The Cosy Club, Leeds

When a restaurant has a sign outside which shows the Yorkshire white rose you know they must be doing something right.

The Cosy Club is part of a chain of restaurants that has branches in York and Leeds as well as other cities. The Leeds restaurant though is reached by a door that leads to a small room with a flight of stairs (there is a lift), where you reach the main restaurant on the first floor. Cosy indeed.

On first entering my partner thought it looked like a Weatherspoons, which in a way it could be, but there the comparisons end. They seem to have gone for a turn of the 19th century appeal, food is served on plates that your grandma might have used, though the food is definitely 21st century.

The restaurant has a nice atmosphere: buzzing and friendly staff. There is a conservatory section too that would be good to hold a gathering in. If you want to play a board game whilst you wait for your meal then you are in luck - Scrabble while you wait for your main could be an option.

They have recently revamped the menu. Personally I found the Tapas to be the tastiest items on the menu. To start or share you can have 3 for £13.95 or £4.95 each.

We chose the Crispy Sesame Chicken (fresh and crunchy) served with soy vinegar and ginger sauce and a coriander chilli and lime salad. The Pulled Beef Brisket with blue cheese and ciabatta might seem an odd combination but then again so are board games in a restaurant - but somehow it all works. The Pulled Chicken and Chorizo with crispy potatoes suffered a little from a little too much Chorizo.

The burgers served in a brioche bun seem to be a favourite with most diners. They come with some very descriptive names, such as The Scarlet Pimpernel and The Blue Velvet. I decided upon The Golden Dame which is one of the best sellers.

It is certainly a feast, but it could be a case of too many tastes together for some. £13.95 buys you a burger with panko crumbled buttermilk chicken and streaky bacon, macaroni cheese fritter, lettuce, tomato and smokey red pepper and garlic mayo, with pickled pink slaw on the side. It comes with fries or salad too. My chicken was a little tough but everything else was fine.

My partner went for the Fish and Chips but upgraded to Sweet Potato Fries. Served with very minty mushy peas the type of fish wasn't described. It didn't flake like haddock but was tasty nevertheless. For any vegans reading they do Vegan Fish and Chips too.

The menu also has delights such as Slow Roasted Pork Belly, Thai Green Chicken Curry, Steaks and Asian Seabass fillet amongst others.

The pudding menu has 6 choices. In keeping with most places these days they don't do custard with the most obvious choices, instead it is easier to serve ice cream.

I chose the Melting Chocolate Bomb served with vanilla ice cream, honeycomb chocolate sauce and caramel cream. Your server pours over hot caramel sauce and the chocolate bomb melts before your eyes. Priced at £7.50 it was literally disappearing before your eyes.

My Partner's Mini Cinnamon Doughnuts served with toffee apple and chocolate dipping sauces was a sweet guilty pleasure.

They seem to cater for Vegans and also have a Gluten Free Menu. If I went back again I would go for the Tapas. If you go on a Tuesday you can have 3 Tapas and a glass of house wine for £13.95.

With a good cocktail menu and a nice atmosphere with decor that is certainly different it is worth visiting.

Cosy Club, 53 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5AA
Tel 0113 209 3830

https://cosyclub.co.uk/