The daffodils are out and York is looking lovely at the moment so we decided as it was the first rain-free evening in recent memory to have a wander around before deciding where to eat.

The city was almost deserted, except for a haunting of ghostwalkers, and it is pleasant to take time to look around and get re-acquainted with the sights and the buildings we tend to take for granted.

I've always liked the unusual little building in Castlegate, which houses the Francois restaurant, and the menu posted by the door enticed us inside.

What a surprise. From outside it looks almost as though it has ecclesiastical connections with its stone portico and stained glass windows, but inside it is a little bit of France.

A longish, narrow room with the feel of a 1970s Paris bistro. Candles flickered on the well-spaced tables which were covered with crisp white linen cloths.

But, oh dear, no other diners. Should we stay or should we go?

Well we were in now and had been warmly greeted by the French waitress who brought the menu and took our order for an aperitif.

The menu, small and very French is supplemented by a blackboard of fresh fish specials.

No dithering for me, moules mariniere (£5.45) followed by seared tuna steak on a pepper and basil salad with seaweed tartare (£13.45).

Chris was tempted by the mushrooms in garlic and cream sauce but finally settled for seafood salad (£4.95) followed by fillet steak in pepper and cream sauce (£13.95)

As in France, a basket of bread was brought to the table.

This came in very handy to soak up the delicious juices my mussels came in.

Although small they were plentiful and it was quite the best version of this dish I had ever eaten.

The sauce was thickened with a touch of cream and was superb and savoury.

Chris enjoyed his mix of prawns, mussels, scallops and squid which came with a salad garnish but felt the dressing was a little too oily. He prefers a slightly more piquant topping.

Sadly I too felt the pepper and basil salad which came with my tuna was slightly over oiled but found no complaint with the fish itself.

It was tender and meaty and fell into big flakes. The unusual seaweed tartare had a pleasing sharpness which went nicely with the rich fish.

No complaints from Chris about the beef.

The thinly sliced steak was covered with a tangy black pepper sauce and garnished with crispy shreds of fried potato. Tender and delicious was the verdict.

Along with our meals came a dish of vegetables offering small tastings of cauliflower, broccoli, mangetouts, carrots and a larger helping of new potatoes.

I really would have liked to follow the French theme to its natural conclusion and finished my meal with crpes Suzette, but we were both rather full. Even the dark Brussels chocolate and white chocolate mousse couldn't tempt us.

Instead we settled for a coffee and just sat back and relaxed in the pleasant atmosphere - even though the room was empty.

There was just that feeling that it was late and everyone had gone home and we were about to be ejected on to the streets of Paris.

Francois Restaurant, 28 Castlegate, York. Tel: 01904 612744