Calling Cuban Revs by its full and proper title, Revolución de Cuba, feels a bit like when your mum yells your full name and you know you’re really in for it. But far from a telling off, this Leeds party scene stalwart deserves a star on its reward chart because the new food and cocktail menus are properly good. After a long, and I really do mean long week, I dived out of the dark, rainy streets of Leeds into the buzzing surrounds of, what I will continue to affectionately call Cuban Revs, ready for a quick cocktail and some dinner before returning home ahead of a joy-filled evening of packing boxes and prepping for my upcoming move South.
Rum is a firm favourite of mine that’s often overlooked in favour of the ever-trendy gin, so it’s nice to see a cocktail menu so thoroughly dedicated to the spirit. Given the week I had, I immediately gravitated towards the Nuclear Daiquiri. Complete with flashing green glass and candy floss mushroom cloud, this radioactive green combination of Bacardi Carta Blanca rum, Wray & Nephew Overproof rum, pineapple, lime, sugar and crème de banana may not be the most tasteful drink I’ve ever had, but it is deeply tasty, and I’m a sucker for a good tagline – “Blended, frozen and guaranteed to cause fallout the morning after.”
Topped with pico de gallo for a hit of fresh tomato acidity to cut through the weight of the various cheeses, and served with fries and a rum mayo, it was exactly what I needed ahead of my busy box-filled evening – or, if you’re having more fun than I am, perfect to line your stomach ahead of several more Nuclear Daiquiris.
With no room or time left for pudding, I headed away from the revellers at Revs and back out into the cold, but at least my stomach was glowing with a little Cuban warmth.
Feature photograph by Stan Graham
Other photographs by Rosie O’Brien