If you want our two pence on why Meanwood has been having its moment recently - the pizzas coming out of Meanwood Tavern have been a large part of it.
Now Pizza Loco is throwing some Neapolitan-style pizzas into the mix, taking over from much-loved Detroit-style kitchen, Well Oiled.
And the menu speaks for itself.
Think pizza sarnies and Neapolitan pizzas with soft, light and airy crusts, with interesting, generous toppings and an emphasis on sustainable British ingredients including Wildfarmed UK-grown and milled organic flour, Yorkshire-grown organic tomatoes, and British charcuterie.
Well Oiled will finish trading on Sunday 3 September and Well Oiled will begin serving from Thursday 7 September.
Image: Supplied
Ollie Reynolds, founder and Executive Chef says “We love traditional Italian pizza, and we also love to experiment - our pizzas aren’t just about what the Neapolitan ‘rules’ stipulate!”.
Lunchtime will see the signature Pizza Loco Panuozzi pizza-dough butties showcased, whilst evenings will be reserved for those big Neapolitan slices.
The move comes just as the popular neighbourhood pub will be celebrating its first birthday.
Whitelock’s and Meanwood Tavern Managing Director Ed Mason said:
“We love Ollie’s pizzas - Pizza Loco is one of the best pizza restaurants in the region, and when Ollie told us he wanted to join us at The Meanwood Tavern we jumped at the opportunity. Ollie’s passion, and ethos of supporting local indie food suppliers matches our own!”
Thursday 7 September will be a soft launch for Pizza Loco, an impressive turnaround given Well Oiled only had its final service four days ago. From Friday 8 September, it is believed full service will resume.
We can't wait to head down and check out Pizza Loco's new home.
Feature Image - Supplied
Eats
Salon Madre – a new tequila bar and pool hall is opening in Leeds this month
Manchester's favourite Mexican bar is about to become your newest nightlife destination in Leeds.
It's been a long time coming, but Salon Madre is officially ready to open in Leeds.
Although we may have to wait a little bit longer for Madre, the day-to-night eatery that has made waves over in Manchester and Liverpool, Salon Madre, its lively tequila bar and pool hall sibling, is officially opening on Friday 20 February.
Salon Madre, which will be located just around the corner from Madre at 114 Wellington Street, is where the party really gets started.
Image: The Manc Group
Expect tequila-fuelled nights, pool tables, lively DJs and Lucha Libre on the big screens.
There will also be plenty of tacos being flung out the kitchen to keep you going until the early hours.
If you’ve ever visited one of their venues in Manchester or Liverpool, you’ll know it’s an absolute riot and we can’t wait to welcome them to the city.
Images: The Manc Group
Co-founder Sam Grainger, inspired by countless trips to Mexico, says: “Mexico is alive with passionate artisans and cooks, mastering everything from street tacos to regional delicacies. It’s a world where traditions blend and evolve and we’ve built that ethos into the heart of both Madre and Salon Madre.”
Madre Leeds will open soon and you can even grab yourself a free margarita by signing up to their newsletter here.
We’ll keep you up to date with their opening times but for now, we'll see you at Salon Madre for a boogie, margarita and game of pool next week.
Award-winning Leeds restaurant announces shock closure just months after opening
Clementine Hall
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.”
Sophie Smith -
23rd August 2023 
