Sitting under the Individual Restaurants umbrella, The Restaurant Bar & Grill lies in the heart of Leeds’ City Square. Day or night, winter or summer, this European-centred eatery is always buzzing. Whether it’s down to the gorgeous décor or classic plates, we just had to see what all the fuss was about.
Housed within the Grade II-listed Old Post Office, The Restaurant Bar & Grill is an impressive space. The grand entrance and its steps are merely a tease to the architectural delights that lie within. With huge pillars and giant arched windows, this modern restaurant located in a historic, landmark building is given that fancy feeling.
Pretty restaurants in Leeds don't get much better than this.
Although the space is incredibly imposing with its endlessly tall ceiling, spiral staircase and dark wooden furniture, there’s a relaxed vibe thanks to low-hanging lights and ambient music. The open bar area leads onto the restaurant, with a bustling crowd adding to the lively atmosphere. The cocktail list almost tempted us over, but food was waiting.
When it comes to service, warm smiles from incredibly knowledgeable and attentive waiting staff give this place a high-end edge. Our waitress recommended a delicious Rioja Ontanon Ecologico 2017 (£33), one of three organic reds on the menu. Its sweet cherry and raspberry aromas were balanced by a subtle spice for a satisfyingly smooth finish.
Meat is firmly on the menu at The Restaurant Bar & Grill.
Onto the food… to start, I chose the warm crispy duck salad (£9.25); an Asian fusion of watercress, white radish, sesame and soy. The duck was tangy with a spicy kick, so I certainly welcomed the crunchy freshness of the veg. My partner went for the baby back ribs (£9.95) which were cooked to tender perfection in a rich, sticky sauce. A tasty BBQ mess.
For mains, we tried two options from the charcoal grill section - fine steaks are what RBG is known for, after all. I went for the wild Scottish venison (£27.75) which was a lean, tender fillet. It was perfectly presented on pickled red cabbage, sitting alongside butternut squash puree and slathered with Madeira sauce.
From perfectly paired wines to expertly mixed cocktails, the drinks list here is one to work through.
My partner ordered the Argentinian rump (250g, £20.50), which our waitress had described as juicy and rich, with a more intense flavour than the fillet. Cooked medium-rare, it was also served with Madeira sauce. Topped off with a side of the creamiest mashed potatoes (£4.50) and chargrilled broccoli (£5), it was a satisfying choice.
By this point, we knew we’d overindulged but couldn't help but finish our dining experience with an Instagram-worthy, melt-in-the-middle chocolate fondant (£7.50) and a helping of sticky toffee pudding (£7.50). Both serviced with vanilla ice cream, it was pure joy for the taste buds and both well worth the sugar coma that was about to strike.
The DesignMyNight Digest
Sophisticated dining meets relaxed vibes at The Restaurant Bar & Grill. Tipping the higher end of the price scale, it’s definitely one to keep up your sleeve for a date night or special occasion... but with such a spread of mouthwatering meats, we'll probably be tempted to head back sooner rather than later.
