The Lounge, Leeds

Occasion:                      Lunch

Party Size:                    3

Overall Rating:              *** Very Good

Date Visited:                 December 2012
Price Per Person:           £11.95 2 Courses £14.95 3 Courses

The Lounge is situated on Merrion Street, close to the St Johns Centre an ideal venue if you are looking for a pre-theatre meal as this bar/restaurant is just around the corner from The Grand.

The venue itself does get busy so I would recommend booking in advance even though they do have an additional upstairs seating area.

When we visited we were seated downstairs which was very cosy and modern, with black furniture and rich velvet seats in red, silver and black. The tables are set out like a restaurant, even though this very much still has the vibe of a pub/bar.

We visited in December so the menu was festive and reasonably priced with 2 options; £11.95 for 2 Courses or £14.95 for 3 courses including a glass of wine. A pretty good offer and the quality of the wine was surprisingly good with Red, White and Rose on offer.

The set menu had an option of 4 starters, 4 mains and 4 desserts, put simply the starters included Soup, Terrine, Prawn Cocktail or a Portabello Mushroom dish. Main options included Roast Turkey, Belly Pork, Salmon Fillet and a vegetarian Sweet Potato Cake. Dessert options included Christmas Pudding, Cheeseboard, Chocolate Tart or a Trifle.

For starters my friend had the Tiger & Greenland Prawn Cocktail served with Granny Smith apple and Marie Rose sauce. The portion was very good and well presented. The only disappointment was that the menu specified Tiger prawns which there were none just standard prawns. However, the dressed leaves were crisp and the dish tasty. (I have since returned and I can confirm 2nd time round it was Tiger prawns that were served) 

My other companion had the Portobello Mushroom with balsamic roasted shallots, toasted barley and chestnuts drizzled with a cranberry and satsuma dressing. Again this was well presented and the portion was ample. The mushroom was nicely cooked and the combination was unusual but very pleasant and a nice festive dish to start the meal.

I decided to start with the Pulled Pork & Chicken Terrine, served with an apple and red onion relish and plenty of crostinis. Again the portion was generous, the texture of the terrine was good, not smooth like a pate, you could see and taste both the chicken and the pork. It was very tasty and the sweet relish worked really well to bring out the flavour.

Given that the starters were more than adequate in size we expected the main courses to be small, however they turned out to be just as generous and again very nicely presented.

Between us we all chose a different dish, one of us having the Salmon Fillet with baby spinach, watercress, white wine and cream, shallot and tarragon sauce which was cooked perfectly and the sauce worked really well with the fish.

Another friend chose the 12hr braised Belly Pork, marinated red cabbage, cider jus and goose fat roasted potatoes. The quantity of the meat was good and well cooked with a plentiful amount of lovely braised red cabbage and a delicious sauce.

I decided on the Roast Turkey served with pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and a lovely apricot and sage stuffing. The meat was tender, there was plenty of gravy to accompany the meal and the side vegetables were cooked perfectly.

All these main dishes came with potatoes, roasted parsnips and glazed carrots. There were plenty of vegetables for the table and it was refreshing to see these were not over or under cooked.

My only criticism would have been for the carrots to be trimmed, although they look pretty it's not the best to try and chase them round your plate to chop the tops off!

So then came desserts...

The Cheeseboard was good and presented well with celery, apple and grapes. There was enough crackers for the cheese selection but the range of cheese was pretty standard. It would have been nicer to see some stronger cheese as both the Brie and Cheddar were quite bland.

The Chocolate Tart, with raspberries, cream and blackcurrant chutney was lovely. It was very rich and definitely one that you could share. Not sure I would class the blackcurrant as a chutney though- more like a drizzle of sauce!

Overall this menu is a winner. It's festive, it's creative with a good selection of options. The value for money is outstanding along with the presentation and portions. No major complaints and I have since been back to experience the same standard throughout. Thumbs up!!

http://www.loungebarandgrill.com

 

The Calverley Arms, Pudsey, West Yorks

Occasion:                      Lunch

Party Size:                    2

Overall Rating:              *** Very Good

Date Visited:                 November 2012
Price Per Person:           £10.45 2 Courses

The Calverley Arms is a traditional pub located on Calverley Lane in Pudsey. This is a lovely pub set alongside an impressive landscape and with 2 private car parks and plenty of outside seating areas (ideal in the summer). This pub is part of the Vintage Inns chain which are renowned for their sunday lunches and ambient settings.

The Calverley Arms did not disappoint. As soon as we walked in, the warmth from the roaring fires greeted us. The pub itself has a large bar selling a great selection of drinks, wines and bar snacks (crisps, pork crackling, nuts etc) The furnishings are classic with a great mix of neutral colours, earthy textures and wooden floors, and traditional carpets. This place keeps the rustic charm of a pub whilst being modern and welcoming at the same time.

The staff behind the bar served us quickly to say it was a Sunday and rather busy. We then went to the dining area expecting to wait for a table as we arrived at peak hours - 1.30pm but we were lucky to be seated straight away. The menu had a good selection of traditional classics; Burgers, Steaks, Pies, Fish and Chips etc with prices ranging from £9-£15 for mains. Starters again were traditional with dishes such as Breaded Garlic Mushrooms, Prawn Cocktail and Soup of the Day to name a few; these were priced from £4-5.

On a Sunday they do a lunchtime menu priced at £10.45 for x2 courses. This set menu was impressive with a selection of 4 starters, 5 mains and 4 desserts with 3 of the starters being suitable for vegetarians. However, the mains selection only had x1 vegetarian option.

We both ate from the lunchtime menu and both ordered the Beer Battered Mushrooms to start. These were served with a generous helping of garlic and parsley dip (mayonnaise). The mushrooms were fresh and well cooked, they were a decent size and the portion was ideal. The side dip was full of flavour – quite heavy on the garlic but it did go well with the mushrooms.

For my main course I went for the Sunday Roast – Turkey & Stuffing, this was well presented and served with fresh roasted parsnips, roast potatoes, carrots and a medley of peas, green beans and broad beans all of which were cooked perfectly and served with just the right amount of gravy. There was plenty of turkey, which was succulent. To compliment the turkey there was a good heap of stuffing and a good selection of vegetables. My only criticism was the Yorkshire Puddings were not the best I’ve had – they came out very uniform in shape and had the dry texture of those that are cooked from frozen, but even still they were ok and didn’t spoil the meal.

My friend had the Mushroom, Leek and Cashew Nut Suet Roly Poly (V) which was served with all the trimmings as mentioned above. The portion of the Roly Poly was just right – not too large and very tasty. For a vegetarian option it was good to see a different dish to the usual “Nut Roast” that tends to grace most menus.

Overall we were impressed with the ambience; the service was great and it was nice to order at the table rather than the bar. The food was well presented, cooked very well and perfectly sized. We could not fault the set menu as it was such good value for money. The Calverley Arms is ideal for those looking for a good country/traditional pub lunch. The menu would definitely appeal to all and the roasts come highly recommended.

http://www.vintageinn.co.uk/thecalverleyarmscalverley/

Azucar, Leeds

Occasion:                      Birthday

Party Size:                    16

Overall Rating:              *** Very Good

Date Visited:                 November 2012
Price Per Person:           £10.50 Set Menu

For a friends birthday it was decided we would go to Azucar for Tapas. I have been to Azucar a few times and loved the vibe, the quality of the food and service however; on my last visit it was very disappointing.  So keeping an open mind I was looking forward to putting Azucar to the test again.

On first impressions we were greeted by a friendly waitress and immediately shown to our table that was perfectly set up to accommodate our party. We were located along the back wall so we had the advantage of a booth and a long table. The venue itself is really relaxed, with warm terracotta walls, wooden furniture and soft red/orange lighting and tea lights on each of the tables casting a glow (hence why the photos are quite dark!) The restaurant was nice and warm and for a Friday night was fairly busy. You tend to find that people will visit Azucar not only to dine but partake in their cocktails! So it’s not too formal.

Azucar do a classic range or Tapas ranging from the usual Patatas Bravas, Tortilla, Calamari and Meatballs to bigger plates such as Burritos, Fajitas and Kebabs. Each tapas dish ranges from £4-£6.50 with main dishes costing around £8-£10 including sides. I would advise you book a table but before you make sure you check out the website for offers such as: 6 Tapas and a Bottle of Wine for £30, Set Menus at £15 and half price Tapas on Tuesdays. http://www.azucarbar.co.uk/pdfs/Azucar_Food_Menu.pdf

If you have a Pink Gorilla app then there is often deals on there which is where we managed to secure our offer of £10.50 for a set menu plus half a bottle of wine (red or white) per person.

This special menu included a good selection of Tapas and I must admit there was plenty for the table (equivalent to x3 tapas dishes per person):

Aceite Verde: Kalamata and Manzanilla Olives (green & black), nicely dressed in garlic and herbs – very flavoursome and good quality. It was nice to see them pitted to save any embarrassment of where to stack the stones.

Pan De Ajo: This warm garlic bread was fresh and the baguettes were ready sliced, ideal to dip in to the aioli and tapas sauces.

Tortilla Espanola: This was like a doorstop – good portion, lovely texture and tasty.

Albondigas: Beef meatballs were a good size, in a rich sauce, very good.

Calamares: This calamari was in a very light batter perfect to not detract from the flavour, cooked really well and served with aioli – my favourite dish out of them all.

Croquestas De Bacalao: These were quite big cod fishcakes – the most disappointing dish out of all the tapas as bland, didn’t look appealing I wouldn’t be surprised if they were straight from the freezer.

Chorizo Al Vino: This classic was great, plenty served and the Spanish sausage was in a Rioja and tomato sauce that complimented the natural spice and garlic flavour of the meat.

Jalapos: These Green Jalapenos came stuffed with cream cheese in a batter – good size but weren’t hot enough for me – but a general crowd pleaser.

Champinnones Al Ajillo: These were good sized mushrooms that were sautéed in garlic and parsley butter – a bit boring nothing special to be honest.

Patatas Bravas: Everyone’s favourite did not disappoint – nice spicy sauce, and well cooked potatoes.

Nachos: Big Portion, loaded with cheese, sour cream and salsa… I was too full to squeeze in but everyone else seemed to enjoy.

The half bottle of wine served per person was good quality, Sauvignon Blanc and a Malbec – again plenty for the table and no complaints.

Overall the service was excellent, the food tasty, the portions good and they even topped off the meal with a piece of cheesecake complete with a sparkler/firework for the birthday boy!

Pleasantly surprised, surpassed my expectations and I look forward to returning soon – definitely good value for money and ideal for group bookings with a relaxed vibe.

http://www.azucarbar.co.uk/