Bavette

Bavette in the Leeds suburbs wouldn’t be out of place in the heart of Lyon. Dishes are traditional French and could – and often do – come from the well-thumbed pages of Larousse Gastronomique. Despite being rooted in the culinary classics, Bavette is a modern bistro, light and airy with a relaxed atmosphere.

It has a place in The Good Food Guide’s 100 Best Local Restaurants 2025, and a Bib Gourmand for unpretentious dishes all about big flavours and careful simplicity.

From beautiful pork chops, full of heft and heart, to goat’s cheese with Camargue rice and courgettes, there’s an earthiness to the cooking that lets the flavours shine rather than being overly fussed with — a skill only a confident kitchen team can reliably pull off.

I loved the crab tartlet with fennel salad and the Basque cheesecake with strawberries and yoghurt sorbet. The wine list is spot on too with plenty of natural wines and also family cuvées from the owners’ organic vineyard in the Loire Valley.

A very strong Confidential Guides recommendation.