Leeds, UK

This is a long shot, but you never know. In early February I may be in Leeds, England with my 4-year old daughter. So: anyone know of recommended restaurants, or kid-friendly spots? I suppose she can subsist for a week on fish and chips, but I'm sure there's more, too!

Also, any UK-based food forums worth exploring?

One important thing to remember about the UK is the empire. Because of the empire, towns too small to have a post office usually have at least one excellent Indian restaurant and probably a decent Chinese place, as well.

England is also one of the world's great cheese-producing countries (Cheddar, Stilton, Wensleydale, Leicester, and vastly more, including a wide range of artisinal cheeses), so check out the local cheese shops.

Most pubs offer great food -- the pubs in the Chef and Brewer chain in particular have almost always reliably excellent food. My favorite pub lunch is the plowman's lunch, which offers a hunk of good cheese, a small salad, a pickled onion, some Branston pickle (essentially a large-cut chutney, which is excellent with cheese), and fresh bread and butter. That and a pint of Strongbow cider, and I'm happy. But I've also been in pubs that offer everything from great kedgeree to Stilton-stuffed chicken breasts wrapped in bacon to a good roast.

I've traveled all over the UK, and I've found that, with pubs, cheese shops, and ethnic eateries, one can always find something excellent to eat, even if there is not a recommended restaurant at hand -- though do not underestimate the presence of excellent restaurants, as there are many.

If no one offers specific recommendations, I did find that, if you do a Google search for Leeds, UK, then click on the map and do a map search for "dining in Leeds," you get the same type of listing you do here, with links to restaurant websites and reviews, all marked on the Google map.

Now, if you get to London at all, there I can recommend specific restaurants.

Found this -- Trusted Places -- reviews by locals of dining establishments in the UK. Not exactly LTHForum (but then, what is?), but it might help.

You can also browse for events, entertainment, the arts, bars, stores, and other things that might be useful.

http://trustedplaces.com/places/uk/leeds/

Hope this helps.

It appears that Thai is the new Indian cuisine in the UK (at least in London). I'm noticing more and more Thai restaurants or pubs service good Thai food each time I head across the pond.

Another good meal to look for is the Sunday roast at local pubs.

A friend has forwarded me your enquiry. We met in Chile. She lives in Illinois. I live in Leeds. The love of food is truly international.

So ...a very long shot, but maybe I can help. All the advice posted already is fine, but I may be able to be more specific - to recommend the good Indian and Thai restaurants, the good pubs and (most importantly)the really good fish and chips shops, - if you are willing to tell me a bit more about your plans.

Can you give me a rough idea where you will be staying - in the city or in the suburbs? - and also how you will be travelling around - car or public transport? This is especially important for pubs. The most family friendly of these are to be found in villages, out of the city.

As a grandfather myself I know that food is important, but ease of access matters as well, when you are eating out with a child.

Best regards

Peter

It's been years, and maybe it's too hard to get to, but some of the best beer I've ever had in my life I had at The Junction, Bradford, Leeds. A jar I had of particularly fresh Lincoln best bitter I remember as the finest single pint I've ever had...

There was also a cheese shoppe *somewhere* in the vicinity that I very much enjoyed.

A good bud of mine is a prof at U. Leeds, let me get on to him: he's a highly respected beer guy and trencherman.

Anon--

Geo

As promised, here's some info on pubs etc. in Leeds, from Someone Who Knows Whereof He Speaks.

"Some good pubs in the centre of Leeds are the Town Hall Tavern (opposite the Town Hall), the Angel Briggate (in an alley the other side of the road from Harvey Nicks), and the Scarborough Inn, just below the railway station. I don't recommend any of the Headingley pubs apart from Arcadia (in the Arndale Centre), and Woodies in Far Headingley.

Both the best fish and chip shops are in Headingley: Bretts in North Lane, and Bryants round the corner from Woodies.

In the city centre, a good Indian is the Aagra, opposite the bus station. A good Chinese is the Lucky Dragon, just north of Eastgate. The one good restaurant in Headingley is Salvo's (Italian)"

So, there you are!

Pls to report back on your adventures!

Geo

I'm glad I looked to check up on my thread! I'll be staying with my sister, who is also a U. Leeds professor and who lives in the city. It'll be largely a foot and public transportation trip (now the end of March), most likely with an emphasis on comfort food, eats-wise, with a few complications (four-year old daughter, mostly vegetarian sister). No matter what turns up, we're all excited for the change of pace.

Hi again,

your trip is drawing near and you must be getting excited.
Here is a really good way to find good restaurants in and around the city - and save money.
Go to www.hi-life.co.uk
You will see a wide selection of palces to eat in Leeds and district , all of which offer two meals for the price of one (often excluding weekends). The sub. is usually some £40 per year but they are running a promotion in the local papers which gives a two month introductory membership free.
I have already saved the vouchers for you , so if you want to take advantage of this offer, I will just need your name and the address and phone no. where you will be staying.
I realise that you may be wary of giving details over this site, so you can email me<peter.bloodworth@hotmail.co.uk>

I hope to hear from you, as it is such a great offer.

Pedro! Pedro Sangrevalor! Tanto tiempo!

Peter is my best friend in the whole world. Alas, it would take a very long string to keep track of him, as he usually is all over the world. Where are you now, Peter, back in Leeds, or El Salvador?

It's true what he says, we met in Chile. We were next-door neighbors. We made some lame attempts to communicate in Spanish, until we managed to exchange enough information to grasp that we were both native English speakers and didn't need to bother Peter introduced me to such delightful British treats as gin and tonic (though you know, Pedro, my dad always said, why would you want to drink something that tastes like lighter fluid?). And together we learned to enjoy, with the help of plenty of white wine and avocadoes and cheese* and bread and prosciutto, the fact that there's nothing to do on a Sunday afternoon in Chile but relax. Oh, and empanadas. And much more.

(* An Englishman on South American cheese: "It's soap ... but it's not bad soap.")

Can you believe, folks, I got Leeds dining advice for you from a real-life authentic local? There should be some kind of prize for that. A years' free subscription to the LTH forum? Oh, wait, never mind, it's free.

Trust me, you can trust Peter.

Hola Catalina,

thanks for the character reference. As You can see, I am feeling rather smug about it!

I have been back in Leeds since just before Christmas. As we are having a real winter with more snow than for 18 years, it is a welcome contrast. In mid March I start on a four week TEFL course, so I may soon be pedantic enough to join your Grammarian's group.

Once I have a certificate, I may be off again to see if I can earn a bit of money teaching. Costa Rica is top of my wish list, as I could easily visit my friends in El Salvador from there, but Chile is next. We shall see....

I will send you more chat on an email sometime quite soon

Love to all you Halls

Peter