La Bistro - Leeds

It had been a few years since our last visit, but we were pleased to find that the restaurant's high standard had been maintained. We were warmly greeted upon arrival and given the option of two tables - one by the door or one next to the bar. We chose the latter to avoid any drafts on a chilly, wet evening. After being seated and given menus, we selected a bottle of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc while we looked over the menu and specials board. For starters, we chose duck à l'orange pate and cheesy peppers, followed by swordfish and sirloin steak for mains. The starters arrived promptly and were delicious. The duck pate was beautifully presented with orange gel, toast, and salad, while the peppers were crisp and spicy. The mains arrived quickly as well, with the swordfish in a creamy mushroom sauce and the steak cooked perfectly. We did feel that a longer wait between courses would have been nice, as the service was efficient. Overall, the food was excellent and the hosts were warm and friendly. We would have preferred a more leisurely dining experience, but we thoroughly enjoyed our meal. A complimentary Limoncello was a nice touch to end the evening. Our visit on February 10, 2024, was a pleasant one.

The food and atmosphere at this restaurant are beautiful. The staff is very attentive and friendly. I highly recommend this hidden gem. We will definitely be back soon.

We decided to visit this restaurant based on the excellent reviews, so our expectations were high. Unfortunately, although the food was decent, it didn't have that special "wow" factor. The menu consisted of typical Mediterranean dishes, offered at a reasonable "early bird" price. There are plenty of other restaurants in the area with similar options, so we are in no hurry to return.

An amazing restaurant, my first visit and it certainly won't be my last. The food was delivered quickly, it tasred amazing. The service from staff was so friendly and efficient

We’ve eaten at La Bistro a good 20 or 30 times now, and as the title suggests, it’s our favourite restaurant in Leeds, not just Horsforth. For context, we are a family of four with two young kids, aged 10 and 7 at the time of writing. Given that background, the things we tend to look for in a restaurant are good food, a nice environment, solid service, consistency and a tendency to cater well for kids (and for me, that’s not simply about having a kids menu; I’ll come back to that later . La Bistro ticks every single box, every single time. First and foremost, the food here is fantastic. For all of us. Personally, I’m a lover of Mediterranean food, though as much as I do try to mix things up, I struggle to get past the meat platter; it’s delicious. The menu leads with a selection of Turkish dishes, everything from hot and cold mezes to Ottoman style seafood, and this is my personal favourite section of the menu. But there’s a lot more on offer beyond that, including a wide choice of pizzas and pastas, steaks, burgers, plus a smattering of Greek favourites like stifado and moussaka. For this reason, it’s always been a go-to whenever we’ve been looking for somewhere for a big family group. We’ve had tables of around 20 adults and children, some fussier than others, and everyone has gone away happy and full. There is something for everyone, even those with certain food intolerances. Kids can choose from a smaller portion of any pizza or pasta (they’re still generous, btw! , or a selection of other options like chicken nuggets. One final word on the food, the early bird deal (which runs from Sunday to Friday until 5pm, I think! , offers two courses for something like £19 is fantastic value. Whilst I’m partial to a calamari starter, my wife loves the desserts! There’s a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. From a personal point of view, I prefer a draft beer as opposed to bottled, however the 500ml bottles of “Efes Draft” are the next best thing. The restaurant itself is modest in size and has a modern, cozy feel. Though the restaurant isn’t massive, there’s ample space between tables, and you don’t feel like you are a top of one another. It’s a nice, relaxing place to be, even when the place is busy. As good as the food is (and it truly is brilliant , what makes this place is the staff. To a person, they are absolutely fantastic. Welcoming, friendly, helpful and attentive. Again, no matter how busy it is. Our young daughter gets on like a house on fire with the owner, who is brilliant with both of our kids. Some time ago, my daughter drew a little sketch of him while at the table; to this day, that picture remains pinned on the wall at the back of the restaurant. Just a lovely touch, that delights our little girl every time we go back. Whenever the kids’ birthdays come around, La Bistro is always the place they ask to go. Not TGIs, not Nando’s, not Five Guys. That in itself speaks volumes, for me. A visit to La Bistro is like a warm hug from family. Every single time, bar none, we’ve walked away having thoroughly enjoyed not just the food, but the whole experience. It is consistently excellent. It’s what eating out as a family should be all about.