Walking into new Leeds eatery Cult Wing my white top was glowing in the dark and teeth shining bright under the neon lights.
My eyes were treated to endless neon artwork on the walls as well as quotes and song lyrics written on the walls in graffiti. It was quite a switch from listening to Taylor Swift's new album to the punk-rock music bouncing off the walls.
The eye-catching spot grabbed my attention immediately - I love walking into restaurants which not only do good food, but are hosting in an exciting space with quirky interior. And, Cult Wing definitely does that.
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The punk-inspired chicken wing restaurant specialises in fried wings, gourmet burgers, craft beers and tequila flights. You can also indulge in cocktails and flavoured tequilas.
I was quickly greeted by a friendly staff member who let me choose where I wanted to sit. The ultra girly-girly within me was sat down listening to The Clash and Misfits thinking 'I'm not sure this is for me'. Before ordering my food I went to the graffiti-filled toilets and was thought 'this is scary'. I had a number of doubts.
Back at the table, a server immediately brought a large jug of water over to the table as well as a bowl of popcorn. Easily pleased by these delightful freebies I said 'oooo' and knew this was going to be good - excellent hospitality is everything.
Looking at the menu, visitors have lots to choose from. You choose the flavour you want first, and then combine this with your food.
The flavours include Skulldive Herb, Raving Teriyaki, BBQ Bones, Killer Korean, Real Chick Chipotle, Viet Kong, Jerk Punk, Buffalo Horns, and Habanero Hell. To start with, of course, I had to try some of the wings, so opted for Skulldive Herb Cult Hotties wings - loaded with lemon, garlic, oregano, parsley, and turmeric.
The smell that came from the wings left my nose flaring and I couldn't wait to took in to taste all the flavours. The chicken pulled off the bone beautifully and they were packed full of flavour.
I was surprised how big the chicken wings were - you definitely get a lot of meat for your money. With eyes bigger than my stomach I ordered eight wings but only managed to eat four. I would definitely order them again but would get a smaller portion or order them as a main only.
Next up, I tried one of the burgers on the menu. All the burgers were chicken or vegetarian but there are lots of different combinations to choose from.
As there is a chip section on the menu, I expected my burger to come on its own but it was a nice surprise when it came a large bowl of chips and gravy.
I cut the burger in half and could see it was jam-packed - perfection. The bun was super soft and as I took a bite it tasted amazing. It reminded my of the famous McChicken meal from McDonald's (my favourite) but infused with a kicking Korean spice.
The burger was juicy, full of flavour, and the perfect size. I also thought for £11.95 it was reasonably priced as it included a large portion of chips and gravy - but this sadly was the downfall of the meal.
The chips were very plain and had no salt or pepper on, but luckily there was some on the table to use. It was nice to have some gravy to dip the chips into, however every true Yorkshire girl knows when gravy is good or not, and this wasn't the best. Normally, I would dunk my chips in gravy but this wasn't quite perfect.
Also on the menu there are a range of signature cocktails and mocktails as well as a number of craft beers. There was quite a few city centre workers who just popped in for a drink.
Overall, I would give the spot a four star rating and would definitely return. I would also say I was worried, due to the punk-style interior, that I wouldn't fit into the place with my overtly princess-style. But I found that is simply just the decoration and music and there were all different groups of people enjoying the Merrion Centre's latest opening while I dined.
The bill
Jug of water - Free
Eight piece Skulldive Herb Cult Hotties wings - £8.95
Killer Korean The Outcast burger - £11.95
Total = £20.91
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