When a restaurant that has a special place in your heart gets closed and revamped, you're always…read moregoing to view the reincarnation with some disdain and unease. This was my attitude after the best restaurant in Cookridge (Est Est Est) was overhauled a couple of years back and turned into a Gusto. I had been going to Est Est Est regularly and thought of it as the perfect Italian restaurant, and viewed the change with suspicion. I needn't have worried - Gusto is simply the new name for Est Est Est, and although they claim it to be a different restaurant, little has really changed, which is a good thing in my eyes. They do brilliant Italian classics simply and successfully, and there is always a special buzz about the place, almost as if the customers know how good their food is going to be. Some have said the portions are small, but to me they're spot on, allowing you to have three courses without feeling bloated, followed by an authentic espresso of course. Gusto, thankfully, is simply Est Est Est with a different name.

This is by far my favourite restaurant in Leeds. I go here all the time and I have never been…read moredisapointed.  As you walk up to the restaurant you can see the beautiful fairy lights laced across the window. Sometimes this can look really tacky and a bit in your face but paired with the ultra modern decor it looks perfect.  You walk straight in to the bar area where the very attentive bar staff await to take your order. The only problem is their drinks menu is full of such tempting looking things I'm always spoilt for choice! Once you are ready to take your seat the manager takes you through to your table. The first time I walked into the dining area here I was like wow! The delicate fairy light theme is carried right through but this time they are encased around a tree that stands in the middle of the restaurant. Yes a tree! This isn't just your average restaurant it was built around a 200 year old olive tree that is now the central feature of their dining area. The menu is large yet the quality is most definitely not effected. Every time I visit the menu has been revised slightly as they seem to constantly be trying to make their dishes better and adjust them to suit the season.  I am a huge fan of pate but I can be quite picky with it. Theirs is the best I have ever tasted, served with crisp breads I could eat it forever. The chicken primavera is the best pasta dish I have ever eaten. The vegetables are seasonal which really reflects in the taste and it is cooked to perfection. The chicken is plentiful and very juicy and flavoursome. Within the restaurant they also have an open part of the kitchen where you can see the pizzas being made fresh and put into the pizza oven. My dad orders a pizza every time he comes here as he says they are the best pizzas he has ever had. Even better than the ones he had in Italy! I have not had the chance to sample the dessert menu yet as the portion sizes are pretty big so I am always stuffed when it comes to the final course. Everything in the place is pretty much perfect. The staff are friendly and attentive, the tree is beautiful and the the food is amazing. I really urge everyone to try it out, Its more than worth the little trip out of town for some really special.

Owned by the well-respected folk that also run Arcadia in Headingley, Town Street Tavern is one of…read moreTown Street's unsung heroes. Inside a quaint yet rustic little building you will find a very similar set up to that of Arcadia: a huge selection of British ales, European beers (such as the majestic Erdinger) and a global selection of wines. As with Arcadia, you may feel that the prices are a little bit steep, but take a moment to steady yourself and remember that you are drinking real quality alcohol and supporting dying British breweries as you do it. The atmosphere is one of quiet relaxation, as the more adult selection of alcohol tends to draw in the over 30s more than the under 30s. I have never tried the food here so cannot comment, but I would recommend stopping in for at least one drink (make it an Erdinger). Even if you don't like it, at least you can tell your friends that you went for a drink in a tavern - how many people can say that nowadays?

Give me an H, give me an O, actually don't because this could go on for some time. Let's get jiggy…read morewith it and head to Horsforth on and a cheeky snifter or two. The Town Street Tavern is dressed to impress from the outside. It is housed in a period building and it looks the business. Appearances can be deceptive so I was still holding back on my judgment. Inside it's more of the same, lovely. They are a bar and a brassiere and manage to combine style with a cozy atmosphere. So far, so good. So fill my gapping stomach with some food please. Maybe I was a little more polite than that but I went for a big bad boy of a burger with excellent home made chips and coleslaw. No grumbles from me or my stomach. This is a very pleasant pub experience and even better than that it's not far from the train station so you can stagger home safely too.

This was the first of the Suburban bars to appear in Leeds, but sadly, due to such expansion and…read morethe fact that the others are doing well, this inaugural wine bar is no longer what it once was. If you'd gone in a couple of years ago on a Friday night, you would have found a bustling lively lounge full of young professionals and people who prefer to stay in Horsforth rather than venture to the town centre enjoying themselves in the company of a wide selection of booze and some nice music. Go in tonight, however, and it's likely to be a rather empty place with a flat atmosphere and some grumpy bar staff. This is partly due to the adjacent Kobe's popularity, but more to do with the fact that this dog has, unfortunately, had its day.

What's in a name? Quite a lot I say. Especially as mine derives from the Greek meaning bee. Quite…read moreironic for someone who hates the little blighters. Well as a name goes I'm not too keen on anywhere that has to call themselves a style bar. However, I will make an exception in this case. Now let's get down to business. Booze! This is after all why I frequent the majority of places in my life. Maybe not the doctors or gym though! Well no grumbles on this front. If you want cocktails, go forth and feel the love. There are quite simply loads of them for you to work your way through. Classics such as a Bloody Mary and Daiquiris right along to the baby cocktails and creamy concoctions. Plus the price isn't going to scare you off too. Very reasonable they are but I guess that's what you get for daring to explore outside the heart of the city. Finally, the bistro serves up some good grub too so you have something to line that stomach before a night of over indulgence.

So, another new discovery in Horsforth for me, and whoa - it's a popular place! So, after a…read morenightmare situation with taxis, I finally made it over for the second Yelp outing for drinks in H-town. It was absolutely packed out, full of merry drinkers, with a busy bistro. A good sign if you take popularity to mean a jolly spot. After hellos and apologies to the chaps, I trotted over to the bar with Claire R to see what treats were in store. It's a standard affair in terms of your lagers and such, with a few world lagers on, including Kozel. I initially went for the Leeds Brewery Lager, since it's a decent local brew, and crammed myself in to the table we'd acquired. It's also a dressy affair - seems to be the place to doll up, as there were a fair few glitzy outfits going on, and all the Christmas cheer on show in terms of décor. The staff were the stand out bit for me. Having gotten a few sips down on the Leeds lager, I realised it was totally flat so returned it to the bar in exchange for a Kozel. This was no problem at all, the chap explained he'd just changed it but it still seemed funky so we switched. The only downer was that the Kozel didn't fare to well either, as it was also flat. Boo indeed. Next up was the mission to get burgers. We'd assumed we needed to table it up in the bistro, so I asked about tables - without booking it'd be an hour wait, which was actually really decent considering how busy they were. I asked if we could order food in the bar, and huzzah! Yes indeed. So that's what we did. Even ordering separately they brought it all out at the same time, which was grand, and the girl at the bar needs special mention - she was extremely helpful and friendly. To the burgers. Brioche buns, coleslaw, a choice of chips, fries or salad, and a small side salad is what you get, for ten or twelve quid. (Can't quite recall the price.) The burgers are certainly of a good size, and the meat quality was evident, but there was just something missing from the flavour to fully capture my ravenous carnivore. Not juicy enough? Meat was too packed together for the full effect? It was seasoned nicely, but didn't have that beef to it, if you'll pardon the pun. Also, the cheese didn't seem fully apparent (couldn't taste it at all) - perhaps because the bacon took over. If I were to rate just the burger, it'd be 3/5. Fair. The fries, however, were heavenly. And by the look of the chips, I made the wrong choice - they stole the show. (Which was discussed as not being necessarily a good thing.) All in all, I liked the festive busy atmosphere, the front garden bit looks ace for summer, the staff were totally excellent, but the food and drinks let it down a little for me. In overall balance, it's a firm a-ok on the richter scale. Or, rather, the Yelp scale.

Bar 166 proudly sits atop Town Street, and has long been the most chilled out place on this lively…read morestreet. Retaining the same sort of relaxed vibes that it had when it was Stuart's all that time ago, this bar/restaurant is definitely somewhere to check out, whatever your needs. I've been both during the day and for an evening meal, and, on both occasions, Bar 166 impressed me greatly. During the day, it is usually quite quiet, enabling you to enjoy a coffee and a conversation in the effortlessly cool interior. If you fancy lunch, they offer an extensive day-time menu which ranges from small snacks to 'Fillers' - if you're there during the day, I'd recommend the duck salad - it's glorious. I've never eaten here on an evening, but I have stopped for a drink, and got quite a surprise at how busy the bar section was. Given the chilled out atmosphere and the well-priced booze, however, on second thoughts, I shouldn't have been surprised at all.

I came here for drinks with my boyfriend because it was suggested by his friends (and we love…read morecocktails cos who doesn't!) and we wanted to try something new. Took us a while to find it actually! But when we got there it was worth it!! They have so many drinks on offer and they make them sooo well. The staff are friendly and it has a great atmosphere (tip: they have board games in the corner, such a great idea! Drunk connect 4 went down a treat!) My favourite cocktail was something to do with strawberries (it was the last one I had... Can you tell?!) the lychee mojito was insane as well! It's a kitschy, edgy and cosy place all at the same time and we had an amazing evening. Plus the cocktails are relatively inexpensive! Winners all round :)

From the owner: The East Village specialises in high end drinks in a relaxed atmosphere. Transporting you straight…read moreacross the pond to the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

This small, traditional pub is not in the best of locations - sandwiched between the back of a…read moreshopping mall and some disused tennis courts, and well removed from the main road, meaning you have to wind your way to it through a rather glum park. Inside, there is little to shout about, as the old stained carpets and low wooden beams of the drinking areas hardly make you feel at ease, although the lagers and bitters are pretty cheap. It has a few benches on the grass outside, and its own children's play area, meaning that on the odd sunny Saturday it can be a good place for families. In my eyes, however, its a below-bar pub that's not really worth the strange journey.

What else can I say about this fabulous tiny bar of joy? I can say that I've been back several…read moretimes and consistently enjoyed it. I can say that every member of bar staff I've interacted with has been great, they give good banter and know their beer for sure. I can say that I've enjoyed every tipple, albeit as pricey as it can be. And I can say that I'm still a fan of the odd and random décor. I wish they'd open a little later, but hey, one can't have it all. Even so, if you're wandering Meanwood of a Sunday and want a paper and a pint, this should be on your list. Bringing nothing but more North Bar joy to the area, this is a great spot and I'm well chuffed they're a part of this area in town. But as Devlin mentioned, watch out and ask before you buy - there's a few that'll set you back more than a couple of quid.

Forever on the hunt for decent beer, called in for a few whilst passing with a m8, part of the…read morenorth bar, Schneider Weisse on tap is getting harder to find, it was spot on and cold, girls behind bar was very nice and as there was only us in, we had waitress service, also good to see where beer prices displayed, £14.90 for one of them may be a shock if you order willy nilly..

Last night the hub in chapel allerton re-opened after a re-furb as the pit. I went along to the VIP…read morenight to check it out. The change is amazing, it has the 'tardis effect'. The area at the back of the bar is great, a huge open space with booths and loads of seating. The staff (as i have found with all Arc Inspiration bars) were friendly and efficient. The food menu is much the same as the Leeds pit, a good range of burgers, ribs, pulled pork etc. The cocktails are 2 for £7 monday-friday from 5-9pm, try the lemon cheesecake!

Having been back once again to a warm reception, great beer selection and friendly locals I feel…read morethe need to reinstate my love for this fantastic pub. There's not much more to add to what's already been declared, except that even on a Saturday night this is the loveliest place you hope to grab a pint. No louts, no fancy dress Otley runners, no hassle - just a fabulous place in which to consume your favourite tipples. If you need advice on what to sup, these guys are expert in here, even the odd person propping up the bar might chime in. Love it. Yet again, props to the wonderful bar staff who always patiently allow me to finish my beer at almost 11.30pm - it's always appreciated. Got to check out their Monday quiz sometime, I'm sure it'll be one of the best around!

Before I was of drinking age, I barely noticed Arcadia, and any notice I did pay to the place left…read moreme thinking it was a cafe for some reason. To be fair, on first glance, it does look to be more of a cafe than a classy wine bar, with its simple exterior and location amongst run-of-the-mill shops such as Wilkinsons and Sainsbury's. Once you realise it's actually a watering hole and go in, however, you are rewarded - music plays quietly, old connoisseurs and occasionally wealthy students alike sample the various continental beers (the best of which is Erdinger) and wines, a few lone readers and writers sit about with papers or notebooks, and a couple play one of the many free board games on offer. Arcadia is different from anywhere else in Headingley in terms of it's atmosphere, it's booze, and what it offers. However, it's rates are similar to some places in Headingley - the pricey ones.

We wanted somewhere local to Cookridge and found the Granary restaurant. Only 5 minutes away…read morelocated in lovely countryside. Great food and service friendly staff and lovely afternoon lunch for the three of us 5 stars Thank you. Alan Suzanne and Margaret

i had heard from friends the caring for life farm had opened the old granary as a restaurant, on an…read moreevening and it was worth trying, so our small adventurous group decided to give it a try and were absolutely delighted with the quality, price and first class service, the starter of Olives, Paté and Yorkshire Chorizo with artisan bread was superb and the long horn sirloin steak was delicious, even though the chef on the evening didn't appreciate that "medium rare" didn't mean well done;it was quickly corrected by the very efficient and charming waitress who brought a replacement perfectly cooked. The bill for three courses 2 bottles of wine and 4 beers for four was less than a £100 , a winner all round, will definitely go again.