We’ve all had those days as students, often hungover, when we crave a little more than our daily round of Shreddies. Equally, we all need the odd break from work, perhaps in the form of a little house-bonding. I’ve always found that eating out is a great social activity; you can bond over common likes and dislikes, discover new places, and you always have the opportunity to fill your mouth with food if conversation runs low (perhaps an ideal tinder date?!).
Whilst on my recent travels and foodie pursuits, I discovered a new phenomenon. We’re talking the cure to your weekend hangovers, the perfect social outing, and a general excuse for eating good food. Yes, I’m talking about brunch, that heavenly meal between breakfast and lunch—the solution to all your culinary worries.
I’m always looking for new places to eat out in Leeds, something to distract my parents from my unhealthy student lifestyle and, more importantly, something to take my mind off the ever-growing pile of uni work. Our wonderful city is laden with quirky cafés and bistros that are perfect for such occasions, and I’ve been taking advantage of my study breaks to discover a few.
LS6
LS6’s homemade breakfast and brunch menu is a student favourite, comprising a mixture of cuisines, from traditional English to Tex-Mex. On my first visit (yes, there have been several), I had their infamous breakfast Jamburrito. Now, I’m not normally one to opt for the vegetarian option, but this one intrigued me. The Jamburitto is a Tex-Mex style wrap, filled with a medley of Mexican beans, salsa, hash brown, cheese, guacamole and more. I initially had my reservations, but this was hands-down one of the best brunches I have ever had. After all, you can never really go wrong with a meal that incorporates melted cheese!
Their Eggs Benedict (never a let down) was equally delicious. The great thing about the menu at LS6 is that you can add sides to create your own personalised breakfast if you’re craving something a little more substantial or just fancy experimenting. I chose to add a sweet potato and thyme hash-brown to mine, but there are various options if you want to go wild. Although this is the most expensive of the brunch bars that I visited (an average brunch will cost you between 8 to 9 pounds, coffee included), you get your money’s worth, given the range and tastiness of the food.
Whites Deli
Situated in Headingley, Whites is another café-turned-bar that serves weeklong homemade brunches. Along with a tempting cocktail and food menu, the café is fairly trendy (we’re talking exposed brick, hanging lights and an open kitchen rolled into one). On my visit, I opted again for Eggs Benedict and a flat white. This totalled 7 pounds, which was good value for money considering the service, atmosphere, and the quality of the food itself. I would definitely recommend Whites as a great place to take your parents or friends if they’re coming to visit.
Mrs Atha’s
You can find this hidden gem in the city centre on Central Road. Known mainly for its coffee and tea (the coffee is amazing), Mrs Atha’s also serves a tasty brunch. I went for the ‘make your own option’ and ordered eggs on toast with various sides, but other options included maple syrup pancakes and smashed avocado on bread. Again, this is a great choice if you’re looking for quality food in a trendy environment, although the dimmed-lighting can be a little off-putting (great if your date isn’t a looker!).
Opposite
Opposite is a café I have long frequented at uni for its range of lunchtime sandwiches and snacks. As the name suggests, the café is one of several situated opposite the Laidlaw and Parkinson buildings. On top of their weekday lunches, the café serves brunch from 10am-2pm on a Saturday and Sunday. The menu isn’t particularly extensive, but the food is decent and great value for money. I paid just over £2.50 for a Croque-monsieur, a French-style toastie, loaded with a choice of ham or spinach, a fried egg and a hell of a lot of melted cheese (not one for the faint-hearted!). Whilst the café isn’t quite as quirky as LS6, I would definitely recommend it to any student that needs refueling during a weekend stint of work. It’s the perfect brunch menu if you’re looking for a hangover cure and the breakfast classics. After all, who doesn’t love a bacon buttie? (except vegans of course).
Meg’s top tip of the week:
Top two potato cakes (available in most supermarkets) with poached eggs, and season with salt and pepper for a quick and tasty home-made brunch.
Sources
All images are author’s own.