The Empire Cafe — Restaurant in Leeds

I was really pleased to finally get an opportunity to visit and did so as a group of six. We received a very warm welcome on arrival and then hovered awkwardly upstairs getting in the way of the busy staff as we waited for our downstairs table to be ready.

After an exciting decent down the spiral staircase we entered the small dimly-lit dining room adorned with artworks that might make some people blush :)

Each table had a candle and a small lamp that allowed you choose two types of white light depending on your preference, both were very useful for reading the menu.

Service was incredibly attentive and efficient and we were informed that the rotating selection of small plate options were indeed quite small as other reviwers have noted. We used them as starters and they were a few mouthfuls of incredibly tasty ingredients cooked and presented beautifully.

My French Onion Flatbread with Parkin Croutons and Gorgonzola was a really great combination of tastes and textures.

The mains chosen were predominantly chicken with one of the group getting the bavette steak that looked like a really well-cooked option that made me a little jealous, definitely one to consider if you visit.

I opted for rotisserie chicken with a smoked garlic and hot honey "lather" combined with a chilli pepper flake "crumb", I found the chicken a bit drier than expected and the chilli and garlic levels a bit disappointing (not even a tingle) but the taste was still good and the plate provided enough extra honey to dip in and moisten things up. The little pot of potatoes was nice but some optional coarse salt would have elevated things.

My partner went for the rotisserie chicken caesar salad and really enjoyed it, the crispy anchovies were a nice twist and the lettuce very crisp and fresh, I would have bought a bottle of the Empires dressing, it was fantastic.

Wines and other drinks were all of a great quality.

All in all a really great experience I'd gladly repeat, I'd order slightly differently but the fact there's so many items on the menu I'd love to try says a lot. The breakfast offerings sound great too.

Give it a try if you get chance, it's a real asset to the Leeds...

What can I say from start to finish everything was absolutely incredible. I have been fortunate enough to travel the world and eat some of the world's best food, this is by far the best food I have had. I will start with the service as you just couldn't fault it, Eden was so lovely and attentive. She knew here way around the menu and helped describe the dishes, throughout the evening constantly checking in on us and sharing conversation! Really did make the experience. The food was superb! We had a few bits from the small plate menu which were bursting with various flavours that you just don't normally have. These were polished off in no time! For the main we had the beef rump and this is by far the best beef I have had in my life, ever so tender and cooked beautifully paired with a lovely sauce/gravy. Other main dishes were the chicken with gravy which again cooked perfectly, soft and juicy! All sides were exceptional peas, cauliflower cheese (done right) and potatoes. Desserts were sublime cereal milk tart and a negroni tiramisu. Absolutely flawless and we will definitely be returning to try other parts...

Incredible. Firstly the member of staff that tended to us was a credit to the business, he didn't miss a trick and his dedication to service was impressive. He straight away helped us decide on drinks with suggestions and then recommended us dishes which helped to steer us in the right direction. We sat downstairs which was incredibly romantic and had an amazing ambience. For starters we had the duck eclair which was out of this world and a beautiful dish. The oxtail spring roll was packed with flavour, and finally the mackerel small plate with a fresh acidic strawberry salad was our favourite for the night. We opted to try their famous roast chicken too, and all I can say is wow. The roast chicken was moist and the hot honey and garlic glaze was phenomenal. The roast potatoes were an amazing touch. A Sunday roast here is a must. We finished the meal with a desert that featured a dark chocolate mousse, basil, and strawberries which was light and refreshing. Overall, this is our favourite new restaurant that we've tried and we'll gladly be returning. Very happy we found this little...