It’s been a difficult year for hospitality, but we’ve seen a whole new foodie scene rise from the ashes of lockdowns.
If there’s one industry that’s been hit particularly hard this year, it’s hospitality. From open to close to now being left in limbo, we really feel for anyone affected by the ever-changing rules and regulations.
Despite the chaos of this year, a new wave of fresh foodie talent has emerged in Leeds, with endless new openings keeping us at The Hoot busy all year long. From Vietnamese specialist cafes to bakeries and high-end restaurants, we’ve seen it all this year.
Here are our favourite openings of the year:
Saint Judes, Farsley
Located in the former home of Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale, the new sister site Saint Jude is a new all-day bar and restaurant in Farsley that will go from brunch to late-night cocktails. Run by Farsley-based sisters Alex and Cassie Rogerson, just like their popular pizzeria Grumpy’s the new restaurant is also named after their parents. It doesn’t get much more Yorkshire than that.
Find out more here.
Fint, Great George Street
After some serious rebranding, the team behind Fettle opened, Fint. Housed in the same space as its predecessor on Leeds’ leafy Great George street, the owners have rebranded following a period of closure – and we were really excited to see them back, albeit in a new guise. Fettle was known and loved for its understated, laid-back cafe-meets-restaurant vibe, and whilst the space has reemerged with a new name it seems that its overall aesthetic still holds up. The difference? There’s now more of a restaurant focus.
Find out more here.
House of Fu, Headrow
Following years of pop-ups, House of Fu opened its own restaurant in the city back in June this year. They teased out their ‘green ramen’, right from the beginning which will be one of the headline plant-based bowls on offer here. Filled with gorgeous ingredients like kohlrabi chashu, sapporo noodles and super deep burnt garlic oil, it’s evident a lot of care and attention went into putting this menu together, and Leeds loves it. Finishing the year on a high, the restaurant have just added a karaoke studio to their venue.
Find out more here.
Meat is Dead, Kirkstall
A brand new vegan bar, restaurant and arts space opened inside a former dry cleaner on Kirkstall road in 2021. Located near to the viaduct and the cinema complex, Meat is Dead was once familiar to locals as an old fireplace shop. But now, something new, the new eatery will be open all day serving up ‘junk free’ plant-based goodies. The store haven’t had the easiest year, but we hope to see much more of their vegan menu in 2022.
Find out more here.
Yoh Burgers, Dolly Lane
A new burger house has been serving burgers made with the ‘world’s hottest chilli’ in Leeds and since August, 24k gold burgers; ten patty high challenge burgers and its might Carolina reaper burgers, have all been available. YOH Burgers has some insane-looking specials too: for those who want to go all-in on the chilli hype, there are two options: chicken and beef, both billed as using the ‘world’s hottest chilli’.
Find out more here.
Sqew, Boar Lane
Sqew was previously hosted by BrewDog on North Lane but have found a permanent home on Duncan Street in Leeds city centre this November. The new venture comes from an original founder from Red’s True Barbecue. If you’ve ever tasted their irresistible burgers, you’ll have high expectations for this new opening and it seems they have been more than met during their two month opening.
Find out more here.
Burgamore, Trinity Leeds
Yes, a calzone in a burger is now officially on the menu in Leeds thanks to Burgamore, which opened in Trinity Shopping Centre back in August. The fusion burger menu combines some of Italy’s most drool-worthy flavours with a range of different patties and buns to create something truly unique, including some weird and wonderful fusion burger creations to be uncovered here, including a calzone burger and an ‘ice cream’ burger.
Find out more here.
Coco’s Kitchen, Pudsey
Cohen Panayiotis, a talented chef with a turbulent rise to success, his journey hasn’t been easy up to this point – but it seems like things are now about to turn around after opening Coco’s Kitchen in September. On the menu, alongside the ultra-diirty Biscoff crunch bacon burger, which comes loaded with red Leicester, cheddar, crispy streaky bacon, smashed patties and more; you’ll also find some classic Caribbean options like proper curried goat with tarragon carrots, shallots and rice and peas, and BBQ-smoked and 24-hour marinated jerk chicken legs.
Find out more here.
Oba, Merrion Centre
Tucked away on the corner of Merrion Street, Oba Leeds is serving some of the best Korean and Japanese fusion dishes, with a range of vegan-friendly meals available. This hidden gem offers a warm welcome from the the moment you walk through the glass doors. The bright hues of sunflower yellow and bright blue mirror off the panelling and glass windows and match the service, always delivered with a smile, to a tee, since opening in September.
Find out more here.
Pizza Punks, Bond Street
Known for its 48-hour double-fermented sourdough pizzas, with toppings that include the likes of full English breakfast and cheeseburgers. They also offer some solid veggie and vegan options, for those who don’t eat meat at the new pizza place on Bond Street.
Find out more here.
Mozza, White Rose
New to the White Rose Shopping Centre this year, Mozza is a true Neapolitan Italian Pizzeria specialising in all things mozzarella. Mozza Leeds is the first English first venue for the Scottish chain and it’s already very popular. This new Leeds spot has brought an unusual Italian delicacy, serving Panozza pizza sandwiches. Using Neapolitan Sourdough and traditional Italian fillings, these are really putting Mozza on the map.
Find out more here.
Sakku, St Peter’s Place
If there’s one thing that the pandemic starved us of, it’s all-you-can-eat buffets. Long gone were the days of piling up plates of delicious cuisine from around the world, or so we thought. Sakku has brought back one of the best ways to eat at their sashimi and Asian grill restaurant, using local and imported ingredients to bring unlimited dishes back to the dining table, at their hidden Leeds restaurant.
Find out more here.
Read More: This company wants to pay people in Leeds to dine at the best foodie spots
Townhouse, Halifax
Enjoying a £200,000 rebrand as Townhouse, the Fountain Street premises transformed into a multi-storey venue with different themes on each level. The ‘Basement’ features a sports bar screening live Premier League games and late-night boxing on an LED video wall, with dirty burgers and sharing platters on the food menu. By night, ‘Basement’ becomes a club spot featuring local DJs taking over the floor once a month since their opening in August.
Find out more here.
Feature Image- Meat is Dead
