Jamie's Italian Leeds

Reading the mixed reviews for Jamie Olivers Italian in Leeds my expectations were not too high however I now say for a lively, noisy, friendly and fun experience give it a try.

Thursday night in Leeds at www.jamieoliver.com/italian/leeds for Amy and me was the follow up to a night in Newcastle last month where Italian was also the choice www.firenzenewcastle.co.uk

Jamies here opened in May 2010 and is centrally located in a former bank in Park Row just a couple of minutes walk from the station. Inside it is inviting with low lighting, high ceilings, and energetic staff.

Sitting at the small bar area on high stools at counter sipping drinks we were ideally placed to consider the food options as plate after plate of tempting dishes emerged from the open kitchen.

Good intentions to this time "have only one starter" soon disappeared and we shared crispy squid with garlic mayo and crispy tomato and mozzarella arancini which were stuffed rice balls in a tomato and pickled chilli sauce. Both were good.

Then came Amys Italian burger requested with no bun and a portion of "posh chips" flavoured with truffle oil and dusted with parmesan.

My Seafood Bucatini was just right, a sauce of capers, lemon, garlic, chilli and sweet tomatoes coated tube spaghetti topped with a very generous portion of seafood. This was cleverly cooked in a paper bag to retain taste and moisture.

Custom at Jamies was steady but not overflowing, the staff were fantastic friendly, efficient and knowledgable. There is a shop selling cookware, sauces, gifts and antipasti planks. It a generally good all round experience to be recommended.