Guide around Leeds in 80 mouthfuls

There are many things that are great about Leeds, especially gastronomically speaking – Leeds food is stuffed full of local, home-grown ingredients and lashings of Yorkshire love. Luckily for us, there are plenty of places to breakfast like a king on a pauper’s budget.

Toast

Huddled under West Point in the ‘business district’, you’ll find Toast. You can get a decent breakfast that’s a better standard than usual (like wrinkled sausages and lumpy puddles of beans) – think a BLT baguette with rocket and cracked black pepper mayo on gleaming white square plates. The best thing about Toast is it’s like eating in your own living room, without the irritating washing up afterwards.

Yum Yum

If, for you, breakfast without grease is like Ant without Dec (i.e. not good) head over to Brewery Wharf. Nestled down there is Yum Yum which certainly lives up to its name. Ignore the fact you’re sitting in a shop at sticky tables and tuck into a wide range of well priced comforting classics like porridge and muffins as well as full cooked, bagels and pancakes.

Bagel Nash

Once you’ve trekked it through Leeds to walk off your breakfast, there’s really only two places to hit for lunch and both are Leeds institutions. First up, there’s Bagel Nash, devoted to all things round and holey, which opened its first ever store in Leeds. Any fillings go and it’s sure to delight veggie, meat eater and fish lover alike.

Pickles & Potter

For a more personal experience (like cosying up to the stranger on the next table 3 inches from your elbow) try Pickles & Potter. A simple menu of sandwich favourites done extremely well, a huge selection of guilt-inducing homemade cakes and an ever changing selection of hot options means you’ll be potty for Pickles & Potter in no time.

The Tiled Hall cafe

If all this eating has exhausted you and you’re in need of a sweet treat to perk you up, the Tiled Hall cafe at the city art gallery and the museum cafe will certainly satisfy those cravings. Run by the same company, the cakes are large beyond belief and the food is proudly Yorkshire (try the ploughmans for an authentic taste). The Tiled Hall has the added benefit of stunning surroundings – the smugness of being cultural adds to the experience.

Primo Ristorante

In keeping with all things local once the evening turns dark, support your independent restaurateurs. Primo (again under West Point) is an authentic Italian experience, complete with Italian staff and a well stocked chocolate fridge. As well as the usual pizza and pasta, they offer a good range of ‘secondis’ and ‘carnes’.

The Bird at Alea Casino

Finally, another place worthy of your hard working palette is The Bird at Alea Casino in Clarence Dock, home of the first Michelin star Indian chef in Britain. It’s fairly well hidden in the labyrinth of roulette wheels and poker tables but well worth the hunt. For a modern twist on the humble Yorkshire staple, the curry, tuck into Indian tapas to start (tastier than it sounds) and choose from a short but perfectly formed main course menu.

By now your belly should have taken a real bashing and be gurgling like a contented cat so now, to bed and sweet dreams of each delicious mouthful.

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