If there’s anywhere in Leeds you want and should go brunching, it’s at the OX Club in Headrow House. A great selection of types of food to choose from, filling portions, great value, locally produced ingredients and a homely atmosphere. What else is there to ask for?
A couple of weekend ago I was kindly treated to taste most of their brunch dishes, together with more food and brunch lovers of Leeds. There were a lot of oohs and aahs over all the dishes coming out. Naturally we all had to take lots of shots of the food before tasting but so would you, even if you’re not a blogger. The food isn’t only delicious but also very photogenic to make Instagram friends very jealous.
The full brunch menu includes 10 thoughtfully crafted dishes, all between £5-9 which is really affordable, especially seeing how much food you get served on each plate. There’s everything from avocado on toast (a given on a brunch menu) to steak and fries. The latter surprisingly easy to eat first thing in a morning. I love a good steak and here’s where you get one but the following three dishes are the ones I really recommend for brunch.
1. Bubble and Squeak – smoked sausage, cabbage, fried duck egg, chicken gravy
First of all, look at that egg! I love a good egg yolk (who doesn’t?!) so I knew I’d take a liking in this dish by only looking at it. With only a couple of more ingredients added it’s full of delicious flavours that go hand in hand. The chicken gravy really topped it off for me. Simple dish with a lot of taste.
2. Cauliflower Shawarma – grilled flatbread, buttered ras al hanout eggs, pomegranate, pinenuts, yoghurt
I love meat but sometimes I find vegetarian dishes looking so much more intriguing and you can’t blame for thinking so again looking at this shawarma. I don’t think I’ve ever had smoked cauliflower before but it really works and how much more enjoyable for the eye eating a shawarma flat rather than rolled up. I really like pomegranate seeds in food, not to mention pinenuts so top vegetarian option for sure!
3. Korean Fried Chicken – rice, pickled cucumber, kimchi, crispy fried egg
Flavoursome rice, perfectly crisp chicken and again a gorgeous fried egg makes this dish one I could eat all day. A really nice, fresh and light dish on the menu. I don’t think I could ever get tired of it, only wanting more.
I recommend arriving when they open (11am) to make sure you get a table and can enjoy everything from the menu. On this day, we got seated half an hour before opening hours and I can see why. It got busy very soon after and being a large group of us, we had to relocate to the bar for the last two dishes: Ricotta Pancakes and Coconut French Toast with bruleed banana.
I’m not a massive fan of American style pancakes and though I enjoyed having French toast for the first time (shocking!) they are a bit too sickly sweet for my taste. I’m more of a savoury food person so really happy that OX Club’s menu offer a lot of those options.
I know that boozy/bottomless brunch is very popular at the minute but if you’re more about the food, whilst enjoying a glass or so of prosecco, or why not a Bloody Mary, you’ll keep coming back to OX Club for more dishes to try.
Have you been to OX Club yet? Where else in Leeds do you recommend for a delicious and filling brunch? They’ve recently (just this weekend) also started serving Sunday Roast so I’ll be heading back very soon for that!
Jennie xx
I’ve been a couple of times for Brunch at the Ox Club, but I’ve always gone for the sweeter options – the pancakes and the french toast! I do keep meaning to branch out to the savoury dishes though and I’ve heard great things about the Korean chicken in particular!
We’d make a good team, you eating the sweet stuff and I the savoury. I can’t eat sweet that early in the morning. Yes, do try the Korean chicken, you won’t regret it! x