Leicester boasts a large selection of eateries, from cozy cafes to fine restaurants, offering a varied selection from traditional English cuisine to cuisines from all over the world. When it comes to eating in the city, there is no shortage of choice.
There are some good chain restaurants in Leicester, but what’s particularly interesting is the number of great independent businesses, and it’s always good to support locals, isn’t it? We’ve rounded up some of our favorite independent eateries in Leicester to visit and the foods we love to indulge in there (and yes, we pay for our food!).
For this particular article, we have focused on 10 locations in the city center. See if your favorite place is on the list. If not, let us know in the comments below what you like to eat and where, and we’ll do our best to give it a try.
READ MORE: Ten finalists from Leicestershire are named the best places to eat, drink and have fun at the Midlands Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards 2022.
Pancakes from KAI, Saint Martin’s Square
(Image: Becky Jones)
Anyone who loves pancakes should definitely visit KAI! This cute St. Martin’s eatery serves some truly incredible American pancakes.
There are seven choices including Berry Jam, Banana & Maple Syrup (£7.50), Smoked Striped Bacon & Maple Syrup (£8), Peanut Butter & Banana (£7.50), Strawberry & Chocolate with hazelnut (£7.50), red Leicester. cheese, bacon, onion and maple syrup (9 pounds), Greek yogurt, granola, strawberries, cinnamon and maple syrup (8.50 pounds) and smoked salmon, lemon crème fraîche, mashed avocado, olive oil and microcress ( 9 pounds).
The Greek yogurt and muesli option pictured above consists of three lovely fluffy pancakes with lots of crunchy muesli, sweet strawberry chunks, a pinch of cinnamon and a generous sip of powdered sugar-dusted maple syrup.
Full English from St Martin’s Coffee, St Martin’s Square
(Image: Becky Jones)
Just look at this plate! This St Martin’s roast is one of the breakfast options available at St Martin’s, along with Vegetarian Roast and Vegan Roast. They all cost £10 each and are available on the brunch menu, which also includes dishes such as the excellent Nasi Goreng – great when you want something spicier than a roast!
St Martin’s Fry includes sausages, black pudding, bacon, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, fried egg, beans and toast. Made with quality ingredients, this is a very tasty and satisfying start to the day.
Bacon cob from Holly’s, St. Martins
(Image: Becky Jones)
Sometimes all you need is a good traditional cob of bacon and you can’t go wrong with one of Holly’s (£2.50). Fresh bread, slightly crispy bacon slices, and a dollop of ketchup if you like. Sorting.
Pizza by Maurizio’s, Belvoir Street
(Image: Becky Jones)
Made by Italian native Maurizio Ricci, the pizza here is truly excellent! Traditional Neapolitan pizza is made with Italian ingredients, right down to the salt. Maurizio makes his own dough using four types of flour, including ancient flour that comes from different regions of Italy.
Pictured above is Maurizio’s pizza topped with tomato sauce, pistachios, Milano salami, brie, pesto, truffle sauce and mozzarella, as well as pizza of the month (this pizza has a white base with cherry tomatoes, porchetta, smoked scamorza). cheese and gorgonzola.) Both are £14 but prices vary and you can get a Margherita for £8 for example.
Bowl from Healthy Louisa Cafe Deli, Belgrave Gate
(Image: Becky Jones)
Whether you’re a vegan or not, I highly recommend visiting this cafe for colorful, flavorful, plant-based food. There are a variety of bowls to choose from which make for a very satisfying lunch!
You can choose from a fiesta bowl, a macro bowl, a Mexican bowl, or a Tropicana bowl, each offering a different combination of fruits and vegetables, as well as fillings and sauces. With each bowl, you can choose from vegan chicken, vegan bolognese, organic tofu, curry chickpeas, or mushrooms.
Price starts at £11.97. This is for options with mushrooms or chickpeas.
Sandwich with mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes and grilled pestoBrighter Moon, Silver Arcade
Bryter Moon, one of my favorite places to dine, is a great place in Silver Arcade. Not only does it offer an excellent selection of freshly prepared food, but it also has a shop with a large selection of food and drink, including many local beers.
On the menu you will find dishes such as salads, bagels, delicacies and grilled sandwiches. I am a big fan of mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes and the pesto version (£6.95) which is also available with vegan mozzarella.
Gelato from the village of Gelato, Saint Martin’s Square
(Image: Becky Jones)
On a hot day (or even an overcast day, to be honest!) there is nothing better than delicious, traditional Italian ice cream from Gelato Village.
Gelato Village is owned and operated by Italians Daniele Taverna and Antonio de Vecchi, and Antonio develops each recipe himself. Ingredients include milk from the Vine Farm dairy in Great Dalby near Melton Mowbray, pistachios from Sicily and lemons from the Amalfi Coast. The taste of ice cream changes throughout the year, reflecting seasonality and local availability.
Flavors created by Gelato Village include Bonet with amaretti biscuits, chocolate, hazelnuts, coffee and rum, and King Richard III with an infusion of real rose flowers, representing the white rose of the House of York and the fruit of the forest ripples that are talked about. to commemorate the king’s last battle at Bosworth.
In addition to the town center branch, Gelato Village also opened a second store on Queens Road, in Clarendon Park. A regular cone costs £4.70.
Avocado Toast by La Forêt, King Street
La Forêt is a great little cafe that serves great food inspired by the experience of owners of different cultures from all over the world, including Mediterranean, Asian and European.
Avocado toast is a popular dish and the La Forêt version (£6.50) is one of the best I’ve had. It’s made with homemade bread, seasoned chopped avocado, roasted tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate seeds, chili flakes, and parsley.
Royal by Chloe Gourmet, Cank Street
(Image: Becky Jones)
This French cafe is such a little gem serving beautiful authentic French patisserie handcrafted by owner and talented pastry chef Assia Betta (also known as Chloe due to the name of the company).
The range of sweets includes éclairs, Parisian brest and fruit tarts, but my favorite has to be the indulgent Royal (£4.95). The French classic has three layers: a chewy hazelnut meringue sponge (dacquoise) topped with a layer of crunchy praline, and a thick layer of rich chocolate mousse.
Dusted with cocoa powder, it tastes great.
Chicken gyros from The Olive, Belvoir Street
(Image: Becky Jones)
This family run business aims to offer authentic Greek street food that is fast, fresh and healthy. It’s delicious too, of course!
The menu offers a large selection, including souvlaki, gyros and specialty dishes such as halloumi burger and keftedes. You can sit or go outside in the sun and imagine that you are on holiday in Greece!
I often indulge in the Chicken Gyros Wrap (£5.95), which is a freshly grilled pitta stuffed with shavings of grilled meat marinated in Greek herbs, lemon juice and olive oil, plus red onions, tomatoes, tzatziki and French fries. . Delicious.
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