BAR FOOD
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Have you ever wandered around town in the daytime, hungry like the wolf? And on passing some of your regular evening haunts, noticed that they apparently exist in the daytime as well? No? Well, Vision has at least. York boasts an abundance of bars and clubs which serve food (and drink of course) in the daytime. So it was with curiosity and a hint of trepidation that we sent Alex Finnis and Dom MckinnonGreen to find out more...
DUSK
While Dusk is clearly much more famed for its 2-for-1 cocktails in the evening, their lunchtime menus are certainly nothing to be ashamed of. They have an exhaustive bagel menu, by which we’re yet to be disappointed. There’s even Hoi Sin Duck for Pret fans. Sandwiches, burgers and even rump steak are on the menu, all for very much under a tenner. There’s also a really tasty range of vegetarian options. All in all a perfect, comfortable choice for a chilled light lunch, and drinks too if you’re that way inclined. Free WiFi is on offer on top of this, which is always a bonus.
LOOP
With a pretty out of the way location on the edge of town, Loop is the sort of bar that needs to have a draw to it to survive. Whilst previously a bit dull, it was revamped over summer turning into arguably the best sports bar in York. The food is both good and cheap; you can get a beer and a plain burger for a fiver on match days. But if you prefer your burgers with a bit more character then their menu boasts a wide range of more exciting options named after footballing heroes, as well as a solid range of steaks, vegetarian options, and the occasional free buffet! A great choice for the hungry sport-lover.
HOUSE PARTIES I f bouncers at all the clubs recognize you by name at this point, it is definitely high time to consider finding some new alternatives to going into town every night. Going to a house party is not only much cheaper, considering you can mix your Morrisons savers’ vodka with lemonade that costs 35p instead of buying overpriced doubles in Revs, but also so much more fun. You have, or could achieve with a little persuasion (or rudeness), full control of the music, and can adjust its level depending on whether you feel like dancing or just having a chat. Being in a house full of people you know also means that you will be able to avoid all the pervy middle-aged men as well as the girls that wear more make-up than clothes. Another plus side of a house party is that unlike in most clubs, it is practically impossible to lose all the people you know, and if you actually manage to, the first person to your right will probably have seen them just a minute ago. This person to your right though, might even be a nice person to talk to, and is not just here with the mission of getting with someone from every college.
VS I
You should also take it into account that house parties are always free (unless you have super stingy friends), therefore you can come and go as you wish, no stamps required. Another plus of the no-stamps situation is that there is less evidence of your embarrassing antics for the next day. Therefore you needn’t put up with the knowing looks of the girl in your seminar that has done all her reading, had eight hours sleep and yet feels she knows your situation well after that one night she went to Willow during freshers... Also, don’t forget that there will be no never-ending queues in the rain or waiting half an hour to get to the toilet. If the party is really good or you are just drunk to oblivion, you can dance or just wander around for as long as you wish: your night does not have to finish by the time the lights go on in Willow. When you are finally ready to set your glass aside and sit down, there is no need to stumble to a takeaway just to stand in one more queue as food is right there for you in the fridge. And so, once you finally fall into bed, you will be happy you did not go out that night, especially if the party is at yours and you don’t even need to walk the short journey home.
GABRIELE PUMERYTE & JESS DAVIDSON
EVIL EYE
Also more famed as a bar, the food here is quite frankly incredible. Interestingly, the food is themed around Asian fusion food, so if you are a fan of Thai noodle soup and curries, then this is your place. This is however a generalisation. There is in fact a very wide variety of influences from within East Asia, and of course there’s a delicious drinks menu too. My personal favourite is the Burmese Hill Station curry, which is delicious with a lethal kick. It’s more expensive than some of the other places here, but it is better for a more complete (and delightful) meal. This place is by no means just for drinking.
WILLOW
What can we say? Word on the street is that if frequented sufficiently early enough in the evening, a menu for Willow food can be obtained, despite the alleged loss of a food license a few years ago. As in real food, no joke. With small volumes of Dutch courage accrued, we attempted to eat in this establishment. However,we were told on the door by Tommy Fong to ask at the bar, then the bar rather paradoxically told us to ask Tommy. ,enigmatic as ever. So who knows? One day, it just might happen. We will keep trying and keep you posted. For now, it’s just prawn crackers for us.
f you are trying to save the pennies, a night out might not be your best option, but let us have a look at the social wealth you could gain if you chose to venture out to the clubs and bars of York. Consider the club environment. It’s dark, the music is really loud and it’s crowded. During the day this isn’t anyone’s idea of comfort, but when you’re drunk and on the pull these things definitely work to your advantage. Dim lights manage to cover all manners of sins, from the flashes of your underwear, to the tear tracts running down your face from getting too emotional, to the Willow stamp on your forehead that you decided oh-so-cleverly to get before venturing into Tokyo, Kuda or Revs. The music might be too loud for conversation in clubs, but does anyone really want to hear your drunken ramblings on how unhygienic communal prawn crackers can be? Not to mention your attempts at harmonising with Brandon Flowers during ‘Mr Brightside’… It’s best if your drunken tones aren’t recorded for viewing the next day, as they inevitably will be at house parties if you try and cover anything by The Killers. During these winter months no-one
GOING OUT should complain about some extra body heat either, even if it does originate from the armpits of strange, sweaty sportsmen lost on their way to/from Ziggy’s. Plus, an over-crowded dance floor limits the opportunity to attract the humiliation spotlight when that drunkensuperman-complex hits. One minute you could be clearing space to do a worm, with endless strangers cramming around you to photograph your attempted idiocy, and the next they will have flocked away to watch girls doing slut drops in the corner, forgetting you and your useless party trick. Performing such ridiculous dancing at house parties is much more dangerous, as it will be surveyed and judged by your soberer friends and used as humiliating blackmail. By going out you increase the possibility of seeing someone in a much worse scenario than you and can cling to that memory in the morning when you battle with the self-loathing hangover. If you want a night where you can get embarrassingly trashed, without too much of the next day humiliation then going out is definitely a better option. And you don’t even have to worry about tidying up!