On tapas

ONLY in York could you find a tapas bar called Jacks. A more fitting name for the Spanish-style bar in Castlegate might have been Jos's or Juan's, but that was never on the menu for owner Jan Keenan.

"I wanted to call it Jacks after my grandson, Jack who is seven," she says matter-of-factly.

And in its own way, it's apt, because Jacks and neighbouring pub Little John are both owned by Jan and run by her family: partner Darren Griffith and her daughter Janette Robinson, mum to Jack.

On the menu at the tapas bar is a range of Med-inspired dishes such as roasted vegetables, feta cheese salad, mixed seafood as well as spicy chicken and beef strips and crayfish salad. The selection changes daily and all dishes are priced at £3.95 and come with bread and olives.

The decor is sunny, with a lemon and terracotta colour scheme, which Jan says makes people feel like they are on holiday.

Drinks are served in frosted glasses to add to the continental feel.

In an unusual twist, upstairs at Jacks are five en-suite letting rooms priced from £59 per room a night.

Jan, who has owned Little John for 12 years, says she wanted to create something totally different when the chance came to buy the building next door.

She said: "It is a listed building and has a fantastic atmosphere. We opened on June 21 and we've had a good reaction already. We are getting quite a lot of ladies coming in who don't want big heavy meals. Also, there are no machines or loud music: just background music."

Jacks is open daily from 11am until 11pm.

- AS any restaurateur worth his salt knows, the customer is always right.

So we were pleased to learn that when York's Bar 38 decided to update its menus it asked punters what they wanted.

And you can carry out a taste test on the results by popping into the Coney Street riverside bar where you will find dishes such as strawberry and black olive bruschetta and charred cod, burnt lemon and chardonnay risotto on the new menu.

Chefs spent four months researching the snacks and meals for the new menus - asking Bar 38 customers in York for their opinions and requesting feedback as they refined their dishes.

However, a handful of firm favourites have kept their place on the final menu including good old fish and chips and freshly-prepared burgers.

Lighter options are available in the form of crunchy salad bowls which can be bulked out with chicken, steak or tuna.

And to wash it all down, there is a new range of cocktails, wine and beer too.

....And there are changes too on the menu at the Fox and Roman on Tadcaster Road, which has added the taste of summer to its food selection.

New dishes include Bantry Bay Mussels, Chilled Cajun Salmon Salad and traditional summer desserts such as Eton Mess and Lemon Cheesecake.

And back this year, by popular demand, is the non-alcoholic cocktail Summer Breeze - chilled fresh orange and cranberry juice.

- THOSE nice people at Hazlewood Castle are inviting all readers to have a drink on them.

During July and August, when four or more people dine either at the 1086 restaurant or the Prickly Pear Caf, they will receive a complimentary jug of Pimms.

Tables must be reserved in advance, quoting SH78, which cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm-9.30pm, with menus from £24.99.

The caf is open from 11am to 9.30pm daily, with dishes priced from £3.75.

Hazlewood Castle is off the A64 near Tadcaster and was named Hotel of the Year in the Yorkshire Tourist Board awards last year.

Updated: 08:45 Saturday, July 05, 2003