Eats

Dijon Boys: The new must-try small plates spot taking over Meanwood

If this is the foodie menu you can produce within six months of starting a business, it'll be SO exciting to see how Dijon Boys grows in the coming years.

Sophie Smith - 5th October 2022

Tucked away inside a cosy cocktail bar in the heart of Meanwood, Dijon Boys has been cooking up a storm since opening their kitchen inside Number 8 Cocktails.

With ever-changing specials and a considered menu of seafood, meat dishes, veggie options and dessert small plates, this style of dining is perfect for sharing with your nearest and dearest.

The idea is you choose a range of dishes to suit each individual palette and share between the table. With so much to choose from, there truly is a dish for everyone, and the selection will have you fighting over the last slice of just about everything.

On the main menu, expect tender meats like the Tandoori chicken thigh in a rich dahl and raita; lamb osso bucco with polenta and salsa verde or opt for a 60z bavette steak cooked in a garlic puree and chimichurri.

Meanwhile on the seafood side, you'll find plenty more options to choose from. Think trout ceviche with avocado and calamansi or mussels in a Thai green curry sauce and palapa, or there's always the catch of the day (options like crab ravioli with a crab bisque and seafood stew make an appearance, but this regularly changes).

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Every time you walk through the door, you have the opportunity to taste test a brand new range of dishes, and explore a varying combination of flavours with your chosen company.

To accompany the meaty small plates, there's a gorgeous selection of vegetarian options that prove veggies never have to be a boring second thought ever again. Taking British staples like carrots and transforming the flavours with hints of soy, marmalade and anise in a glaze is just one example of this.

The potato terrine is far from your average carb portion, served as a crispy on the outside, revealing soft sliced potatoes, these are the creamy delight that will firmly stay in your mind long after finish every last crumb.

Those looking for a light bite should grab the pear and goats cheese carpaccio from the specials menu whilst you can to start or end their round of small plate, the delicate dish is beautifully presented, but it's light yet creamy flavouring makes it ideal for cleansing the palette.

Specialising in their namesake, all the cocktails at Number 8 Cocktails are ideal for a sweet, sour and boozy tipple to pair with any of the dishes- there's rum with honeycomb, classic Margaritas and a fruity modern take on the Victorian gin-based Floradora that comes highly recommended too.

With a DJ playing late into the night combining old school records with lively beats to create an intimate ambience, this is the perfect spot for a cosy Saturday night out of the city centre.

The former stomping ground of much-loved The Hungry Bear restaurant has only been home to Number 8 Cocktails for the past year but it feels as though it's always belonged in the quiet suburb. The cocktail bar is a true Meanwood staple, and the addition of the Dijon Boys has only elevated the space further. You'll feel right at home here, regardless of whether you're heading for a bite to eat, a quick afternoon drink or checking out the latest records upstairs inside the Meanhood record shop.

Bringing quality dishes to a relaxed setting is something that the Dijon Boys have been wanting to bring to the table for a long time, and with 18 years of combined experience between them, they know a thing or two about how fusing the two options.

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The impressive achievement of taking on a permanent kitchen residency only six months after starting their business appears to be through a series of successful pop-ups and before taking on their own venture, through mentorship and guidance from local restaurants.

At just 22 years old, the trio of chefs are showcasing an exciting new offering here like nothing else in the local area, and we can't wait to see where the new venture takes them in the years to come.

Feature Image- The Hoot Leeds