Restaurants and stuff

University mates Christmas catch up tonight in Leeds. Cocktails in Sky Bar then Hedonist followed by a meal at Ambiente Tapas, went once before and it was a real treat

 

Good to hear an update - we're planning a visit there. The new chef seems to have a good background and maybe losing the star will prompt them to push on to get it back.

Never really taken much notice of the toilets - too busy dousing myself in the free aftershave...

 

How was it?

 

My second visit and as with before I was very impressed with the service and food. It offers many of the standard tapas dishes you'd expect but also some a little more unusual, everything delicious. My veggie friend was well catered for. I'd be hard pushed to pick a favourite but goats cheese in breadcrumbs with honey and beetroot crisps was particularly tasty.

I finished off with a flight of dessert wine - it is Christmas!

 

Iberica for us today. Tbh l don't like giving my money to chains but don't know of a decent Spanish restaurant in the centre after the demise of Riccis & Las Ramblas (Which was shit anyway...... )

I like Ambiente and have nothing negative to say about the food, but, its a soulless corporate blah dining room whereas Iberia has one of the best in the UK, easy choice unless it's sunny and you can get one of the 3 couple balcony spaces.

 

Went to La Casita the other week for a work lunch. The food was decent - particularly the prawns, but the atmosphere was non-existent.

 

I used to go there when it was Cafe Bilbao, a shame that closed as it was a bit different, more regionally focused than just another tapas joint. I park up my bike opposite La Casita and have often looked at the menu................then never bothered to go in.......................It's in an awkward spot, the negative is that passing footfall is low compared to the centre but the postive is that the footfall can often spend all it's time in that area, Boathouse/Hop eat etc

No Iberica for us, no table, no table at Tapped either, nor at Brewdog, this was about 6pm so we went for sure thing at Viva...again. 2 pizzas at £9.95 (cheap for Leeds) turned into £50 with a small salad and some beer & wine. I had Salmone pizza (Smoked salmon, mascarpone cheese, salad, mozzarella) and it was great, thin crisp base and a surprising amount of thinly sliced salmon topping it, I've had some great pizzas in Leeds lately and this was another. The salad however was garbage, "Green salad with avocado and asparagus" was actually no asparagus, a teaspoon of avocado and some green leaves, what a mark up!

The place was busy(ish) and gets full after 7, it made a relaxing change after visiting some noisy/glitzy bars. I've always found the service superb, the staff are middle aged pro's and know their stuff and what they are doing. We really enjoyed it and will be back soonish.

http://www.vivaitalianrestaurant.co.uk/

 

I enjoy these "Letters from Leeds" posts, Abbo. 2 pizzas fer a tenner is indeed a sound price.

On a linked note we had an amble around Halifax again last weekend. Piece Hall wasn't heaving (too dependent on food & drink places - retail's desd, after all...) it was nicely steady, and as a town there was an excellent festive buzz.

Went for a coffee at Pride & Provenence that, cos it was nice, turned into wine (7 quid for a large - ever the gent, me), beer (4) & a posh sarnie (£6 that easily fed 2 people).

What started as a nip-in job turned into lunch & a few drinks. Doing summat right.

 

Agree with you about Viva. Before I retired we used to go often for little work celebrations, birthdays etc. Authentic food, always good service and good value.

 

Thanks, but my wording was ambiguous, the pizzas were actually £9.95 each. Still cheap for Leeds.

Not been to Piece Hall for a year, is everyting open on a sunday? If so, we might go this weekend.

 

Went to the Classic Persian opposite St Lukes a couple of days ago. I’m no food expert but it was a decent feed, good portions just very busy. Would definitely go back.

 

Not sure about individual units (i presume so) but the place itself is open.

I still don't think they've got all the units 'right' (sweet shop?!) or even occupied but there's good coffee to be had at Loafers (record shop).

Halifax is of course much quieter than the likes of Leeds and Manchester but there's some steady growth going on, I reckon.

 

Had lunch at Bills on Albion Place, Leeds last Friday. It was very busy with post Christmas shoppers so we were advised we'd have to wait up to 30 minutes for our food to arrive. In the end it was nearly 45 minutes, so they deducted the service charge and gave us coffees on the house.
The food was very good. I had duck pie with shredded red cabbage - lovely!

 

Anyone been to mamma Mia’s in Bradford? Any good?

 

Aye, plenty of times. Reliable, generous, family-run Italian. Won't win any awards for originality but they did upgrade the pizza oven a couple of years ago to a proper wood-fired job.

 

I've been several times. Always reliably good and friendly.

 

Going end of month. Will report back with how it went. Cheers

 

If it is for a birthday let them know. They may get the birthday dancing hat out

 

Halfway House on Hollins Hill is closing down at the weekend. Apparently it is going to get a full refurb in a few months and then reopen in the summer. Not sure if I believe the reopening bit