Leeds
Eating Out
From student budget hangouts to world-class fine dining, Leeds city centre and its surrounds boast a phenomenal array of restaurants and eateries. When your parents visit, let them treat you to a fixed price menu at Harvey Nichol’s fourth floor café or chef Anthony Flinn’s ‘Anthony’s’ restaurant while testing the countless meal deals and budget friendly menus from cafes, restaurants and pubs throughout Leeds. Restaurants are typically open for breakfast and brunch from 9am until 11am and are open from 11am until late night serving lunch, dinner and pudding menus. You will find every main supermarket in multiple locations throughout the city, opening as early as 7 am and some closing as late as 11pm.
Grab a bite at these student hot spots…
The Cafetiere; in Hyde Park Corner. An extremely popular for lunch and dinner, favoured mostly by students. Prices are reasonable and portions are huge. Even the deluxe, fruit topped smoothies can count as a full meal. Serving British and Mediterranean food from breakfast until late night. Although this small restaurant does not have a liquor license, the Hyde Park pub is conveniently across the street for post-dinner drinks.
L’Ornaise; also in Hyde Park Corner. Two floors of excellent Moroccan and North African cuisine. The huge platters are immaculately prepared and served in traditional dishes. If the downstairs is full, try the upstairs: flooded with deep red lights and lined with plush velvet and silk, it is an African grotto where great meals are served at student friendly prices.
Brod’s Sandwich Bar; found in Headingley. This small, two floored restaurant offers some of the best meal deals in Leeds and is conveniently opened from 7am until late, right in the heart of Headingley. This place requires several visits to have truly sampled a good bit of their extensive menu of starters, salads, sandwiches, hearty meals, desserts, breakfasts and much more. Plates are filled to the rim, for a fraction of the price of most other restaurants.
Subway; in Headingley, City Centre (various locations). Serving the standard mix of Subway sandwiches, soups, salads and snacks. Order the sub of the day for even better savings! www.subway.co.uk.
La Besi; found in the University (edge of Hyde Park). Bring your own wine to this small Italian restaurant and order from their extensive menu; including pizza, pasta, salads, desserts and a few British selections. Your own personal pizza will cost you less than £6 and it is large enough to take half of it home afterwards! http://www.labesi.co.uk/.
The Roundhay Fox; Roundhay (across from Roundhay Park). One of Leeds’ quieter pubs which offers extraordinary pub food at reasonable prices. The pub is not your average run-of the mill pub, but instead combines elements of a classical British pub with the class and dignity of a restaurant. Order at the bar and the white-clad servers will bring your large portions to you in no time. Try visiting during the chilling winter months, as the pub has seven roaring fireplaces to snuggle up to!
J.D Wetherspoons; City centre. A chain restaurant and pub which offers 30 free minutes of Wi-Fi for every menu item you order. Want to sample some British cuisine? Go to Weatherspoons for a full English breakfast or a Sunday roast for under £6. Large menu selection and vegetarian options widely available. www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk.
The Restaurant Bar and Grill; City Square. Situated inside on of the most stunning buildings in Leeds, The Restaurant Bar and Grill is a moderately expensive eatery, with a large international menu. Although their food is terrific, make plans with friends to meet at this restaurant for drinks and dessert and select a reasonably priced option from their full pudding and wine menus. www.therestaurantbarandgrill.co.uk.
Wagamama; City Centre. A world-wide restaurant chain, Wagamama is an excellent option for Japanese-fusion food, served in minutes, in huge portions while sitting along long wooden tables of friends and strangers. Great value, great service and great food. Ask for green tea for your drink – it’s free! www.wagamama.com.
Viva Cuba; City Centre. This popular student restaurant becomes a Latin dance hall, which you can burn off your meal eaten just minutes before! Viva Cuba serves Spanish tapas at student prices. 3 tapas from their menu are enough to fill you up sufficiently, although it's so good you many want more! From 1pm – 3pm try their all-you-can-eat tapas buffet for cheap! www.vivacubaleeds.com.
LS6; Headingley. Serving a variety of standard international lunch and dinner items, this cozy restaurant in Hyde Park is a student favourite, which is rumoured to have the best and most decadent chocolate cake in Leeds.
The Olive Tree; Headingley. An award winning Greek restaurant, The Olive Tree is never empty and serves traditional Greek food in huge portions for a very reasonable price. From 5:3- 7:30 take advantage for their 3 course early bird menu for only £12.95. http://www.olivetreegreekrestaurant.co.uk/w3j.
Because of Leeds’ extremely large student population, drink offers are not hard to find on any given night of the week. 2 for 1 cocktails at trendy bars in the city centre are not uncommon and a pint of lager for £1 – £1.50 is an ordinary find throughout the city. Pubs offer a wide selection of alcoholic drinks, juices, sodas and hot drinks.
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