If you go down to Park Square, you’re in for a big, tasty Italian surprise – we went to check out La Piola, one of Leeds’ best kept secrets.
Park Square, surrounded as it is by offices upon offices, might not be your first thought when it comes to finding the city’s most charming Italian cafe and restaurant – but it should be now. You see, that’s where you’ll find La Piola, a charming slice of northeastern Italy and the realisation of a dream for owner, Fabio Rua, who opened the bistro at the back end of 2022.
Blink and you’ll miss La Piola, but we had to pop inside. © Copyright Leeds-List 2024
It took the place of Tribeca, a famed breakfast and lunch spot, but Fabio quickly put his own spin on it. Taking inspiration from the eateries of his hometown, Cuneo, a small, almost rural city about an hour away from Piedmont’s capital Turin, he aimed to bring the flavours, ingredients and dishes that he grew up with – and so, La Piola was born.
It’s a charming little spot. You’ll see the sign before you see the cafe – it’s bold and blue with flowers hanging to the sides. Head down the stairs and you’ll quickly see it’s got a really welcoming vibe, with the counter and bar area to the left and an array of tables through the rest of the area, only interrupted by the path that leads to the place where the magic happens – the kitchen.
The inside of La Piola before we sat down to eat. © Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Now, they have a series of menus, depending on the time of day. Breakfast promises proper Italian coffee, paired with everything from fresh pastries to eggs Royale, Benedict or, the Italian classic, Florentine. From 11am to 3pm, they have their lunch menu – gourmet paninis sit alongside tempting salads, arancini balls and their pasta bar with a special sauce of the day.
However, we wanted to try La Piola at its most populous, so we went in for the evening menu, which they serve until 9pm from Tuesday to Saturday. It’s vast and varied, promising a proper taste of Italy, but where to start? Shares of course. There are Cerignola olives and Cestino di Pane, a bread selection with olive oil and balsamic, but we went one further.
To start our La Piola visit we had the spicy ‘nduja croquettes and a ham & cheese board. © Copyright Leeds-List 2024
When faced with the option of a ham and cheese board, you choose the ham and cheese board. Alongside a medley of focaccia, sourdough, olives and sun blush tomatoes, we indulged in the DOP creamy burrata mozzarella, prosciutto crudo and the salame Napoli – whatever bite, whatever combination, each one was a delight, particularly splitting the burrata and drinking in the focaccia.
A perfect taster was followed by the ‘nduja sausage spicy croquettes – these perfectly spherical balls of joy, crispy on the outside, light, fluffy and fiery on the inside, came with a spicy mayo. They did not last long. Neither did the bruschetta – they do a simple, straightforward classic, but we had to sample the prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, because why wouldn’t you?
This slow-cooked duck ragu pappardelle tagliatelle we had at La Piola was sublime. © Copyright Leeds-List 2024
Pizza was next, but not what we usually get over here. They specialise in Pinsa-style flatbread pizzas, set apart for its hand-pressed dough. The tomato-less mortadella came to our table laden with mozzarella, mortadella, stracciatella and the cherry on the top – an incredible pistachio sauce. There are others though, from classics like prosciutto and vegetariana to the ‘nduja-marinated chicken.
If you still have room, and you’ll want to, it’s time for pasta. The slow-cooked beef tagliatelle, basil pesto gnocchi and stracciatella & pistachio pappardelle are just a hint at what they do best, but we were honoured with a wonderfully rich duck ragu tagliatelle and the lasagna zucca – a meat-free medley of butternut squash, nutmeg and spinach that deserves high acclaim.
We enjoyed an Italian craft beer and Aperol Spritz when we visited La Piola. © Copyright Leeds-List 2024
To wash it down, there’s choice. For non-drinkers, the milkshakes are a winner – the pistachio one is a revelation. Fancy something stronger? There’s a whole menu of spritz, from Aperol to Limoncello, while beer lovers can sample craft treats from Cuneo’s Baladin brewery. And for vino, each bottle of red, white, rose and sparkling has been hand-picked to go with the food.
So, there you have it. We loved our little underground visit to this slice of northern Italy without having to leave Leeds. A charming welcome, marvellous service and a menu that champions authentic Italian cooking with little La Piola flourishes – the next time you’re eating out in Leeds, why not head down to Park Square? You might just be surprised.
La Piola, 2 Park Square East, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2NE.
