Restaurants and stuff

Yes I heard Emba was closing down. It's always a shame when an independent goes. I haven't been but have heard good things about the Highland Laddie, same owners as the Empire Cafe I think.

 

Yeah, plastered all over my Instagram feed.

 

Is it good?

 

Looks good on Insta, then again so do I with the right filter!

 

Empire Cafe, Leeds Centre - do it!

 

see they got you in the end then

 

To be fair my stubbornness and bloodymindedness is one of my more redeeming features, but on this occasion I admit to been wrong!

 

Back to Ambiente in Leeds again. They have a lunchtime menu where you choose 3 tapas dishes plus bread for £17.95.
The portions were good, we couldn't finish it all.
The two of us had albondigas in tomato sauce, patatas bravas, an Iberico pork and pea dish, a Spanish style fish pie with mussels, green beans with pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes; and goat's cheese with honey and beetroot crisps.
The food is excellent.
I do wish waiting staff would leave you to pour your own wine after the first glass. This is a casual restaurant not a Michelin star place. A minor quibble though.

 

I hate it when they do that. It’s just a ruse to get you to drink quickly and buy another bottle. We usually move the bottle to the most inaccessible spot on the table and say no if they try to reach and get it.

 

We asked him not to the second time he tried to fill it up. The wait staff didn't do that the last few times we have been.

 

I wouldn't argue with you either, I was a little cautious when you asked me at Barnsley if I was Bronco from the forum, they say you've a wicked right hook.

 

I didn't think I was that scary.

 

Went to the Timble Inn near Otley for a friend's 70th birthday Sunday lunch today.
I really enjoyed my roast beef which was cooked perfectly. I had a starter of belly pork without scallop and aubergine puree which was good too. OH had roast loin of pork, he said it was good but not as expected, it was a substantial chop rather than sliced meat and no crackling. I made the wrong pudding choice, the creme brulee was very sweet indeed. It came with a rhubarb sorbet, but I think it was an ice cream, the texture was all wrong for a sorbet and it was not sharp like a sorbet should be. There was not much rhubarb flavour sadly.
Service was excellent.
We weren't paying, which was a nice treat, but I was glad as it was on the pricey side - my starter was £17 and the roast beef £29. Pudding £9. So that would be £55 plus service and drinks on top for 1 person. I suppose that is probably a fairly normal price for a place like the Timble Inn these days.
I would go again but probably forgo pudding and choose the cheese plate instead, a couple of people had that and there was a good selection of cheeses and well presented.

 

the al Assador in birkenshaw has closed, local gossips on birky facebook saying owners have been bypassing the electric supply no idea if thats true, theres a note on the door saying closed till further notice but i cant see it opening again theres hardly anyone in when i go past on a weekend

 

Pretty sure Bavette in Horsforth has been mentioned in here.

Went recently and had... the Bavette. Very good steak in a pond of red wine sauce. If I was local I could see me'sen being a monthly visitor. Chose a weird wine but that's on me.

Nipped into Bundobust in Leeds yesterday. The vada pav is now only available as a 'slider'. When they first opened the full thing was a money-well-spent fiver. Outstanding beer food. Great days.

More locally, went to the White Horse in Thornton and had a well-made pie which I think is a side hustle of the business: you can (and I will) buy them direct to take home.

 

We enjoyed a White Horse pie last Monday after a walk around Ogden resevoir,. Part of our nostalgia visit to West Yorkshire.

 

I know 'best' lists can be a bit daft, but it came 3rd in the Top 50 'Best Gastropubs' (urgh) in the UK this year. Looks crackin'.

Ticking off a few others from that list would make a for a decent road trip.

(Highland Laddie in Leeds came 30th.)