On a cold, rainy day in February, the welcome is warm and friendly in the newly opened French-style bistro, Bavette, found on Town St in Horsforth, Leeds.
The Restaurant
The team behind Bavette has transformed the interior of the building, opening it up and making it a truly comfortable place to visit and relax. With walls lined with pictures they’ve owned for years, shelves stacked with books, and pots filled with fresh flowers and herbs on the tables, it’s clear that a lot of thought and care has gone into this restaurant. It means something to the team.
We were well looked after from the moment we arrived, and this continued throughout our visit. Enthusiasm shone out of the staff, and we had fun chats with them about the restaurant and the menu.
The Food
We soon ordered a couple of snacks from the menu and I love that there are snacks. Just something small to get you going if you’re ravenously hungry when you arrive (like I was!).
First, we have the baguette, which comes served with homemade butter that’s packed with confit garlic and thyme.
The baguette is authentic and delicious, and I want to take home large boxes of that divine butter. We also share the anchovies, which are the tastiest I’ve ever eaten; they’re soft yet firm, and come served at the perfect temperature so that their flavour sings.
I was always going to choose the bavette steak as my main course (though the much more expensive cote de boeuf was calling to me). I mean, as a meat eater going to a restaurant called Bavette, it would seem rude not to. This often overlooked cut of steak is full of flavour, and it’s perfectly cooked here (medium-rare). The bistro sources a lot of their produce locally, which is another great reason to like it. Their bavette steak comes from Swaledale Butchers, so it’s sustainable, traceable and the meat is incredibly high quality.
Alongside the steak is a generous bowl of frites, and a well-dressed gem lettuce. I don’t often go on about lettuce(!) but good god this one was amazing. It was dressed in red wine vinegar and some sort of magic mustard dressing, along with finely chopped chives. It cut through the richness of the steak brilliantly, and I devoured the lot.
Dessert was a classic Creme Brulee, served with Yorkshire rhubarb. I liked that the dessert as a whole wasn’t overly sweet, and the rhubarb had been cooked to perfection.
The Wine
Our wine came served in a small carafe, enhancing the French feel of the place. However, if you’re ordering by the bottle, there’s an extensive wine list. The family of Clemant Cousin (one of the owners) has a vineyard in France, so there’s plenty on offer from there and he’d be happy to talk you through your choice.
Bavette is a welcoming, neighbourhood bistro that’s a fantastic addition to Town St. I can’t wait to go back to enjoy delicious food in warm surroundings, to feel a little bit French-chiq, and to be looked after by the friendly team again. And I’ve got my eye on that Cote de Boeuf…