WITH A NEW AND EXCITING MENU

El Gato Negro is sheer tapas heaven! Situated in the former iconic bank building in Park Row over the last three years it has become a firm favourite with discerning diners and its not hard to understand why.

Elgato Negro can be anything you want it to be at any time of the day. It’s a relaxed space with eclectic décor, ornate tiled floors, pendant lighting, exposed brick walls, trailing plants all that make it the perfect setting for the food it serves

Tapas is a great shareable dining experience and who better to share it with than a friend, who spends a lot of time in Spain, and has become an authority on its various regional cuisines and wines.

Spain’s favourite dining pastime is Tapas – it’s a social way of eating and sharing food, wine and conversation with friends and family.

To celebrate its third birthday in Leeds El Gato Negro has launched a new and exciting seasonal menu that sits beautifully alongside some of the original favourites that regular patrons love.

The new menu harnesses the season’s finest ingredients to create a generous number of intricate dishes with a real depth of flavour – and be warned it may take more than one visit to try them all.

El Gato Negro recommends you order five or six dishes to share between two people but adds ‘you can always order more – later’ That’s the fun of Tapas.

It’s worth mentioning that El Gato has an excellent well priced wine list and a unique selection from independent producers and if you want to pair your wine most are available by the glass. There’s also a great cocktail list with a Spanish twist!

We chose a  Don Sancho Re de a8 Blanco White Rioja. It paired perfectly with all our menu choices with its citrus and melon notes and a background of apricots. We found it both refreshing and balanced

If you have a passion for cheese like me and my friend then you will be over the moon with some of the new dishes.

From the Para Picar section on the menu we chose two dishes.

The stuffed Medjool dates were amazing. The dates were stuffed with goats cheese mouse which was very tasty and wrapped in Iberian lardo. We adored the combination taste of sweet and sour.

These were a perfect pairing with Catalan bread with olive oil, garlic and fresh tomato. The topping was very light and the taste of fresh tomatoes just made the bread special.

Moving on to the meat menu section our Jamon Iberico croquetas were hot, smooth and definitely very tasty – and moreish. Be warned you may want to order another portion of these they go down so well.

I just couldn’t resist one of my favourites at El Gato Negro –  Meatballs served in a tomato fritarda sauce. The generous portion of Meatballs were not too spicy and their texture was smooth, not gritty and they just melted in the mouth.

From the fish section I had to try Chef Patron and Creative Director Simon Shaw’s Gambas pil consisting of roja prawns in a chilli and garlic sauce with fresh parsley which came with a delicious toasted chunk of bread for dipping.

The vegetable section has lots of new dishes for vegetarian and vegans. We decided to share the Traditional Tortilla  prepared  fresh it takes around 15 minutes to cook from ordering.

My friend declared this was very authentic in taste, cooking and presentation. It was piping hot, came well cooked as we asked it to be and has a lovely crispy base. Top marks for the Tortilla!

But the best was yet to come with two cheese dishes that must have been created in the Angel’s kitchen.

La Peral blue cheese served with caperberries and crystal bread is one to try. The blue cheese is tasty and smooth but not as over-powering as other blue cheeses and with the Spanish artisan crystal bread cut very wafer thin, drizzled with oil and parsley and the tangy flavour of the caperberries it created a fusion of different tastes to enjoy.

We were both in agreement that the aged Manchego with orange blossom honey, olive torta imported from Spain and sweet pickled figs was one of the most delicious tapas we have tasted. This dish is a marriage of flavours that has been made in heaven.

Dessert wise there is a plethora of different choices but we decided to share a plate of Churros – hot and crispy on the outside, soft in the centre and dressed in sugar and nutmeg.

Elgato Negro boasts 200 covers across two beautifully open floors plus a private dining room for 20 and has an efficient, well versed and helpful staff who have a priority in making your meal one to remember.

Elgato Negro, 35 Park Row, Leeds LS1 5JL.  Tel: 0113 3220763 or visit www.elgatonegrotapas.com/leeds to book a table or view special events/offers

Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm-late (Last sitting 22.00).