Whether it's turkey and trimmings or a sprout bhaji, we've got Xmas covered.
Xmas is upon us once again and hopefully, the big day won't go the way last year's went. Our local restaurants have conjured up some festive magic for your Crimbo parties whether you are all about the trad turkey or after something a bit more left field (gorgonzola pizza anyone?). We've put together a list of eight great shouts for a sprout.
Our pick of the Xmas dinner options on offer in Leeds for 2021.
Four traditional Christmas dinner options
What: Dakota Hotel: The Grill
Where: 8 Russell St, Leeds LS1 5RN
How much: £33 for three courses
Luxurious hotel Dakota has a stunning restaurant, The Grill, with cosy booths and lavish interiors. We were lucky enough to sample Dakota's festive menu recently, which offers a fine dining experience consisting of three courses with a veggie option available. The turkey here comes with Easingwold pigs in blankets or you might prefer a slow-cooked ox cheek (main image) instead, a squash soup is, er, souped-up with smoked Wensleydale and chestnut pesto and desserts include a dark chocolate delice with peppermint ice cream alongside the usual suspects. This venue is a great option if you have teammates visiting from out of town and you want to treat them to a fancy hotel stay. The service is exceptional and it does a great job of catering to non-drinkers. Executive chef Craig Rogan (Simon's son) has also created a fabulous menu for Christmas Day if you want to let someone else deal with the cooking.
What: Heaney and Mill
Where: 50 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds LS6 2AL
How much: £34.95 for three courses
Heaney and Mill is offering two excellent options for festive dining, a three-course festive menu to enjoy in the venue, or a five-course festive menu to enjoy at home. The family-owned restaurant specialises in seasonal British food, cocktails and fine wines. Expect starters like salt aged beef and ale pie, horseradish cream, rocket and parmesan salad or king prawn and smoked salmon mousse with cucumber salad and toasted sourdough. Mains are turkey, duck, cod or a truffle cauliflower and Jerusalem artichoke risotto and puddings include a butterscotch cheesecake.
What: The Lost And Found
Where: 12 Greek St, Leeds LS1 5RN
How much: £29.95 for three courses
If you’re looking for a swanky venue so you can crack out your fancy garbs, The Lost And Found is a great choice. The Lost And Found is offering three courses with vegan options available. Choose from traditional turkey breast with chestnut and apricot stuffing and fluffy garlic spuds, or go lighter with a fillet of sea bass served over spinach and crushed new potatoes with a shallot, caper and tarragon butter. The vegan option is a rib-sticking steamed mushroom, chestnut and tarragon pudding. There's also a beautiful selection of festive canapes including smoked mackerel blinis, chicken liver pate and crispy brie with cranberry - perfect if you are having a more casual drinks party.
What: The Reliance
Where: 76-78 North Street, Leeds LS2 7PN
How much: £30 for three courses
The Reliance is a favourite with locals and has earned a reputation as serving one of the best roast dinners in Leeds. You'll find two and three-course options with particularly exciting veggie and vegan dishes like roast sprouts with pomegranate, tahini dressing and baharat or truffle roast celeriac with Lincolnshire poacher sauce and hazelnut on The Reliance's Xmas menu. Rather than turkey, there's chicken with seasonal fave Jerusalem artichoke and desserts include spotted dick with whisky syrup and custard. Although it is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays the restaurant will be open Monday through Friday in the week leading up to Christmas.
Four alternative Christmas dinner options
What: The Brunswick
Where: 82 North St, Leeds LS2 7PN
How much: Various prices
This year, the team at The Brunswick are keeping things simple for Christmas. During the week you can tuck into a selection of burgers, fries, and chicken, and they’re adding some festive specials for you to choose from. Baked camembert, festive fries topped with stuffing, brie, and cranberry sauce, and a festive burger featuring pigs in blankets. The Brunswick also has some Christmassy cocktails and hot drinks available. This would be perfect for a more casual festive get together with friends or colleagues. The pub is still serving its famous Sunday roasts, but will not be doing these for Christmas bookings through the rest of the week.
What: Bundobust
Where: 6 Mill Hill, Leeds LS1 5DQ
How much: From £2.50 an item
If I had my way, I’d never eat a roast dinner again, especially when I could be eating at Bundobust instead. Bundo's cracked out its classic sprout bhajis as well as a burger version of the cult classic. There's also a festive veggie curry with seasonal spices like cinnamon and star anise and a festive kulfi ice pop. You’ll find a well-curated list of festive cocktails, hot drinks and of course Bundo's famously excellent beers. This one's perfect for the beer geek in your office team and a great spot for a less formal festive gathering.
What: Meat Is Dead
Where: 231-239 Kirkstall Rd, Burley, Leeds LS4 2AS
How much: £32 for three courses
Plant-based venue Meat Is Dead has a unique mission statement: it exists to "unite, nourish and entertain – free of exploitation, harm and prejudice." This is a casual venue with large tables for banquet-style dining. Choose from hearty vegan mains like butter bean and roast red pepper wellington with cranberry and sage stuffing, caramelised onion and red wine gravy, starters like warm beetroot salad with toasted walnuts and feta and desserts like winter sponge pudding with brandy sauce. There's a particularly extensive menu of beers, wines, cocktail pitchers, and some great low and no options too.
What: Pizza Punks
Where: 37 Bond St, Leeds LS1 5BQ
How much: Party packages from £21
Pizza Punks is the self-proclaimed anarchist of the dough world with a mind-boggling range of topping choices that include gorgonzola, black pudding, shin beef and rosemary roast potatoes. This casual venue is serving up a few Christmas packages to suit your needs. Party packages include sharing starters, pizza, pasta, and festive cocktails, prosecco or beers and finish with "punk’d up" churros. The venue is lively and fun, with a cracking playlist and vibrant neon lights.
Read next: The ultimate Leeds pub crawl 2021
Read again: The best things to eat in and around Leeds - December 2021
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