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.
Popular pizza pop-up Edges Pizza has opened a permanent home in Leeds city centre.
Last summer you may have had the privilege to enjoy a slice of Edges Pizza at one of their many pop-up residencies across the city.
Their longest stint was at the sun-drenched roof terrace of Green Room, and it's safe to say their pizza went down an absolute treat.
Since then they've been a little quiet, but all for good reason. Edges Pizza has just opened a permanent new takeaway under the arches in Holbeck, and it's absolutely class.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Owners Grace and Edge who are from Harrogate opened Edges two years ago, taking inspiration from trips to New York over the years.
They've completely transformed the space into a proper love letter to the big apple. It will operate mainly as a takeaway, but there is a small seating area where you can perch and tuck into your pie.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The menu is perfectly curated, consisting of eight pizzas and three dips. And trust us, they are absolutely massive.
We opted for the American Hot with spicy pepperoni, banana peppers and parmesan as well as the mushroom pie topped with garlic creme fraiche and chestnut mushrooms.
Drizzled and dunked into moreish hot honey, it's rivalling some of the best pizza in the city.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
For now, grabbing a pizza from Edges operates through a pre-order system. Pre-orders open at 12pm the day before via their website, you can pick your collection time and then you simply have to rock up and get your pizza.
There's loads of parking available nearby and if there are any remaining slots available you can pre-order up to an hour before collection.
We've got a feeling they're going to very busy indeed.
Dishoom announces official opening date for new Leeds restaurant
Clementine Hall
It's the moment we've all been waiting for, Dishoom is coming to Leeds.
The whispers of Dishoom's arrival in Leeds city centre have been going on for a while now, but over the past few weeks it has started to feel very real.
Taking over the beautiful old Flannel's site on the coveted Vicar Lane, signs started to pop up for Dishoom and work was cracking on fast.
Well now, we have an opening date - and we don't have long to wait.
Dishoom Leeds will open on Monday 3 August, with guests being able to enjoy 50% off food during an initial soft-opening period, ahead of the official opening on Friday 14 August.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
As with every Dishoom café, the Leeds restaurant begins with a story. This one takes inspiration from the extraordinary true events surrounding the explosion of the SS Fort Stikine in Bombay Dock in April 1944, a wartime disaster that sent gold bars flying across the city.
Legend has it that some of the missing gold was never recovered. Some was discovered embedded in walls and rooftops across Bombay. Other pieces quietly disappeared into the hands of lucky citizens, melted into bangles or hidden away in drawers.
Dishoom Leeds reimagines the fortune made from the gold bars and guests will discover subtle references to the glamorous mid-century details through the interiors and artwork, giving playful nods to Bombay’s golden age.
With all day dining available, guests can dine on the beloved breakfast right through to late evening feasting, with the café will serve a lovingly curated menu of Bombay comfort food inspired by the city’s cafés, grills, street stalls and family kitchens.
Shamil Thakrar, co-founder, also known as Head Babu, at Dishoom, said: “Leeds is a city with tremendous warmth, creativity and character, full of people who know the value of gathering together over good food and drinks. Bringing Dishoom here has long been a dream for us.”
"The story behind this café is rooted in one of Bombay’s most extraordinary moments – the day gold bars fell from the sky after the explosion of Fort Stikine in 1944. Amidst the tragedy and chaos, there were also tales of unexpected fortune, human resilience and hopeful reinvention. We were captivated by this, and we cannot wait to welcome Leeds into the café that pays homage to the heritage of Bombay.”
Sophie Smith -
3rd August 2022 
