Swine That Dines, Leeds

We have been followers of Stu and Jo Myers ever since they opened a sandwich shop called the Greedy Pig that morphed into the Swine that Dines, a simple 40 cover restaurant with no frills and fabulous food. There’s nothing flash nor tricksy about the Swine. It’s relaxed and casual and very very good.

Dinner might begin with a pear, walnut and chicory salad or a meaty ox tongue with beetroot, horseradish and watercress. Follow that up with sea bream with clams; venison faggot with butter beans or chicken with oyster mushrooms and chorizo.

Jo makes the puddings, they might be peanut butter cheesecake, passion fruit tart or a comforting pear and cardamom sponge with custard.

The menu and the offer have changed down the years. The couple are constantly working and reworking the menus to see what works. Currently, it’s a three-course a la carte with a fixed-price set meal on a Wednesday – look out for their popular pie night. They do a bargain three-course Saturday lunch at £22.50 and then something warm and comforting on Sunday.

Stu has described the Swine as homely and hospitable. It’s that and more, his dishes are beautifully considered and carefully prepared and would grace any top-end restaurant. Match that with Jo’s front-of-house charm and this little piggy has it all.