460 replies to this topic

[ravelda]

I was really pleased to hear that our former junior restaurant manager who left us earlier this year to go back to her home city of Leeds has now been made restaurant manger there. Well deserved as she was superb and had a fantastic wine knowledge. I will have to get myself back up there for a meal at some point soon. Will be interested to hear your review Oli

[Gary Marshall]

yes - she's good, we met her last time i think scott and sam are after some headhunting fees there!

give me a shout if you make it up.

[ravelda]

yes - she's good, we met her last time i think scott and sam are after some headhunting fees there! 

give me a shout if you make it up.

Will do Gary - should be in the next month or two!! Sam and Scott were great actually - without them, her CV and my referance would have never made it to Anthony, so I know Emma and I for that matter owe them a huge thanks!

[olicollett]

OK, quick review -

Excellent. I went with the set lunch menu which was great value at £23 but I was both dissapointed and surprised by how quiet the restaurant was (only 4 other people eating from 12.30-1.30).

The pigs cheek with crispy pigs ears was superb to start with, a beautiful contrast of textures to go with the rich flavour from the cheek.

I went with the seared tuna with rhubarb for main - this was nice, although I think it missed that contrast of textures from the first course, and i wasn't convinced the foam was really necessary, but the presentation was fantastic.

Finished off with the chocolate rice pudding with peanut ice cream - this was spot on. Quite a contrast to the main course but hit the spot for me!

Service was very formal, which at times felt a bit odd because it was so quiet - it was one of those situations where it all goes really quiet when the waiter arrives at the table and you could hear a pin drop. Having said that, it was also faultless and I got the impression the restaurant would not seem any more flustered if packed to the rafters.

It seems a crime that this restaurant has not been deemed worthy of a michelin star. Whilst accolades are not everything, I'm sure it would do the restaurant no harm business wise.

Off to red chilli later now for yet another meal out, I think I'm turning into David Goodfellow

[Gary Marshall]

I was intending to go last friday lunchtime and have exactly that selection.

i also went to red chilli on sunday, spooky eh?

everywhere seems quiet at the moment unless they are offering a promotion, it's grin and bear it time. And holiday time too.

[olicollett]

I was intending to go last friday lunchtime and have exactly that selection.

i also went to red chilli on sunday, spooky eh? 

everywhere seems quiet at the moment unless they are offering a promotion, it's grin and bear it time. And holiday time too.

haha :)

I think my waistline is going to regret this week, found out my local gym is closed for 2 weeks and i've got a weekend of drinking and eating in belfast coming up!

[david goodfellow]

Well I finally got around to dining here today. I wish I had a quid for every time that we have considered it.Along with the River Cafe and St John,seems like we always end up somewhere else I can now finally put a tick in the box.

I'm sad to report that only two other tables were taken at todays lunch service, a sign of the times in recession hit Leeds.

Anthony was not in the kitchen, (I checked before I booked)but its his food on the plate, so he must trust his sous, so I was not that bothered.

I'm on a mission to find the best value/quality lunch, so was keen to put this to the test.

We started well with an amuse of very moist and tasty pork terrine, green olives, micro herbs and pistachio crumbs.

Its good to see a choice of three starter, main, and dessert, with a choice of cheese instead of dessert at no extra cost

Braised Pigs Cheek, Crispy pigs ears, peas, and rum.

Sous Vide Trout, Smoked Feta, Pickled celery.

I had the Pigs Cheek which was in a soup of jus, cream, and rum, although there was no hit of rum. ( I think the chef drank it ) There was a smattering of lemon balm leaves, and the peas of course giving it a bit of colour.
This was a very good dish and I was hoping the rest would be to this high standard.
The Trout was a pleasant starter, which my wife enjoyed, and it tasted good to me.

The bread was terrific, even Mrs G enjoyed it, served as a small loaf cut into six portions, this was one the best this year, and come to think of it the butter was excellent too.

Roast Cod, Mussel Chowder.

Confit Lamb Breast, Smoke Sprat, Lime bulgar.

My Cod was timed perfectly, again in a soup, with carrot, potato, and celery dice, baby gem lettuce, and more micro herbs.

The Lamb was rolled, crisp skinned, well tasty and sitting on a line of bulgar, which according to my wife soaked up too much of the meagre amount of jus. A veritable bush of mustard frills sat at the side, and the smoked sprat adjacent.

Loads of flavour from humble ingredients is essential at lunch service given the prices charged, and so far so good, except both mains were over seasoned, by quite a measure.That was a real shame because we were enjoying ourselves.

Chocolate Rice Pudding, Peanut Ice cream.

Cherry and Almond Fancy, Toasted Almond Ice cream, Balsamic dressing.

The rice pudding was a very good helping, dotted with peanut brittle, to give it crunch, sadly it did not do it for me, I only ate half of it including the ice cream. I think this is a first for me.

Mrs G enjoyed her dessert and cleared the plate, although we both thought the balsamic did not work.


I can understand all the attention this place gets, on this showing, and even though its lunch, we can see the quality, just a shame about the seasoning and that pud


2 x 3 course lunches £47.90
1 x btl Merlot £14.70
tip £7.40

Total £70

Yorkshire Water foc

[CalumC]

Will have to get along for dinner sometime soon, I check the menus most times I walk past.

As for Anthony's not being there, I believe he works at the Piazza most daytimes, I always seem to see him either getting stuck in to the baking or doing the 'businessman' thing when i'm in there.

[Gary Marshall]

He sets up for service at anthonys then heads to the piazza bakery, does evening service at anthonys then often back to the piazza!
And now working 7 days a week until xmas, more energy than most, that's for sure!

[david goodfellow]

He sets up for service at anthonys then heads to the piazza bakery, does evening service at anthonys then often back to the piazza!
And now working 7 days a week until xmas, more energy than most, that's for sure!

He's clearly doing a terrific job at the bakery, the bread we had was memorable, just wished we had bought some cakes on our visit.
By way of comparison we had bread at a Michelin starred place in London yesterday and it was very poor.

[Gary Marshall]

Well after nine years, (where did they go etc.) Anthony's is closing, but fear not, it is to be reprised and re-launched within the Corn Exchange in Leeds where Tony can keep his eye on both the piazza and Anthony's without having to sprint down the road.

 

Looks a very sensible move and one they mentioned years ago, Pool Court in Leeds had a similar set up of fine dining and brasserie which Tony has always fancied.

 

There will be a run in March of the classic Anthonys dishes of old and then on to the new. Exciting times!