Matt Healy x The Foundry

Local chef Matt Healy had his work cut out taking on this Leeds stalwart– but he’s pulled it off spectacularly. Having excelled on Masterchef The Professionals in 2016, The Foundry his first solo venture and it’s a crowd pleaser of the best kind. Options could include classic steak tartare, baby chicken ‘Kiev’, hake loin with confit fennel and charred clementine puree and crème brulee éclair. Having trained at the likes of London’s Terroirs and with Simon Shaw at the original El Gato Negro in Ripponden, Healy knows the classics and cooks with flair. In terms of décor, a warm grey paint now coats the bar, and soft furnishings add a pop of colour. Xpletives, a mural by local artist Nicolas Dixon adorns a wall by the entrance, alongside modern neon signs. The result is a reliably excellent expereince, paired with lovingly curated wines and beers.