I’ve spent the last few days in good old Leeds and wow, I feel revived. I feel like I live out of a suitcase, which may sound glamorous, but it isn’t so glamorous. It’s nice to actually have a few days back home, living between Leeds and London is pretty exhausting and if I’m totally honest, I prefer Leeds *oops, I said it*. I feel relaxed in Leeds and I can walk around it easily haha. My favourite thing? The city is so up and coming and every day it gets better and better, particularly the food choices, we really are up there with one of the best foodie cities. Leeds has always been known for having a great food scene but they’ve just stepped it up over the last year and it seems everyone wants to have a restaurant here (fine by me). If you’re in Leeds this week you’re in for a serious treat as it’s the first ever Leeds Restaurant Week! Get ready for some seriously good and delicious deals and I’ll give you the low down on some of my favourite places to eat in Leeds too this restaurant week.
First and foremost, what is Leeds restaurant week? Well, on the 14th – 20th August, over 70 restaurants will be taking part, including Iberica, Angelica, The Botanist, Blackhouse, East 59th, Bundobust and Shear’s Yard. Now, if you’re an Emtalks reader, or if you follow me on Instagram, I’m sure you remember me mentioning a fair few of these! Iberica - my favourite tapas, Angelica - my second home, Blackhouse - the best steak. Just to name a few!
Each restaurant has crafted a special menu of either 2 or 3 courses for £10 or £15, which means it’s a great opportunity for people to try somewhere new in the city. I’m all about pushing my incredible hometown and I want to see the restaurants bursting with people. I am so proud of how far Leeds has come and how epic the food scene is which is why I wanted to share some of my top restaurants participating in Leeds restaurant week. I got the chance to try a few of their restaurant week menus out and I'm incredibly impressed. You just need to head to eatleeds.co.uk to see the full list of restaurants, and then make sure you download and print your voucher so you can start eating and saving. Don’t forget to read: the best places to eat in Leeds for my full list of where to go in Leeds.
In no particular order:
Issho Leeds - I’m so glad I finally got to sample this place. I sadly missed the exciting launch as I was on my USA road trip but better late than never, I finally headed there for lunch. Leeds needed a luxe sushi place and finally, we've got one. I’m planning on going back in the next few weeks to try the whole menu as Japanese food is my favourite. Owned by D&D (you know, Angelica, Crafthouse - my other two faves), it was bound to blow me away. Their menu for Leeds restaurant week is delightful for any Japanese food lovers, you get a bento box (like nothing I have ever seen before, it’s epic and such high quality) full of freshly crafted Japanese delights, the chefs specialities. We had udon noodles, sushi, chicken, you name it. You get this for a special price of £15. The best lunch ever? P.S, I hugely recommend the mocktail with green tea in, it’s delicious and so refreshing. What’s not to love, incredible Japanese food on a terrace in beautiful Leeds? I think this will be my new favourite spot!
Iberica - I have visited Iberica a few times and have always been impressed. Not only is the service amazing, but for me, it’s one of the top ranking tapas restaurants in Leeds, if not the best. As a venue, it truly is stunning, (it’s worth going just to sit in the incredible building) but the food is so authentic. Take it from someone who adores the Basque region and eats her way around tapas bars. I’ve been told that the croquettes at Iberica are actually better than the croquettes in Spain (by a lady whose Grandma is famous for making them there), seriously. For me, the Leeds restaurant week menu at Iberica is a really special one and you’ll certainly leave feeling full. You get all their best sellers, including their to-die-for tomato bread (just look at how perfect it is), a platter of meat, the best wines I’ve ever tasted and their soft lamb. I wish I had room to finish it all. I already can’t wait to go back for more. They’ve crafted the menu really well for anyone who loves good food. It’ll definitely make you fall in love with Iberica. That's the thing about Iberica, the quality is just incredible, the venue is beautiful and the service always blows me away and with three course for £15, why wouldn't you head there?! I'm yet to do a full review of this place but need to add it to my list.
Blackhouse - Blackhouse is one of my favourite restaurants and actually, was the first real steak restaurant I went to in Leeds. Other favourites, as I’m sure you guys know, include Gaucho and STK but theres something about Blackhouse that makes it really different. I love the fun atmosphere mixed with professionalism, I always find the staff are so wonderful. Their Leeds Restaurant week menu is great, with the choice of 2 courses for £15 including their delicious steak fries and Blackhouse steak sandwich. If steak isn't your thing, there's chicken on the menu too! Blackhouse is known for it's quality so this is a really well priced deal.
Angelica - Ah, I couldn’t not include my favourite, Angelica. This place is my second home when I’m in Leeds. It’s somewhere I know so many of you have tried after the crazy amounts of photos I post of it but it’s just wonderful and I love how much you guys love Angelica too now. Whether you sit on the terrace outside or enjoy the beautiful, bright and airy restaurant with views of the city. I head here for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then drinks. Not many places can do it all, but Angelica can. They’re offering 3 courses for £15, including fish and chips corn fed chicken, the best tortellini I’ve ever tasted and lots more. Any excuse to head back to Angelica. Full review of Angelica restaurant and bar in Leeds
Other places I highly recommend going to this Leeds restaurant week (but haven't tried yet this week!):
Cielo Blanco - We all know they’re my favourite Mexican restaurant! There's a total lack of Mexican's in Leeds and it's one of my favourite cuisines so Cielo gets all my trade and love *hint, someone open a Mexican restaurant*. They’re offering two courses for £15. It’s basically the ultimate feast, including their famous sharing boards which I live on and I'll probably head there this week to enjoy as I cannot resist a Cielo sharing board. Full review of Cielo Blanco in Leeds
Chaophyra - One of the best Thai restaurants in the city, I always go back here as I adore Thai food. I always find the service is brilliant here and obviously, the food. It's an upmarket Thai restaurant and it's always full. I tried their new menu recently and the flavours were incredible, not to mention the cocktails. They’re offering two courses and a glass of prossecco for just £15 this week. Their menu for the week ahead is huge too, including spring rolls, Pad Thai and their incredible chicken curry. Sign me up.
Bundobust - Apparently the best vegetarian Indian Streetfood (which I am yet to try!) and they're offering 2 dishes and a pint for £10 which is a total bargain and great for lunch or after work!
Bibis - I rate them as the best Italian in Leeds (in fact, one of my favourite Italians ever) and it's not often they get involved in offers! They’re doing 2 course for £15 which is a total steal at Bibis as it’s renowned as one of the best in Leeds. Just reading the menu is making me drool. I’ve been going here for a long time with my family to celebrate special occasions and always point people in their direction if they're looking for a special evening meal.
Zaap Thai - A more casual Thai restaurant but I love Zaap Thai, you can get 2 course for £10 during Leeds restaurant week which is amazing. Matt and I spent way too much time here when he was at Uni! Maybe we should head back?!
Leeds really is on the map now as one of the hottest foodie destinations and shopping too! If you haven’t visited Leeds, get yourself here and if you’re in Leeds this week, make sure you head here and then get yourself down to as many of the restaurants as you can! P.S, One thing I did notice too is they’re offering discounted parking so make sure you check it out too. I spend so much money on parking so hopefully this helps you.
So there we have it, I highly recommend heading to the Leeds Restaurant week website here and checking out if your favourite restaurants are participating and getting booked in. I also recommend using this week as a way to try somewhere completely new. I know I want to eat out every day now, three times a day to try them all.
Have you been to Leeds? Do you like finding new restaurants? What's your favourite restaurant?
Have you been to Leeds? Do you like finding new restaurants? What's your favourite restaurant?
Lots of love, Em x
*I worked with Leeds Restaurant Week on this piece on work but as always it's 100% my honest opinion.
*I worked with Leeds Restaurant Week on this piece on work but as always it's 100% my honest opinion.
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