Eat Your Greens, Leeds city centre review - Carefully crafted menu that's ideal for vegan diners

If you're heading along to this organic restaurant, wine bar and grocers on an evening then you'd be wise to book ahead as you could well find all the tables taken, even if it's midweek.

Set up by neighbouring bar Outlaws Yacht Club and the team behind Grub and Grog a few years ago, this spot on New York Street is a great option for vegan and vegetarian diners.

First impressions?

Arriving flustered after a late escape from the office, I'm immediately struck by the relaxed atmosphere and sense that life moves at an altogether more enjoyable pace here.

There are 15 or so tables around the edge of the room with the tiled bar/grocery store in the centre, complete with shelves full of organic vegetables and spice jars. Hanging plants and artwork add splashes of colour to the simple decor.

What’s the drinks selection like?

The rest of the world may be going cuckoo for craft beer and gin, but here the biggest focus is on natural wines with several pages of whites, reds, pink, orange and fizz from small independent producers to choose from by the glass, carafe and bottle.

There's a wide range of organic and natural ciders too as well as beer on draught and in bottles, spirits and an ever changing range of seasonal cocktails.

I get a class of tangy homemade lemonade (£2) and my other half takes the advice of our genuinely lovely waiter as he selects the Big Drop Stout (£3.70), an impressive low alcohol brew served by the bottle.

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Now onto the food

The carefully crafted evening menu features five vegan small plates, three large plates (one vegan, one meat and one fish) and a selection of sides. The produce used in these seasonal dishes and the daily specials comes from local, organic farms where possible and is available to buy from the venue's grocery store.

Since the haddock fillet with braised leeks and baked cumin yoghurt (£12) has sold out, my other half gets the large plate of spiced pork belly, caraway sauerkraut, beets and cider sauce (£13) and a side of applewood smoked potatoes (£4).

I go for two of the small plates - the gluten free caramelised beetroot and red onion tarte tatin with celeriac puree, and a wonderful winter squash and celeriac with leek oil, buckwheat and apple puree.

My late arrival and a wait of around 30 minutes for our food from ordering means we're now cutting it fine for the theatre, so our food is wolfed down like we're in one of those eating competitions. It was absolutely worth the wait though and we still find time between hasty mouthfuls to how comment on how impressive the dishes are.

Room for dessert?

If the rest of our meal was anything to go by then I'm sure they'd be delicious, but the dash for the theatre means there is sadly no chance to find out.

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Was it good value?

Our final bill comes to £37.70 which seems very reasonable for dinner for two given the standard of cooking and presentation. You could tell real passion and thought had gone into the dishes, with a focus on texture as well as the flavour combinations.

What's the overall verdict?

We'd both happily return and I'd definitely recommend this place to friends, particularly those who are vegan or follow gluten-free diets. Bonus points for the great service and relaxed atmosphere too.

Factfile

Address: Eat Your Greens, 42 New York St, Leeds, LS2 7DY

Telephone: 0113 244 6896

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs, 10am-10pm; Fri-Sat, 10am-11pm; Sun, 10am-8pm

Website: www.homeleeds.co.uk

Scores

Food 9/10

Value 8/10

Atmosphere 8/10

Service 9/10