Leeds and a taste of Poland - SMAK

It`s Saturday!   Off to Leeds for a Visit.



 I have previously told you that my Son now lives in Leeds with his Girlfriend.  We haven`t seen them for a while so decided to leave early and spend the day there.  I thought I would take a little gift and got them two pasta dishes.  I then realised when I handed them over that I should have bought four.  How Stupid!  Mmmm, what was I thinking - what if they got visitors?  Well, I suppose its the thought that counts.  

My Son drove us into the centre of Leeds.  His driving had definitely improved and even my Husband commented on his escalated confidence in driving through a City.  He parked in the John Lewis multi story car park.  Now, I don`t know if you, the reader have been to this particular John Lewis store but OMG! The actual shop is very cleverly and futuristically designed, driving their footfall from the car park through the shop, bringing you out into what can only be described as an arcade of designer shops (the new Victoria gate), obviously designed for people who have a significant amount of money to spend.




Unfortunately that is not me!  But that aside I do enjoy a little window shopping from time to time.  If you like shopping, Leeds is the place to be, promoting all shops imaginable from small independent dealers to high street luxury stores.    

My only negative with this John Lewis is the Car Park. OOOPS WHO DESIGNED THIS!?!  It was bedlam.  Going up and coming down sharing the same road.  What!!!   Even a layperson such as myself could have guessed that this may cause a problem. I do understand that space could have been an issue but I`m shocked cars don`t get damaged on a regular basis and feel that this should have been thought about.  But as it does not affect me on a regular basis i`m going to move on.  

Before our visit we had been researching nice and interesting  places to eat in Leeds and somewhere that served some vegetarian meals as my son`s girlfriend is trying her best to be Vegetarian.  I do feel that she has a little of me in her heart, being a lover of all things natural - that Bohemian Vibe I think (although can I say I am not vegetarian - not that it has anything to do with anything, but I do like the thought of it and periodically delve). As it turned out she had made alternative arrangements for her day but we still decided to take our son for something to eat anyway.

We decided to try a polish Cafe/Bistro called SMAK.   



 I really fancied trying this place from the reviews however was aware that reviews are very subjective and have made that mistake in the past in visiting places with good reviews only to find that in actual fact, in my humble opinion were pants.  But as my Son likes trying new places and enjoys eating multicultural dishes (especially if we are paying) we thought that this would be ideal.  We knew the restaurant was somewhere beside the Emmerdale Experience on the map.  We rang beforehand to book a table - No problem but we seemed to have underestimated the TRAFFIC!!!!  We were a little late.  Eight minutes to be precise and very hungry. We entered the bistro only to be told that they had given our table away as we were late.  A man, probably the owner, was very apologetic saying that he tried to ring us but we did not answer.  However Luckily for us he suggested that if we went to the pub next door for a drink he would ring us when the next table became available.  Perfect! I thought about the situation we put him in and decided that if I was in his position I would have given the table away also.  

True to his word he rang about fifteen minutes later to say the table was ready.  We got a very lovely welcome and were ushered to a cosy table by the window.  Looking around we realised how small the place was, sitting approximately twenty people.  The decor was simple, natural with a calming atmosphere.  The menu was not vast but filled with an interesting array of dishes and supported by a daily specials board. As it was just after Burns night I had pancakes filled with black pudding, my husband had chicken schnitzel and my son decided upon the "Polska Burger". 

We all tried the puddings on offer.  What can I say? I was definitely pleased that we waited -  So worth the wait!  The food was simply delicious, fresh, well presented and wholesome.  Well if this is what Polish food is like why haven`t we got more of this!?!  I`m so please we did a little research and found this little perfect gem but on the flip side a little envious that I have to travel to Leeds to get it. I have vowed that we will return on our next visit to Leeds.  

What a lovely day visiting our Son.  Oh how we miss him but are comforted in the knowledge that they are together doing their thing.