When Residence first opened its doors as a cosy cafe in Cookridge in 2018, I don’t think anybody quite anticipated the all-day, go-to dining hub it has since become.
With an additional branch in Headingley and now the energetic Moortown (not to mention the brand’s own deli and bakery, “Vine”) the eatery is taking the City by storm, fast becoming a stalwart of the Leeds dining scene.
Given its friendly staff and accessible menu, which, in the early days at least, leaned heavily towards
brunch and cocktails, its popularity is no mystery. Residence proudly does not take bookings if you’re a
party of five or fewer, so if you venture there on a weekend, be prepared to wait (and perhaps take a snack, if you’re the hangry sort). Having said this, the ever-affable team usually manage to turn things around promptly, leaving many a hungry punter satisfied.
Like its casual sister spot in Headingley, the new Residence Moortown is uniquely decorated, somewhat
industrial-looking with a splash of whimsy, and artificial plant life appear to be plotting a take-over of the
walls. The venue is tidy and has a comfortable atmosphere, despite the bustle.
We arrive on opening night, and both the outdoor terrace and the restaurant itself are hives of activity – it feels like “the place to be” and I am somewhat smug as we take our seats. The staff are clearly overburdened but they show admirably few signs of stress – it was smiles all round as we were handed the drinks menu.
On this particular evening, I was keen to sample a cocktail or two (I’ll get to those shortly) but I have on
previous visits to their Headingley branch enjoyed some of their new smoothies – my favourite of which
being the “Vitality”, which has an essay of healthy ingredients the likes of Joe Wickes would be proud of,
from goji berries to baobab. All I can say is that if you’re suffering from a hangover (induced by
Residence cocktails or otherwise) they offer their own antidote – the Vitality literally feels like jumping into
a pool of vitamin-powered goodness.
On the other side of the health coin, let me say a few words about their boozy menu. If you have less of a sweet tooth, their Tommy’s Margarita is the way to go. Served short, it was well balanced and tangy with a fiery hit of booze – a perfect post-work tipple.
We also sampled the Pink Lady (cue London dry gin, apple liqueur, lemon, grenadine and foamer) and a classic Espresso Martini. The cocktails are on the smaller side but don’t let that fool you – they pack a real punch and flirt with the American-style; colourful, simply garnished and full of flavour. They are the kind of heady which is just about manageable for a dignified bruncheon or weeknight dinner. Saying this, they also offer a 90-minute bottomless brunch if you’re feeling less sensible about things.
A nod must also go to the pricing – the cocktails particularly are very reasonable for what you get, with 2 for £12 being the order of the day all week long.
Now, on to the food: Signature options include the Triple Bacon Smash Burger with skin on fries, and a
selection of 11 inch stonebaked pizzas, with fun, flirty names like “Choke On This” and “Triple ‘Sowce’:Burrata”. My friend and I, following a little too much back and forth (necessary when something as important as food is at play, you understand) settle on the smash burger and chicken and mushroom pizza, plus two sharing plates: the fish tacos (which our waitress recommended with such zealousness that it was impossible to refuse) and the salt and pepper tofu bao buns.
I’ll be honest; the tofu was prepared in the only way I really, genuinely enjoy tofu – crispy and deep fried!
The slathering of sriracha mayo didn’t hurt its chances either. I was also both surprised and delighted to
find that the fish taco was of the corn variety rather than wheat – a sad rarity outside of genuine Mexican
joints and (in my humble opinion) far superior when it comes to flavour.
In terms of the mains, the sweet and savoury smash burger was the clear winner for both of us. The pizza was homely and comforting but struggled to knock our socks off in comparison. I would without doubt return for that burger alone – a delicious, messy medley of two 3 oz smash burgers, American cheese, streaky bacon, lettuce, baconnaise and bacon jam – the latter I will be dreaming about for weeks.
It would be nice to see the evening main menu expand beyond burgers and pizzas, but their sharing menu is fairly expansive and delves into Mexican and Asian cuisine. The food is casually delicious with a home-spun appeal, focusing on gentle twists of traditional dishes many of us know and love rather than trifling head on with bold new flavours.
It is not fine dining, nor does it pretend to be – but there is a beauty to the familiar here. When all is said and done, Residence Moortown, like its siblings in Cookridge and Headingley, is a commendably reliable choice if you’re after a casual meet-up or group outing, particularly if you have any picky eaters in the midst. The staff are attentive without being intrusive, the cocktails are as addictive as sweeties and the food is hearty enough to balance them without wobbling out of the door.
No doubt the Moortown venture will be just as successful as the others before it. As for me, I’ll be back for a smoothie or marg before the month is out. At £6 a pop, it would be rude not to…..
Visit www.ResidenceCafeBar.co.uk for more information or follow on Instagram @residenceleeds for updates.
