Arts Brasserie - Leeds

Oh no, just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, not having a TV remote is one thing but finding an open packet of cigarettes in a cupboard with nothing else in it is unacceptable. I can't wait to leave this place, I am once again very disappointed.

We had a fantastic experience at this restaurant, enjoying a specialty gin with mint while perusing the menu. The portion sizes were generous and the menu was tempting. We started with mussels and risotto, and saved room for dessert - a delicious blackberry and apple crumble served with black treacle ice cream. Although we were unable to finish everything due to the abundance of food, we still highly recommend this restaurant. Even receiving a parking ticket couldn't detract from our enjoyable evening. We will definitely be returning, this time with our family in tow.

The title of this review says it all. Upon arriving at the Brassiere without a reservation, we stood at the door for over five minutes before a waiter emerged from the kitchen to greet us. We were asked if we had a reservation, to which we replied that we did not but requested to be seated anyway. Surprisingly, the restaurant was empty at the time. We were able to dine without a reservation, but were informed that we would need to make one for future visits, which seemed odd considering the lack of patrons. We were promptly seated and placed our orders, as we had already perused the menu while waiting. Our simple order was checked on multiple times by the waiter, who was overly attentive. Drinks and food arrived promptly, though we were disappointed to find anchovies served with the salmon without prior mention on the menu. Despite this and the overcooked cabbage, the food was satisfactory and reasonably priced. When it came time to pay the bill, we were directed to the reception area to pay by debit card. However, we ended up waiting for an additional 10 minutes as the receptionist was on the phone and unable to process our payment. We were eventually directed back to the restaurant to settle the bill. Upon leaving, we left a 10% tip in cash for the waiter, who did not seem appreciative. The building appeared worn down, with stained chairs in the restaurant, and could benefit from air conditioning. Overall, our experience at the Brassiere was mediocre, but there were certainly areas for improvement.