Nestled in the Corn Exchange you will find Bruschetta - a delightful coffee shop and eatery serving up the most innovative brunch dishes in the city.
The Corn Exchange on Call Lane is home to some brilliant independent cafes and boutiques which showcase the creativity and fantastic community spirit of Leeds. Cosy coffee shop and cafe ‘Bruschetta’ is no exception.
Nestled in the magnificence of the Corn Exchange’s gothic interior, the atmosphere is light and airy, making it the perfect spot for a brunch with friends or mid-week meeting.
French and Algerian roots run through their menu at Bruschetta, so you'd be challenged to find anything like it in the city.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Their new summer menu is jam-packed with affordable plates that are perfect for any time of day and the cake cabinet is filled with delicious sweet treats from local bakeries.
Complete with speciality coffee and freshly squeezed juices - Bruschetta do it all and they do it well.
All of the dishes are made with local ingredients and you can really tell. We started with two freshly pressed juices from their daily juice menu - the Turmeric, Orange and Carrot juice was a definite highlight, it was perfectly balanced with sweet and tangy flavours and was exceptionally fresh.
The juices can also be served as a takeaway making it the perfect healthy breakfast on-the-go (obviously alongside one of their delicious croissants), but of course we do recommend you enjoy it whilst taking in the breathtaking views of the Corn Exchange.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Of course the coffee was exceptional but Bruschetta are known for their wonderful caffeinated offering.
The beans are sourced and roasted from a local company in Sheffield and are then left to breathe for 14 days before serving. The magic formula for the perfect cup of joe is then decided on each morning, depending on the specific conditions and climate on that day.
Now onto the food. We were told the Margherita Toastie was a firm menu favourite and we can easily see why - gooey cheddar cheese, fresh rocket, homemade margherita sauce and a balsamic glaze sandwiched between two brioche slices and grilled to perfection. We don't want to eat a normal cheese toastie ever again.
The La Rue Des Rosiers featured a toasted brioche bagel filled with delicious pastrami, gherkins and a glorious mustard and harissa aioli. Served with a seasonal side salad, this is the perfect lunch option.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
And finally we tried The Breakfast Croissant - a glistening buttery croissant filled with homemade scrambled eggs, lime-infused smashed avocado and chilli flakes.
This was extremely tasty, the croissant was flakey and perfectly toasted and the zingy lime really cut through the richness of the pastry.
If you haven't been to Bruschetta then we urge you to do so, they're open seven days a week and do not take bookings.
To find out more, take a look at their social media page.
A Leeds pizza takeaway has received a glowing review from popular review duo.
Edges Pizza opened up their first permanent spot in Leeds back in June this year, after making a name for themselves slinging out pizzas at multiple pop-ups across the city.
Owners Grace and Edge from Harrogate opened Edges Pizza two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their pizzas are a love letter to the class New York slice, think thin and crispy rather than chewy and floppy. But above all else, think absolutely delicious.
And now, they've caught the attention of a major review page, with Bite Twice Food Reviews (a page with almost 300k followers) paying Edges a visit.
The food review duo of Gerry del Guercio and Paul Delany popped up in Holbeck beneath the arches to get their hands on a pizza, and the outcome is brilliant.
In the video, Bite Twice said that the pizza is 'f**cking exceptional' and up there with 'one of the best pizzas in the UK'.
Before even taking a bite, they said: "On aesthetic, I don't think anywhere in the UK is doing pizza like this".
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Then after the first bite, they go on to say: "There are very few pizzas in the UK that create this, I’m a little bit blown away".
As Londoners themselves, they go on to say that Edges is 'easily hitting with the best that we’ve got down south'.
And if that's not high praise enough, they sign off the video saying: "Leeds has got an absolute gem. I give this a stamp so hard my foot went through the pizza. Edges. Don Level."
The 42-year-old Kirkgate Market stall serving freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 a pop
Clementine Hall
Tucked away in Leeds Kirkgate Market you'll find a wonderful seafood stall selling freshly shucked oysters for £1.90 each.
It's places like these that remind us why we love Leeds so much.
Established in 1880, Hayes Seafood is widely regarded as the oldest trader within the historic Kirkgate Market.
For the past 42 years, it has been run by Cliff and Michelle, the loveliest couple who welcome every customer with open arms.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu here is small but perfectly formed, focusing on fresh, ready-to-eat seafood that you can enjoy with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of mayonnaise at most.
Delivered fresh every morning, there's pre-cracked crab shells, brown and white crab meat, cockles, crawfish tails - all perfectly prepared for you to eat at their bar or high tables opposite.
But, it's the oysters that you'll see people queueing for. And rightly so.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Everything here is prepared to order right in front of you, and for no extra fee. You can choose from two types of oysters: super salty Lindisfarne oysters or the slightly sweeter English Loch Fyne.
We recommend having a couple of each, pulling up a stool right by the counter and getting stuck in. If you ask Cliff nicely, he might tell you a bit about the history of the place - but you may have to order a couple more oysters for that.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You're left to dress them yourself, whether you prefer dash of fiery tabasco or a few pickled shallots. But to be honest, they're delicious just as they come.
This spot is a real piece of Leeds history, and the queues at lunchtime as well as the repeat regular customers proves just how special it is.
All it's missing is a champagne stall next to it...now wouldn't that be perfect?
Clementine Hall -
19th May 2023 
