Global Tribe Cafe

I’m not a vegetarian but I do appreciate good vegetarian and vegan food. I had an absolutely delicious beet and squash soup and a salad. The bread on the side was homemade and soooo good. I loved the menu– includes breakfast until 1:30– I overheard they recently revamped it. Food was prepared to order and took a while to come out. Just as a warning, tables are limited, if you are more than 2 I would call and try to reserve.

I’ve given this place lots of chances, and I’m finally giving up.
Global Tribe has always had lots of good intentions and has tried lots of different styles. They’ve never nailed it. The latest attempt is an ethnic-​heavy menu, with mains representing cuisines from East Asia, South Asia, Latin American, as well as a vegetarian version of some British standard. The food is not bad, but somewhat bland and anyway clearly less appealing than the vegetarian dishes you’ll find on the menus of Indian, Pakistani, or East Asian restaurants around Leeds. I guess it’s nice that they have a plate of vegetarian/​vegan mezzes, including vegan tzatziki, but that’s the sort of thing you can make for yourself at home in 10 minutes (or again, find better versions of by walking around an equivalent amount of time; at this point there is decent hummus in Leeds city center).
The service is nice and everyone is kind, but it’s very slow. Overall, my impression is that the place would benefit from better choices at the managerial level. As a vegetarian, I have better, more interesting, and even healthier places to go.

Look this might be an entirely cultural thing but I found them to be completely and utterly rude.
But let’s start from the top. Hello everyone. I’m American. I’m loud as a American can be, but I’m not mean and I generally treat others with respect so I’ll be treated the same.
So I go to this restaurant and it was full. I asked if I could have a seat and the guy automatically just says «no».
just «no». No sort of «Well let’s see how we can help you out» or «if you just wait a couple more minutes we’ll have a seat for you straight away»
just «no».
So I asked how long the wait will be and he replied «thirty minutes». He didn’t say «shall I get your name down?» or anything like that he just said «thirty minutes».
So I decided to wait a couple of minutes down stairs. I thought I would go up in thirty to see if I can get a table again. However I noticed a several people went upstairs and never came down.
They got tables.
I went upstairs and asked how the fuck I was going to get a table. They finally asked if I wanted to write my name down for a table. I asked how long it was going to be and they said «forty five minutes»
He honestly had a look like he didn’t want me there. He probably thought, «ahh fuck here is an American. Fuck that bitch I won’t let her get in here». It is moments like these that I remember why I would never live in England. If you want good natured vegans or hippies come to America; anywhere in America. At least we’ll treat you with respect.

Whenever I come to Leeds, I come here. The décor is so calming and the vegetarian/​vegan food is amazing. Sometimes they run out of items on the menu and service isn’t always great. But the tofu hot dogs are great for kids and the cheddar and chutney sandwich is great, as is the Moroccan burger. Desserts are also a plus.

It’s great that we have such a variety of eateries in Leeds and if you have particular dietary needs it is truly wonderful to find a place that tells you it can feed you.
Well that’s the general idea anyway and when my wife and her friend discovered this place advertised that they did gluten free they were very excited and called in for what was, by all accounts, a pleasant lunch.
It was only very shortly after lunch that my wife became extremely ill and once I’d got her home I rang Global Tribe café to double check their menu. I was assured that everything they had been served was gluten free but then, oh wait, let me check… It turns out that the ‘chicken’ substitute contains gluten and they had just ‘assumed’ it was gluten free.
I suppose it’s lucky that coeliac disease isn’t a killer like nut allergy etc because there assumptions could have been fatal instead of just very painful.

Umm. Bit of trepidation in expressing a different view to Rowena H. (and clearly a bunch of other Unilocalers). Hope they don’t kick me off Unilocal for this. But…
Really wasn’t keen on this place.
Mrs O. and myself visited earlier this year. As confirmed vegetarians, we were chuffed to find somewhere veggie in the wicked metropolis. (In fact, we used Unilocal to find it.)
Didn’t seem to live up to its billing, in my opinion. Food seemed uninspired. For example, the salad seemed a bit small, and undressed (which, in salad at least, is unexciting). Now, maybe this was for health reasons, but if so, maybe they could have put dressing on the table for you to help yourself (or not).
Could have done better myself (and Jamie Oliver certainly isn’t worried about competition from me).
All a bit bland.
And there was a freezing gust of wind blowing in the window (this was a cold day). That sounds a bit whingy now, doesn’t it?

This review is long overdue, and I’m glad to have finally gotten around to sharing another of Leeds’ hidden spots. They’ve been open a wee while now, and so my visit came on a rather busy Tuesday lunch time, to meet a friend. Luckily I bagged a table before the place filled out! I’d call this a proper hidden gem, as it’s elusive in plain sight, being right in the centre and yet you’d only know about it if you’re either eagle eyed or have friends who share such secrets. ( Unilocalers shared this spot for me, naturally!)
If you’re walking down one of the cobbled alley ways, specifically the one housing City Varieties and The White Swan, then you’ll be right on the door step of this delightful veggie and vegan café. Don’t go into the shop, as I did, take the door on the right, next to it, and ascend the stairs — the reward of delectable loose leaf teas, fresh salads, home made soup and other treats will greet you inside. The place is decorated with positivity, literally, with happy quotes on the walls and table mats.
All the staff were jolly, obviously enjoying what they do, and I finally understood that ever so slightly smug feeling I’ve noticed in healthier friends — man, it does feel good to eat a ton of vegetables, none of which have been battered an deep fried first! I jest, of course, but this is a feel good place in various ways. I had a delicious sandwich, that you’ll have to forgive me for forgetting which variety, and a fantastic cup of green tea. Loose leaf, of course, and served with an awesome glass that felt very ergonomic in one’s hand, and also pleading that it was designed to keep the liquid hot. (Air between two layers of glass means you don’t burn your hand, and retain a piping cuppa. Boom. Science.)
It seems, at present, this lovely café is still somewhat of a secret. Busy enough to enjoy a full house, but not so busy you couldn’t pop in and enjoy their offerings. I will certainly be back soon, especially for a health boost, and an escape from the busy city centre bustle. It’s a cliché to say so, but I promise you fellow carnivores, you won’t miss the meat! A must visit for tea lovers as well.

Finally had some actual lunch from Global Tribe today, as before I’d only had their (very fancily presented and lovely whole leaf) tea and oh, I am so glad I did!
I went to Global Tribe the first week it opened and I can’t say the menu completely blew me away, though I was very glad to see another veggie restaurant in the city centre and I was happy to support them.
Well, fast forward a few months and they have really sorted everything out. The menu is full of gorgeous sounding things (including some raw options), and the houmous, olive and roasted veg sandwich I had (on granary) was huge, fluffy, full of flavour and just one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in ages. It filled me up completely and so I was forced (ha!) to take a cake to go, a raw pomegranate and lemon cheesecake, and holy lord, it didn’t last long once I got home, and was easily the best raw dessert I’ve ever had.
Four stars because I find there to be something a bit disconcerting about the completely open kitchen, and because their two microwaves are on show, something I wish they would choose not to use. Also, if they use any organic ingredients, they’re not advertising it, and I think that Global Tribe has the sort of customer base that would appreciate at least a nod toward organic.
But, will I be back? Of course!

I have wanted to visit this café for a few weeks now, and when arriving into Leeds earlier to do some Christmas shopping, after not eating, I thought what better time?
The weather was miserable, cold and chucking it down. But all that was forgotten once I had arrived inside this café! It was warm and I was welcomed by the nice smiling faces of the staff.
The décor is fun, clean and simple. The entire café is contained in one room; the kitchen separated by a counter. I really like this arrangement, not only because you can see your food being cooked, but it also makes the establishment incredibly friendly and sociable.
It was just about lunchtime, but as I hadn’t eaten I decided to go for the veggie sausage sandwich and a pot of breakfast tea (they have a wonderful extensive menu of teas!)
The sandwich was great, really nice home baked wholemeal bread. I never thought I could be so full from a sandwich, so this was great! It was accompanied by a beautiful colourful salad, with alfalfa sprouts which to me really makes a salad.
I stayed quite a while as I made my way through my pot of tea and read some of their magazines, and I didn’t feel rushed what so ever. It got pretty busy over lunch which was great to see, and the staff were incredibly accommodating to specific requests made by other customers.
My one suggestion would be — please do a veggie hot dog! My favourite dish at goji in York :) The rest of the menu looked incredible, I can’t wait to return with my veggie boyfriend soon!
PS Please add wifi! Then I will come here and write my essay and drink ALL the tea! :)

I’ve always thought Leeds had a very good range of places to eat out, but it always fell down on one area… good Vegitarian/​vegan food. there are places, but, Leeds needed a more forward thinking up to date relaxed café. And now it has one!
The menu is exceptional with a few things that i would never have though up in a month of sundays. The chef is there on hand is very chatty and obviously very into what he does, I had the Cannellini humous with olives, side salad and gluten free bread.(choice of breads, Spelt, gluten free and wholemeal and of course white.)
They have a range of teas in big jars that smell really nice and again some unique varieties to try (I had coffee, but that’s just me)
Finished of with a nice slice of Lemon cake with soya cream, that sorted me for the day
Global crystals has been the shop selling incence and new age type stuff for about 12 – 13 years now, so this venture into a café upstairs is a good step for them and their customers, all of whom went and thanked the chef when they had finished, so it wasnt just me (a confirmed carnivore) really appreciating the excellent food.
It’s only been open two weeks so they are still sorting websites free wi-​fi and other bits and peices, but are well on their way.