Northern Monk

Northern Monk is once again home to the amazing food from Jah Jyot and Grilling Me Softly. After talking to Ranie for so long, we finally got to try his food and meet him in person! He has teamed up again with Anthony, one of our favourite chefs in the business, so we knew this was going to be something special. The residency at Northern Monk was absolutely popping when we went and deservedly so. The menu is Indian inspired Street Food in the form of Flatbreads, Small Plates and Sides. We have heard nothing but great things about their Indian Sunday Roast so will be back for that! One word of advice, come here hungry as they arent messing around with the portion sizes. We ordered the Small Plates Platter and expected a taster of each of the small plates but you basically get each one! An absolutely great deal! I dont think i can justify in writing just how good this food is- it is absolutely delicious and ticks every box on taste, quality, presentation, ingredient pairings. Everything was just singing with bold flavours and we savoured every bite What we ordered Salt and Pepper Squid with Wasabi Aoili- I am always sceptical about ordering squid as so many times it comes out rubbery and soggy. This was absolutely not the case here- the Creole batter was cooked to the perfect level. It was super super crispy while managing to keep the squid inside nice and soft- it was also nicely seasoned too giving that classic salt and pepper vibes. The pairing Wasabi packed a real punch too and brought out the flavour of the squid more. Everything about this dish was perfectly balanced Jeets Chops- This is a nod to Ranie's dad and what a stunning dish it is. Locally sourced high quality Lamb Chops cooked pink and marinated in a range of herbs and spices. There was so much soft juicy tender meat on these little beauties and the pairing sharp green chutney worked so well to elevate the flavours further. Chicken Lollipops- Boy did these pack a punch with the aromatic firey spicy coating. They were really tasty and the meat was super juicy inside- definitely no dry chicken here. Brett loves a fried chicken dish and this one was no exception. The sweet sauce circling the plate worked really well too to cool down the heat of the crispy chicken skin Grilled Rump, Yorkshire Goats Curd, Pickles, Salsa Verde, Crispy Onion- Anthony cooks a mean steak with pairing sauce so we know this was definitely one of his dishes from the menu. This steak was cooked to perfection with a lovely soft buttery pink centre. Who knew Goats Cheese would be such a good compliment to steak- the tangy savoury creamy richness of the cheese works so well. The Salsa Verde was zesty and fresh and the onions added a nice crunch to the meat Khubha Aloo (Wild Mushroom, Punjabi Masala, Garlic and Coriander Mash) Wow this was such a warming bowl of goodness. We always say some of the best curries are the Vegetarian ones and this absolutely fit that theory. It was punchy with a subtle kick of heat and we loved the earthiness of the wild mushrooms. The pairing mash was gorgeous- creamy, rich and bursting with that floral zingy coriander flavour Faith Battered Colley (White Fish in Northern Monk Beer Batter with Dill and Samphire Tartar) Wow there was so much fish packed into these little chunks of goodness. It was excellent quality and so flakey soft. The batter was absolutely gorgeous- crispy, thick, flavourful and not greasy. The salty sharp creamy tartar was such a great dip for the fish bites. Such a moreish dish that we could have carried on eating

Nice little craft beer / brewery tap. A short stroll from the centre but worth it. Nice outside areas but not suitable for our February visit. Plenty of craft to choose from. Not many mainstream beers, mostly sours and fruity versions with a couple of pales on our visit. Still a good choice. Food looked superb. Traditional slightly surly craft bar staff.

The Refectory was a must visit for me whilst in Leeds. Definitely a top 5 English brewery imo and their tap room experience lived up to expectations. Pop upstairs to order from their extensive tap list and back downstairs to enjoy an awesome outdoor space. Plenty of beers available to-go. On a sunny day, a wonderful space to sit and sip brews. Friendly staff.

Incredible place, such a great selection of drinks and always something new to try. Beautiful outdoor space in the sun and also really dog friendly. We had to try the tacos after a few pints and they were literally the best tacos in Leeds, my friend is from America and even he was impressed by the tacos here, which is saying something. Please give this place a try especially if you have a doggo.