly acclaimed restaurant has been drawing attention, both for its modern British and Continental menu, and also for their impressive, albeit very narrow modern minimalist decor. It has to be said that the food is delish, and very different.

Step Five Choosing wine? Conversation pointers? Classic 'any situation' type gags? www. itchycity.co.uk has got all this covered within its cyber pages. You're pretty much sorted.

Step Six Accomplish mission and let us know how it went. Feedback is always welcomed on our message boards, though we're not taking any responsibility for any fancy cocktail induced moments of honesty, desperation or embarrassing begging. Sorry.

Now that you've found out where to stay, check out what York offers in the way of places to stay and shops.