REDS True Barbeque, Leeds

Occasion:                      Night out

Party Size:                    5

Overall Rating:              ***** Excellent

Date Visited:                 October 2012
Price Per Person:           £8-£25+ ppn 1 course plus Drinks

Reds True Barbeque is located on Cloth Hall Street opposite the Corn Exchange in Leeds city centre. This place is going down a storm in Leeds with a strong reputation for outstanding food being cast on Facebook and Twitter.

I have been trying to get in here for several weeks since it opened in September 2012. At present the restaurant is proving so popular (even amongst celebrities, with Jimmy Carr being spotted dining here on the 13^th October) Reds are only taking bookings for large groups. So if you turn up at 7pm the chances are you will have to go back at 9.00pm when a table becomes free. The staff however, are coping with the demand well, we dropped in added our name to the waiting list and they gave us a call the minute a table became available. This worked well for us on a Friday night as we took advantage of having a few drinks on Call Lane.

So if you don’t know anything about Reds then their home page pretty much sums it up:

 “Like a lightning bolt from the heavens it dawned on Red. The people of this island knew nothing of True Barbecue….

Of prime cuts, smoked low n’ slow, infused with flavour, dripping with taste. The people were ignorant of glazes and rubs so mouth-wateringly glorious that they made angels weep with joy. They had been cursed with a plague of bad sausage, bog-standard burger and rodent-sized ribs.

Red knew that the people must be saved. He swore that no rib, sausage, breast nor burger would be cremated in his name. The people of Britain must be led to the light by a true saviour. Let there be Meat. Let there be flavour. Let there be Red’s. Feast and be thankful. Red will save you from the evils inflicted on your gentle souls. True Barbecue is here.

At Red’s we don’t commit the sins of less holy eateries. Red prepares your meat way in advance of it reaching your plate, giving it time to soak up the rich flavours of our trademark blend of rubs and marinades for no less than 24 hours. Then, it’s cooked low n’ slow – for up to 18 hours – over Hickory and fruit woods inside our custom Oklahoman smokers. Then we’ll add the best sauces and sides your tongue will touch and serve them to you, our faithful flock.

Our cooking has its roots in the deep south, but our food and ingredients are sourced from Yorkshire, God’s country. World-class quality, locally sourced”

So the target audience is lovers of meat, if you are a vegetarian I’m not sure this place would appeal but it is worth checking the menu as they do some fabulous sides such as macaroni cheese, sweet potato fries, cornbread, BBQ rice, and deep fried prickles to name a few.

The venue itself is fairly big with a buzzing atmosphere, the low lighting and candles on each of the tables cast a subtle glow creating a relaxed and informal ambience. There is lots of charm to this place with rustic beams, solid wood features and exposed brick walls. Reds is ideal for groups as the tables are large solid wood benches but bear in mind if you are a small group then you could get other diners placed at the same table as yourself. However, the vibrant atmosphere detracts enough that your conversations will get lost in the buzz still creating privacy for your party.

The kitchen area is central to the restaurant so you see the hustle and bustle and the turnover at the pass. The smells surrounding this place are amazing and every time we saw the food being taken to tables we were literally drooling in anticipation. The staff were attentive and managed the tables well to say how busy Reds were. It was refreshing to see the chefs all smiling and bantering as they worked, adding to the informal vibe of the place. The background music was impressive and after speaking to the Manager we realised he had mixed the playlist himself to include a mix of old and new, with bands such as the Black Keys thrown in.

The menu had a wide choice so much so I just went with the first thing that sounded good! The range of options means I have to go back and work through the other dishes. The price range was very varied for the meals so literally it covers all budgets ranging from £8-£25+ per person.

As a group we just had main courses. A couple of us had the pulled pork priced at £8.95 which included skin on fries, fresh coleslaw and a side option e.g. rice, cornbread, macaroni cheese etc. The meat was so tender, juicy and flavoursome. The crackling complimented it perfectly and the amount of meat you got was very surprising.

If you get the Bucket of Bones at approx £20 then good luck! It is literally a dustbin loaded with ribs and as Reds claim on their home page these are definitely NOT rodent-sized ribs! Plus you get your sides as well so you could easily share this. All of our party tasted the ribs and we all agreed they were amazing.

The Pit Burger was another option a friend tried priced at around £15 and this was impressive and served with a giant onion ring and loaded with pulled pork. If you enjoy burgers you won’t be disappointed with this version it’s substantial so you may want to strip away the bread and just go for the meat. In fact the portions here are generous across the board and we left with a couple of takeout boxes. (Point to note though if you do a takeout box remove the paper lining – I found this went soggy and broke up amongst my left over’s!)

On the table Reds have a rack of sauces including Hot and Spicy, BBQ, South Carolina and classics such as Ketchup to compliment the dishes, the South Carolina was particularly good.

Reds do a great selection of beverages, and alongside each dish on the menu they pair the dishes with a suggested drink such as American beers. A friend had the Apple Martini priced at the usual prices you would expect to pay in Leeds £6/7 which tasted good and was well presented.

So with all reviews I have to be constructive so my only gripe with this place was that my meal only came with a fork and no knife so I had to get up and get my own. And the waitress gave my order to someone else within the group who had already started eating. When I pointed this out she said “just swap”. Even though we tried to reiterate that he had already started eating it - she looked perplexed like she couldn’t see the problem! Anyway as she was not going to replace the meal we agreed to just have each others order. So that was a little disappointing.

In summary, if you are a lover of food then I recommend this place. If you are a lover of pulled pork I recommend this place. If you are a lover of ribs then yep I recommend this place. They deliver in what they say – excellent quality meat, cooked perfectly and full of flavour. As my friends quoted:

Sadie Parker “I loved it, informal, delicious, honest food with a buzzing atmosphere!!”

Anthony Richardson “I have travelled around the world. And for the first time England has given me the best type of food I have ever eaten. Today, I make the following claim: Reds BBQ in Leeds makes the best ribs I have EVER had the privilege of eating. Period.”

One final word to sum this place up AWESOME!

http://truebarbecue.com/

Nawaab, Leeds

Occasion:                      Works night

Party Size:                    11

Overall Rating:              *** Average

Date Visited:                 October 2012
Price Per Person:           £10.95 Early bird deal x3 dishes

Nawaab claim to be the “Home of the Finest Asian Cuisine” situated on Wellington Street this Indian restaurant is close to the train station and the financial quarter of Leeds City Centre. Due to the location you are close by to numerous bars such as Toast and Lazy Lounge so this is an ideal restaurant to follow on to after work.

The venue itself is quite big, modern and light. Not the finest setting compared to Akbars and Aagrah but it is nice and the tables are well spread out. The staff were very attentive and to say we were a large group the service was good. There were no wrong orders and everything came out in good time.

As a group the majority took up the Early bird offer whereby you get 3 dishes for £10.95 (starter, main course, side) before 7pm. The menu choice for this deal was surprisingly good, with a selection that pretty much covered 90% of their main menu and was more varied than some of the other competitors.

I went for the Tandoori Chicken Tikka Starter wanting something grilled and light. The portion was big and the chicken was nicely flavoured. Others at the table ordered, Samosas, Onion Bhajis, Vegetable Pakora and Chilli Pakora. All the starters were tasty and

generous - worth the price if buying off this deal (price range from £3.20-£5.50). Special note to the Chilli Pakora - these were Hot! A real treat for those who like things spicy but I think it would be a challenge to finish them all without getting heartburn.

The main courses at Nawaab cover pretty much everything Balti, Biriyani, Korma, Masala, Karahi, Madras etc with an impressive selection of 9 Vegetarian main courses. I ordered the Balti Chilli Chicken, with boiled rice and a chapatti. The curry was a lovely thick and rich consistency, not swimming in oil/ghee. The flavours were good and there was plenty of chicken. This dish came with a hot rating and it delivered, nice and spicy but not too hot to handle. I didn’t think the chicken was as tender as I have had before but I am not sure whether this is down to the way it was cooked or the quality of the meat. The rice was well cooked, very fluffy and a decent portion (enough to share) the chapatti was fresh but I felt mine was a bit doughy. A friend had the chicken Biriyani which came as a huge portion with a separate sauce on the side. Others had the Lamb Madras, Nirali Special and the Achari to name a few. Everyone was pleasantly surprised with the standard of the dishes and everyone enjoyed their meals. Having starters as well and given the big portions there were a few “doggy bags” going home!

However, I must now go on to the bits that didn’t meet our expectations. There was only a single toilet for ladies – given the size of the restaurant that was surprising and the toilet didn’t seem to be as clean/nice as the restaurant area. 2 of the diners at our table found a hair in their curries. They were both sat at opposite ends of the table and let’s just say they didn’t match their hair colouring! Then at the end of the meal when we came to settle the bill it all got a bit awkward when we came to pay on card. As a restaurant they clearly prefer people to settle in cash. But in this modern world if diners choose to pay on card then it should be accepted. We unfortunately experienced the waiter pushing us to settle by cash which was rather embarrassing. He then insisted the card machine was broken. When we said we did not have enough cash to cover the bill they then reluctantly said they would get the machine which turned out to not be broken but slow. It was all a little disappointing and unprofessional and this was pointed out to the manager who was very apologetic and gave the table a more than acceptable discount.

Overall this restaurant is very affordable for the city centre with starters under a fiver and mains approx £7-£10. They also do a Set Menu along with the early bird deal we had at £10.95. We booked a table for the evening but given the size of the restaurant I think you could probably just turn up and be seated. This place is nothing special it certainly is not the “Home of the finest Asian Cuisine” as they claim. However, the curries were tasty, the portions good and the service generally good. Ideal place to go with friends and colleagues but if you are looking for something a little more special then there are better competitors in Leeds.

http://www.nawaabsheffield.co.uk/restaurants_leeds.html

Brasserie 44, Leeds

Occasion:                      Birthday

Party Size:                    2

Overall Rating:              **** Very Good

Date Visited:                 September 2012
Price Per Person:           £30 Group-On deal, RRP £70 Main Course only

Brasserie 44 is located on The Calls and set in a converted grain warehouse alongside the river Aire. This restaurant is family run and this is evident in their attentive welcome and excellent service throughout. Brasserie 44 is renowned for its ambience and quality, featuring in the Good Food Guide 2012 and has been nominated for several awards.

 

When you see a Groupon deal advertised for this high end restaurant you can be sure it will sell out quickly, especially when the meal on offer is the Chateaubriand for 2. This dish alone has a RRP just shy of £70 so for this price you expect a fine dining experience that is near perfect in everyway.

So what did we think? Firstly we have been here before and had this meal and we loved it and highly recommended it to friends. When we saw this deal repeated at £30 we were both happy to return to celebrate my partner’s birthday as we knew what to expect.

On arrival we were warmly welcomed by the staff that attended to our coats and gave us the option of a drink at the bar or at our table. We opted to start at the bar and ordered a small beer whilst perusing the extensive wine list. We opted for a bottle of John X Merriman 2009 - Rustenberg, Stellenbosch, South Africa priced at £31.50. Not the cheapest on the wine list but there were other wines ranging from £16-£165 suiting all palates.

Once at our table we were situated against the far wall. The restaurant is fairly small and cosy with a relaxed ambience, certainly a venue worthy of a celebration and ideal for a romantic meal for two. The lighting is low, with candlelight at the tables and simple decor. Each place is set as you would expect with sparkling silverware and crisp linen napkins. However, we were disappointed with the wine glasses, they were rather standard - thick glass, we expected better quality to compliment the fine selection of wines they had on offer.

The deal we purchased was for the main meal only so starters, desserts, sides and drinks were payable on top. As we looked at the menu we were served complimentary fresh warm bread with an olive tapenade and a chive cream buerre which was excellent. The bread was moreish and the small ramekins of tapenade were very tasty.

We decided to share a starter from the Specials menu to leave room for dessert. We picked a platter of Italian Meats, Mozzarella and rocket which was definitely big enough to share and the waiter brought us more fresh bread which worked perfectly. The meat selection was ample and very flavoursome and the quality of the mozzarella was superb.  Starters were priced from £6-£10.

To follow came our Chateaubriand which was served medium rare and accompanied with homemade chunky chips. The portion of the fillet beef was ample for 2 and cooked beautifully. The meat was tender, no steak knife required and the flavour was as you would expect for this cut. The chips were a bigger portion than our last visit and on our last dining experience here my partner thought they were the best chips he had ever tasted. This time they didn’t quite live up to his expectations but for me they were good, although the steak was so filling we didn’t manage to finish them all.

The steak was served with a pepper sauce which was creamy and full of flavour. The menu price for this is supposed to be £67.50 and the quality of the beef was very good however, if I had paid £70 I would be disappointed that the meal was not served with any vegetables. A small selection of greens would have rounded off the meal nicely or at least in hindsight it would have been nice to have been offered a side at the time of ordering. If I were to have this again then I would ask for the Chateaubriand to be cooked rare as the quality of the beef is good enough to take it. We found having it medium rare that the ends of the fillet were medium to well done and only the centre as rare as we would like. Overall this main meal was plenty and left us both more than satisfied and we did really enjoy it.

As we were dining out to celebrate my partners birthday we had already decided that we would treat ourselves to dessert but unfortunately we had to leave our table and head to the bar as the dining area was so hot it was uncomfortable. There seemed to be no air circulating and the room was stifling making us both feel queasy. So we skipped dessert and headed to the bar to cool down, finish our wine and settle the bill. It was a shame to end a lovely meal feeling that you had to escape before you fainted!

Overall Brasserie 44 is a lovely restaurant; the service is faultless, the quality of produce used is excellent and the ambience is romantic. However, to be honest if I had paid the full menu price of £67.50 for the Chateaubriand I would have been disappointed that no side vegetables were included and was it really worth paying £70? – I’m not convinced. Coupled with the room being too hot and the glasses being a bit cheap I think overall it is a very good restaurant experience but not near perfect enough to warrant an excellent rating given the price.

However, I do recommend for those looking for somewhere relaxed yet special. I would love to go back and try something else off the A La Carte menu to see if the standard is consistent throughout. For those who are looking for something a little cheaper but not compromising on quality then Brasserie 44 offer a 3 course set menu with a bottle of wine for £23.95 per person served Mon-Fri 5pm-7pm with a good selection of dishes available.

Please note this restaurant is very popular so make sure you book a table in advance.

http://www.brasserie44.com/