Livin' Italy brings the flavour of Italy to Granary Wharf- so why not let them host that belated Christmas party?
If you didn't manage to make it to your Christmas do in December and you feel as if you missed out, worry no more. Italian restaurant, Livin' Italy have got a January menu that is bringing all the festive cheer into the new year- and at a great price too.
Vegan options are available. / Image: Livin' Italy
There's three menus to choose from, and you just need a minimum of six people to join you at the dinner table to make the most of the offer. Either served buffet style or as large sharing platters for those that still want to enjoy a party atmosphere and an informal dining experience, guests have complete control on what they order.
The restaurant itself has a series of beautifully designed, versatile areas make this venue suitable for parties of all sizes, whether you are after a sit down meal in our restaurant or an informal evening in our lounge area- there's room for up to 120 to party.
There's festive favourites like Stuffed Turkey Roulade on the menu with chestnut cream and roast potatoes, as well as winter warmers like the Double Tuscan Sausage Burger, with fried aubergine, silky mozzarella Stracciatella, fresh basil and homemade pesto with two grilled Tuscan sausages.
Long time vegans and Veganuary first timers will be welcomed with a menu of tasty plant-based pizzas, fried polenta and more. The Pizza Don't Call Me Vegan is made up of a plant-based mozzarella and tomato sauce and topped with wild mushrooms and plant-based spicy 'Nduja.
Pizza Don't Call Me Vegan Pizza. / Image: Livin' Italy
In true Italian spirit, sharing is essential so feast your eyes and drool over the selection, however you choose to party away the January blues.
But if you do just want to go in for an intimate sit down meal, you'll be welcomed with just as much enthusiasm. Top of our list of recommendations on the regular menu is the carbonara pizza: because who wants to choose between carb cravings?
Read More:This Leeds restaurant is serving carbonara topped pizzas.
Traditionally made from eggs, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper, the age-old favourite of carbonara has made its way onto the menu for good reason- if anything we can’t believe it’s not come to Leeds sooner. A white-sauce base with creamy cheese, parmesan and cured pork meat makes up this tasty meal that will no-doubt have foodies flocking in by the masses.
If you’re ready to live life more Italian and try out the latest authentic cuisine and party like it's 2021, visit the Livin’ Italy website or head over to their restaurant on Granary Wharf.
Food critic Camilla Long visited Leeds for her latest review for The Times with her sights set on Horsforth's finest - Bavette Bistro.
Ever since opening back in 2024, Bavette Bistro nestled in the leafy suburb of Horsforth has made waves across the country for its sheer brilliance.
It's pretty much received five star reviews across the board and been handed awards from left, right and centre. And rightly so.
The Good Food Guide crowned Bavette the best local restaurant of 2024, and Michelin handed them a well deserved Bib Gourmand - so it's safe to say it's not just us who think it's really something special.
So it was only a matter of time until The Times popped in for a review, and this one is truly glowing.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The review labels Bavette as "warm, unmannered and unpretentious" as well as "authentically French".
Long describes the food as "gorgeous, confident, surprising" with a menu that "isn’t too long" and "filled with sturdy, noble dishes, whiffing mightily of the sea and the soil."
It continues: "All of it made with generosity and cheer, served fast by nimble waiters, with a long, if slightly eccentric, wine list. To bang out French dishes with this much fiddly detail and to do it to a full room is not easy. Yet all four courses came in under two hours, for about £75 a head, which in London terms is nothing.
"It’s not that this place was perfect, it’s that it was decidedly not perfect. A bit too much chat about the menus; the oeufs in the meurette not quite runny enough. But the point is: it didn’t matter. All of it came charmingly together. It felt relaxed, just right."
The review is then wrapped up with a pleasing five stars, the cherry on top of the cake.
It's a review only restaurants can dream of, and we can't think of a more deserving team - congratulations Bavette.
Team behind Headrow House and Belgrave to take over and reopen Woodside just one year after opening
Clementine Hall
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
Sophie Smith -
5th January 2022 
