The steaks are high as Chophaus launch new menu

Just minutes from the city centre in the leafy suburbs of Leeds, Chophaus ticks all the right boxes for an impressive meal out. The setting oozes style, while the menu showcases a selection of choice cuts and stellar dishes to suit all manner of tastes and appetites.

The Location

Situated behind the iconic Oakwood clocktower. The timber-framed and glass-fronted iconic building could be seen as a religious setting for carnivores. 2021 saw the extension to their outdoor covered and heated terrace, to match the stunning 1st-floor balconies. Possibly Leeds’ premier setting for weekend cocktails or alfresco dining, just a stone’s throw from Roundhay Park.

As you walk through the door that unmistakable smell of meat and char encompasses you like a big hug. Downstairs you’ll find the open kitchen with chefs plating dishes and tending to the flaming grill, cocktails shaken on the bar, and guests sipping pre-dinner drinks while people watching via the floor to ceiling windows.

Upstairs the designer look continues, dark leather banquette seating, mahogany tables and the cathedral-like ceiling gives an air of sophistication many city-centre restaurants can only dream of.

The Chophaus Menu

After drooling over Chophaus’s Instagram for far too long before we’d even stepped out of the house, our appetite was more than ready for a full showcase of their recently launched menu. To kick things off, two perfectly mixed cocktails, Margarita and Mojito. Together with a healthy portion of pardon peppers sprinkled with sea salt and togarashi and a trio of melt in the mouth tender short beef croquettes oozing with a combination of cheddar and parmesan. Now, this is how snacks should be!

Executive Chef Joe Grant has shown his love for Japanese ingredients and combined them perfectly with dishes that the Chophaus regulars know and love. For starters, we opted for the stunning grilled scallops, served in their shell on a bed of tomato dashi ponzu, wrapped in a fiery nduja crumb. Accompanied by an aged beef tatar, combined with Koji egg yolk, capers, and served with a huge Japanese rice cracker as the perfect vehicle to pair with the beef.

After seeing another table enjoying the homemade brioche with smoked paprika butter, we had to get a taste too, and so glad we did. There’s a great selection of seafood, veggie or meat-based dishes from the starters, the only problem is they all sound so tasty.

As you’d come to expect from a restaurant called ‘Chophaus’ steaks take centre stage. With an ever-rotating selection of specials and choice cuts depending on what’s best right now to ensure you’re never disappointed. There was plenty of porterhouses, chateaubriands and tomahawks ordered our fellow diners, all with rapturous applause when they saw the epic steaks taking pride of place on the tables.

New Summer Dishes

Guests looking for something lighter or more adventurous should look no further than the new summer dishes. Our seabream was perfectly crispy on the outside with buttery soft flesh underneath, dressed in a citrus ponzu and a few colourful dashes of Amarillo to bring some heat and spice. The grass-fed Hereford fillet was possibly the best steak we’ve had in a very long time. Perfectly smoky charred exterior and buttery soft texture. Together with the most amazing chimichurri sauce made fresh daily. There’s no wonder it’s a staple condiment in all households in Latin America.

Sides completely lived up to the high expectations of the main course dishes. If you ever see Koffmann chips on a menu, order Koffman chips. Developed by the world-class Chef Pierre Koffmann to ensure the perfect crispness on the outside whilst staying light & fluffy in the middle.

The Asian inspired theme continued with Chinese five-spiced churros served with a Tonka bean and vanilla caramel purin. The winner of the puds had to be the salted plantain dulce de leche and banana cheesecake. So simple but ever so moreish.

Chophaus Leeds Review – Final Thoughts

After what seemed like an eternity since our last visit (cheers COVID) it was great to be back in the North Leeds burbs being wined and dined in style at one of the city’s most glamorous venues. The kitchen team has gone from strength to strength, evolving the menu to give a fresh take on familiar dishes while adding a real sense of originality to their recently launched summer menu. With dishes this good, service so warm and a setting like no other, we’ll be planning another visit soon to work our way through the rest of the menu (and wine list).

Chophaus, Louis House, Princes Ave, Oakwood, Leeds LS8 2FA – 0113 226 0660

Find out more, view Chophaus’s menus and book your table via https://chophaus.co.uk/