One Leeds restaurant has been featured on an accomplished list of the top 100 restaurants in the UK.
The Man Behind The Curtain was placed at number 12 on a list of the UK's top 100 restaurants according to SquareMeal, which is a restaurant review and booking website and smartphone app that has accumulated thousands of reviews over the years.
The Man Behind The Curtain was the only restaurant from Leeds to be featured on the list and the highest of any place in Yorkshire.
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In their review of the Vicar Lane restaurant, SqaureMeal wrote: "A truly unique restaurant, The Man Behind the Curtain takes diners on bizarre, avant-garde culinary journeys. Each plate is a work of art, often featuring unusual combinations of ingredients such as oysters in a dessert.
“Taking its name from a quote in The Wizard of Oz, this cool white space atop Flannels clothes store promises views over the city’s rooftops and a menu that throws down lots of boundary-smashing gauntlets: thrills and challenges abound as maverick chef Michael O’Hare conjures up a riot of cutting-edge dishes – although the whole experience sometimes feels like performance art rather than a meal.
"The Man Behind the Curtain was awarded a coveted Michelin star in 2015, and subsequently three AA Rosettes, so you’re near guaranteed a good meal here. Because of the scarcity of similarly-awarded restaurants in Leeds it does get booked up ahead of time, so it’s always worth securing your spot if you’re thinking about visiting.
"If after dining at this city centre restaurant you want to take a little piece of your experience with you, it’s good news. Michael O’Hare has created a shop of various goods for fans of his brand to buy. You might be surprised to know that you can purchase a slogan skateboard for £50, or even house-branded gin by Slingsby."
Not all visitors have been impressed though. LeedsLive reporter Lucy Marshall visited the restaurant for a review earlier this year and concluded: ""Half of the dishes I could have made in my kitchen, and I think a Pot Noodle has more flavour than some of the dishes placed in front of me. I would tell people to go for a one-off experience, but I would not recommend it for a good and delicious meal."
To visit The Man Behind The Curtain's website click here.
A spokesperson for SquareMeal said: "SquareMeal’s list of the top restaurants in the UK forms the backbone of what we represent as a brand. It’s a chance for us to shout about the best-of-the-best in both emerging and established culinary roles and allows us to celebrate the incredible chefs and hospitality teams out there going above and beyond to give their diners top-class experiences."
Each of the top 100 results were decided on from a combination of SquareMeal's in-house critic-led opinions and thousands of diner votes. The spokesperson added: "It’s this dual approach that makes our list incomparable, representing not only our professional opinion but thousands of real-life experiences that help to reinforce and bolster our final decisions.
"It’s no secret that Britain plays host to some incredible culinary talent. As a result, the top restaurants in the UK created quite the conundrum.
"In order to make a place on the list each restaurant had to offer more than just a good meal, it had to provide guests with an exceptional all-round experience. From gorgeous interiors, top-class wine lists and stunning views through to exemplary service and sustainability commitments, we weighed up the whole package."
This year's number one spot went to Osip in Bruton, Somerset, which was praised as "a genuine farm-to-table treasure, where produce goes from the kitchen garden to your plate in a matter of hours".
