I tried the new Leeds restaurant Madre bringing a taste of Mexico City to city centre - here’s what I thought

Already home to acclaimed eateries such as Lupe’s Cantina and Azotea, Leeds has long offered a range of truly impressive Mexican dishes - but its latest arrival brings something fresh to the table. Hailing from Liverpool, Madre has, over the past few years, made its way along the Leeds-Liverpool Canal, stopping off in Manchester before finally landing in Wellington Place.

Opening just weeks after - and only a stone’s throw from - its sister venue, the pool and tequila bar Salon Madre on Wellington Street, Madre takes a notably different approach. While Salon leans into cocktails, sports and bite‑sized, street‑food‑inspired plates, Madre offers a more relaxed, sit‑down experience, showcasing a variety of eye‑opening dishes from across Mexico’s many regions.

Inspired by the classic restaurants of Mexico City, the space is brought to life with warm orange and green tones, stylish tiling and sleek wooden furnishings. The restaurant is also designed with “sobremesa” in mind - a style of social dining common in Mexico, where a meal can stretch to several hours of shared plates and drinks.

This is implemented through “Madre’s Table” (£35pp), with small plates of curated dishes served in rounds, sometimes with longer pauses between servings.

Our meal starts off with guacamole y totopos: fresh and punchy guac served with freshly fried tortillas, paired with chicharron de puerco y cola - crispy pork belly in a Mexican cola BBQ sauce. Unbelievably crispy yet melt‑in‑the‑mouth.

Simultaneously, the Madre Caesar arrives - a dish I wasn’t expecting to be memorable. But the rich dressing and sharp pickled jalapeños give it a welcome lift, proving there’s still room for creativity in a classic.

The contramar tuna tostada follows, and it’s the dish of the night: sashimi‑grade raw tuna with sesame and avocado on a thick, crunchy tostada. Both my guest and I agreed it was a standout and would happily have eaten a second.

Next come the tacos - baja fish and green chorizo costra. Both are fresh and generously filled, but the fish tacos edge ahead thanks to a hefty portion of tempura‑battered Atlantic pollock that stays crisp throughout.

Cordero al carbón continues the high standard: slow‑cooked shredded lamb, barbecued for crispness and served over a smooth avocado salsa with pistachio. Rich, tender and deeply savoury, it’s one of the most memorable plates of the evening.

Fire‑roasted wild mushrooms with radish and egg yolk follow. While pleasant, the dish doesn’t quite match the impact of what came before, and its softer texture divided opinion at the table.

We finish with BBQ pollo negro and warm wheat tortillas - smoky, generous and satisfying, though a few extra sauces for dipping would have rounded it out nicely.

The whole meal is washed down with a Pineapple Picante and a Mezcalita. The former leans more sweet‑and‑tart than fiery, while the latter delivers the smoky punch mezcal lovers look for.

Madre’s arrival feels like a confident addition to Leeds’ dining scene - polished, considered and full of personality, with enough standout dishes to tempt you back for another long sobremesa.

Factfile

• Address: Unit 2AB, 4 Wellington Pl, Leeds LS1 4AP
• Telephone: 0113 511 9111
• Opening hours: Mon-Sun, noon-11pm
• Website: https://www.thisismadre.co.uk/

Scores

• Food: 9/10
• Value: 8/10
• Atmosphere: 8/10
• Service: 8/10