On our second night in Leeds, we returned after two years with the
whole local family to THE RESTAURANT which is located in the beautiful
historic City Square Old Post Office Building
(www.therestaurantbarandgrill.co.uk). Our server Rosie (from Ireland)
admitted being a bit nervous, so we told her to relax. The six of us
kept her busy and she did a great job. We bumped into our server from
2 years ago, Sally, who is now the asst. manager! We decided to keep
Samuel with the same starter, CRISPY DUCK ROLL and he simply skipped
the yummy Plum & Pineapple Dipping Sauce.. He went on to try the PENNE
with Spicy Sausage, Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Sauce. He ate some of
the pasta refusing the sausage (it was not very spicy, but it did have
some spice).
We ordered a bottle of MACON CHARNAY Cuvee a l'Ancienne 2008 Burgundy
which was a steely chardonnay of citrus and melon overtones. It was
spot on perfect with my THAI PRAWN CAKES with Sweet Chilli Sauce. Will
went for the GRILLED ASAPARAGUS with Poached Egg and Hollandaise,
which was another superb starter making hits for all of us.
Main courses included the tasty Herb Roasted LAMB with Crushed
Potatoes, Peas & Broad Beans (where were divine as they are now in
high season--similar to Lima Beans) & Mint. The SEAFOOD MIXED GRILL
consisted of Lemon Marinated Swordfish, Salmon & King Prawns (a huge
portion indeed) with a Spiced Onion Yoghurt akin to Raita.
Crispy DUCK with Chinese Greens (Bok Choy) and Sesame and Honey
Dressing was nice, but it was just a bit too crispy (anotherwords,
cooked several minutes less, it would have been moister and indeed
divine).
The wine was a Chilean Pinot Noir TABALI Reserva Especial 208 from the
Limari Valley which had a nice spice and went well with everything on
the table.
The side dish of Spinach was a big improvement over the Bibi's same
dish the night before, and the STIR FRIED Veggies were also nice, but
both suffered from oversalting.
Sam gobbled up a Lemon Sorbet as many of the family enjoyed the CREME
BRULEE with Lemon Shortbread Biscuit and Will had to have the STICKY
TOFFEE PUDDING with Butterscotch & Vanilla Ice Cream which has to be
one of the best in Yorkshire.
I chose the cheese platter and was wowed with four selections coming
with celery, apple chutney, grapes and crackers: OXFORD ICES (named
for the crew team) is wrapped in mead and was a bit dry, but worked
great with the chutney. CORNISH YARG was intense and some might say
smelly, but a true treat. RAGSTONE GOAT was subtly salty and again
quite nice with the chutney. The hit of the evening was the BLUE
MONDAY an amazing blue with a slight sweetness made in Gloucestershire
by Alex James of the rock band Blur.
It was a fun and enjoyable night by all....tonight, ANTHONY's, the top
spot in town for fine dining a la Fat Duck/Yorshirewise!
