Upon arrival at the Empire Cafe in Leeds, you will notice signage from a bygone era and inside awaits an intimate, simple dining experience complete with a refreshingly simple menu.
The Empire Cafe was transformed from the former La Strega Cafe on Fish Street in Leeds city centre by Chef Sam Pullan. Back in October of last year he and a team of builders discoved the 'Empire Cafe' sign which is thought to date back to the first half of the 20th century.
It's small, really small, but offers an affordable bite to eat and a range of classic cocktails - with a bartender on hand to make you a custom choice.
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The front is simple, with a dark entrance with windows and a historical sign which seems like something from a West End production of Oliver, and inside is the bar where waiting staff will greet you. You have three choices of seating, at the bar (there are two seats mind) in the room ahead with tall tables, stools and booths, or downstairs in the far more intimate setting.
We chose downstairs, though in hindsight it was a little too intimate, think close quarters with your backs almost touching intimate. However, we sat down, we had a browse of the menus and to be honest, before we even selected the choice we already knew it was gonna be the chicken.
From research, Empire Cafe has a 'wall of rotisserie chickens' I was disappointed to not see such a feat but never the less chicken was on the menu. Speaking of, the menu is all locally sourced from the adjacent Kirkgate Market, making use of local traders, low-travelled produce, and fresh ingredients.
There is a selection of dishes, changing every couple of days so it's hard to list what you might get, it's all depending on the larder that day and then the chicken. Simple dishes await, with a fusion of cuisine across the board and then there is the chicken.
The rotisserie is simple, you order a half or whole chicken (£15 oe £25 respectively) and then you pick your seasoning, they range from lemon and garlic through to hotter choices such as Gochujang and honey, I think the price could be a little more right however. Each chicken dish comes with a side of Schmaltzy new potatoes, schmaltz is chicken fat for those who don't know.
The dish is simple, uncomplicated and I thought it was perfectly delicious, affordable and filling without any silliness attached. You get to feel slightly medieval (if you dare break etiquette) starting off with a knife of fork, before, as I did, finishing up sucking the meat off the bone.
The small dining room downstairs is a little too dark - romantic? - but that's because the owner chose to use mainly candles in light of the cost of living crisis, can't really argue to be honest.
However, despite the size issue, it packs a punch and a simple one at that.
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