Laynes — Restaurant in Leeds

Popped on down to Laynes today with a friend (his recommendation) and I was genuinely really satisfied with the experience. Upon arriving we were told there was a 15 minute wait for a table, but honestly, Leeds was packed so this was understandable. After returning, we were seated downstairs (which is the only star lost in the rating above and it's more of a personal preference than a critique) where the atmosphere was tonally different to the upstairs area, yellow lighting and a tucked away vibe wouldn't have been my go to seat of choice but it's no deal breaker either.

Our order was a Laynes Veggie breakfast for my friend, with an oat flat white and an Eggs Benedict on Sourdough for myself with a dairy latte. The coffee came swiftly and I personally thought it tasted really nice, I couldn't get a photo for the review that did it justice down to the yellowed lights making it look naff, but it was hands down one of the better brews I've found in Leeds. Eggs Benedict is a favourite of mine as you'll see from the reviews I post, I judge places initially on how they do this dish and today, Laynes smashed the test. Two perfectly poached eggs with golden runny yolks atop two pieces of sourdough toast with not too crispy bacon was a solid display. Topped with a zesty, creamy hollandaise sauce and chive, this was arguably one of the better Eggs Benedict I've had. My friend had the veggie break which is where our only minor complaint (if you can call it that) came from. He hates eggs and asked for it to be swapped out which was a polite no as the venue doesn't do swaps. He somewhat expected that which is where his bit of disappointment came from, if you're of the veggie persuasion but don't like eggs, you're kind of out of luck. I didn't mind though, I got two additional poached eggs as he didn't want them - score.

Over all, I'd return to Laynes again, my part of the bill came to £19.90ish (two coffees and eggs Benedict) which I think is about fair and typical of most places. Eggs Benedict came in at £10.95 (I think) which is on the more expensive side of things compared to other places I've visited where the cost usually floats between £7-£9, however quality alone justified the increase today as it really didn't miss a beat.

If you're looking for fairly priced, quality food, I'd recommend Laynes, just be aware that it's popularity may include a wait to be seated. I think it's...

Top notch. Absolutely top notch! I wanted to sample almost all the menu! Great menu and choices for vegetarians and vegans. I got there early and there were already reservations on tables, no space upstairs and only tables free downstairs. I could have waited for a table upstairs but I'd have been waiting until 2pm! Having visited, I can see clearly why it is so popular and busy. Loos are downstairs too. There are a couple of narrow benches outside. Queues likely! The charming, polite young man with the glasses who served me initially was very kind - I think his name was Dan, sorry if I have misremembered your name! My old bones were playing up on the morning I visited, but Dan so kindly assisted me with my luggage unprompted and carried it down the stairs for me. And this was on a busy Saturday morning too. All the baked goodies at the counter looked fabulously enticing too, from the beetroot, spring onion and pistachio Danish to the pear, chocolate and hazelnut Danish. Mmmm, yum. I'll have to try the Leeds bun. They do proffer takeout. There is something for everyone, I mean, a marmite and cheese swirl wouldn't be my choice, but there is a large marmite fan base out there! I had a gorgeous, as in truly gorgeous iced chai. The chai was Masala chai syrup and oat milk (option) over ice with nutmeg. Ohhh, divine!! Has a great range of loose leaf teas. I had a hot chocolate and from the first mouthful - and I am a bit of a hot choc nut - it was a kapow wow moment. Tasted flippin lovely. Bare Bones chocolate it was, packets usually available to buy in the caff but not for sale on the morning I visited. I really was torn between breakfast choices and must have changed my mind about three times, so I am deffo revisiting. In the end, opted for Laynes veggie breakfast. Vegan bacon, grilled halloumi, parmentier potatoes, Portobello mushrooms, beans, tomato confit, sourdough toast and choice of eggs - I had poached. All delicious, perfect and tasty. And filling! Cannot sing this establishment's praises enough. It's going on my favourites and I so highly and happily recommend it to you too. Marvelous place....

Last week, I hosted a friend visiting Leeds and I wanted to plan a pleasant outing in the city centre. Laynes had long been a place I wished to visit, as I constantly passed by and always heard good reviews of. However, I had never been inside as it always seemed so busy from morning through to evening! That said, given its reputation as something of a Leeds institution, I thought it would be the perfect spot to visit with my friend from out of town. When checking the website for opening times, I was pleasantly surprised to find that reservations were also available, as I had always assumed Laynes accommodated for walk-in only. I was thus able to book a table for two with ease.

On the day, I collected my friend from Leeds Railway Station, and Laynes’ location being a two-minute walk, made it especially convenient for us as our first stop of the day. On arrival, we were greeted and seated by the polite lady working at the door and given our menus. The breakfast options looked especially appetising, i.e. the ‘Laynes Breakfast’, Turkish eggs, French toast etc., albeit slightly more expensive than I had anticipated. However, as we already had separate lunch plans elsewhere, we only ordered drinks and pastries. Wanting to avoid caffeine, I chose a hot chocolate made with Bare Bones award-winning bean-to-bar chocolate, while my friend chose the masala chai latte, which the menu also noted as caffeine-free. My hot chocolate was enjoyable, and although my friend found her chai too strongly spiced for her liking, I personally liked it when I tried it - and so I would conclude the Laynes’ masala chai latte is simply a matter of individual taste.

Overall, we had a lovely time catching up in the welcoming atmosphere of Laynes. I would certainly return and hope to try their breakfast or lunch options next time too. However, given how busy Laynes is at any given time, I would highly recommend booking a table in advance, as it is a very popular coffeeshop - yet...