The Dakota Bar and Grill can be found in the basement of the Dakota Deluxe in Leeds. This hotel means business, and so does its restaurant. The décor inside The Grill is impressive, complete with an abundance of big art. Polished cutlery and crisp white plates line the rows of tables in this large space, which also offers a private dining room that is available for groups of 6 to 8 people. The menu itself is impressive and offers a good choice of cuisine with steak being their signature cuisine, cooked on hot coals and masterfully prepared.
The cocktails at The Grill are also worth a mention. They are crafted to perfection and you can observe them being mastered from your table as the bar is also located within the open plan restaurant area. If you appreciate a good cocktail you won’t be disappointed. I chose to begin our evening with a Palme D’or cocktail, which consisted of Grey Goose with coconut milk mix, lime juice and pineapple juice. It was simply delicious and so beautifully presented. My partner chose a more elegant glass of the Billecart Salmon Rosé NV which of course needs no introduction.
“This hotel means business, and so does its restaurant.”
To begin our culinary experience, I chose to start with their beetroot and vodka cured salmon served with a cucumber relish. This simple dish was most flavoursome and beautifully fresh, making it the perfect starter. My partner opted for the butternut squash risotto served with toasted pumpkin seeds, which was also wonderful. The risotto was cooked just perfectly and the sweetness of the butternut squash really shone through this dish.
For our main courses, of course we both had to have steak. I chose the 280g rib eye steak with peppercorn sauce, and my partner chose the 220g fillet steak with garlic butter. We were more than delighted to learn that each of the steaks served by the restaurant are hand cut by Donald Russell, Royal Warrant holder since 1984, and trusted supplier to Her Majesty The Queen, no less. To accompany our steaks, we also added sides of hand cut chips, cabbage and bacon and buttered spinach.
We also enjoyed a bottle of the 2015, Trapiche Estacion 1883 Malbec, Mendoza, which complimented the melt-in-the-mouth tender meat perfectly, cutting through the richness of the delicious sauces and indulgent sides.
We finished off the evening with dessert, I couldn’t refuse the apple and blackberry crumble with crème anglaise, with my partner opting for the raspberry and white chocolate slice with a white chocolate macaroon and raspberry sorbet. These desserts provided the most delicious end to what was a fantastic meal.
We cannot fault our experience at The Dakota Bar & Grill, we cannot speak highly enough of this restaurant, we would have no hesitation in dining here again.
The Bill: £47 per head
