Undiscovered gems await as we reveal the must-try restaurants that may have flown under your radar…
It’s time to try somewhere new, to seek out a restaurant you’ve never tried before and to treat yourself to a delicious dinner that will no doubt turn you into a regular. But where? Fear not because this list of oft-forgotten restaurants will set you on a tick-list of tastiness and introduce you to some of the city’s best finds, off the beaten track and worth seeking out. Where will you start?
Wen’s
© Copyright Leeds-List 2022 by Ali Turner
Follow your feet past Merrion Street, over the inner ring road and onto North Street to discover one of the city’s finest Chinese restaurants. Wen’s is a simple down-to-earth venue where they let the food do the talking. The menu will challenge you to try something new, like pan-fried sea bass stuffed with chilli-spiked pork mince. Dumplings demand to be eaten, whether they’re filled with king prawn or mixed seasonal greens, and there are enough noodle soups to take you from Monday to Friday without repetition.
Wen’s, 72-74 North Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7PN.
Sarto
Nestled as it is on the other side of the loop, Sarto is often missed, but seek it out and you’ll be rewarded with the best pasta you’ve ever eaten. Their small plates are designed for sharing, but induce a level of jealous protectiveness that means you might need to forgo convention. After all, how could you give up a morsel of their bucatini with cauliflower, pine nuts and truffle? Who could you love enough to part with even a bite of their Old Winchester agnolotti with hazelnut brown butter? Better to order for one and eat for two.
Sarto, Munro House, Duke Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 8AG.
The Collective
Something different. The Collective is on one of the city’s main thoroughfares, Boar Lane, no less, but the freshly unwrapped newness of it means you may not have ventured in yet. When you do, you’ll find yourself a cool cafe that straddles the line between eating and shopping. That’s right, you can sit down to a plate of shakshuka and ponder how that plate would suit your own dining room because almost everything you see here is for sale. From the sofas to the art, it’s an ever-evolving showroom of artisan craftsmanship.
The Collective, 34 Boar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DA.
Fint
Fint has emerged from the cocoon of Fettle to offer diners an exquisite taste of Scandi-inspired food. But first you’ll have to find it. They’re hidden away from the crowds, on the lesser trodden pavements of Great George Street. Here, you can start the day with a lazy brunch of vegan crumpet Benedict or relax after work with a plate of roasted summer squash, lovingly brought to life with pinto beans, mint and blue cheese. The menu changes regularly, so no two visits are ever the same.
Fint, 73 Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3BR.
Bomba
Hidden in amongst Holbeck’s historic buildings, lies Bomba, a super-relaxed restaurant where you can feast on tapas, paella and packed-to-bursting bocadillos. The pace of their growth is testament to their popularity – they’ve moved from a little stall in Kirkgate Market to a cavernous yet homely restaurant where you can make a real night of it. Order a jug of sangria as you work your way through ham croquetas, chickpea stew and tortilla espanola – or plough straight into a bowl of seafood paella, made to order.
Bomba, 2 Keys Court, Holbeck, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5WG.
