The new Michelin-guide recommended restaurant is opening for its first sitting tonight in Leeds.
Dastaan has been offering something quite special down south since its beginnings in 2017, but now the award-winning Indian restaurant will be finding a second home right here in Leeds.
Headed up by award-winning chefs that have taken both London and Surrey in their stride throughout their career, Nand Kishor and Sanjay Gour are promising us here in the north a taste of “Mayfair cooking at a fraction of the price” from Wednesday 27 July 2022.
On the menu, you'll find fine-dining Indian cuisine with all the flavour. Expect Tellicherry lobster dosas on the a la carte and plenty of tapas style plates of pink prawns, pano puri and chicken lollipops to choose from.
Tempura prawns with a chive sauce. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The menu will be paired with a collaboration with Cobra lager and well considered alcoholic drinks list with an extensive Gin Library, vegan and organic wine options and even a cocktail menu inspired by the chef’s ingredients inside the kitchen.
Described by The Guardian as “food of the subcontinent elevated way beyond its uninspiring location – Mayfair cooking at mundane prices”, Dastaan opened in Epsom some five years ago near the capital and has since landed itself a place in the prestigious Michelin Guide, including earning and retaining a Bib Gourmand since its first year of opening.
This comes in addition to recommendations from the likes of Hardens, AA Guide, the Good Food Guide; placing in The Times’ top thirty places to have a curry and landing a spot in Squaremeals’ top 100 restaurants for 2022 just a few months ago.
The restaurant features a beautiful private bar area upstairs. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Now opening a second Dastaan with a new menu, there will be ample opportunity for diners to experience a whole host of exotic flavours paired with regional specialities- each with a modern twist that is set to show Leeds exactly why the original Dastaan Epsom is worthy of its many accolades.
Celebrated chefs Nand Kishor and Sanjay Gour have had a lifetime of cooking up at some of the biggest names in the UK. Both have been former Head Chefs at Gymkhana where Kishor’s dishes like Muntjac Biryani, Keema Pao and the Roe Deer Chops went a long way in announcing the Michelin-starred venue as Restaurant of the Year in 2015.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Establishing relationships with local independents is an integral part of Dastaan’s reputation, and so Kishor and Gour look forward to welcoming Leeds’ own Kirkstall Brewery and local supplier House of Wine as collaborative partners.
“We were looking to open a new restaurant and Leeds is the obvious choice – the food scene here is really good. But we want to make it even better. We are bringing something new, an upmarket Indian dining experience,” says Anurag Singh, who will be responsible for Dastaan Leeds.
He added: “We don’t plan to open a chain of Dastaan restaurants all over the country. We don’t believe in mass produced food. We want to deliver something personal, that we can manage ourselves”.
With this in mind, the new menu intends to expand from the original by elevating the flavours and providing a more “upmarket” backdrop, compared to Epsom’s open kitchen.
“The restaurant itself is at a great location and looks beautiful and we can’t wait to start serving up some fantastic new dishes.”
Restaurant owners Nand Kishor and Sanjay Gour. / Image: Dastaan
Dastaan Leeds will open from Wednesday 27 July 2022 at 473 Otley Road, Adel, Leeds, LS16 7NR, but in order to allow for staff to settle in the new premises, the restaurant will only open Wednesday – Sunday for the first few weeks with limited seating.
For more information, including how to book a seat at the table for yourself, visit the Dastaan website.
Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds
Eats
New Sheffield pizzeria named one of the world’s best
A Sheffield pizzeria has been named one of the world’s best in a prestigious global ranking.
Forbici, the restaurant where all pizzas are served with a pair of scissors, is the only northern pizzeria to be recognised at last week's Best Pizza Awards 2026.
The awards took place in Milan, and are said to be the Michelin equivalent of the pizza world.
Forbici was named as creating one of the world’s best pizzas, with its master chef recognised as one of the top pizza chefs in the world.
It’s one of just two UK pizzerias listed in the coveted top 100 this year.
Images: The Sheff
Forbici opened in Manchester back in 2024, and has since expanded across to lovely Sheffield on Millennium Square back in March.
It was also once named by Marco Pierre White as ‘the best pizza’ he’d ever had - quite an accolade.
Biga pizza dough at Forbici is slow-fermented to create a light, risen crust, before being topped with quality ingredients like San Marzano tomatoes and Italian produce.
It also has a lot of northern flavour, thanks to local specials like the Lancashire Hotpot – a pizza topped with crisps.
And all pizzas are served with scissors, inspired by the pizzerias of Naples, to be cut into quarters.
Master baker Davide Argentino is a fifth-generation baker from Napoli. While his family runs two bakeries on his behalf back home, Davide brings a true taste of authentic Neapolitan pizza to the UK.
Commenting on the recognition, Davide said: “It is a huge honour for Forbici to be recognised as one of the best pizzerias in the world.
“Baking has been in my family for five generations, so this is a really proud moment. In crafting Forbici’s signature dough we challenged convention pushing the fermentation process to the limit. Every bite reflects the patience, precision and expertise behind our approach.
“This recognition belongs to our entire team, whose passion, skill and commitment to the craft of pizza-making make Forbici what it is every day.”
An intimate Japanese katsu bar with only 15 seats is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Chef Fern is taking on another venture, and this time it's all about Katsu.
If you know anything about the Leeds food scene, then you'll know the absolute legend that is Chef Fern.
Her first restaurant, Fern Modern Sushi, is a firm favourite amongst locals and visitors alike. Known for their expertly crafted sushi made with only the freshest fish on offer.
Nestled in the Central Arcade, this hole-in-the-wall restaurant captured the hearts of many foodies since opening in 2024.
This year, Chef Fern set her sights on another restaurant on Vicar Lane.
Image: O Katsu
Tori Nori opened just a couple of months ago, a modern Japanese grill centred around the fiery robata where guests can watch the chefs cook everything from grilled fish to delicious yakitori skewers right in front of their very eyes.
Unsurprisingly, Tori Nori has also been a huge hit.
But there's just no stopping Fern as she goes on to open yet another restaurant in the city centre.
Introducing O Katsu, an intimate restaurant with only 15 covers serving premium katsu.
Katsu is basically a breaded, deep-fried piece of meat, seafood or vegetables. Served with steaming hot rice, shredded cabbage, miso soup and dipping sauces, it's nothing short of delicious and a popular meal enjoyed in Japan.
We don't know much abut the opening just yet, but what we do know is that it'll be located just opposite her first restaurant in the Central Arcade.
There will be no bookings, and the space will feature an open kitchen so guests can watch the magic happen.
One things for sure, if Chef Fern is involved you just know it's going to be brilliant. We'll keep you updated on the opening of O Katsu as and when we find out.
Sophie Smith -
27th July 2022 
