I dined out at this hidden Leeds bar where you can grab lunch for under £10

Treehouse Bar and Kitchen is a relatively new addition to the Otley food scene, having opened its doors in June 2024. Already however, it is making its name as a food destination with bargain prices and top tier service.

Entering Treehouse Bar and Kitchen was like walking into the Tardis. The exterior is unassuming, but as you step inside, the venue suddenly becomes wondrously expansive. Somehow there is space for dozens of tables and chairs, and even a beer garden too. The highlight of the interior is the main dining area where a clear roof adds a sunkissed warmth to the atmosphere. To fit the Treehouse theme, there’s plenty of botanical themed decoration, and there’s mirrorballs too, showing that any time is a good time for a party. As a grade-II listed building, Treehouse could be empty and it’d still fill you with awe, but the modern decoration adds a quirky sense of character.

When it came to choosing food, we were inundated with options. There’s burgers, pizzas, and kebabs galore if you’re seeking a filling main, and light bites for smaller appetites too. What’s particularly exciting for the budget-conscious is the special lunchtime deal.

Treehouse’s lunch menu offers several mains for just £8 on Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4pm. Each option includes a free soft drink, and you can add fries too for £2 extra. Nowadays, this is one of the best deals on the market if you want to dine out but keep costs low.

To test it out, we decided to try two options: the fish butty and the chicken Caesar wrap. The battered cod fillet in the fish butty was beautifully tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside while the tartare sauce and minted pea puree added wonderfully sharp bursts of fresh flavour. The brioche bun it came in was grilled, which made it slightly too cooked for my liking, but other tastebuds may vary. The chicken Caesar wrap, meanwhile was generously packed with protein which made you feel you were getting your money’s worth. This option is accessorised with lettuce and tomato which adds a sweet yet healthy kick.

Since the lunch menu doesn’t run all day every day, we also decided to test out one of the menu staples: the bacon cheeseburger. The short conclusion is that this option was delicious. The bacon had a lovely smoky crunch while the beef patty offered an indulgent soft chew, exactly how I believe good beef should be. My main complaint would be that for a burger with bacon in the name, the bacon portion was on the light side.

What was also exciting was the range of drink options including £6 spritz and £6 house margaritas. On this occasion, however, I was intrigued by the mango sunrise, a summery mocktail packed with mango, orange, pineapple, and lemon juice. When it arrived, it was far more impressive than I even imagined and had a fresh ice cold taste. As a fantastic concoction of flavours which was presented beautifully, it felt like I received the cocktail treatment.

The style of dining at Treehouse is relaxed pub style, with cutlery and sauces served in tin can containers. It was a place that we felt that we could truly sit back and unwind in. The friendly staff added to this too, who had both an impressive encyclopaedic menu knowledge and a kind energy too.

Treehouse was a new discovery for us and we didn’t know what to expect. But the experience was all in all fantastic with great food, excellent service, and a radiant atmosphere - the the three key ingredients for a top tier bar.

We were surprised in our in the best possible way.

Factfile

Address: 40 Bondgate, Otley, LS21 1AD

Telephone: 0113 531 3509

Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs - 12pm -1am; Tues, Sun - 12pm-10pm, Fri, Sat - 12pm-1am

Website: https://treehousebars.com/

Scores

Food: 9/10

Value: 10/10

Atmosphere: 10/10

Service: 10/10