Leeds is home to a vast range of restaurants, many of them Italian. While having a wide selection to choose from can be a good thing, it can also prove rather difficult to be able to choose a single restaurant to go to. Whether you are hungry for pizza, pasta, or fancy a good peroni, there are a select few restaurants in Leeds that really excel in providing second to none service and a range of delicious dishes. To help you make your decision the next time you opt for Italian, we have listed 5 of the best Leeds has to offer, that we feel deserve a place in the 5 of the best Italian Restaurants in Leeds list.

Ciao Bella

1. Ciao Bella

Located on the outskirts of the city centre, within the brewery wharf complex, Ciao Bella (meaning hello beautiful in Italian), is a quaint, independently run Italian restaurant. If you are looking for one of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds or a place to take the other half, the fact that this restaurant is situated on a cobbled street and has a traditional brickwork exterior look to it, really makes this a good place to come for romance.

Ciao Bella are a family run eatery, meaning all their dishes, ranging from beautiful stone baked pizzas to soft pastas and delectable salads, are all made with love and care. The service is also second to none. Ciao Bella really believe that the customer deserves to be treat like a king/queen, and this is exactly what you can expect from this impressive little restaurant.

Ecco Pizzeria

2. Ecco Pizzeria

Situated in the heart of Headingley, this contemporary yet authentic Italian serves up an amazing selection of Neapolitan inspired pizzas. It is only a small, independently run pizzeria, however this only means that all the produce and ingredients are made in house, meaning the pizzas are cooked to perfection. We love independent restaurants at Restaurants of Leeds so had to include Ecco on our list of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds.

They are famous for offering their half meter pizza, which comes in a variety of flavours, including the favourites such as pepperoni and prosciutto funghi. However they also offer their ‘pizzas from around the world’, including the Marrakech, Mexico City and Kuala Lumpur pizza. If you are looking for pizza with a difference, Ecco is definitely the place to be!

Piccolino

3. Piccolino

Based on the centre of Park Row, Piccolino Leeds is one of the largest and most established of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds. The restaurant offers a range of extremely high quality food, using only locally sourced and high quality ingredients. The atmosphere provides a very romantic, dimly lit ambience, perfect for couples, yet also boasts rich coloured interior, including plush red seating with gold lighting fixtures and dark oak tables.

The food is equally as impressive! Even though it may be slightly more costly than its fellow Italians in the Leeds area, it is definitely something worth paying extra for. They offer a range of top quality pizzas as well as delectable pasta dishes and even a great range of meat dishes, including their legendary 35 day aged steak!

 

 

Bibis

4. Bibis

If it is a meal with excitement yet a luxury feel to it you are looking for, Bibi Leeds is the place for you. If you were to come in the evening, you would be faced with an extremely lively and welcoming atmosphere. The Vegas inspired restaurant is well known for holding live entertainment, such as live music or even sometimes comedy and shows. It may be a slightly more active sit down meal, but it is definitely something worth experiencing.

The menu is delectable, offering a la carte menus, along with fine pizzas, salads and a wide range of meaty favourites. If it is a good drink you are after as well, once you have finished your amazing food, you can sit back and relax in their cocktail lounge that has a very impressive selection of cocktails, wines, champagnes and ales. Bibis impressive history, food and reputation makes it one of the best Italian restaurants in Leeds city centre

Salvos

5. Salvos

Situated in the student capital of Leeds that is Headingley, Salvos is an award winning Italian restaurant serving up a range of delicious, authentic Italian cuisine. Salvatore Dammone opened up Salvo’s in 1976, and since then it has established itself as one of the most authentic and innovative Italian restaurants in the region. The restaurant is extremely well known for serving up contemporary italian food in an informal, relaxed atmosphere.

A bit about the menu; Salvo’s has a range of menus, including an early bird, light lunch, a la carte and kids menu, meaning there is literally something for everyone! If you truly want to taste the richness of their food, i would recommend opting for the a la carte menu, which serves up delights such as Branzino, Pollo Ripieno, Linguine Con Pomodoro and of course a huge range of specialty pizzas.

Their drinks selection is also extremely impressive. They have a vast selection of fine wines, lagers, cask ales and even champagne, as well as offering a large range of coffees and mouth watering desserts, for those with a sweet tooth.

By mark, March 16, 2016 Restaurants of Leeds Share this story