If you're familiar with popular astronomy concepts, you might appreciate the following statement:…read moreKendells Bistro exists almost wholly within the Goldilocks Zone of the restaurant universe, a phenomenon that's expected to be possible, but only encountered an infinitesimally small fraction of the time. The restaurant's interior is cosy and charming, dark and candlelit. It borders on being romantic, but doesn't take itself so seriously that it'll dissuade diners who aren't coming in as a couple. Its location is central, but not -in- the city centre. A mere handful of minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Briggate and Leeds' shopping meccas, one can readily walk to this bistro, but it's offset enough to deter the masses. And during the early evening hours (I believe from opening time until 2000 the night we visited), you can take advantage of their 2-course, 3-course, or 3-course and a half bottle of wine offers for between £17-25; it's a bargain, no matter how you slice it. The only thing that's absolutely excessive is the portion size for each of the dishes. My salad with rich, hearty bacon chunks and a perfectly poached egg on top was enough to sate my hunger. Then, when the cassoulet main arrived, I got -maybe- halfway through it before deciding I was completely stuffed. The cassoulet (featuring duck leg, sausage, -and- pork loin) was hearty and richly flavoured. By itself, it was a monstrous serving. That's ignoring the delightfully piped and plated potato mash, carrot mash, and mounded broccoli. From start to finish, I couldn't think of a single thing to improve about the experience. Kendells was readily the most noteworthy dining experience I've had in Leeds yet, and ranks highly amongst any gastronomic adventure I've embarked upon throughout Europe, generally!

if you go here, make sure you try the Supreme de Volialle L`Estragon. It's a really lovely dish…read morethat is part of the tea time menu. As they state 'Everything stops for tea.' The menu is priced at £21.95 - if you include half a bottle of wine into the menu (which of course, you will!) and you can pick from starters like, Gratin Lyonnaise, Saumon Marine A' la Aneth and Pate Maison. The mains consist of; Porc Boulangere, Confit Du Canard, Saumon en Croute and the likes. One of the best parts is of course dessert...pick from Petit Pot au Chocolate, Tarte aux Citron, Creme Brulee and Fromage. Nobody does Creme Brulee like the French so I'd recommend this! This is a great place to go before going to the theatre to see a show or even just to kick back and relax after a hard week.

The world would be a better place if we all had a little French in us. Some may beg to differ, but…read morenobody can deny that Parisians have that little bit of class and sophistication if a huge dollop of surliness at times too. So when I'm in need of a quick French fix I get my kicks at Cafe Rouge. It's a typical European style cafe and bar. Plenty of outdoor dining and lots of dark moody places to sit inside. It's a nice joint, with spot on atmospheric decor and waiters who look like they've just come in from the Eiffel Tower. They want you to know this is French and I think they do it pretty well actually. As for the drinks, well spot on sir, spot on. The wines are expensive but classy little numbers. Check out some of the sparkling for some fizz that's not Champagne but tastes as fresh and crisp as the real deal. You want a good coffee? No problem either. It's all there for you. As for the food, top marks once again. I personally like the goats cheese salad which is rich and creamy beyond words. After all, the French know their cheeses. You can go for more traditional options or even sandwich it up with a nice order of fries with that (although I think they'll curse at me calling them fries!).

During the day Cafe Rouge, and certainly this branch, is a reasonably nice posh place to go for a…read moredrink. Being situated behind the Corn Exchange and slightly off the beaten track it is usually a lot calmer than the branch at The Light and so easy to find a table. You can be sure to relax and have a good natter without the noise and hub-bub of a busy shopping centre. My only experience of Cafe Rouge as a night time bar was immediately after a virtual break-up, so not exactly a happy time unfortunately! Having been left at the train station at around 11pm at night I had to wander around and wait for my housemate to fetch me once he'd finished his shift at a nearby restaurant. A dreadfully long hour (with lots of miserable tears) later he finished his shift and took me to Cafe Rouge to cheer me up. We had a few pints of lager, standard fare, and then got a cab home but (in between cursing and crying) I was able to note how glad I was that it wasn't too busy and so embarrassing for me to be sat there in the state I was in! I guess the moral of this story is that Cafe Rouge here is a nice quiet version of t'other in't Light, with all the benefit and none of the rabble. Certainly good enough to take a friend who might need consoling in peace...

My favourite restaurant in Leeds! The steak is always amazing and when accompanied with the French…read morefries and their signature green salad pure heaven. The menu is always interesting but I can't resist the steak. Excellent wines and there is always an interesting cheeseboard of unusual cheeses. The atmosphere makes it great for an intimate meal for a special occasion. Not cheap but worth every penny!

A group of about 10 of us came to La Grillade recently, having driven past it so many times over…read morethe years and never remembered to go, so it's about time! On entering I was immediately impressed by the place - it's done up very nicely. We had our jackets taken and hung up, and we started at the bar for a drink before sitting down. There were a couple of surprising drinks on offer which pleased a few of us - there was a lovely ale that became the drink for the evening (although I forget it's name - damn my memory!). So far so good. The food was also very good generally. I went for the crab cakes to start with - I love crab but it's an occasional pleasure so I'll always enjoy it! For my main I went for duck breast in a raspberry sauce - the duck was lovely, but I did find the sauce a little overpowering. It needed some mopping up with chips that somebody else had got on the side, but it was still enjoyable. I did get to try the mussels that somebody else had - that's definitely what I should've gone for! They came in what looked like a cauldron, and they were delicious. It won't go down as one of my favourite restaurants or anything, but how often do you find yourself going to a French restaurant? I don't think I know any others in Leeds, so definitely give La Grillade a go if you fancy a bit of a change.

Having heard a bit of a buzz about this place I decided it warranted a visit. In spite of making it…read moremy mission to try and test out all the fine dining I can find (and afford) in Leeds, I'd only ever driven past Sous Le Nez En Ville in a taxi home late at night, and the curious foot-level windows have always left me wondering. With a colleague in town this was the perfect opportunity to discover what it was really like, and so in the mini-flash-flood weather, we quick-marched over from The Calls to grab some dinner. Mistakenly, we tried to enter via the hotel next door at first, which itself is a gorgeous building. I couldn't see a sign for it, so I've no idea what it's called, but the stair case and stained glass window alone suggests that it's a bit flash. But I digress. Sous Le Nez. So, we continued down the street to find the corner entrance down the steps, indeed sous le nez, as it is both under pavement and was under our noses. The smell wafting up also matches the name well, as we descended down upon both scent and setting. Trés poétique. The vibe is immediately rustic, with gorgeous brickwork, displays of empty divine wine bottles and lovely low-lit lighting. The mood was certainly set on arrival. It's a shame that sense doesn't really carry on through into the dining area; although the tables are pleasant and there are wee nooks and crannys in which to dine (perfect for a romancing couple) the space is somewhat packed in and there is much less to look at than in the bar area. Even so, the food was the main event! The menu is sprawling, with a dedicated fish-starter menu, and a number of specials which change (daily?) for one to opt from. I had expected to find that the prices would be extortionate but in fact were medium to high end. The most expensive main coming in at around £30 and the majority were at the £17ish mark. Not bad. I chose the French Onion Soup to start, having fell in love with it recently, and my companion the Trio of Salmon. Despite not being a salmon fan, it looked incredibly tempting, and my soup was delightful. Although I'd have liked a little more melted cheese, the flavour was incredible. For my main I had the venison. Oh my yum. It came with a delicious gravy, which had hints of anise, although I forget the other flavours. It was rich but not overpowering and was the perfect accompaniment to the wonderfully cooked venison, which practically melted in my mouth. Very kindly they allowed me to swap the sweet potato mash for normal mashed potato, as I couldn't decide if I wanted mash as an extra or not. We had some fine green beans with a bit of butter and chilli as a side and everything was cooked to perfection. To finish I had the Crème Brûlée which, although it was lovely, it was not as excellent as the other courses. The burnt sugar was a touch too bitter and the pudding wasn't as sweet as I like, but perhaps that's a personal preference. I suppose my only other small gripe was that the service was incredibly relaxed - it took rather a long time to order and whilst waiting for food indicates it's all being cooked nicely from scratch, waiting to order desserts and for the bill to arrive is another matter. It certainly does add to the ambiance of the French restaurant, though! And every staff encounter was very friendly and warm, so over all I was very pleased. The perfect restaurant for a relaxed, romantic and divine eating experience in Leeds and I highly recommend a visit. Bring your appetite though - three courses is more than enough gluttony for one month!

Oh my, this was perfection. Perfectly cooked, perfectly flavoured, perfect balance of textures and…read morefood groups, just I had the Pan-Roasted Salmon Fillet, Creamed Cabbage, Spinach, Leek & Samphire, Celeriac Rosti & Fennel Hollandaise, and then the most delicious bread and butter pudding I've ever had. Everything was just so expertly executed. And good value as well!

This restaurant/bar has a cool, trendy vibe with music that's just loud enough to listen to without…read moredrowning out conversation. The menu is a bit all over the place and tries too hard. They have a ridiculous cocktail menu that for some reason requires an explanation by the server. The food menu is a mishmash of global cuisines which never bodes well for any restaurant. That said, I had the vegan burger which made from one of those new plant based fake meat patties and it was pretty good. We had a great time here and the service was attentive without being overbearing.

Been here once. Enjoyed the entertainment of the mixologists making the drinks. Love the rustic…read morefeel. Only loose a star because of the pricing as it is a bit pricey so could not make it a regular stop.

Has to be the best Sunday lunch I've had outside of London (at what I rate really good Sunday…read morelunches - Blacklock and Hawksmoor). Lovely relaxed atmosphere and great service. Had the Chicken Livers on Waffle to start - which was super tasty. For the main event had Roast Beef with the best potatoes ever. Over ordered as also had cauliflower cheese on the side! Finished it off with a Baked Alaska! Could not recommend the place more - can't wait to go back!

I'm a fan of Ox Club but definitely think it's carried by it's trendy-ness. I would give it a solid…read more3.5 stars if possible. I came for dinner on Friday night and loved it right off the bat. The first thing you notice is that it's much smaller than you imaged. Headrow House is super trendy (neon signs, etc) and so is Ox Club. From what I saw, all the men who worked here had beards! The kitchen was open which meant you could see all the action going on - always a good touch. The food wasn't as good unfortunately. We ordered two starters: the Hamachi Tuna (one of the specials) and a Radish dish. I thought the Radish was pretty good - very light and fresh - but maybe that's because I'm not used to eating Radish like that. The tuna was average. For our mains, we ordered a Onglet steak (a special) and a Iberico Secreto (a pork cut from behind the neck). The Iberico Secreto wasn't bad and was pretty tender. On the other hand, the Onglet didn't taste of much at all. The hogweed side that it came with was honestly 10x better. We also ordered some potatoes and spinach on the side. I was impressed by the spinach which was sweet as it was paired with Apple slices and walnuts. The potatoes were... well standard potatoes. They were sitting in a seaweed sauce which was decent (it went well with the potatoes) but they didn't really absorb it very well. The service wasn't bad. Only thing we noticed is they topped up our glasses of wine from our bottle the first time but that was it. TLDR: 4/5 for atmosphere. 3/5 for food.

Mook, awful name aside, is a charming little bar well hidden in Hirst's yard near the bottom of…read moretown. I first noticed the place a while back when staggering out of Space at an ungodly hour one Thursday night/Friday morning, and it looked appealing to me even then, despite the fact that I was seeing double. I had never heard of the place, but vowed to check it out one day, and that one day came a few months back on a Saturday evening. I was surprised at how busy such a well hidden bar was, but even more surprised by the laid back atmosphere and refreshing lack of pretence that is all too common in a cocktail bar in Leeds on a weekend. The clientèle were a mixture of old and young, and while the DJ played some banging electro, it was much more a bar than a club - a few people were dancing, but most were just chatting away, which is possible as the music is at the perfect volume. Drinks-wise, the cocktails are inexpensive for what they are, and there's beer and wine at surprisingly low prices (under a tenner for a bottle of house). If you can manage find Mook down that dark alley they call Hirst's yard, get involved. You won't regret it.

I loved Mook when I came here! The staff were lovely, the atmosphere was electric, and most of all…read moreit was one of my first dates with Hot Steve and we had an ace time. Also, the clientele were pleasantly unpretentious for a city-centre bar. I even accidentally ended up at Mook when I was supposed to be taking people to Room, which says a lot really. I hate Room.

I went here some time ago with my fiance and due to the terrible quality of the food we have never…read morebeen back and would never want to. The food of course is quintessentially French and that is not the problem. I had a broccoli and cheese quiche with french fries and fiance had a croque monseuir, which was a little greasy but otherwise OK (but not really worth the money - £7 for a croissant with a bit of cheap ham and cheese?) but my food was so salty it actually made me feel quite sick. The quiche had loads of salt in it and the whole meal had been doused in the stuff. The French must sure love their salt. My fiance has high blood pressure so I never use salt in cooking, so this visible mountain of salt was unbearable and I couldn't finish my meal. The coffees we had were delicious, and reasonably priced. I wouldn't go back there for dinner or a snack but I would visit there again for a nice sit down coffee.

I went with friends to the Cafe Rouge for the first time, using Tesco Clubcard vouchers and we were…read moreall a little disappointed. Firstly, there wasn't much atmosphere because for a Saturday evening it seemed quite empty and a bit cold. The waiter was Polish and friendly enough but let us order our food and came back ages after to say three things we had ordered weren't available that night which was a bit odd for a Saturday evening. The food also seemed very expensive for the size of portion we got and it wasn't that brilliant. I don't think I would go again to a Cafe Rouge.

Spectacular views of the city can be gazed from the outdoor balcony of this bar. It was a beautiful…read morefull moon on the night we visited. The lounge has a classy interior and is located up on the thirteenth floor of DoubleTree by Hilton Leeds City Centre. The hotel had given us drink vouchers redeemable for a medium house wine, beer, lager or soft drink. The rosé was nice and smooth. My brother also ordered a dessert cocktail, which had a good, strong coffee flavor. ----- Solstice Pinot Grigio Rosé - Italy (£7.75 for 175ml). ----- Stravinsky's Coffee - Spain: Rémy Martin VSOP, Licor 43, dark chocolate liqueur, coconut purée, espresso, coconut syrup (£13). -----

Full of WAGs (did I really just use that word?) and other idiots, the people that go in here are…read moreusually enough to make me never want to myself if I'm completely honest... The door staff are occasionally rude, the bar staff always serve the pretty girl before the bald man, the on floor staff are generally more than abrupt when it comes to throwing you off the balcony (in to the bar, not _off_ the balcony)... At this point you'd be forgiven for thinking that I hate The Sky Lounge. The truth is that if it wasn't for the drinks I honestly would, but the cocktails here are amazing - with the Mojito and French Martini's being amongst the best I've had in Leeds... and probably much further afield than that too. Arrive early, avoid any staff that you don't absolutely have to talk to in order to be served, and be prepared to wait for your drinks to be made... then sit back, relax and enjoy!

Hands down my favourite pub in Leeds. Friendly staff and customers, good beer, fun events and -…read moremost importantly - dogs! I will always go out of my way to visit the Chemic if I fancy a relaxing evening. The entertainment they put on too is top notch - local acts and some from further away, including folk music and open mic nights where anyone can join in. It's also next door to the best chip shop in Leeds (which is veggie friendly!), and you can take your chips in to enjoy with a pint. If you're looking for a lovely place to have a nice evening, you couldn't go far wrong with the Chemic.

This is a tough review…read more Not because I'm unsure if I like the pub or not but simply because I fear that my review might attract people to the place and I love it just the way it is. The Chemic Tavern is in the Woodhouse area of Leeds. Woodhouse is not known for it's excellent pubs and neither is neighbouring Hyde Park. They both mainly consist of student pubs with no soul and flat Carlsberg. Not good. The good people at The Chemic Tavern have managed to remove themselves from these other kinds of pubs and have created something bloody lovely. First things first - the beer. They always have a great selection of ales on. Timothy Taylor's Landlord is always there and then usually two or three others. You then have a selection of decent lagers, wines and cocktails - all reasonably priced and well maintained. It's just nice to walk in to a pub, stroll over to the bar, look at the options and not think to yourself 'ahh bugger. .' but instead think 'ooh, what shall I have first?'. The staff are legendary. It seems all to often nowadays that being polite and having a friendly chat with your customers is a bit too difficult for a lot of places. Not with The Chemic. On every visit I have been made to feel like a returning friend and I love that. You instantly feel welcome and relaxed. It appears The Chemic only hire nice, chatty people. This is a very clever move - albeit a very obvious one. The music is always good too. There's no jukebox but you will often hear Motown, Blues and good Indie tunes. They have live music nights there as well, come to think of it. Ska nights, Irish nights and other things will go on in the back room that also features a darts board and an array of board games (if you fancy a geeky night down the pub, playing Trivial Pursuits). The other really nice thing about the place is that everyone who drinks in there appears to be very happy. I think this is because they're all aware that it's the best pub in miles. The Chemic appears to only attract people (and lots of them at the weekend) who are there to have a nice, enjoyable drink (or six) with their mates. I could go on and on but I fear it would just end up sounding like that I was considering proposing marriage to the pub. Which is obviously a ridiculous idea. . . isn't it? Yes, of course it is. How would I fit The Chemic in a church for a start? So I will end this review by adding that the pub has an amazing fish and chip shop (Arkwright's) next door and you're allowed to buy food from there and eat it inside the pub. Good stuff. So if you haven't been here before and you like proper pubs, I urge you to check this place out. Not too many of you, mind. .