La Comida, 7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds (La Comida)

Member Name: MorganaDQ

Product:	La Comida
Date:	26/03/01 (365 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty food in a friendly, clean environment

Disadvantages: None

This past weekend was my first visit to Leeds since I was a student (don't ask how long ago... please). It was just an afternoon thing with a friend who lives a few miles away, but it was one of those rare treats. Because it was a rare treat (for me at least), we decided after the saunter through the art gallery that we'd find a nice Italian restaurant and have a meal there instead of ordering take-out when we got back.

After being turned away at the first one we came to because they were completely full (and this was at about 6pm), my friend remembered an equally good restaurant a few minutes walk away. As it was so close to the train station we decided we'd lose nothing by attempting to get in.

As she opened the door and walked in ahead, a feeling of utter dread came over me. There were no other customers. Maybe it wouldn't have occurred to me if the other restaurant hadn't been full to bursting, but it had. My first instincts told me to find somewhere else, but the owner had already seen us. Then came surprise number two.

I'd hardly gotten my foot through the door when I saw said owner rush over to us, arms outstretched with a huge smile on his face. The first feeling was terror, until I realised he was actually greeting my friend. You see, she'd failed to tell me that she'd been a regular there for around six months, and therefore had started to get to know the owner.

So, heart beating a little slower now, he showed us to her 'regular table' in the corner by the window. I'd hardly had a chance to get my coat off and he was making a move to sit with us. I've not seen someone move so fast before. In the time it took me to hang my coat and get comfortable, there were two menus on the table and he was already seated.

Next came the dishy waiter. Every good restaurant has to have a dishy waiter, because that way you're guaranteed at least a small percentage of
female customers as they come to ogle over him as they eat their pasta. Well this waiter was indeed very tasty, and it was he who took our drinks order. When I said I only wanted iced water for the moment the owner decided (remember him? He's still sat with us) that he wanted a drink with us, and promptly ordered three glasses of wine. Well, we could hardly refuse could we? ;)

So, toasts made, and yells by the owner across the restaurant to his staff that he'd just be a few minutes while he flirted with these two beautiful women over and done with, we finally were able to order.

Now I'm a fussy eater at the best of times, and anything with meat or fish in I can't eat. Pizza I figured I could get just about anywhere, so Risotto it was. The owner (yes he's still here) offered to put in different veg when I asked for it without mushrooms, the first time it's ever happened anywhere (usually they give you a funny look...."A vegetarian who doesn't like mushrooms? What *is* the world coming to?").
So decision made, the owner finished the last of his drink, winked and disappeared to cook our food.

The dishy waiter returned with our cutlery and napkins, smiled his winning smile (he's got it down to a fine art) and checked with us that the choice of music was okay, and was it too loud? Nope, it was perfect. Loud enough to hear without blasting our eardrums, and not too quiet that it was irritating. It just happened to add to the atmosphere of the place too. We ordered a bottle of wine to go with our meal and he promptly returned, showed us the bottle and proceeded to open it in front of us (something I've not witnessed for a long time, perhaps not since I did it myself as a waitress).

Happy with our wine, the waiter returned a few minutes later with his smile and our food. I should probably point out now that the kitchen is in full view to the diners, and it did appear extremel
y clean and well ordered, with food being cooked fresh. My friend's Calzone looked huge. There's no other way to describe it... huge is exactly what it was. It was obvious from the "mmmmmm's" and "ahhhh's" coming from her general direction that she was thoroughly enjoying it too. My Risotto was the best I've had. Subtle flavours that complemented each other perfectly, and not too much cream. It was also piping hot and covered in baked cheese and extra parmesan. Feeling hungry yet? ;)

The food was beautiful. There were no fancy trimmings or pretentious garnishes, but it was presented attractively and the smells alone were enough to drive you insane. I have it on good authority that the Paella is, and I quote, "Absolutely gorgeous" too.

I will add that whilst we were eating we did notice the owner of the restaurant being extremely freindly with some other customers who he didn't seem to know. Thought I'd tell you in case you thought it was simply favouritism with us ;)

By the time we'd finished our meals there was still half of the wine left, and by now the restaurant was filling up rapidly. I expected that they'd now try to rush us out of the door ready for the next sitting, but it didn't happen. We were asked twice in the space of about forty minutes if we wanted coffee or dessert, and weren't made to feel like 'hangers on' because we said no and continued to leisurely sip our wine.

So, more wine and much more gossiping later, we finally decided we should leave the poor dishy waiter to the rest of his adoring fans and leave. Off we wandered towards the bathroom, at which point my friend was ushered into the kitchen and made to kiss the owner goodbye.

I made my escape quickly, taking advantage of my new found invisibility to avoid the seemingly obligatory kissing of the older Italian bloke, and made it to the bathroom. Well
I say bathroom. It was literally just a wash basin, hand dryer and toilet cubicle. Yes, one cubicle for the whole of the female diners in the restaurant, which I would expect would seat at least forty people, if not more. But, it was clean and that was all that mattered. That was until I realised that there was no lock on the door, therefore making it necessary to do the polite cough when you hear someone enter the room expecting to avail themselves of these facilities too. It was mildly irritating, but that's all. It was also the only thing bad point of the whole experience, so I guess you could say it paled into insignificance in the grand scheme of things.

It didn't take long to pay the bill once my friend had gotten away from the owner and his eager lips (hmmm... I'm leaving that bit in... let your imaginations run wild). There was already a ten per cent service charge added to the bill, which was made clear on the menu, so we didn't need to figure out any tips either.

The staff were all extremely friendly, and we got one last winning smile from the dishy waiter as we were leaving. Even those who hadn't served us once gave us big smiles and wished us a good evening.

The whole experience was a good one... memorable even. It was good tasty food served by eager friendly staff. There were plenty of staff for the large number of customers, but not too many that they hovered behind you waiting to do something. The atmoshpere was warm and inviting, with clean tablecoths and uncluttered tables. There was also plenty of space between tables so you didn't feel like you were sat on top of each other, and didn't need to squeeze past to go anywhere.

Food prices were reasonable too. Starters are from about £3, Pizza from £4.50, Meat dishes from £9.50 and Fish around £12. The desserts seemed to be daily pot luck as to what was available, but the apple pie the guy had on the next table looked good, an
d he certainly didn't waste any time finishing it off.

The restaurant is situated very close to Leeds train station, barely a five minute walk... 7-8 Mill Hill, Leeds.

There's also a web page which provides the menu, and a photo of that ever-so-friendly owner. None of the dishy waiter though. Maybe next time I'll get a photo myself ;)

Go to www.dinerschoice.co.uk/70646/index.htm to wet your appetite.

Oh, and happy eating :)

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