Salvos Restaurant Review Leeds

Okay so just writing this post makes me want to eat here again. I've always wanted to eat at Salvos, this restaurant is famously known as one of the best Italian's around so I was very excited to see what it was like, particularly because I am the biggest Italian lover that you will ever meet. Salvos is a family run restaurant, in the middle of Headingley and you'd probably walk past it, but this place is a hidden gem and I really can see why people travel just to eat here...

I always like restaurants that bring you a plate of nibbles and fresh water before you've even asked for them. I was absolutely starving so I really needed something to nibble on whilst I browsed the menu.

I love the decor of Salvos, it manages to be high class whilst still feeling comfortable and relaxing.  It's the kind of place that you could visit either dressed up or dress down. I prefer to dress up just because I generally like getting dressed up when eating out but Salvos is literally the perfect date night location because you can actually get dressed up when you eat here.

Lipstick - Barry M, Nails - Butter London, Top - All Saints Sequin Top, My hair is now a different colour ahh! I can't wait to show you all but for now, you'll have to wait and see!

The wine went straight to my head and before I knew it, the starters had arrived. I had such a challenge deciding what to order because I literally wanted to try everything on the menu. Jack chose the mozzarella with parma ham from the specials menu and I went for the sharing platter (of course).

I let Jack eat a bit of it, but naturally, I ate most of it.

From the first bite we could tell that this is 'real' food, it's completely fresh, nutritious and authentic. Salvos pride themselves on only using either local food or food sourced from Italy and you can really tell when you taste it, it's all so fresh and delicious. I'd happily live on the sharing platter. It's my kind of food.

Jack tried a famous Italian beer, as recommended by the owner of Salvos.

A strong, acquired taste apparently, but he still drank it all.

For once, we didn't go for steak, Jack went for the chicken

and after much deliberation, I went for a pasta from the specials menu, with mozzarella (I can't get enough of it), aubergines and tomato. This is complete authentic pasta, real Italian. 

We ordered some potatoes as a side, they were perfectly crispy. I'm not the biggest potato lover, but when there's cheese and crispiness involved count me in.

The cheese on my pasta was smoked, smoked mozzarella is most definitely an acquired taste, it's very different, particularly because I'm used to creamy mozzarella, but it was nice to try something different, the whole dish was really nicely done.

How we had room for desert I'll never know, but as usual we went for a sharing platter. I love restaurants that sell sharing platters, I always find it difficult to decide which dessert I have so I love being able to try a bite of each.

This ice cream was absolutely incredible.

There are photographs of the family throughout the restaurant, it gives it such a nice homely feel and really shows how this is such a traditional, family run establishment.

Again, another family photo. I find it really touching and heart warming.

You don't need me to tell you how good Salvos is, the photos of the food and the restaurant should hopefully speak for themselves, not to mention that the restaurant has been voted the 'Best independent Italian Restaurant' oh and hard to please Gordan Ramsay even approves of Salvos - it must be good.

We said goodbye to our new favourite Italian after a relaxed evening of dining. Next door is the Salvos Salumeria, which means 'little restaurant'. I must try there for lunch one time after looking at the menu, it looks like my perfect kind of place. If you visit Salvos, you're onto a winner - I'm pretty sure this is the closest you'll get to traditional Italian food outside of Italy. 

Have you visited anywhere like this? Have you heard of Savlos before? What do you look for when you go to an Italian?

Love Em x

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