Contemporary cocktail bar and kitchen, Banyan Leeds, opened its doors in the spring of 2016 and is arguably one of the most popular drinking and dining spots in the city centre. Conveniently situated opposite Leeds train station, it’s often the first port of call for many visitors eager to experience the city’s vibrant nightlife. With food served from breakfast through to dinner, Banyan is equally popular with daytime visitors seeking a bite to eat in a stylish setting. It’s also a family-friendly venue with a great kids’ menu and, more often than not, a kids-eat-free deal during school holidays.
In recent years, Banyan has become one of Leeds’ top destinations for bottomless brunch. Earlier this year, my husband and I visited for a daytime date, enjoying a choice of hot mains and two hours of unlimited drinks for a set price. The service was excellent, with attentive staff keeping the drinks flowing, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our chosen dishes.
Banyan unveiled some exciting new additions to its menu last month, so we returned last week as a family of three. Alongside the venue’s mouth-watering selection of small plates and mains, there are four delectable dishes designed to be shared. In keeping with Banyan’s main menu, which features both British classics and dishes inspired by global cuisines, the sharing options include: Tacos Your Way (£29.95), Pan-Asian Chicken Trio (£29.95), Crispy Duck Pancakes (£22.95), and the Signature Sharing Steak (£48.95).
Having loved the Bang Bang Chicken from our bottomless brunch, we decided to try the Pan-Asian Chicken Trio, served with egg-fried rice and prawn crackers, on our return visit. The bite-sized pieces of crispy chicken, smothered in a creamy and moderately spicy peanut sauce, were just as good as I remembered, with plenty to go around.
The Sticky Karaage Chicken was equally delicious. Though similar in texture with its crunchy coating, the Korean-style fried chicken pieces were larger and coated in a much sweeter sauce boasting gorgeous smoky undertones and a warming hit of chilli.
The final component of our trio was the Thai Marinated Chicken. Although it wasn’t our favourite of the three, the chicken was beautifully succulent, and there was plenty of the aromatic marinade to scoop up with the accompanying prawn crackers.
For our second sharing dish, we chose the Crispy Duck Pancakes – a favourite of mine and my husband’s when we order from Chinese restaurants on date nights, though our son had yet to try it. The platter included all the usual components: shredded duck, pancakes, spring onions, cucumber, and hoisin sauce, along with a portion of chilli jam and an extra bowl of prawn crackers. While the duck wasn’t particularly crispy and could have been served hotter, it was well-seasoned, and our son couldn’t get enough of it. The platter had enough ingredients to make eight pancakes, more than sufficient for two to share when ordered alone.
To complement the new sharers, Banyan has also introduced a few sharing cocktails, including the rum-based Pacific Punch, which was our choice on this occasion. Priced at £34, it’s served in a Florence flask holding enough for four servings. This tropical concoction, featuring rum, blue curaçao, and pineapple juice, is enhanced with hints of coconut, kaffir lime, and lemongrass, making it an excellent match for the Pan-Asian Chicken Trio.
We were very much torn between this one and the Amalfi Coast Sbagliato (£46), which is served in a glass teapot and combines Bombay Sapphire gin, Aperol, limoncello, lime sherbet, and prosecco – quite the showstopper! However, as we tend to stick to a two-drink limit when dining out with our son, particularly when cocktails are involved, we’ll save that delightful option for next time!