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.
Everyone's in love with frozen yoghurt, and Leeds is about to get more of it.
Over the past year, the UK has become a little bit obsessed with frozen yoghurt - and Leeds is no exception.
We've had Kefiyo open in Headingley which met to queues round the block for weeks, as well as the UK's leading froyo brand Frurt open up in Kirkstall.
And now, there's a newbie on the block.
Images: Supplied
Introducing 'Yo-Go', your newest frozen yoghurt bar that will be opening up in Leeds' Hyde Park.
We don't know much about Yo-Go yet, but we do know it's female owned and is sporting some pretty cute branding.
The space is currently undergoing renovation, with the owner posting that she received the keys just a couple of days ago.
The window vinyls are up, and people are already getting very excited about the opening as they flock to the comments of Yo-Go's first Instagram post.
Announcing the news of their opening, Yo-Go wrote: "GUYS!! WE’VE GOT THE KEYS. And apparently they don’t come with a finished shop… rude.
"While we get to work, we need your input. Toppings, flavours, very specific requests, we’re taking notes. Drop them below and I’ll try my best to make it happen x"
Comments included requests for 'unlimited toppings' as well as warm sauces, cookie dough, marshmallow and honeycomb.
Sounds pretty delicious if you ask us, but for now, it looks like there's still some work to be done before the shop is ready to welcome its first customers.
We don't know of an opening date just yet, but we'll keep you updated as and when we do.
Inside the new all-day American diner that has just opened at Leeds Bradford Airport
Clementine Hall
A brand-new American-style diner serving smash burgers, hot dogs and thick milkshakes has opened at Leeds Bradford Airport.
We all know the holiday really starts as soon as you get to the airport, and Leeds Bradford Airport has a brand-new American diner to kick start it in style.
Welcome to Monty’s American Diner, the all-day dining destination bringing a taste of the USA to Yorkshire.
Located in the airport's departure lounge, this new spot is designed to give passengers somewhere to sit back and relax whilst enjoying a proper meal before jetting off.
And just like your classic American diner, there’s plenty on the menu to get stuck into.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Early flight? Breakfast is available until 11am with options including fluffy waffles, French toast bites, chicken and waffles drenched in maple syrup as well as traditional cooked breakfasts and American-style bagels.
Those travelling later in the day can tuck into smash burgers, chicken wings, loaded hot dogs, gooey mac and cheese and even a BBQ platter complete with ribs, corn and wings.
There’s also a menu specifically designed for the little ones, featuring waffles, beans on toast and scrambled eggs on toast, alongside burgers, chicken tenders and mac and cheese throughout the day.
And if you fancy a drink before take-off, because it wouldn't be a trip to the airport without a tipple, Monty’s has that covered too.
There's freshly poured pints on offer as well as cocktails, or you can have the proper American experience with a 'hard shake' - their classic thick milkshakes but made boozy.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The space has been decked out in style, so much so that you'll forget you're in Yorkshire and think you've popped into a diner on Route 66.
Classic booth seating, red neon signs, hanging globe lights, all complete with a retro jukebox which you can even pop a song on.
Open all-day long, from the first flight til the last, next time you're jetting off make sure to make Monty's part of your holiday routine.
You can find out more about Monty's at Leeds Bradford Airport here.
Sophie Smith -
27th July 2022 
