Restaurant Review: Blackhouse, The Grill On The Sqaure, Leeds

Last week myself and Tom took a trip to Blackhouse (The grill on the square) in Leeds. Blackhouse has been on my "to-go-to restaurants" list for some time but somehow I've overlooked this on multiple occasions. I think my problem was I saw the place as a steak house and nothing more, been a self confessed foodie, I like a few more options on the menu and well....more "exciting" options. I was proved somewhat wrong at the end of the evening and felt bad I had almost been too too quick to prejudge Blackhouse. 

In fact, at the end of the evening I can honestly say, it was up there with one of my most enjoyable dining experiences of the year. The best steak I have ever eaten. A large claim to make but none the less true. 

Whilst we perused the impressive and extensive menu we ordered some nibbles and drinks to get started. Olives £3.00 and a portion of the warm baked loaf with chorizo butter and salted butter £3.50. Along side a beer and a glass of Saint Clare Sauvignon Blanc from the drinks menu. 

The fresh baked bread was very moreish and the chorizo butter added an extra nice touch to start the evening. 

To start, the Tuna Carpaccio £8.75 caught my eye and Tom decided on the Dressed Crab and Avacado £6.75. 

The Tuna was a well presented dish with finely sliced  fresh tuna served with a sesame and chili dressing. The sesame dressing did over power the delicate taste of the tuna and I couldn't really taste the chili. That said, it was a enjoyable sophisticated light starter and the sesame seeds did bring a depth of texture to the dish.

Tom's starter of dressed crab and avocado was served on a bed of cucumber with a bloody Mary dressing and olive oil toasted croutons. My first impression of the starters was the tuna looked the better presented of the two, with the presentation of the crab looking a little dated...70's food era maybe? I think it was the slices of cucumber and dots of bright red bloody Mary sauce which made me think this.

The taste of the dish was actually very good. The avocado worked well with the crab and both flavours complimented each other other well. I thought the bloody Mary dressing was sharp which added a nice flavour to a cut through a creamy texture of the dish.

For the main courses, I was impressed with the wide range of speciality steaks available. The waitresse's knowledge of the menu was excellent. She comprehensively talked us both through the range of steaks available, from to the type of cows and what they was fed to the flavours and textures of the meat. In the end we both opted for a classic cut of steak, myself the 227g English fillet steak £29.00 and Tom a larger 340g Argentinian Ribeye steak £28.00.

However, if steak isn't your thing, the menu also has a variety of other dishes from lobster and seabass, to roasted lamb fillet and burgers. Plus vegetarian options including cauliflower steak.

The steaks arrived with our chosen accompaniments,  skin on fries and a peppercorn sauce £2.50 for myself and a red wine and shallot sauce £2.50 for Tom, with a garnish of roasted cherry tomatoes. We also chose a house salad £4.00 to share between us. The accompaniment of chips (or you can also select mash potatoes) was included within the price of the steak but I did feel it was a shame the sauces were charged separately. 

The fillet steak was cooked beautifully, medium rare as ordered, it literally melted in my mouth. With not an  ounce of fat to be found anywhere on the steak. I really hate the term "melt in the mouth" for some reason but over the past few years of good quality dining, I've found this the best way to truly describe moments like this. The chips were cooked to perfection, beautifully crisp with a good fluffy texture. The peppercorn sauce was a nice thick (but not too thick) consistency with a good kick of peppercorn. My one minor criticism, was the tomatoes required roasting for longer. At first glance, I thought they were fresh straight to the plate tomatoes, so it would of been nice to see some charring on the skins to bring out their sweetness. 

The ribeye, is a cut not as tender as the fillet but still a tender cut known for the marbling of fat running through the steak. This adds a rich meaty flavour. Tom said he found the steak flavoursome but far less tender than my fillet steak. He said my steak "melted like butter". This would be expected though given the different cuts of meat.

A really good main course from Blackhouse and I was certainly impressed. A small let down other than the tomatoes, was a disappointing house salad. This wouldn't bother me too much however I felt £4.00 was on the pricier side for a simple side salad. It deserved a little thought from the chefs too, without been a simple dish of "leaves". 

Following on from an impressive starter and main course we were both tempted to try the desserts. The waitress again explained the options and offered recommendations as well as offering us a range of coffees and cocktails to finish the evening. 

I was tempted instantly by the Lemon and Lime Posset £5.50 and Tom continued the classic theme of the evening with a Bannana Bread and Butter Pudding £4.95. 

I also couldn't resist adding a cocktail and chose a classic favourite Espresso Martini £8.00 and Tom a Caffe Latte £2.75.

The desserts arrived.  One small thin slice of bread and butter pudding compared with a much larger lemon and lime posset. I think the portion size would of actually been fine as an end to a 3 course meal, if it wasn't for the contrast in size between the two.

The banana bread and butter pudding was served with an orange creme fraiche. The banana added a nice twist on the classic and the caramalisation from the bananas added a nice sweetness but the overall banana flavour was lacking. Although this may have been as Tom ate it so fast.

The lemon and lime posset was served with fresh strawberries, cream, brandy snaps and a sprig of mint. The posset was rich and creamy, as expected and had a nice sharpness coming through from the citrus fruits. I couldn't finish all the dessert but Tom happily stepped in.

Overall I would highly recommend Blackhouse and can not wait to return. If you're a lover of steak you certainly will not be disappointed.

You can also check out Tom's review here.

SAMMIE

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Jamies Italian Evening Favourites Review

I don't keep it a secret that I'm a fussy diner. Selecting new restaurants to try is a challenge, usually the "cheaper" restaurants means cheap quality which i end up been grudged paying even a small amount for, and for me, when it comes to food, quality comes at a price. Until now there's only been a handful of restaurants I've come across which don't break the bank and don't compromise on quality. Luckily i was recently able to add Jamies Italian to my list of affordable eats, with the launch of their "Evening Favourites" menu. 

The select menu offers an impressive 3 courses for £18.95 pp, with mains including favourites such as steaks, burgers, pasta and pizza dishes. Unlike other early bird style menus, the menu starts after 6pm between Mondays and Thursdays, which is a particular highlight for myself as it means it actually feels like a treat and gives everyone chance to freshen up and get ready, no more rushing to eat straight from work to grab the best deals. Although if you are looking to dine earlier the restaurant also offers a super lunch with 3 courses for £12.95 until 6pm, Mondays - Thursdays. 

Looking through the starters i was impressed to see one of my favourite pasta dishes 'truffle tagliatelle'  so the choice for myself was easy. Tom opted for the 'cured meat plank', again something i was impressed to see on a menu, as I've not come across many 'plank' type starters designed for one person on menus before. 

The 'cured meat plank' arrived and we was both impressed by the variety of the starter. Given it was a starter for one, there was still an array of delights to feast upon, including meats, cheese, pickles and homemade slaw. The waitress was very pleasant and knowledgeable as she explained everything the starter included. I found the starter had a nice balance with a good meat to cheese ratio, the slaw accompanied it all well with a fresh taste and a hint of orange. 

My starter of Truffle tagliatelle was delicious, the truffle was perfectly balanced and not over powering. The pasta was silky and cooked well, making it a very luxurious starter. 

For the mains Tom opted for his favourite...Steak. I decided to go double pasta with the sausage ragu.

The steak was served with a fresh tomato salad and a side of home made fries. The yellow and red tomatoes added a fresh element to the dish and gave it a real Italian feel. the steak was cooked to order 'rare' and although came more on the 'medium' side the thin cut of meat still ensured the steak was juicy and tender so this wasn't a problem for Tom. 

My pasta again was cooked well. The dish was well seasoned although I found the flavour of fennel a little over powering but still a well balanced dish. The ragu was a slightly runny consistency but the bread crumbs incorporated into the dish, soaked up all the flavour and gave a good texture. A trick i will now be trying on my pasta dishes at home. 

After been rather full on my double pasta i would of usually said no to a dessert. Although given the excellent value of the evening favourites menu and spotting a chocolate fondant on the menu...who am i to say no. Plus no meal is complete without a pudding....right? 

The chocolate fondant was excellent and one of the best I've ever eaten. There was a very rich chocolate flavour and the middle was soft and gooey. The dish was completed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream which balanced the rich chocolate flavour. Can we also just take a second now to marvel at the rather cute little flag in the pudding. 

Tom choose the white chocolate cheese cake which again was well presented, topped with fresh raspberries and an amaretto biscuit crumb. The desert again was delicious with my only criticism being the base of the cheesecake lacked 'crumbilness'. 

Overall the food was delicious and the value is excellent. The staff were friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. I would particularly recommend the evening favourites menu for some affordable mid week dining. As said above the menu running from 6pm onwards is excellent for anyone with a busy schedule who finds it tricky to make early reservations. 

Let me know in the comments below if your a fan of Jamies Italian. 

SAMMIE

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*Food and drink was complimentary for review purposes

Hotel Review: Over night stay at Middleton Lodge Richmond

So last week myself and Tom, spend hours sending links back and forth over whatsapp looking for a place to stay for a little nights getaway for the weekend. What felt like hours...in fact it was hours, of humming and ahhing trying to find the perfect place to stay when we both eventually agreed on Middleton Lodge for a night in one of their rather beautiful garden suits. 

Middleton Lodge certainly proved a good choice and worth all the hours spent on Trip Advisor. Set in the heart of Richmond with the surroundings of a luxury county estate, the lodge is simply perfect to escape any busy weeks and completely unwind. 

The room was simply beautiful, exposed beams, a king size bed, roll top bath and cosy garden area plus not forgetting the home comforts in the form of Yorkshire Tea and home made biscuits. 

We unpacked our bags, kicked of our shoes....did a running jump onto the bed and relaxed for the evening. We had made reservations for an evening meal at the Coach House restaurant (located at the lodge)  and fully indulged in the form of amazing food, bath bubbles and prosecco bubbles out in the garden terrace.  The evening meal was beautiful and i cant wait to share this in a separate post very soon. 

The next morning we took our sleepy heads down to breakfast, well my sleepy head, Tom spent the morning playing with the nespresso machine in the room so i think that perked him up a bit...

Breakfast which was included in the stay, was a mix of a continental selection of yogurts, fresh fruit, cereals including home made granola and croissants plus a selection of warm dishes including a full English, eggs benedict (or eggs royal) and blueberry pancakes along with warm buttery sour dough toast. 

I opted for the eggs benedict, which were divine and Tom couldn't resist the full english. 

After breakfast we decided to make the most of our stay and headed out for the woodland walk around the grounds of the lodge. We decided to use the hotel bikes (free of charge) to complete the walk. I would like to say its true that once you learn you don't forget but i did have a few near misses into some poor unsuspecting trees. 

Overall the stay was simply perfect, I feel it will take a lot for our next night away to top Middleton Lodge and i know i will be returning. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

SAMMIE

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