Each participating restaurant has menus priced at £5, £10, £15, £20 or £25.
It's safe to say that we've all been feeling the pinch lately, but there's going to be ample opportunity to taste test some of Leeds' finest without breaking the bank this month thanks to the return of Eat Leeds Restaurant Week.
The week-long, city-wide event is back after a three year hiatus and bringing together new openings and long-time favourites across the city centre with a week-long foodie offer like no other.
Masala king prawns and celeriac shawarma from The Wardrobe. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Eat Leeds Restaurant Week is all about showcasing the city's foodie scene in an affordable way.
Starting on Monday 15 August and spanning across the week until Sunday 21 August 2022, there will five different price points, starting at £5 and working up to £25 in £5 intervals, so that those looking for a quick bite or a sit down meal can take advantage of this offer.
Each menu is designed to offer a taste of the restaurant's signature favourites or a taste of standout dishes- and there's options for every night of the week to choose from.
Calamares from Ambiente. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Wardrobe has both a £20 and £25 offer, depending on whether diners choose to dine with two or three courses from their one-off menu.
Expect juicy buttermilk chicken in taco form with ranch slaw and chipotle mayo; goat's cheese bon bons with honey dressing; masala king prawns with mango chilli salad and vegan alternatives like the celeriac shawarma with hummus and flatbread- and that's just the starter plates.
Buttermilk Chicken Tacos from The Wardrobe. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Ambiente is serving up a whopping three plates and a drink for £20, with a specially-crafted menu with all the Spanish-style small portions we've come to know and love.
Cooked inside one of Leeds' only Spanish-made Josper Charcoal oven, food here is roasted, grilled, steamed and smoked at 500 degrees to tenderise and produce that smokey charcoal texture synonymous with authentic Spanish cooking.
Classic dishes like Patatas Bravas and Calamares are bound to make an appearance on the table between signature meat dishes like the Albónigas con Tomate, the beef and pork meatballs with a smokey chorizo and tomato stew. Ideal for those sharing with large groups of foodies, there's a range of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options on the menu too.
The Calamares Veganos offers a vegan take on the classic calamari dish. Think seaweed-marinated pieces deep fried to keep that crispy seafood texture, served with Ambiente's own soy batter with aioli seafood for dipping.
Beef and pork meatballs from Ambiente. / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Meanwhile Meat Stack, the newly-opened cult indie burger joint from The Toon, will be joining Eat Leeds Restaurant Week and bringing their classic West Coast beef burger to the menu.
In true American diner style, the restaurant will be serving up thick Biscoff, chocolate and strawberry milkshakes, amongst other tempting options, to pair with fries loaded with red Leicester, parmesan and creamy queso sauce.
West Coast Beef Burgers from Meat:Stack / Image: The Hoot Leeds
Best of all, this is only a taste of what's to come for Eat Leeds Restaurant Week.
So far, a number of restaurants across Leeds have signed up to this exciting foodie offering and will be promising a special offer priced at £5 - £25, including the likes of I Am Doner, Manahatta, Playroom, Rola Wala and Gusto.
Emba in Leeds will be closing its doors with the owner blaming rising costs and pressure on the hospitality sector.
Back in April last year, one of Leeds' top restaurants The Owl closed its doors.
Run by renowned Chef Liz Cottam, The Owl was reimagine into Emba - a trendy restaurant tat bridged 'the gap between cosy bar and vibrant dining room'.
To open Emba, Cottam opened a Crowdfunder where supporters would be awarded with prizes such as VIP dinners and merch depending on how much they donated.
But sadly just months after opening, Emba is to close permanently.
Cottam confirmed the sad news with a statement shared with customers over the weekend, saying she was completely "heartbroken".
She said: “This is no longer the right time to own independent restaurants like Emba,” she said. “Under the current conditions they cannot survive and the recent budget confirmed what so many of us already knew: no meaningful help is coming for hospitality.
"The experience of being here and the harsh financial reality of running a business here no longer stack up.
"Being award winning, popular, admired and loved no longer means profitable and as an industry if we’re honest most of us have not truly been okay since Covid."
She signed off the statement promising to return to the restaurant world, she said: “What I do know is this, I am not done. I will keep cooking, keep creating and keep finding ways to do the thing I love.”
Historic family-run Leeds restaurant that’s been open for half a century is forced to close
Clementine Hall
Beloved Leeds restaurant Salvo's has closed suddenly due to 'unexpected dispute' with landlord.
Salvo's over on Otley Road in Headingley is a real Leeds institution.
Having first opened in 1976, it has been serving generations of families for fifty years with its authentic Italian menu.
The much loved restaurant announced the heartbreaking news to their social media today stating that the unexpected closure is down to an 'unexpected dispute' with their landlord.
The post read: "To our dearest customers, friends, and supporters,
"It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we must share some devastating news. Due to an unexpected dispute with our landlord, we have been forced to close our doors effective immediately.
"This morning, the landlord changed the locks and denied our team access to the premises. This means we are, with immediate effect, unable to honor any existing bookings, provide table service, or welcome you for the dining experience we love to create.
"We want to be unequivocally clear: We have always met our obligations, including rent and all bills. Our dedicated team has worked tirelessly, not just to serve exceptional food, but to build a community within our walls. Through the immense challenges of the hospitality economy, we fought to stay afloat, committed to our staff, our suppliers, and most of all, to you.
"Our hope now is to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We remain committed to our dream and to serving you again."
The post continued: "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your incredible support, your laughter that filled our dining room, and your loyalty. It has been our greatest honor to serve you.
"We will update you here as soon as we have more information. Please keep our team in your thoughts."