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Dijon Boys: The new must-try small plates spot taking over Meanwood
If this is the foodie menu you can produce within six months of starting a business, it'll be SO exciting to see how Dijon Boys grows in the coming years.
Tucked away inside a cosy cocktail bar in the heart of Meanwood, Dijon Boys has been cooking up a storm since opening their kitchen inside Number 8 Cocktails.
With ever-changing specials and a considered menu of seafood, meat dishes, veggie options and dessert small plates, this style of dining is perfect for sharing with your nearest and dearest.
The idea is you choose a range of dishes to suit each individual palette and share between the table. With so much to choose from, there truly is a dish for everyone, and the selection will have you fighting over the last slice of just about everything.
On the main menu, expect tender meats like the Tandoori chicken thigh in a rich dahl and raita; lamb osso bucco with polenta and salsa verde or opt for a 60z bavette steak cooked in a garlic puree and chimichurri.
Meanwhile on the seafood side, you'll find plenty more options to choose from. Think trout ceviche with avocado and calamansi or mussels in a Thai green curry sauce and palapa, or there's always the catch of the day (options like crab ravioli with a crab bisque and seafood stew make an appearance, but this regularly changes).
Every time you walk through the door, you have the opportunity to taste test a brand new range of dishes, and explore a varying combination of flavours with your chosen company.
To accompany the meaty small plates, there's a gorgeous selection of vegetarian options that prove veggies never have to be a boring second thought ever again. Taking British staples like carrots and transforming the flavours with hints of soy, marmalade and anise in a glaze is just one example of this.
The potato terrine is far from your average carb portion, served as a crispy on the outside, revealing soft sliced potatoes, these are the creamy delight that will firmly stay in your mind long after finish every last crumb.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Those looking for a light bite should grab the pear and goats cheese carpaccio from the specials menu whilst you can to start or end their round of small plate, the delicate dish is beautifully presented, but it's light yet creamy flavouring makes it ideal for cleansing the palette.
Specialising in their namesake, all the cocktails at Number 8 Cocktails are ideal for a sweet, sour and boozy tipple to pair with any of the dishes- there's rum with honeycomb, classic Margaritas and a fruity modern take on the Victorian gin-based Floradora that comes highly recommended too.
With a DJ playing late into the night combining old school records with lively beats to create an intimate ambience, this is the perfect spot for a cosy Saturday night out of the city centre.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
The former stomping ground of much-loved The Hungry Bear restaurant has only been home to Number 8 Cocktails for the past year but it feels as though it's always belonged in the quiet suburb. The cocktail bar is a true Meanwood staple, and the addition of the Dijon Boys has only elevated the space further. You'll feel right at home here, regardless of whether you're heading for a bite to eat, a quick afternoon drink or checking out the latest records upstairs inside the Meanhood record shop.
Bringing quality dishes to a relaxed setting is something that the Dijon Boys have been wanting to bring to the table for a long time, and with 18 years of combined experience between them, they know a thing or two about how fusing the two options.
Dijon Boys Jamie, Cameron and Nicko. / Image: Dijon Boys
The impressive achievement of taking on a permanent kitchen residency only six months after starting their business appears to be through a series of successful pop-ups and before taking on their own venture, through mentorship and guidance from local restaurants.
At just 22 years old, the trio of chefs are showcasing an exciting new offering here like nothing else in the local area, and we can't wait to see where the new venture takes them in the years to come.
Feature Image-The Hoot Leeds
Eats
Horsforth Brewery to takeover and save beloved Ilkley tap house
A renowned brewery have announced that they will be taking over the reigns of a popular craft beer bottle shop in Ilkley.
Fuggle & Golding opened in 2015 on Leeds road in Ilkley and quickly grew a loyal following with locals and visitors alike.
Sadly they announced last month that their last day of trading would be Saturday 28 February, news which was met with huge disappointment.
However this is no longer the case, as Horsforth Brewery is set to reopen the venue on Wednesday. Hooray!
Announcing the welcomed news to Instagram, Horsforth Brewery wrote: "When we saw they were going to close we were determined to not lose another great venue from the local beer scene.
"We owe a massive thank you to George and the landlord for getting a deal across the line in quick order.
"We’re going to take a few days to put our stamp on the place and then we will be open on Wednesday!"
"Obviously we will be stocking our beers here but as anyone who knows will know, we love the beer scene so we will continue to have a good amount of guest beer on as well. We’ll even been joining in with the biggest beer launches from around the country.
"Want to know the best news? We’re doing this solo. No outside interests, no investors, no debt. In the current climate being able to organically grow like this is so so hard and it’s thanks to all our team that we’ve been able to do this.
"We’ve always been determined to grow our business in a healthy and sustainable way; it may have (absolutely has) been tough over the years but we’ve got ourselves in a position to take us to the next level in a sustainable way."
British Pie Week 2026 – all the best places to find a pie in and around Leeds
Clementine Hall
Sweet, savoury, filled or plain: pies are a staple in the British diet.
It's the best week of the year...it's British Pie Week, not that we need much of an excuse to celebrate that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth pastry, but we're taking all the excuses we can this week to embrace all things pie related.
We've rounded up al our favourite spots to grab a pie, as a lunchtime snack or on the go in the city centre - so take your pick, whatever the occasion.
Dave's Pies and Ales
Kirkstall Road, Burley | Open from 5pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Dave's Pies and Ales is locally known as the smallest pub in Leeds - and whilst the menu and seating area might be teeny, what it does do, it does well.
Choose from a range of pies and peas with classic ales on tap to choose from inside this micropub 12-11pm every day of the week.
Whitelocks Ale House
Turk's Head Yard, just off Briggate | Kitchen open from 12pm
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Whitelocks is known in Leeds for its Sunday Roasts, warm fire and homely pub ambience- but their pies are the unsung heroes on the menu.
The beef and ale pie is made from Yorkshire Meat Co. beef, a Wetherby-based supplier that brings beef from the likes of Tancred Grange Farm in Richmond to Leeds. This one is served with chunky chips and sautéed seasonal veg, seat by the fireplace optional.
Pieminister
Duncan Street, Leeds city centre | Open from 12pm
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Available as a Sunday roast, bottomless brunch or just a plain old (but beautifully presented) pie and mash, Pieminister is famous for its pies for all the right reasons. On the shelves in your local supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran on Boar Lane, Pieminister is a place where pies are guaranteed to make up the majority of the menu options.
Finer Pleasures
Multiple locations
If you don't know about Josh at Finer Pleasures, then you're seriously missing out. Josh is somewhat of a pie-oneer (sorry), and is the master of creating weird and wonderful pie creations from lasagna pies to gammon, egg and pineapple pork pies.
You can find him over in Crossgates most Wednesdays, but you're best bet is to keep an eye on his socials for the best chance on bagging one of his pies. Trust us, they're like gold dust.
Wilsons Butchers
Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates | Open from 7.30am
Image: Wilsons Butchers
Located in Armley, Morley and Pontfract - Wilsons Pies and Pasties is a small indie chain from Wilsons Butchers and crowned champions of the Yorkshire Small Pork Pie Championships.
At lunch time, the shops offer a true Yorkshire delicacy of pie and mushy pies with optional (but essential) mint sauce. All Wilsons pies and pasties are made using locally sourced produce in Garforth, so these a true Leeds pies, and well worth sampling.
Sophie Smith -
5th October 2022 
