The Blue Barbakan

You'll find this brilliant Polish café halfway down Fossgate, where the aroma of garlic and dill practically drags you through the door. The Blue Barbakan does Eastern European comfort food with the kind of care that makes you wonder why you've been settling for mediocre lunches elsewhere. Their pierogi are the real deal – plump parcels stuffed with everything from traditional potato and cheese to more adventurous fillings, all made fresh on site. The evening menu steps things up a notch, transforming this daytime café into a proper Polish restaurant. You'll want the bigos if it's on – their hunter's stew is the sort of soul-warming dish that makes York's winter evenings bearable. Staff know their stuff and aren't shy about recommendations, which is handy given the menu's packed with dishes you might not recognise but absolutely should try.