Hern is a welcoming bistro with a focus on organic meat, fish and vegetables that have been sourced locally, where possible, and served alongside biodynamic and organic wines that are handpicked from small producers. Located in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, this cosy bistro is filled with warm furnishings, exposed brick, and artistically displayed bottles on the wall.
The menu changes, and so what you'll find is never promised. However, you can expect to find snacks like focaccia, panisse and anchovy toast, followed by starters of cured sea trout with red meat radish and mandarin, and a warming minestrone with swede, chickpeas and kale. Main meals may include the beetroot with ajo blanco, chicory and apple, a venison sausage with polenta and red cabbage, or wild sea bass paired with borlotti beans and spinach. Something a little lighter is the Westcombe cheddar and Tunworth on soda bread, slathered with plenty of apple chutney.
Last but not least, there are tasty puds like the brown butter cake with cinnamon ice cream and hibiscus, and a unique dish of bergamot with oat biscuits and black pepper meringue. The set menu is a bit of a tasting experience, beginning with fried brawn and mustard, or squash soup with fresh curds. Next, it's the crapaudine beetroot with ajo blanco, radicchio and chilli. The main dish is a beef rump cap with pomme puree and red cabbage, and an optional cheese course, finished off with pear sorbet paired with mascarpone and oat biscuit.
It’s worth noting that the a la carte menu is only available on Wednesdays, so if you want to have more flexibility to pick your own dishes, you’re worth going for a midweek booking. That being said, set menus at Hern are just as fantastic and come in at pocket-pleasing prices.