O perfil de Joanna_Bean

First things first... the food was excellent. Delicious and different. Not just another curry house. It's completely vegetarian and you really don't miss the meat.

However... The place was chaos! We had booked a table, but were left for ages without even being asked if we'd like drinks. The staff seemed confused the whole time, taking people and food to the wrong tables. The lighting downstairs is harsh and the waiting area/bar is uninspiring, but the upstairs dining areas are nicer.

Other diners assured us that despite the fact it is usually this chaotic, the food was forth persevering for. And they were right, but it's just a shame... they have the difficult bit sorted (delicious food), if only they sorted out the easy things too (lighting, organisation, staff who know what's going on), the experience would be so much more enjoyable.

Baildon has gone up in the world! This shiny new deli and tearooms is a glorious, scrumptious, stylish and very, very welcome addition to Baildon village. It has been over two years in the planning, as it is in a building that had been lying empty for years and getting hold of it took a while. But the owner has been planning it for all that time and it really shows. Everything from the vintage restored furniture, to the individually sourced picquot ware teapots has been lovingly put in place to great effect. The tea is fantastic, the coffee is spot on and their range of deli food and groceries is impressive. They've been open two weeks, so the menu is growing and they are just finding their feet, but their delicious homemade cakes and food have sold out most days and the place has been buzzing every time I've popped in.
Their upstairs tearoom is delightful. Why not pop in for afternoon tea, read the papers... before crossing the road to Emma to buy a beautiful bunch of flowers and put you squarely in somebodies good books!
Baildon moor is less than 10 minutes walk away, as is the golf course. This place is a very hot tip - well worth a visit.

A truly heavenly place to see and hear live music in Leeds. Relaxed, laid back and full of character. The drinks are cheap, they sell Monster Munch and the decor is pretty old, but if they ever, ever redecorate I'll cry into my lager shandy. It's the kind of place that bands play on their way up, so if you're clued up enough to know what the members of the band you're there to see look like, you'll often find yourself in their company while the warm up band are on. They have an outdoor seating area with twinkly lights and I've seen a few bands move out there for the last few songs, a great way to spend a summers evening. If there's one thing to warn you about - wear layers! it gets soooo hot under the lights that you'll be ready to strip to your undies by the end of the set.

I'm glad to say the Citrus I experienced for the first time this weekend was unrecognisible from the previous reviews. It is under new management and they mean business. We had a tip off that the place was undergoing a transformatiion and that they were showcasing their new cocktail and food menus this Valentines weekend... it turned out to be a very hot tip. We had a chat to the friendly and enthusiastic managers and a few secrets behind the evolving improvements were revealed... bar staff fully trained and experienced in cocktail making, a sushi chef trained in Japan, fresh ingredients including sashimi grade tuna and a bucket load of even fresher ideas... the biggest screens in Headingley for the World Cup, a morrocan style relaxation lounge area, a patisserie chef and freshly made crossiants, oh and the small matter of refurbishing the entire three floors. This place is seriously on the up... watch this space!

Cocktails £4 or £6.50 for two (good value and top notch), the Gran Torino is my personal recommendation. Three course Valentines weekend menu, including cocktail was excellent value at £19.95 (Sushi love platter starter - easily the best sushi I've tasted, forget you ever heard of yo sushi). Weekend full english breakfast £4.50 (handcut toast, eggs anyway you like, bacon soft or crispy and locally sourced ingredients all the way). Bring it on!

Magic Number Three is a shop that has that special something, is it the well-designed logo, the colours of the shop front, the lighting, the walls filled with carefully chosen artwork, the location… basically it’s all these things combined that draws you in and locks your attention down.

It used to be a cafe with art and clothing on the side, and it didn’t quite gel. There wasn’t really the physical space to do both. Now it has waved goodbye to the coffee and has embraced it’s fairtrade, local and artisan roots and is a fully fledged ethical extravaganza :) They have a carefully selected range of stylish and ethically sourced clothing and artwork by local artists. The limited prints of Titus Salt by Nick Tankard are wonderful. So inspired. But then that is what Saltaire does, it grabs you by the hand and gives you a warm feeling inside. I suppose the saying is 'steeped in history’....

They sell mounted photographs, cards, baby things, jewellery, ceramic artwork and original and limited edition prints.

Anyway, the transformation is really splendid, definitely the right move. A great place to browse, look for gifts and enjoy the Saltaire atmosphere. And then pop over to the mill afterwards for refreshment :)

Recommended to me years ago by a work colleague as the perfect place to sit and drink coffee and ponder. It turns out he was whole-heartedly correct. It’s not often you can say that about a Liverpudlian (I can say that being one myself!)...

It is small and cosy, with mismatched chairs and candles, beautiful murals on the walls and ceiling. I have a soft spot for places that serve drinks in random glasses that don’t match. The food is freshly prepared and really good. The prices are low. We paid £17 for drinks and dinner for two. Perfect before the cinema (the Hyde Park Picture House is 10 minutes walk away).

They are open late into the evening so it’s a great place for a daytime coffee or a nightcap.

I am a massive fan of this small independent cinema. From the small ticket kiosk at the entrance to the huge old clock in the theatre, to the fact that they serve earl grey tea along side the really good popcorn. The seats are comfortable in a squidgy, homely way.

The tickets are £5.50 or £6 for the balcony seats, the view is good from both.

There is just one screen and they show both old classics and current gems. I saw Burn After Reading and The Reader here. But they also do occasional special events, and Mark Kermode is coming later in the month to record a Radio 5 Live film show. It pays to join their mailing list!

I would always chose to see a film here rather than at any of the corporate multiplex cinemas. Well worth a visit.

I love the way this place is subtle and understated from the road. The floor to ceiling windows create an inviting feeling, as tho you are already there… come on in :) The leafy street shelters you from the road. The staff are friendly and pleasing on the eye. Am I allowed to say that?! Good selection of continental beers and great food menu. Food is served until 9pm. The tables are solid and the long tables are actually great for getting people talking, but if you’re deep in conversation, you can let the ambient background sweep over you. The food is modern, homely and tasty. Prices are around £8-10 for a main meal and smaller things for about £4-5. Fairly priced.

There is a big room adjacent to the bar, hidden behind a door you don’t even notice until it’s opened to reveal a dark, intriguing space. This is were they have bands, singers, poetry reading, cultural discussions and Monday night film showings. Such a versatile space. You get a different feeling from this place everytime you go. Great for reading the paper on a lazy Saturday morning :)

This is one of the most upmarket indian restaurants I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. It’s on the ground floor of a modern block of flats a stones throw from Birmingham city centre, out towards the Jewellry Quarter.

It came highly recommended and rightly so. They were friendly, efficient and a cut above the average. The menu was concise, don’t go here with your heart set on a particular dish, because you might be disappointed. Instead, go with an open mind and try one of the chef’s specials, highly recommended by me! The wine list (yes, I know… wine after cocktails, bad idea) was also short and sweet, but not quite as tight on the target as the food menu.

It’s not cheap (£90 for three with two bottles of wine and no sparing the hungry horses), but we really did have a very good meal. I would definitely recommend that you wander the 10 minutes out of the city centre to search it out.

The Vaults is a few doors down and is also well worth ambling along to :o)