Restaurant review: Lazy Lounge, Westpoint, Leeds city centre

A pair of huge black chandeliers hang either side of the marble-topped bar, there is rustic patterned red and gold wallpaper, stone tiled floors and a sweeping staircase to right as you walk in.

The design features are nothing short of brave at the foot of Wellington Street’s modern apartment block Westpoint.

Comfy buttoned leather sofas and armchairs are scattered around the groundfloor space as well as stooled seating and wine barrel-style tables.

Blackboards display everything from post-work drink offers to gin and whisky lists all over the bar, which itself is a pastel painted wood panelled affair that wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury cottage kitchen.

Nevertheless, the striking style of Lazy Lounge is by no means designed to draw in a certain crowd – it’s very much open to all.

There are regular tasting events for anyone interested in gin, wine or whisky and drinks offers from 4pm to 8pm during the week.

There are lunch and evening menus, which include everything from steak, salads, burgers and sandwiches earlier in the day and dishes like minute steak, lamb chops and cheese boards on a night.

We tried a couple of the sandwiches from the lunch menu. I opted for a chicken tikka sandwich (£6.50) on foccacia bread, which came with riata dip and a handful of potato wedges, while my dining partner tried the falafel and harrisa yoghurt (£5.50) variety, which came on garlic and herb flatbread accompanied with a few salted wedges.

Both dishes were served on wooden slabs and looked appetising although the chicken tikka proved a real disappointment. The cold filling was hardly spiced, quite plain and crammed with cucumber while the bread, which offered the bulk of the flavour, was crumbly and did not feel particularly fresh. The only real plus point were the soft yet crisp wedges, which were few and far between.

The falafel and harrisa yoghurt, however, saved the day. The falafel proved soft and packed with Middle Eastern spice, combining beautifully with the equally tasty flatbread, balancing well with the addition of fresh yoghurt.

Having only had tap water to drink, our bill came to a reasonable £12.

Lazy Lounge’s food and drink offering is popular among workers and residents in and around Westpoint, so I have no doubt that the majority of dishes are good quality. We had a mixed experience but overall the venue, its diverse offer and style do deserve credit.