Blue Pavilion — Restaurant in Leeds

I recently dined at Blue Pavilion in Leeds and unfortunately, what started off as a promising evening quickly turned into a rather frustrating experience.

To begin with, the restaurant itself is very nice — it’s aesthetically pleasing, and the décor is modern, elegant and thoughtfully put together. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly and greeted by a lovely and welcoming waitress who kindly explained the menu to us, which was appreciated.

We opted for the classic set menu, minus the second starter of duck. The starter platter arrived fairly quickly at 8:15pm and consisted of kataifi shrimp, prawn toast, chicken spring rolls, and chicken skewers. The portions were just about enough, though they could have been a bit more generous. The kataifi shrimp was enjoyable, and the chicken skewers were flavoursome — arguably the highlight of the platter. However, the prawn toast was quite disappointing, tasting nothing like traditional prawn toast, and the chicken spring rolls were incredibly bland — essentially boiled chicken wrapped in pastry with no seasoning or flavour whatsoever.

We finished the starters by 8:25pm, but were then left waiting until 9:00pm for our mains — a gap of over 30 minutes. This was incredibly disappointing. I even had to ask a waiter about the delay, and while she said she would check, we still waited far too long. What made this worse was witnessing another couple, who ordered the same set menu after us, receiving both their starters and mains well before we got ours. The restaurant was relatively empty at this point, so the delay was baffling and frustrating. To add to this, we had to flag down a waiter just to get our water glasses refilled, despite the staff clearly outnumbering the guests.

When the mains finally arrived, they were well presented. The chicken Kung Po was very tasty — sweet and sour with a good balance of flavour. The steak with peppercorn sauce was cooked to perfection and very enjoyable. The egg fried rice was decent, though it could have done with more seasoning. The broccoli came in a very large portion but had absolutely no flavour — it tasted of nothing and felt like an afterthought on the plate.

After finishing our mains, I let the waitress know we were ready for dessert. Yet again, we were left waiting — this time for 40 minutes — for a simple crème brûlée. I asked another waiter who told me it was busy in the kitchen as many customers had ordered desserts. However, the restaurant was practically empty by this time, with only three occupied tables including ours. To make matters worse, the couple next to us, who had ordered the same dessert, were served theirs earlier and their crème brûlée was beautifully presented with a meringue on the side. In contrast, ours arrived on a plain white plate, with no garnish, no meringue, and wasn’t even properly torched. It was incredibly disappointing and left us wondering why we were treated so differently to the table right next to us.

Overall, I was extremely disappointed with my experience at Blue Pavilion. I had high expectations, particularly as I’m a regular customer at Blue Sakura, which this restaurant is associated with. Unfortunately, Blue Pavilion failed to live up to the same standard in both food and service. I was really looking forward to the evening, but left feeling let down and, frankly, a bit uncomfortable by the inconsistent treatment.

I won’t be returning...

Ambiance Stepping into Blue Pavilion Restaurant, one is immediately struck by its sophisticated charm. The modern decor paired with a cozy atmosphere sets the perfect tone for an elegant dining experience, whether you're out for a casual dinner or celebrating a special occasion.

Starters: Mushroom Tempura The Mushroom Tempura was an exceptional start to the meal. The mushrooms, encased in a light, crispy batter, were cooked to perfection—crisp on the outside and tender within. The presentation was equally impressive, with a delicate, golden lattice adding a touch of artistry. Each bite offered a satisfying contrast of textures, making it a delightful appetizer that whetted the appetite for the courses to follow.

Main Courses King Scallops Porcini Mushroom The King Scallops Porcini Mushroom dish was nothing short of a culinary triumph. The scallops were seared to a perfect golden brown, remaining succulent and flavorful. The earthy richness of the porcini mushroom sauce elevated the dish, complementing the natural sweetness of the scallops. Garnished with a vibrant edible flower, the dish was as pleasing to the eye as it was to the palate. Accompanied by tender sautéed vegetables, it offered a well-rounded and delicious main course.

Black Pepper Fillet Steak with Merlot The Black Pepper Fillet Steak with Merlot was a highlight of the evening. The steak was exquisitely cooked—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. The black pepper sauce provided a robust and spicy kick, perfectly balanced by the rich, smooth Merlot reduction. Sautéed onions and mushrooms complemented the steak beautifully, adding depth and complexity to each bite. The presentation, complete with a golden lattice, was sophisticated and visually appealing, making this dish a standout.

Conclusion Blue Pavilion Restaurant excels in delivering an extraordinary dining experience. From the meticulously prepared Mushroom Tempura to the exquisitely presented main courses of King Scallops Porcini Mushroom and Black Pepper Fillet Steak with Merlot, every dish showcases the chefs' culinary expertise and attention to detail. This restaurant is a must-visit for anyone seeking to indulge in gourmet cuisine within an elegant and inviting setting. Highly...

I visited Blue Pavillion with a friend for an early dinner at 4:15 pm. It was fairly quiet at this time but as we were shown to our seats I noticed a few tables dotted around enjoying what looked to be fabulous food.

We were seated in a booth at the front of the restaurant by a window, which are tinted so you cannot be seen from the street but can see out. The decor is very modern oriental, chilled vibes but managing to feel really classy at the same time.

We opted for the supreme set menu at £58pp which included a selection of dim sum to start, followed by the signature Peking duck, one of a selection of mains, rice, and a side of baby Pak choy in garlic and ginger sauce. We also added vegetable spring rolls, because why not.

The dim sum were really well presented in a beautiful oriental box, steamed to order and filled with the sweetest fresh prawns, scallops and umami rich fillings. The spring rolls were definitely home made crisp, crunchy wrappers and perfectly cooked vegetables.

The signature Peking duck followed on another level of presentation. Brought to the table and served by our excellent waiter from what I would describe as a Chinese tea chest, I could be wrong but it was a fabulous experience. The waiter theatrically opened the top to reveal succulent slices of the duck and pulled out the drawers where our Hoi sin sauce, pancakes and julienned cucumber and spring onion were hiding.

For the mains I chose the Dong po pork and my friend chose the black pepper fillet steak. These arrived looking very pretty on the plate along with our side and rice. As with everything that came before these were cooked perfectly and tasted sublime.

The portion sizes were more than adequate, especially the super rich pork belly dish. But I got this boxed up to go with no issues, it was just too good to leave.

We also had a couple of cocktails each, these were all fantastic, balanced and followed the theme of theatrical presentation.

I simply cannot fault Blue Pavillion, the vibe, experience, food and service were all 10 out of 10 as it should be in this high end...