The dazzling new restaurant on Vicar Lane is now fully booked on a Saturday night until the end of December, and it is easy to see why.
The opening of The Ivy Asia Leeds was highly anticipated, with foodies across the city waiting eagerly for the opening date.
So of course we had to try it out for ourselves and one long, leisurely lunch later, we were certainly not disappointed.
As soon as you walk through the door, you are met with an opulent and elegant atmosphere, your coat is swiftly taken to the cloak room and the warmest of welcomes is given to you as you're promptly shown to your table.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The interior of the restaurant is nothing short of mesmerising, with a luminous green onyx flooring that is dotted with beautiful cherry blossom trees and walls adorned with captivating colourful wallpaper and opulent, bespoke artwork.
Everywhere you look, you're met with a feast for the eyes, so much so that you might start to feel full before you've even glanced at the menu. But fear not, we still managed to indulge in a full three course meal.
To drink we started with the Thai Green Curry cocktail and the Ivy-exclusive Sweet Harmony cocktail. The first was tequila based and was beautifully aromatic with both sweet and savoury undertones, finished with a dash of green tabasco which gave it that invigorating spicy hit.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The latter was fruity and bright yet had a depth to it due to the woody Hibiki Harmony Whiskey. Topped with maraschino cherry liqueur, this one had me going back for more again and again.
Now onto the food. Everything at The Ivy Asia is meant to be shared and enjoyed amongst friends with the dishes arriving as and when they are ready. First to the table was the Popcorn Shrimp lathered in a spicy, creamy sauce and served in a lavish silver goblet. This was a real crowdpleaser, it stuck around throughout the whole meal and saw our chopsticks diving back in at every spare moment.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Next was the Char Siu Pork Belly skewers, and I don't mean to sound cliche but they really were 'melt in the mouth'. Fatty, rich, salty and delicious.
For our mains we opted for the Black Cod with miso which was coated in a gloriously sticky, savoury glaze and was so tender that it flaked away effortlessly at the poke of a chopstick.
The real star of the show though was the Smoking Barbeque Lamb Rump served on a bed of aubergine. This was cooked to absolute perfection, charred on the outside and bursting with flavour, the middle pink and tender with minimal chewing required.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
It's important to note that the mains just come as they are, so sides have to be ordered separately. The Kimchi Fried Rice was hot and fresh, with that deliciously funky flavour from the fermented cabbage shining through.
For a bit of greenery we went for the Chilli and Ginger Stir-fried Greens, surprisingly this was one of our favourite dishes. Topped with fine strips of red chilli that set your mouth alight and crispy onions which gave you that satisfying crunch.
By this point we were full to the brim, however when mochi is on the menu you simply can't turn it down. Before you knew it your table was cleared in the blink of an eye and replaced with a gorgeous, fabric lamp which perfectly separated the different stages of your meal.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The service overall was faultless, nothing was too much of an ask and everything was done with precision, accuracy and flair. Special mention to Jacob who made us feel right at home, so much so that by the end of it we felt as though we had made a new friend.
All in all, the experience was a fantastic one and The Ivy Asia makes for a perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion. With three courses and a few cocktails averaging in around the £100 mark per person, it's one to save as a treat, but it is worth a trip to witness the spectacle and utter wonder that lays beyond those doors on Vicar Lane.
To find out more and to book your table, take a look at their website.
Have alookat this stunning, futuristic family home that's currently on the market.
If you've ever wanted to live in a home that resembles a spaceship, then boy oh boy have we got the home for you.
This is Bennetthorpe House over in Doncaster, a truly impressive architect designed family residence that's so swish it even featured on one of the very first episodes of Grand Designs.
Now that's an accolade.
Images: Rightmove
Set across three floors, the home has a whopping five bedrooms and three bathrooms as well as a gorgeous light-filled reception room. In fact, the whole home is flooded with light due to the sheer abundance of windows.
Designed to impress, the entrance hall doubles as a dining area and showcases some of the property's most eye-catching architectural features, including a striking glass staircase and a dramatic floor-to-ceiling glass block wall.
Images: Rightmove
Upstairs, the lavish bedroom suite comes complete with a walk-in dressing area and a sleek en-suite shower room.
The lower ground floor features a large bedroom, dedicated sitting area, en-suite bathroom and provides direct access to the property's double garage.
Certainly, it's not the sort of home to snuggle in front of the fire with a good book and get all cosy - but if you're a fan of all things modern and contemporary then it doesn't get much better than this.
Images: Rightmove
The best part? It can be yours for just £850,000...how can one resist? It's a small price to pay to feel like you're the star of Grand Designs every single day of your life.
To have a proper nosey at this one-of-a-kind property then take a look at the listing on Rightmove here.
Featured image - Rightmove (Fine & Country, Bawtry)
News
Here’s five of the best new openings coming to Leeds this year
Clementine Hall
We're almost half way through the year, so let's see what else we've got to look forward to...spoiler alert, it's a lot.
So far we've had everything from ice bath cafes to listening bars open up in Leeds, and it seems like 2026 is the gift that keeps on giving.
Allow us to get you excited about what's coming to the city...
Dishoom
68–78 Vicar Lane, LS1 7JH
Images: The Hoot Leeds
This one is a biggun' as the ever so popular Indian restaurant is set to open this August in a beautiful Grade-II listed building on Vicar Lane which was formerly Flannels.
First opening in London, Dishoom now has restaurants dotted all over the UK including a huge site in Manchester. The group is famed for its lavish and grand interiors, as well as its home-style curries, grills and breakfasts including its legendary bacon naans.
Acai and the Tribe
88 Vicar Lane
Image: The Manc Group
Acai and the Tribe first opened four years ago in Manchester, and ever since then it's only gone from strength to strength opening up three other locations across the country.
Next stop? Leeds. And we couldn't be happier about it.
So, what can we expect from this aesthetically-pleasing and ultra trendy female-owned business? Well, loaded acai bowls that look almost too good to eat, superfood smoothies, coffees, matcha and savoury options like avocado toast.
This Japanese restaurant serves a menu full of sushi as well as grilled meats on sticks, sharing sides and build-your-own hand rolls. All of this is wrapped up in the most gorgeous interior, which you can see from their jaw dropping new Manchester site.
Occupying the Grade II-listed space on Vicar Lane, the three-storey building will include a 220-cover dining room, 30-cover terrace and an upstairs bar.
New York-style pizza pop-up, Edges Pizza, is set to open in Leeds.Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residences across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat. Edges will be opening their doors in Leeds city centre on Thursday 18 June.
Okay, this one might not be happening this year...but we still had to mention it so please forgive us.
Trinity Leeds is embarking on a major transformation with a £15 million expansion, introducing a second food court called ‘Freight Island’ The upgrade will add around 72,000 sq ft of new space, including a stunning rooftop terrace overlooking City Square the perfect spot to enjoy great food with skyline views.
Clementine Hall -
27th October 2022 
