Set ten minutes from Leeds city centre, this wonderful Italian eatery is well worth the drive out of town – trust me. Salute is an Italian-style neighbourhood restaurant with city centre standards. Conveniently placed a few minutes down the M62 in Rothwell, Salute @ The White Swan is now a prominent fixture on the local dining scene. Relocated from Oulton in 2004, the restaurant boasts modern and spacious decor, with large wooden chairs, beautiful mirrors and warm colours creating a chic yet welcoming ambience. The restaurant positively buzzes, with proficient staff whizzing around the place delivering fantastic-looking food.

There are a number of menus to suit every occasion at Salute. You can opt for the express lunch menu (served from Monday to Saturday offering a range of burgers, baguettes and light meals), a Sunday lunch menu with an Italian twist, an early-bird selection offering two courses for just £10.95 and three for £13.95, an innovative daily-changing specials board full of inviting treats and an expansive à la carte menu. We chose from the latter and tucked into antipasti of pan-fried Lishman’s black pudding with smoked pancetta and a poached farm free-range egg (£6.50), and superb homemade crab cakes with red onion, borlotti beans, chilli oil and cherry tomatoes. Appetites now well and truly in gear, we selected from the huge offering of pasta, risotto, pizza and fish and meat dishes. The oven-baked monkfish wrapped in Parma ham and served with fresh pea and dill risotto was a symphony of Continental deliciousness, while the Salute spaghetti meatballs with tomato and basil sauce captured flavours of Italy. Desserts are varied and range from classic tiramisu to baked vanilla cheesecake, while an extensive wine and drinks list provides something for everybody, no matter what your favourite tipple.

With a full events calendar and live music, regular promotions and catering for any special occasion, I would certainly recommend Salute to friends, family and colleagues – bravo.