Dough Bistro is a sparkling little restaurant situated in the leafy suburbs of West Park. This multi-awardwinning, modern British restaurant offers a daily changing menu championing the best locally sourced ingredients from around Yorkshire. If that wasn’t impressive enough, head chef and owner Luke Downing (chef profile page 77) grows a whole host of the Bistro’s produce in his back garden. A fantastic example is the wild sea bass served on home-grown ratatouille infused with smoked halibut, tempura of wild tiger prawns, onion crisps and Champagne beurre blanc.

There are a number of menus available, from the unbelievable seven-course grazing menu (£35 per person) to the weekend set menu, priced at just £24.95 for four courses, with several choices available per course. Although fully licensed, Dough also offers customers the option of bringing their own bottle, which means you can experience some of the best food Leeds has to offer without paying extortionate wine prices.

Should the Whitby crab, caper and cream cheese spring rolls served on home-grown cucumber and dill salad, with mango salsa and oysters be on the starter menu, I would wholeheartedly recommend it as the perfect dish to begin your meal. Equally, puddings are in a class of their own – the warm dark chocolate, chilli and blood orange fondant with blood orange ice cream is simply irresistible. It’s the little touches that make Dough Bistro stand out from the crowd: fresh homemade bread, Earl Grey and apple sorbet, chocolates with the bill and even an amuse bouche of black pudding and apple pie on occasion.

Dough Bistro is now open at lunchtime for express meals and Continental-style long lunches. Hurry along as soon as soon as you possibly can, for this place is fast becoming a favourite with Leeds’ foodie crowd.