Bavette

Sandy Jarvis and Clément Cousin swapped their London jobs working for other people for the chance to open their own place together in the pretty town of Horsforth in Leeds in 2024 and haven't looked back since.

Taking over a former Pizza Express site, Bavette has been heavily influenced by the styles of London bistros including Racine and Terroirs, where Jarvis previous worked, serving traditional bistro fare in convivial surroundings. The menu kicks off with snacks such as baguette and house butter; comté cheese croquettes; and Cantabrian anchovies on toast, followed by house charcuterie; twice baked crab souffle with a bisque sauce; and steak tartare with pommes allumettes, as well as gnocchi a la Parisienne; and the eponymous bavette served with fries and a mixed leaf salad.

The wine list is equally authentic and features wines made by Cousin's family vineyard, which has been producing wine in the Loire Valley for five generations. These wines follow organic and biodynamic principles and includes the Cuvee Bavette, a 2023 vintage cabernet franc.

In terms of decor, the pair have kept things smart and simple with a wooden floor and spindle back chairs that are complemented by a long brown banquette seating, gilt mirrors and green walls.