Bella Cafè — Restaurant in Leeds

San Co.Co in Leeds’ city centre has the feel of a neighbourhood cafe in an area awash with Costas, Caffé Neros, and Starbucks. What sets it apart from the others is that they make bloody good food delivered with a smile. Simple as that.

The caff sits at the top of New Briggate, detached enough that one feels as if one has found a little, hidden gem, but also close to Trinity Leeds shopping centre’s hustle bustle.

San Co.Co (peculiar name whose origin I never got to the bottom of) specialises in breakfast and that turn-of-the-century urban invention called “brunch”. We were after belly-filling fare that would set us up for the rest of the day. San Co.Co came up with the goods.

There’s only one dish I want for breakfast when I eat at a place with a Middle Eastern vibe: shakshuka.

If you want a dose of history and culture on a plate, then, eat some shakshuka. This breakfast staple emigrated from North Africa to Israel with Maghreb Jews. It is usually cooked in a cast iron skillet (I don’t know if ours was as we were seated upstairs), and it consists of poached eggs sitting atop a rich sauce of tomatoes and vegetables. Ours came with a modern twist: bacon. It was also accompanied by a warm slice of ciabatta. I couldn’t have thanked our hosts enough. That ciabatta was heaven on earth when it came to wiping the plate clean.

We also had a piece of triple-layered chocolate and pistachio cake. Apparently the latter is having a moment in the UK, but I’ve been enjoying pistachios for a long time. Anyway, I’m not one for fads. Even the mocha I had was delicious. Creamy, frothy, and hot. The three qualities any mocha must have.

We left San Co.Co ready for our next adventure on our last day in Leeds: a church-hopping jaunt. Our bellies...

Really friendly welcome, and seemingly genuine guy served us. Coffee was very good. Food was good - my son had a sausage and bacon sandwich which is served in a thin ciabatta type bread, and I had the full English. Full English was good and filling. They were happy for men to remove mushrooms and hash browns and added extra of the other bits to make up for it. I have removed a star because the menu stated butchers sausage and it definitely wasn't. It was deep-fried frozen one. Nothing wrong with it, as such, but it was more a kin to greasey spoon cafe and the menu had led me to expect better. Complimentary glass of water which was a nice thing to offer. So, large breakfast, sausage and bacon sandwich, cappuccino and and orange juice for £17 - I felt it...

Stumbled upon this place we fancied a breakfast, we saw the menu for full English 5.99drinks inc. Advertised 95% sausage which is was why we walked in. Fantastic good quality meat beautiful presentation on white oval plates ...ciabatta bread! what a treat. The coffee American is of high standard, pleasant staff. Upstairs has a multi cultural alternative feel with soft music. Just about to purchase chocci brownies freshly homemade £1.50 . We will make every effort to come back here from Sheffield. A place with a substance homely quality good and attention to detail, Thankyoooouuuu. Made our day .See ya soon x P.S branded...