Formerly known as The Man Behind the Curtain, the underground restaurant on Vicar Lane remains one of the best in the city.
Leeds' only Michelin-star eatery, The Man Behind the Curtain, closed its doors at the end of last year in order to make way for chef Michael O'Hare's new venture, Psycho Sandbar, which opened in March.
We were lucky enough to visit the new venue, and it certainly did not disappoint.
The Great British Menu judge said the rebrand was influenced by Brexit, the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, which have transformed the food and drink industry.
And the new, more accessible set menus available reflect this.
Customers can enjoy a four course menu for £40 or six courses for £60, both of which come with additional optional wine pairing.
Now granted, a dining experience at Psycho Sandbar is not your everyday, walk-in casual lunch or dinner option.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
But our experience at the Sandbar was nothing short of exceptional, and it stands as the perfect restaurant to celebrate a special occasion if you're a foodie or looking to experience something very unique.
From the moment you step foot through the door and make your way down the stairs to the underground concrete bunker, everything from the funky music to the monochrome aesthetic transports you to a different world.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Every tiny little detail has been thoroughly thought out, from the handcrafted cutlery and crockery to the bundle of menus tied together in leather.
The menu offers a la carte options as well as a chefs tasting menu, but whatever you order you will be absolutely blown away.
From the Singapore chilli crab with slow cooked egg yolk to the salt and sugar cured hake with plankton scraps, everything was honestly exceptional.Â
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The wine pairings take your dining experience to another level, presented by their expert staff who will answer any questions you may have (no matter how ridiculous they are).
If you can visit Psycho Sandbar, then we really urge you to do so and their new six or four course menu is the perfect way to do it.
The set menus will constantly change so no visit will be the same, and we can guarantee that you'll be wanting to visit time and time again.
To find out more and to book your table, take a look at Psycho Sandbar's website.
A brand-new American-style diner serving smash burgers, hot dogs and thick milkshakes has opened at Leeds Bradford Airport.
We all know the holiday really starts as soon as you get to the airport, and Leeds Bradford Airport has a brand-new American diner to kick start it in style.
Welcome to Monty’s American Diner, the all-day dining destination bringing a taste of the USA to Yorkshire.
Located in the airport's departure lounge, this new spot is designed to give passengers somewhere to sit back and relax whilst enjoying a proper meal before jetting off.
And just like your classic American diner, there’s plenty on the menu to get stuck into.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Early flight? Breakfast is available until 11am with options including fluffy waffles, French toast bites, chicken and waffles drenched in maple syrup as well as traditional cooked breakfasts and American-style bagels.
Those travelling later in the day can tuck into smash burgers, chicken wings, loaded hot dogs, gooey mac and cheese and even a BBQ platter complete with ribs, corn and wings.
There’s also a menu specifically designed for the little ones, featuring waffles, beans on toast and scrambled eggs on toast, alongside burgers, chicken tenders and mac and cheese throughout the day.
And if you fancy a drink before take-off, because it wouldn't be a trip to the airport without a tipple, Monty’s has that covered too.
There's freshly poured pints on offer as well as cocktails, or you can have the proper American experience with a 'hard shake' - their classic thick milkshakes but made boozy.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space has been decked out in style, so much so that you'll forget you're in Yorkshire and think you've popped into a diner on Route 66.
Classic booth seating, red neon signs, hanging globe lights, all complete with a retro jukebox which you can even pop a song on.
Open all-day long, from the first flight til the last, next time you're jetting off make sure to make Monty's part of your holiday routine.
You can find out more about Monty's at Leeds Bradford Airport here.
Beloved Leeds Malaysian cafe known for its authentic home cooking announces sudden closure
Clementine Hall
A much-loved independent restaurant in Leeds has announced it will be closing its doors.
Kuala Lumpur Cafe opened its doors in Headingley in 2019 by Bart and Hirman, who wanted to bring authentic Malaysian cooking to the city of Leeds.
Throughout the years, they'd built up a reputation for their beautiful curries and vibrant street food dishes, all of which were made using Hirman's family recipes.
So much so, that in 2024 they opened a kitchen inside White Cloth Hall in the city centre when the Grade II listed food hall first opened.
Their kitchen sadly closed a year later, but their Headingley restaurant remained open serving the students and locals with their famous beef rendang, nasi lemak and more.
Sadly, Kuala Lumpur Cafe have taken to social media to announce that they will be closing their doors for good as of this Saturday 17 October.
Their statement reads: "Thank you to all our customers and team that made Kuala Lumpur Cafe possible across the last few years. After a long consideration, we have decided that our last trading day will be Saturday 17 October.
"If you have a booking after this date, we'll be calling you over the next few days to try to move it to an earlier date before we close.
"It's been our pleasure to serve Malaysian food to the community. Best regards, KL Cafe."
Of course, in true Leeds fashion, local businesses and customers flocked to the comments to express their sadness and show their support.
One comment reads: "Such a shame. This was genuinely the best Malay food I had outside of Malaysia. Will be missed greatly", whilst another thanks the cafe for "all the delicious food over the years".
If you want to visit Kuala Lumpur Cafe one last time, then you have until this Saturday to do so. Go and wish them a proper farewell.
Clementine Hall -
24th May 2024 
