word on the streat
Simon Fogal raises a glass to the food scene in Leeds with a round-up of the latest gastronomic haunts, cafés and bars we think are well worth a visit.
Dapur Malaysia
Lovers of Malaysian food, live music and great value drinks rejoice – Dapur Malaysia’s calendar is packed with chances to enjoy all of the above and more. Head down to the Chapel Allerton venue to enjoy two for £10 cocktails, beer and wine on Fridays (5–6pm) and Saturdays (12–5pm).
Friday nights will also see Dapur come alive with live music, as a range of talented performers take the stage and bring the evening to life. And with an authentic selection of homecooked Malaysian dishes served up every day of the week, Dapur is the perfect place to enjoy great flavours and even better vibes.
Cheese please
Award-winning Chapel Allerton cheesemongers, George and Joseph, have recently brought their offering to Leeds city centre, with a pop-up space based at their brand-new railway arch location.
Open Saturday mornings from 10am until 2pm, the space is the perfect central spot to stock up on all your favourite locally sourced cheeses, crackers and chutney as well as goodies from Leeds Bread Coop, Cawa and Bakeri Baltzersen. Turn up and have a browse, or pre-order on the website and choose G&J City Centre as your collection point
Rola Wala’s Thali Triple Bowl
Indian street food supremo, Rola Wala, has launched a tasty new menu, featuring a range of flavour-packed dishes as well as the pioneering Plant Powered Thali Triple Bowl – a hot contender for the healthiest lunch in Leeds.
Having donated 50p from the sale of every Triple Bowl to the Leeds Together For Ukraine appeal throughout April, Rola Wala continues to offer great and balanced fast food. Full of rice, dal, spinach, sweet potato and Keralan coconut chickpeas, the bowl is 100% plant based, bursting with nutrients and healthy enough to eat every day.
SAMSONS
Samsons Brasserie and Bar in Harrogate opened its doors this Spring and as Cheltenham Crescent’s newest tenant it offers an innovative, elegant dining experience full of culinary flair and creative touches. Brainchild of Master Chef: The Professionals semi-finalist, Josh Whitehead, Samsons serves up a carefully curated all-day menu full of British produce and locally sourced ingredients.
With everything from oysters and beef tartar to fresh fish and a hearty range of steaks, this is one restaurant well worth a visit.
Tabula Rasa
Since opening in October last year, Tabula Rasa (Latin for ‘blank slate’) has been pouring a handcrafted range of inventive cocktails designed to inspire and delight drinkers. From its location on Eastgate, this place has carved out a new home for creative drinking, all with an ethos of innovation and a willingness to challenge the status quo.
Head in for Aperitivo and cocktails with a twist – think colour-changing tipples, candyfloss-topped creations and drinks named after a line-up of inspirational figures from history – all amid opulent green velvet and gold accented fittings.
The Savvy Baker Café
Baking prodigy and overnight entrepreneur, Savannah Roqa (aka, The Savvy Baker) shot to local fame when her online business went viral during lockdown. Now, after months in the making, she’s opened her first physical venue on Lidgett Lane in Roundhay
Serving up Savannah’s iconic brownies, brookies, cookies and cakes alongside her signature indulgent brownie tubs, the café is already welcoming in sweet-toothed customers in their droves. And with coffee pouring from North Star and plans to expand into the realms of breakfast, sandwiches, pancakes and more in the pipeline, The Savvy Baker is already taking Leeds by storm.
