Wen's Restaurant — Restaurant in Leeds

Update: Thanks for taking a moment to respond, I can't help thinking you've taken a generally positive review somewhat badly and to be honest your angry response is a little scary and misses the points. A huge shame.

Original:

I've known about Wen's for a long time, I've enjoyed reading incredibly favourable reviews from people like Jay Rayner and fellow Local Guides but my schedule had just never aligned in a way that allowed me to visit. That changed recently and I had an opportunity to make a booking for an early table on a Saturday night.

On arrival just before 6pm the restaurant was devoid of other diners, a number of members of staff were busy going about their day and we were quickly greeted and seated near the entrance. Laminated A4 menus on a clipboard were were presented and we were given some time to peruse the options and take in the surroundings.

It's safe to say Wen's isn't your classic Chinese Restaurant and the interior, paintings and all, feel more like you've stepped into a low-end French bistro than the highly regarded Chinese Restaurant it is, even the music had that feel to it. Not a bad thing and there are odd Chinese elements dotted around to compliment the framed review from Jay Rayner.

The menu is fantastic, a vast array of dishes that deviate away from the usual westernised options (although there is a nod to these being available should you so desire) and there were a multitude of items I've never seen before.

Having seen how people rave about them we opted for dumplings, pan fried and steamed and some xiao long bao to start, and my focus was on fried rice and interestingly-named dish of "belly pork cubes in brown sauce" which when I ordered I had to confirm to the waiter on the menu by pointing to it despite saying it out loud to him. More on this later.

My dining partner went for a chilli chicken dish and some unapologetic salt & pepper chips.

We were asked if we wanted the dishes in any particular order or as they were ready, we opted to take them as they came.

The dumplings arrived first and were really good, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that they didn't feel like they had the "gossamer and silky skins" Jay Rayner had described and were not dissimilar from ones I've bought frozen and cooked myself but given I also enjoyed them this isn't a negative. I think my expectations might have been too high or maybe Mrs Wen hadn't had chance to make these ones? The xiao long bao followed and were a similar experience, they didn't look or taste otherworldly but were enjoyable all the same.

Rice came, chips came, the chicken dish came... no pork.

We ate what we had, after all we'd said "bring it when it's ready" so I waited. I waited some more, the rice cooled, my dining partner was almost finished so enquiries were made about the pork only to be told "sorry I didn't write it down".

This was the pork dish I not only asked for but then clarified by pointing to it on the menu and saw the waiter write something. I was massively disappointed at this point.

Dumplings and rice it was then, something a fussy 4 year old might order and based on the sample of the chicken dish I had the missing pork would most likely have been amazing.

I was asked if I'd still like the pork but by this time it was too late.

So it's a 3* which I know bucks the trend of every other review and feedback from every single person I've ever spoken to about Wen's but based on this experience that's where I'm at. I'll return, I'll be sure to confirm exactly what has been written down when I order and I'm sure I'll amend this to a higher score but right now it's my honest rating on this one experience.

Front of house needs some attention, it's a young team but that shouldn't matter, I'm sure just reading the order back to us would have been enough to save this experience.

So go to Wen's, it's really good, but confirm what you've ordered and don't have the incredibly high level of expectation over the dumplings I did or you might be slightly disappointed.

Next time pork cubes in brown...

My experience at this restaurant was as lukewarm and bland as the food.

I visited on a Tuesday evening with a friend, ordering three plates to share. I might expect service to be slow on a busy weekend, but on a Tuesday I am still not sure why it took so long for our food to arrive.

The first dish to grace our table was a salt and pepper aubergine. This was actually reasonably nice - while I admit I didn't expect a deep friend, almost tempura style of cooking, the saltiness was good.

The second dish was 10 vegetable dumplings, and a sadder plate of dumplings I never did see. I cannot see how these could be home made - not that this is necessarily a problem. I am not adverse to frozen dumplings, and frequently purchase the same from Chinese supermarkets to fry or steam at home. But these dumplings seem to have been heated, and then walked on a scenic tour of Leeds before arriving at our table cold, insipid and uninspiring. The meagre soy sauce provided was not enough to bring them back to life. Perhaps some chilli oil would have done it, and would have provided some heat in an otherwise tepid dish. In future I will stick to buying my own frozen dumplings and cooking them at home.

The third dish was a plate of a king prawn noodles. This was quite unlike any Chinese noodle dish I have eaten, and believe me I have eaten a lot of 面条. It seemed to lack any sauce other than a damp, vegetably wetness. The prawns made very little impression at all.

I let our waiter know that the food was lackluster, and he did apologise and say he would pass this on. He asked what dishes we had ordered, and we could only recall the aubergine and noodles - the dumplings apparently so memorable that we could not recall them until ten minutes after we had left the restaurant. Our waiter also kindly suggested that perhaps we had ordered the wrong dishes, and that others were much tastier - this may be the case, but if so, perhaps best to remove the offending dishes from the menu.

Overall the staff were nice, and the Tsingtao was cold, but I would not go back here, and will warn others that there are other, much better, Chinese...

A Hidden Gem in Leeds

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a truly exceptional restaurant that I believe is a hidden gem in Leeds. From the moment I entered, I was impressed by the inviting atmosphere and the warm, welcoming staff, who create a sense of home that’s often missing in larger chain establishments.

It offers an authentic dining experience that is a far cry from the typical greasy takeaway options that flood the market. The food is very tasty and authentic. This is not your typical horrible greasy, fake Chinese mush food that many people seem to enjoy from their local takeaway - like "fried rice" swimming in soy sauce with "sweet and sour reprocessed and regurgitated chicken testicles covered in diabetes sugar sauce". If you are one of those weirdos who likes that crap food (which is only served in Britain and ordered by British for some bizarre reason), then I don't recommend you come here. If, however, you like authentic home cooked style food and are open to trying something other than "sweet and sour chicken" then I recommend a visit and give it a try.

Equally impressive is the selection of drinks. The teas we ordered were delightful, clearly made from high-quality leaves rather than the usual generic tea bags. It’s these little touches that enhance the dining experience.

The staff members are incredibly friendly and seem to genuinely care about their customers, which adds to the restaurant's charm. The cozy interior creates a homely atmosphere, making you feel right at ease.

Another point worth mentioning is the cleanliness of the facilities. The bathrooms were spotless, reflecting the restaurant's overall attention to hygiene and detail. A clean bathroom is often a good indicator of a well-maintained kitchen.

Overall, if you’re seeking an authentic, quality dining experience in Leeds, I highly recommend visiting this delightful establishment. You won’t be...