It's pretty new, it's pretty pleasant, it's pretty pretty…read more Bilbao's reputation definitely preceded them, so after having heard a few wax the ol' lyrics about this place, I decided to give them a whirl. I'm all about the tapas eats in general, being the type who likes to choose as much variety of a meal out as possible, so Bilbao was always going to make me happy. I feel as though I'll have to come back to experience the heady heights others had told me about, since my visit was fine (certainly not disappointing -- so I've gone for four instead of three stars) but it didn't wow as much as I expected. Perhaps it's the classic pitfall of having high expectations after hearing such good press?! We went in on Saturday sans booking and managed to grab a seat straight away. (It was the last one, so we were pretty lucky.) One of the waitresses did her best to serve us promptly, although she was pretty rushed off her feet. The only downside to the service was that we spotted another waitress who could have seen to us sooner (and even smiled at us) but chose to natter at the bar -- it was quite some time before we got to order a drink. Every other person who served us was absolutely fantastic, though, which ought to be noted. We picked one dish each for ourselves and then three to share and --with a dessert-- this was plenty of food. We shared the olives (super garlicky, which I liked), the garlic prawns (shelled for us and marinated in ultra delish garlicky butter), and a pork dish. The pork pieces were cooked beautifully and came with these incredible oyster mushrooms. I had the steak, which was tasty and cooked well (how I'd asked) but didn't blow me away -- I think this was simply because I'd had the most amazing steak elsewhere very recently! We also shared a bottle of rioja, which was totally lovely. The desserts were great too: warm gooey brownie and a traditional Spanish dessert with sponge, cream, and torched sugar on top. (Forgive me for forgetting the name!) The overall ambiance is fine, although I'd say next time I'd like to sit at a lower table as the high chairs weren't optimal to sit and eat in. The music was also curious -- it sort of seemed to be so purposefully background it stood out to us, if that makes any sense. Gentle, romantic lighting and a pleasant space make up for that, though -- especially if in a group. I imagine the experience is even better with more friends to share with! Overall, this one merits a second visit. Five dishes and one bottle of wine: £60 odd. On a Monday it's half price, so you'll get a lot more bang for your bunse. Check them out!

Came here on a recommendation and wow did it deliver!! Food was amazing! Service was great and had…read morea lovely chat with the owner and you can tell the passion they put into the food and overall experience! I will be coming back and shouting from the roof tops to anybody who will listen how good this place is !

The food is really good here. More of a date night spot than the business dinner I was at with my…read morecustomer, but we did enjoy the quality of the food and top notch service. If you are in the area and have a few spare coins rolling around in your pocket, it's worth a try.

I've eaten at this truly authentic tapas restaurant twice now and it gets better each time. Great…read moreatmosphere, dishes don't all arrive at once and sit there going cold, they arrive in stages as the do in Spain! The dishes are amazing, all the staff are Spanish and so welcoming. I'll be back again very soon guys!

Well now. I've been back to Sandinistas plenty since my last penning, and I have to admit, in all…read morethat time I'd only back for drinkies. Excellent, raucous, rambunctious, drinkies. The kind where you probably tried to dance on a table, the kind where you definitely felt as though your neck was broken the next day from head banging, the kind where you almost certainly meet a squadron on new best friends because you're having that good a time. (And it's as much to do with the awesome clientele, as the drunkenness, I can tell you.) So, yes. Go to Sandinista for drinks. I know, it's always busy on a weekend. But once you get in there you'll have an amazing time, I'm certain of it. The music policy includes all the classics, something to suit most tastes, without venturing down the processed pop route in any shape or form. They also have regular live music, I believe, which is also commendable. However, you mightn't have noticed, they also serve food. What's that? Yes. Where have you been?! (That question is mostly directed at my own foolish self.) They serve the most excellent tapas. Of course, you can go down the route of fajitas, and such like, but on this occasion I wanted a range of foods to stuff. Oh my word. So, firstly, a special mention must be made of the mushrooms in peppercorn sauce. They were absolutely flipping divine - perfectly cooked, soaked in flavour, and the sauce was out of this world. The meatballs were also fabulous, with a delicious tomato sauce, and the garlic bread was beautiful. The crispy pork belly was wonderful, and came with an amazing apricot (?) compote (?!). The patatas were also addictively tasty, especially with melted cheese and spring onion. Of course, the service was fantastic, as ever, but the discovery that there's yet another place to eat fantastically made, freshly cooked, delicious bites is the thing I'll be shouting about for the moment. Dishes come in around £4, which makes it incredibly affordable to try a few different things, and perhaps even splash out on one of their yummy cocktails. Of course, there's the danger that you'd go for tea and not quite make it out until 4am, but hey -it wouldn't be such a bad thing would it? In fact, top idea Batman, Sherlock and Brian Cox, you geniuses. Even the door signage says, "You can check out any time you like but you can never leave." Of course, I'm thinking The Eagles must have been to Leeds. And, given half the chance, I'd say this to be true. I checked-in, but my mind clearly hasn't left them yet. Nom.

I don't think you could say anything bad about sandis. It's one of, if not the best bar in Leeds…read more They serve a wide variety of drinks including cocktails and spirits from around the world. They also have an awesome menu so you could pop in for your dinner! In fact you should do that, yes you! Sandis weekend nights have music for everyone but none of it is cheesy ,this always seems to make for a lovely crowd of people. Weekdays are nice and chilled. They normally have a few bands on a Wednesday night and they're always good. Sandis seem to have a good vetting system! Sandinista is awesome i recommend going there everyday

If you're lucky enough to catch a sunny day in Leeds this 'summer' there's one hot spot that you've…read moregot to hit for lazy al fresco beverages, afternoon eats and a Mediterranean cheer. Having only been here before for a few drinks we decided to nip back this Saturday for something light to eat and it was the perfect place for it. Serving a number of delicious Spanish bits my companions and I chose about seven dishes to share, including five tapas, olives and one more main style dish. Not only was the welcome warm, but the food was incredible. The chorizo sausage was immensely flavoursome, the garlic mushrooms were plentiful and the jalapeno croquettes were delicious! Each dish, the tapas plates costing in the region of a fiver, was beautifully cooked and certainly sizeable enough to share between three people. With our seven dishes, delivered one by one, we had plenty of food to satiate our appetites without feeling overly stuffed once we'd had our fill. To add to that the ambiance of this gorgeous little bar is delightful. We managed to secure a seat outside, which was a tricky feat given how obviously popular it is, although I'd have been happy enough to sit inside the rustic and woody interior. I suppose if you were searching to nit pick, that there is only one toilet each for men and women was a little tricky, given that a queue quickly formed, but I'm not all that fussy and was happy to wait. It gives you swift insight as to how well oiled the kitchen operation is, given that the loos are just by the kitchen, and although clearly weighed down by orders it seems everything was smoothly under control. We had a couple of minor mix ups with our order, one dish accidentally being claimed by another table, but even so our replacement arrived within minutes and we all had a wee chuckle about it in the process. The staff too, are excellent. The waitress was lovely and one of the bar men was well up for a bit of banter as he grabbed our empties, which always makes a visit more pleasant. I've a feeling this will become more of a regular spot for me, especially if the weather keeps up, given that a delicious light meal and drinks between three totalled in the region of £50. How reasonable is that? Not to mention the fact that the Estrella and Mahau (spelling?) lagers on tap make for a lovely change to the usual. Sunny pints, sumptuous bites and the most relaxed European vibe ahoy!

We came here for tea last night with some friends and it was mega. We live just up the road from El…read moreBareto and had heard good things but hadn't got around to going until now. As you go in you find yourself in the cosy but atmospheric bar area, and if you're clever and have booked in advance, particularly on a weekend, you'll be led downstairs to the just-as-cosy restaurant downstairs. It's all very rustic, with terracota jugs and authentic spanish decor (including too-small-for-all-the-food tables). Along with the menu you're given a paper checklist version, so all you do when it come to ordering is add a number next to the item to indicate how many portions of it you want. Genius. Beware though, the portion sizes are on the generous size, so we found it ideal to go as a foursome, as we each picked about two dishes and weren't too full to walk afterwards, just content and satisfied, with a bit of room left for some beers. Dinner for four with a beer and a bottle of malbec came to £65 exc. service, which I reckon is awesome.

Ambiente is an absolute gem of a restaurant. We are tapas fans and these were some of the best…read moretapas we have ever eaten! We ordered Dates wrapped in Serrano ham, golden beef empanadas, lightly battered calamari, delicious shrimp, and chorizo y patatas in a delicious wine sauce. Service was excellent as well.

Great service, great food authentic Spanish Tapas. Great service and fair prices. I highly…read morerecommend this restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Great tapas and well mixed cocktails in a very trendy building. 2 bars, plenty of seating and even…read morethe toilets haven't been ignored! (You will appreciate this comment when you go!)

Was lucky enough to get a soft launch table - have to declare that the food / drink was free of…read morecharge as part of the deal. I've visited a number of the London restaurants so knew what to expect food wise. The Leeds restaurant didn't disappoint - food was lovely and flavoursome. Tried about 6 of the tapas dishes and a mixture of Jamon. All just the right size for lunch. The set up and interior is really nice. Massive open space with high ceiling and loads of natural light - this mean it was nice and airy and bright. Will definitely be back; its great that one of my favourite London restaurants has now opened up in Leeds.

One of at least two tapas bars on the long road into Leeds city centre (the superb Viva La Cuba…read morebeing the other), this ridiculously Spanish-named joint which seems to be run by Italians is an example of a good, if not great tapas restaurant On the plus side, the tapas on offer is well cooked and imaginative, and the selection is, as it should be, huge. On the...minus side, the atmosphere isn't enjoyable - it doesn't feel comfortable or relaxed - and the prices are pretty steep for what you get. All in all, it's a little bit hit and miss, so I'd advise the more professional Viva La Cuba further down the road.

I live on De Lacy Mount so going to Dos Amigos is almost as close as going into my own kitchen,…read moreexcept that the food is way better. After an afternoon of beers in the sun on the grass opposite the Abbey, we came here for some of the happy hour tapas (3 dishes for the price of 2 between 5.30 and 7.00, 7 days a week), and it was lush. Started off with a litre of sangria, some olives and anchovies (I hate anchovies as a rule, but these were actually not only edible but tasty), then some jalapenos, steak strips, swordfish, chicken croquettes and then two desserts (creme catalan and a pavlova) and the whole lot came to under £40. Slightly slow service but to be fair it was a beautiful sunny evening and I wasn't bothered. I heart Dos Amigos, FACT.

Wednesday night, mid february, three young women arrange to meet at this new found eaterie…read more It's snowing, there's slush everywhere, the paths are lethal but we all make it, some later then planned. The staff are there to welcome you as you go in. Ambiente was formerly riverplate which unfortunately i did not get to try. It is situated at the bottom of the calls overlooking the canal, so quite nice looking out the window with a snowy back ground. Wine list was extensive, we avoided the sherry, it was 6pm after all and the school night was yet young. The food menu is varied with sharers and nibbles listed alongside lists for meat, fish & veggies. There are also set menus for those that cannot choose. We were advised 3-4 tapas per person and our eyes were bigger than our stomachs so we obviously went for four! We did have a veggie with us so tried a good variety of the dishes. They were all very tasty and made their way out to us and when they were ready which enabled us to chat away as women do and pick at the food as the dishes appeared. I really enjoyed the caremilised chorizo and potato as did my friend, no fighting though as we were all grown up we just ordered another. Price wise it was quite reasonable, for the smaller dishes £3-4 and larger £5-6, the house white wine was also very good value for money. Recommended for a visit to all.

When one place falls, another inevitably will rise in it's stead, and it's always with a pang of…read moreguilt and apprehension that I visit a new place where an old favourite once stood tall. What I'm talking about is Riverplate. Hunks of meat delights were once available in this excellent spot, and so when I found out it had closed and been replaced, I was more than a little sad for them - they are a fantastic Leeds indie, and a stalwart on the scene. (Don't panic, I hear they're still doing pop up events, until they're rehomed - so fingers crossed we can all meat it up again soon.) Even so, on a night when hunger is ravishing your mind, and your first option is unavailable, one has to overcome such hesitations and wade right in. This was such an evening, yesterday, and being a tapas fiend I was wooed by the tempting reviews (thanks Katie & Jen!) and balcony dining. We went in, without having booked, and being a Sunday were able to be seated right away. That's not to say the place was empty, but it wasn't full. Firstly, our waitress was incredible. She attended everything impeccably, from seating us on the balcony in the cool air, to guiding us through the menus (without coming off patronising) in an informative way. She was patient as we deliberated over the many tempting dishes, and was incredibly helpful when it came to choosing. At one point I required advice between the calamari and salt cod. Upon being asked, she immediately replied, "Ooooh, the salt cod!", in such a firm sigh that it suggested she was reliving a foodie moment of bliss, rather than merely offering an opinion. That she was so enthusiastic about the food was a great start, and rather encouraging, given how genuine it seemed. Being tapas, we were informed the food would come out as it was cooked, rather than in one go. We managed to nip out for a quick cigarette, before the onslaught of ecstasy began. Did I say ecstasy? Yes, yes I did. And I meant it. I had hoped the tapas would be great, and those desires were met, matched, and surpassed in spades. First to come through were the mushrooms and the mozzarella bites. (Not the official names.) They were both instantly flavoursome and more-ish, the pesto accompanying the mozzarella being of particular note. Next came the lamb patties and chorizo and potato. The former was a truly interesting blend of spiced and herbed lamb mini burgers, complete with pine nuts, and chimichurri. Whilst these were my least favourite, that by no means indicates they were poor. They were great. The chorizo and potato was beyond divine and came drenched in a plummy sort of sauce, so alive with flavour it was almost too rich for one person. I devoured it all, regardless. And lastly. My final dish. The salt cod. So, it was discussed on the night that it seems ridiculous that anyone would eat seafood and fish in Leeds, because we couldn't be further from the coast. That's as may-be, but I've not ever been close enough to the coast to test the theory. However, I'll warrant that these little lightly battered parcels of extreme and total joy could barely be matched elsewhere for flavour and succulence. I am not au fait with fish, as I rarely order it, so bear that in mind if you order them - but - these were the most delicious thing that I tasted that evening, and possibly now come in my top five mouthfuls in Leeds. The tzatziki that accompanied them was, for lack of a better word, perfect. The batter was crispy, not oily, and melted in your mouth. The cod itself came in meaty delicious chunks, it was delectably salted, and I'm sure there was a tiny bit of chilli for a kick. Next time I might just eat four dishes of those. I know now why she had to take a moment when advising I order those. I'm taking a moment right now writing about it. To finish, we both partook of the dessert menu, mainly as it was exciting to order a sherry that matched. Needless to say, as per the quality of the above, my mango and coconut cheese cake was seriously impressive. The dried fruit was a nice touch, and the sherry went down very well. It's worth pointing out also, the manager (I assume) served us at different points, and was also really friendly too - I spotted him explaining some dishes to a couple near us with great pride. So, I've written quite a word-splurge about my experience here, but there you have it. I have a new favourite in Leeds, and honestly have to return to try more of their menu. It's not tapas in the traditional sense, but their well thought out menu brings a sense of haute cuisine to their dishes, as each and every one had an excellent balance of presentation, taste, and colour. Price wise, we got 9 dishes, 2 desserts, 2 sherrys and 3 beers for £33 a piece. I realise that might price some folk out, but considering the amount we ate, the ambiance we enjoyed, the service we received, and the flavours consumed, colour me one happy happy bunny. I've spent that much money and gotten much less before... Highly reco

Spanish tapas restaurant with funky ambiance…read more The waitress recommended us to share 5 tapas between to people, and it was just enough. The tapas we tried were very good, the food was just delicious. If I'm ever in Hull again, I know where I am going!

I visited La Tasca York a few months ago and was very…read moreimpressed with the experience. Me and my friend were seated quickly upon arrival, the staff were friendly, and the atmosphere was relaxed. We ordered a few Tapas dishes each, and every single one we had was very tasty. My favourite was the potato gratin which was made with blue cheese and spinach. It can work out a little expensive by the time you've chosen a few dishes but over all I can't really complain as the food was delicious and the staff were lovely.

This review forms the third of my gluten-free-in-York trifecta…read more Or is it a hat trick? Maybe it's York's hat trick of gluten-free options. I'm thinking new Yelp list now. Anyway...yeah. La Tasca. It's good. And for you sufferers of coeliac disease, this is your kind of place. All menu items are very clearly labeled if they are gluten-free options. We found the staff here very helpful, knowledgeable, and more than willing to chase down ingredient lists if they weren't sure the answer. La Tasca is trying to be a tapas-Spanish kind of restaurant, but with a sound track suffers a bit from an identity crisis. There was some flamenco, but I'm certain I heard Mariachi, Samba, Tango, and bizarrely, Regaetón. Upon asking the mostly-Spanish staff about this, they chuckled, and shrugged. "Sí..." After all, the food, to be honest, is so-so. The paella wasn't bad, but it wasn't the Calle de Otumba in Valencia. But there's enough good, that I can still recommend it. And we'll be back, because, when you gotta eat gluten-free, you can't be too choosy, can you. One cool extra is their online reservation system, which will text your confirmation to your mobile.