Brasserie Forty 4 (44)

Brasserie Forty 4 is a bright, buzzing, fun-loving restaurant located in a waterfront setting in Leeds city centre. Hardly a brasserie, more a restaurant, though the distinction seems to become steadily more blurred these days, this refuge occupies a former grain store - one of the earliest conversions of its kind. Some would say the principle has not changed very much and the interior is a striking example of the genre.

It is a highly popular, informal venue with a fun and lively ambience emphasised by a recent interior refurbishment. The restaurant scores consistently high marks in the most respected guides for offering an excellent service and good food at very reasonable prices.

Brasserie Forty 4 has a cosmopolitan style of food and atmosphere that is instantly appealing and set apart from the brasserie norm... it's well-liked by personalities from television, stage, music and sport.

The buzz factor is high, unlike the prices - a three-course early bird dinner at £21.50, including half a bottle of wine, is not exactly going to bring in the bailiffs.

Their starters might include choices such as pan-fried scallops, carrot and swede purée, and crispy pancetta; Serrano ham, fig and mozzarella tart; deep-fried prawns with spicy noodle salad; or smoked chicken salad with fine green beans and cashew nuts.

Whilst the well presented mains could consist of roast pheasant, bread sauce, game chips and redcurrant sauce, free range Yorkshire pork wrapped in ham and served with caramelised apple and wholegrain mustard sauce spinach, mushroom and ricotta strudel certainly takes some beating.

Char-grilled Yorkshire rib eye steak, field mushroom, beef tomato, and garlic butter; or confit leg of duck with mashed potatoes and a red wine sauce help to ensure a consistently wide spread of choices, your only problem being to focus on just one.

You cannot ignore their desserts; Brasserie Forty 4's famous chocolate fondue enriched with marshmallows and fresh fruit; pear and blackberry crumble; warm almond pithivier puff pastry with a frangipane centre and vanilla ice cream; raspberry crème brûlée, or mango pannacotta, all crying out for attention. See what I mean, simply irresistible?

Patisserie Forty 4 adjoins the brasserie, specialising in wedding, novelty, celebration and corporate cakes. Full details, including their excellent value fixed price menus, wine list and much more can be found on their Website.