Bavette Horsforth Review - The North Leeds Bistro That Feels Like Stepping Into Paris

There’s a reason people keep talking about Bavette.

Tucked away in Horsforth, this small French bistro has already built a huge reputation across Leeds, earning praise from critics including Jay Rayner and quickly becoming one of the hardest tables to get in the city. And honestly, after eating there, it’s very easy to understand why.

From the second you walk through the doors, it feels like you’ve stepped out of North Leeds and into a neighbourhood Parisian bistro. Candlelit tables, packed-in diners, a cosy interior, full wine glasses on every table and that low hum of conversation that instantly makes you settle in for the evening.

The atmosphere is perfect, busy but intimate, polished but still relaxed. The kind of restaurant where every table seems to be having the best night.

And then there’s the food...

We started with baguette and herb butter, which immediately told us exactly how good the meal was about to be. The bread arrived warm, but honestly the butter was the real standout - unbelievably fresh, packed with flavour and so herb-heavy you could almost pick out every individual one in it. Simple, but one of those things you end up talking about long after the plate’s gone.

Alongside that came the Comté cheese croquettes, golden and crisp on the outside with molten cheese in the middle, and anchovy panisse served with saffron aioli, which completely stole our attention from the moment it arrived. Salty, crisp, creamy and packed with flavour.

Honestly, the starters alone would’ve been enough to make us want to come back.

For mains, I ordered the classic Bavette steak, cooked perfectly and served with a rich sauce that somehow made an already incredible piece of meat even better. Everything about it felt considered - from the quality of the beef to the balance of the sauce.

Alongside it came fries and some of the tastiest green beans we’ve had in a long time - fresh and garlicy with a rich olive oil drizzled over, exactly the kind of side dish you end up fighting over despite a table full of incredible food.

I also stole a bite of the 500g sirloin on the bone, served with dauphinoise potatoes, bone marrow, escargots à la bourguignonne and purple broccoli. It was an incredibly presented dish, bringing a real wow moment to the table. Perfectly cooked, full of flavour and with sides that matched it every step of the way.

We ended the meal with two exceptional deserts. First, an iconic French crème brûlée which was perfectly set, deeply vanilla-heavy and with that crack through the caramelised top that somehow makes it even more satisfying. And second, a peach tarte tatin that goes down in history with freshly churned cream cheese ice cream. The tarte was sweet, buttery and just the right amount of indulgent, perfected by the cut of the tastiest ice cream we've ever had.

What Bavette gets so right is that it never feels like it’s trying too hard, despite how good it is. The food is exceptional, the atmosphere makes you want to stay all evening, and the whole thing feels confident in exactly what it’s doing.

Leeds has some very good restaurants right now, but Bavette feels like it’s operating on another level entirely.

Honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if a Michelin star followed at some point. So go now, while you still vaguely can.