Smoke BBQ, Leeds

There seems to a trend at the moment for smoked BBQ restaurants. Opened around 18 months ago in Leeds at the top end of the Merrion Centre, Smoke BBQ is handy for either shopping or if visiting Leeds Arena which is just across the road.

The menu is all about burgers and buns, Pit Plates and a good selection of sides.

When it says on the wall of the restaurant "Put the Fork Down, it's time to get Dirty" it will give you the idea that the food is probably best eaten with your fingers.

The atmosphere is quite rustic: brick walls, steel tables and padded seating give it an urban feel too. It felt very masculine - the clientele visiting while we were there were a mixture of female and male couples and other couples meeting up.

Prices are in line with their competitors though they say that they are the only Smoke BBQ restaurant to smoke food twice over and you can actually discover that when you taste the meat.

We went for the Smoke Sharer Plate which at £35.00 is great if you can eat a lot. It would be enough for 4 people with the selection of pulled pork, baby back rib, barbecue turkey leg, chicken thighs and hot link sausages. Served with twice cooked chips and an extra side of your choice it all tasted very moreish.

I also tried the Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger which is priced at £10.00, the burger was beefy but I would recommend instead the Smoke Sharer Plate.

Desserts change daily but on our visit we went for Lemon Cheesecake which was a big serving. My Chocolate Brownie tasted a bit bland and the pistachio ice cream it was served with was a little watery too and nothing special.

I would go for the smoked meat dishes instead as this is what the restaurant is all about and besides since the servings are big you will not have room left for desserts.

The drinks menu has the usual cocktails that start from £6.00 upwards. A pint of Freedom Organic beer is £4.00. The soft drinks are £2.50, whilst I thought it was novel to serve soft drinks in a jam jar with a handle on the side.

Service was friendly and fast - even with the restaurant being full the food arrived within 10 minutes of the order being taken.

Smoke BBQ, Unit 6, The Merrion Centre, Merrion Way, Leeds LS2 8BT
Telephone 0113 372 0720
www.smokebbq.co.uk