Jasper Leeds review: 'I swapped food fads for steak and bottomless fries - and have no regrets'

Food trends may come and go over the years.

Giant sharing platters designed more for photos than flavour, gold leaf on everything and activated charcoal foods - remember those?

While other food pairings have stood the test of time and earned their place on our tables for centuries.

Think tomato and basil, strawberries and cream and, of course, cheese and wine.

In a world of ever-changing food trends, there's something reassuring about simplicity. The most memorable dishes are rarely the most complicated.

So we were intrigued to see Jasper open its doors in the Grand Arcade.

With the pairing of steak and cocktails, it sounds like a recipe for success.

It’s mantra is simple: Cut the steak. Sip the cocktails. Repeat the bottomless fries. Yes, you read that right bottomless fries over the course of a 90 minute sitting.

Move over margaritas and mimosas. This bottomless is purely about the carbs and chips.

Jasper is a nod to the family’s son who was born and grew up in Leeds. At the heart is family.

And after two years the owners decided it was time for a new chapter which focuses on steaks, bottomless fries, better cocktails and an extensive drinks selection.

They’re not kidding about the drinks selection as the wall of bottles greets you as you enter the restaurant which boasts over 100 whiskies and more than 40 gins at its home in the heart of Grand Arcade.

The cocktail menu was extensive and experimental - tobacco liqueur and steak fat washed Absolut Vodka certainly raised the eyebrow of my dining partner.

I went for a refreshing and fruity Kyoto Spritz on the mocktail menu while my dining partner opted for a house gin and tonic which was a much needed refresh in the searing heat of the week.

The starters boasted a mix of tradition and fusion with dishes such as steak tartare through to chicken karage, fried spam and fried oysters.

I opted for the fried oysters while my partner went for the roasted peach with Parma ham salad accompanied with mozzarella and hot honey.

The oysters were crisp and balanced out the texture perfectly while my dining partner was impressed with the combination of flavours for her salad,

The peach was slightly underripe but it’s just a matter of preference, she still ate the lot.

We both opted for the steak and bottomless fries main which came in at a snip at £19.95 with an extra surcharge for sirloin of £3.

The steaks were slow-cooked and tender and came with a basket of fries which were refilled on requested when the current serving was complete.

My only quibble on the steak was I am a big fan of rare steak but the options for cooking started at medium rare which was a little disappointing.

That being said our steaks arrived and they were juicy and tender. A real treat.

My partner was impressed with the Diane sauce which was salty and creamy with some very finely diced shallots. She could have devoured another jug if she was given the chance.

But she opted for the extra fries, it had to be done.

Sadly neither of us had any space left over for the chocolate lava cake we’d been eyeing up on the menu as we were so full.

Equally full was the restaurant on a mid-week evening which was really heartening to see for the new kid on the chipping block.

We’re already staking our next visit back for this what is sure to become timeless classic in Leeds.

Factfile

Address: Jasper, 10 Grand Arcade, Leeds City Centre

Telephone:

Opening hours: Tues - Thurs 5pm - 11pm; Fri 5pm-1am; Sat 4pm - 1am and Sun 12pm - 8pm.

Website: https://www.jasperleeds.com/

Scores

Food/drinks: 8/10

Value: 9/10

Atmosphere: 8/10

Service: 8/10