La Grillade

Vive La Grillade, c’est magnifique.

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:15:47 +0000

It is now some 30 years since I first had the pleasure of dining at fabulous ‘La Grillade’…

I, my friends and my family still enjoy the food, the ambience, the friendly and efficient staff and of course… Le Vin!!

Guy and his team have never let me down. Thirty years on and I am still a regular… Says it all really.

Get your diary out and book your table, you will not regret it!

Vive La Grillade, c’est magnifique.

Lifetime achievement for Guy Martin-Laval from on:Yorkshire magazine

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:54:54 +0000

Guy Martin-Laval and Leeds oldest and favourite French restaurant La Grillade received a Lifetime Achievement from On: Yorkshire Magazine Awards. On: Yorkshire Magazine celebrates the best in the Yorkshire region from the bars and restaurants, through retail, to the lifestyle sector.

At La Grillade we were more than pleased to be acknowledged for our “dedication to service, ingredients sourcing and no compromise authenticity… and La Grillade remains the blueprint for successful restaurant enterprises in the region”, to read the full article from the On: Yorkshire website please click here.

‘French Connection’ interview with Guy Martin-Laval

admin — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:57:33 +0000

A full page feature article on Leeds oldest French restaurant La Grillade featuring an interview with our owner Guy Martin-Laval appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post on Wednesday 29th February this year. To view a copy of the full article as seen in the YEP please click here or you can view the article on the YEP website by clicking here.

Wine & Cheese Tasting

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:23:12 +0000

2nd February 2012 – 6.30pm

£20.00 per person – Booking is necessary

La Grillade is looking forward to presenting a night of fine wine and cheese. We’ll take you through a selection of wines and cheeses, discussing the finer points and giving tips and advice on how to choose wines.

It looks to be a great night, reserve your place today to avoid disappointment!

For more information or to book, please call 0113 245 9707

“You cannot beat classic French for a good meal”

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:25:32 +0000

You cannot beat classic French for a good meal and La Grillade is about as classic French as you can get. This bijou establishment has been on the Leeds food scene for many years and is a bit of a legend.

As the name suggests it’s a grill, if you like your meat you’ll be happy and we were very happy. It was my 30th at the weekend so the Lady took us out for a treat so we went all out. I ordered a bottle of their cheapest champagne and all things considered it was pretty good.

To start I went for the Rillettes, I love Pork Rilettes so I really had to have this one in all honesty. Rich and creamy with pork fat it was served in Quenelles, how retro is that, with some hot toast it was near to perfect but could have been a bit more peppery.

The Lady ordered Escargot, she literally eats everything so I was not surprised. I tried one and I can safely say I still hate them, I really don’t see the attraction.

She did say they could have been more garlicky. For mains we went for the daddy of all steaks Château Briand, served rare with Frites. It was spot on and there is nothing more to say on the matter.

I think you can tell from my blog I’m a man of simple tastes and pleasures so it won’t be too much of a surprise when I tell you I had the Crème Brulee for dessert. It was a delight I’m not going to say any more on the matter.

The Lady had Tarte aux Pommes, which was delicious and the portion was just the right size considering it’s richness. To heighten the sheer class of the evening Alan Bennett was eating at the table over the way from us, he is pretty much in the premiership of top old Yorkshire men so it was a classy affair.

All in all La Grillade is delightfully decadent and deliciously retro and surprisingly good value as our meal was £112 including service charge which I was more than happy to pay, the service was excellent as well with actual French people at the helm.

Of course the company was excellent as always and my spirits were high because of the occasion but I definitely think this is a place to try if you haven’t been before.

“A hidden gem”

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:10:48 +0000

Fabulous menu choice. May not look much from the outside but is beautiful atmosphere inside. Would go back again and again….

“Superb Dining Experience”

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:08:32 +0000

We used to go frequently to La Grillade but drifted away. We returned last night and the place is unchanged. It is situated in a basement and is atmospheric if you like France and things French. The best bet is the meat which still in my view is unsurpassed in quality. It is simply done with a bowl of lettuce and a bowl of proper French fries (i.e. not chips). Try the vin de patron – it is “only” vin de table but, like their compatriots, in France you seldom get other than enjoyable wine as house wine. The cheeseboard is still pretty extensive and absolutely superb, served with proper French bread – NOT supermarket baguettes! The service was excellent – polite and attentive – but perhaps this was because we had a Polish waitress and not a French one. Our bill for three courses, (including arguably the best meat in Leeds), wine and 10% tip was £72 which I felt was wholly acceptable. We will return!

“I’m a big fan of La Grillade”

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:50:19 +0000

I’m a big fan of La Grillade, though my visit this month was the first for about a year. It had lost none of its qualities though – good food, cooked well and not messed about with. The wine list is put together very thoughtfully with a good variety to suit all budgets. For me the best thing to have is some of the grilled meat, especially the lamb cutlets. These are always served with chips and a lightly dressed salad. The puddings are good although I’m not entirely sure how French bread & butter pudding is but, as it’s one of my favourites, I’m not complaining. The cheese board is great too when one has room after pudding (which I nearly always do).

“… La Grillade is still at the heart of Leeds’ restaurant scene…”

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:40:44 +0000

“Thirty Years on, La grillade is still at the heart of Leeds’ restaurant scene – long may it continue.”
North Side Food & Drink

“… a corner of his native France…”

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:39:48 +0000

“Guy Laval has created a corner of his native France in the basement of the Former Wellelsey Hotel.”
The Times