There's very few steakhouses we trust to get our cooking preferences right each time but Blackhouse on East Parade is serving up some seriously mouthwatering brunches.
Specialising in blending causal lunches with sophisticated fine-dining options, Blackhouse remains the sole venue venture from Living Ventures for good reason. Their intimately lit restaurant provides a lunchtime spot where leaving 'well fed' is an understatement.
Blackhouse’s menu brings out the best of meat. Think Half-Roasted Chickens, huge steak portions, fish and chips and plenty of veggie options too. With so many worldwide-inspired dishes to choose from, there is something for every dietary requirement, even vegans and vegetarians- a rarity at steakhouses.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The portions here are plenty, but don't compromise on quality- even on the weekends when the special lunch menu is combined with a boozy bottomless brunch experience.
On the menu, guests can choose from the likes of warm chicken and chorizo salad; the classic fish and chips with tartare sauce and mushy peas or opt for classic favourites like the half-roast chicken.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The Half-Roasting Chicken is the ultimate winter warmer for anyone looking for a cosy lunchtime treat and paired with a glass of bubbly. Served with skinny chips, stuffing and mouth watering gravy, the half chicken is plenty to keep you going on a cold windy day.
Those wanting to test out the famous Blackhouse-steak without committing to an English Tomahawk won’t be able to resist the Blackhouse Steak Sandwich.
We’re talking fillet steak, tenderly cut into chunks and topped with onion, mushroom, burnt onion mayonnaise, horseradish cream and mature cheddar, all between two soft pieces of bread. Served with skinny fries, this is another winter warming dish that is perfect for an afternoon treat.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Turning this incredible lunch menu into a boozy afternoon of unlimited tipple, the bottomless brunch offerings come with a choice of Prosecco, beer or wines.
Each guest chooses their selection on the day and can choose to stick to their sophisticated beverage of choice or mix and match according to the palette's needs throughout the full 90 minute sitting.
Available 12-3pm every Saturday from East Parade at £36.50 per person, make sure that you book a table in advance to avoid disappointment as during the weekend when you'll be competing with those looking for a lunchtime option in the city centre as well as the bottomless brunchers.
This family-run Japanese-inspired cafe is one not to miss.
Okay, so technically this one isn't brand-new...but it is definitely worth shouting about.
Shokupan first opened its doors on Wellington Place in 2022, and since then they have gone from strength to strength serving the people of Leeds with their deliciously fluffy shokupan sandwiches.
So much so, that they have relocated to a bigger and better space smack bang in the city centre on Central Road.
Born out of a passion for cooking at home and travelling overseas, husband and wife team Alan and Alison, swapped jobs in digital marketing and mechanical engineering to bring carefully-perfected recipes to Leeds.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Taking inspiration from trips around the world, including America's west coast where the couple were first introduced to the popularity of Shokupan, returning to normal life after years of being on-the-go seemed like the perfect opportunity to change paths and take a passion for home cooking to a commercial level.
The couple spent time trying and testing the perfect shokupan recipe at home before sending samples to a bakery, who now deliver bespoke batches of the Japanese milk bread to their cafe.
For those unfamiliar with Shokupan, it's a style of Japanese milk bread known for its light, fluffy texture, golden crust and a subtly sweet flavour- and it's truly delicious.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Their new space is just beautiful, light and airy complete with plenty of space for you to perch and enjoy your sando.
And It's safe to say that Shokupan are easily selling some of the nicest sandos you’ll find anywhere in the North.
From classics like the tamago and their British breakfast twist the ‘Spamago’, to the South American-style chorizo sauasage patty version, it’s really quite tough to decide on your favourite.
Their other generously portioned carby mains are a standout, too, with classic katsu curry or the tonkatsu rice bowls with your meat of choice keeping you full for hours.
Wash it all down with authentic imported drink, and you’re laughing.
Vinyl-only 1970s-inspired cocktail bar coming to Leeds from team behind some of the city’s best bars
Clementine Hall
A new cocktail bar is coming to Leeds city centre.
If you know a thing or two about cocktails, or just drinks in general, then you're going to be very excited about this news.
The very talented team behind Roland's on Call Lane and The Domino Club, just to name a few, are setting their sites on a brand-new venture.
Introducing Paper Plane, an intimate new cocktail bar that will be taking over the old Casa site in the city's beautiful Grand Arcade.
Paper Plane will be inspired by the glamour of 1970s air travel and will be a vinyl-only listening bar, serving a world-inspired cocktail menu alongside a carefully curated whisky collection.
The space will be lovely and intimate, with around just 40 covers, designed to transport guests somewhere completely different from the minute they step foot through the door.
And what a location too, joining a whole host of fantastic independents in the arcade such as Alfonso's Deli, Stuzzi and Sonder.
For now, we don't know many more details about the project, but we already know it's going to be exceptional cas anything these guys do turns to gold.
Not only has Roland's been consistently one of the busiest bars on Call Lane since they opened back in 2014, but The Domino Club was recently crowned one of the best cocktail bars in the world. Now that is some accolade worth shouting about.
We'll keep you updated with Paper Plane's progress, but Roland's have stated that the site is hoping to open this coming autumn. So we really don't have long to wait.
Sophie Smith -
6th April 2022 
