Kobe

Went yesterday and we were on the list as there were no free tables (plenty were reserved) then 2 girls came in just sat straight down then a family came in and sat down a table that someone just left. I was so mad I complained and the guy just fobbed me off that they had rang earlier. If that was the case, why would they not be sat at a reserves table. I got my money back for my drinks and left. No food even came out for anyone in the 15/​20mins we were waiting!

Visited here with my boyfriend last week and we enjoyed our visit very much so. If you like Arc, Box and Trio in Headingley but can’t stand students then Kobe is for you as it’s part of the same family.
It was a Sunday afternoon when we stopped by for a drink. I had a couple of cocktails as it there was two for £8 offers on. The bartender was very helpful and happy to make recommendations. I didn’t really want two of the same cocktails, nor two at the same time. The bartender was great and allowed me to pay one on so that I could have the second when I was ready which is so good and responsible, not many places would do that.
We weren’t gonna have any food but after walking to Horsforth from Kirkstall and looking at the menu we couldn’t resist. We opted for a couple of sides to share thinking it would be a snack, well they were generous!
We had sweet potato fries which were tasty with a yummy dip. We also opted for the bread oil and balsamic as we have this all the time at home and are carb fiends. We were really surprised to receive a freshly baked mini seeded wholemeal loaf of bread which we cut up and dipped away. Very different but great! Loved the extra deal in something as simple as a side! It would be fab with a salad, but to share as it was a lot of food!
The bartender came to the table as I was finishing my drink and offered to make up my second for me, I didn’t have to go to the bar!
Really attentive service, it wasn’t really busy but there were quite a few tables in there so it was steady so I was delighted at the level of service. We were more than happy to leave a tip.
We would definitely return for a casual lunch and a drink. There is also a small outside seating area so good be good for a summer midweek lunch when it’s not too busy.

What a great place to meet and eat. I had a burger which was a dream with sweet potato chips… The restaurant/​bar has gone to lengths to even put ice troughs inside the tables to keep your drinks cold… Genius!

After a long, hot, humid Sunday walk at Otley Chevin, myself and my girlfriend were craving food. Despite the heat, we were both agreed on one thing: this particular Sunday was a Sunday Roast kind of Sunday.
Heading back in the car around (what I think is) the edge of Horsforth and trying to remember what options we had for food, I spotted Kobe, which I’d heard good things about and wanted to try for some time. Parked up, we walked over, unsure if we’d even get in; it was a Sunday Roast Day after all.
The worrying was for nothing however — Kobe was pretty quiet today. A few small groups of drinkers sat near the bar, and the outer-​reaches of the pub had the odd cluster of eaters. We were sat by the kitchen — and then promptly forgotten.
It took the staff 15 minutes to bring us a menu (despite asking a second time), and even longer to come and take our orders. Once we ordered, the food took forever to arrive. Whether we were out-​of-​sight, out-​of-​mind in our corner or the staff had no idea what was going on, I’m not sure, but we weren’t happy.
Instead, while waiting, I began to notice just how much Kobe is like The Arc. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but when a place tries to be more «upmarket» like Kobe does, maybe they should ditch the big drinks offers on the walls. Mixed messages.
Eventually, our food arrived. And by jingo, the food was good. I ordered a roast beef dinner, which was looked and tasted fantastic, and was deceptively filling — the plate arrangement made the meal look smaller than it was. The gravy was good enough to have a bowl of on it’s own, and the roast potatoes were crispy, fluffy inside and not greasy in the slightest. Big Yorkshire pudding, but no mash at all — disappointing.
It wasn’t part of my meal, but I noticed that the kitchen had a huge bowl of bacon under a hot-​lamp for the entire duration of my visit, occasionally taking one or two flaccid pieces for burgers I assume.
I didn’t hang around for them to bring the bill — I might have ended up celebrating a birthday or two in there while I waited. The food really was great, but the service was mediocre and we were waiting a frustratingly long time for service, drinks, and food. And it wasn’t even a busy afternoon.

So, our first stop off on the Unilocal pub crawl was at Kobe, (pronounced koh-​bee not kohb, as I debated with the taxi driver) to stock up on burgers before our tour of the town. I’d heard on good authority (a fellow Unilocaler, naturally) that the burgers here were well worth a punt, and being as I’m on a sort of unofficial best burger hunt, it had to be done. Should you feel flash, they also do a chateaubriand — but that’s fifty squids, so quite a lot to drop when it’s not Blackhouse.
Friday was, if you recall, incredibly warm, and so this was the perfect place to indulge in some summer sun — the outdoor garden has quite a few tables, and there are some covered tables, should the rains have come. Being as I’d yet to have my tea, I didn’t take advantage of the boozes here. I did discover an incredible mocktail menu, however, and can highly recommend the Very Berry — it’s an awesome mix of raspberry, cranberry, mint, apple and other bits, that make up both a healthy and delicious smoothie.
The staff were all really helpful, especially the girls that served me, both when ordering the mocktail and my burger. I wanted to check out extras on the burger, and if I could have it served rare, amongst other details and both girls were really great with all my questions. Fantastic.
The décor is fine, and in keeping with their other bars dotted about Leeds, although to my mind could probably do with an update. You know you’re in an Arc bar when you go in, so there’s that, but it is rather dark inside and I suppose feels a bit dated? I can’t put my finger on it, but the black leather, dark floors, and varnished wood aren’t my favourite. But, perhaps that’s a minor detail when everything else seemed to be quality.
The burger comes on a wooden chopping board, and the chips in a little mini metal chip pan, as seems to be the fashion. I do like the little pot of salsa though, which was really tasty. I opted for the Indonesian burger, and whilst it wasn’t rare in the American sense, it was definitely juicy — thank goodness for a nicely cooked burger. Who wants dry meat? (Apparently lots of folk, as the waitress mentioned several people send them back to be cooked for longer — if you’re one of those culprits, try it wet. I promise, it’s better.)
I couldn’t taste the peanut satay crème fraîche very well, but the rest of the acoutrements that accompanied the burger were fabulous, and the bun was a perfect brioche bun. It’s not the biggest you’ll see in your life, but it’s definitely decent so these guys make the list. I was very happy!
In summary: I much prefer this place to the Headingley counterparts, and their burgers are damned good. The mocktail list is great, and give non-​boozers something a little extra special to sup, so all in all I’m a fan.

So the caveat I guess… I hardly ever leave the city centre. I don’t see much need to as there is everything that you could possibly want to have in Leeds centre. That is except people!!! Which isn’t to say there are no people there, just that there are different people that aren’t there. So… that out of the way, it was the Official Unilocal Horsforth Town Tour! (I probably just made that name up) and it was decided that Kobe would be the start of said tour. Now, because I’m «shy», and because I didn’t want to get a taxi down in the mega-​heat, I decided to turn up late when I knew I’d know at least one person there, and when the mega-​heat would be less. What this meant was that I unfortunately missed out on the burger action. And the burger action looked like good burger action. And for this I regret my choice of arrival time.
But I’m perhaps getting ahead of myself.
I hated Kobe.
Okay, maybe not hate, but one of the other reasons that I don’t really leave Leeds centre is that I spent many years living in Headingley and everything about Kobe reminds me of everything that I hate about Headingley. Just with an older clientele, who for the most part seemed to be trying to look like they were still students and in The Arc. And then there was the drinks selection. I’ve said this before and before I die I’ll say it again, but I’m a cider drinker and to have only 1 apple cider available is tantamount to craziness, especially when you have 4 much sweeter ‘fruit’ ciders (don’t know if you know this, but apple isn’t a fruit in the current cider wars which wage in bars and pubs up and down the country). My new second choice drink? Leffe. None of that either. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it has a very specific drink stocking policy and that policy is mainstream. There is nothing in the fridges or on tap that I would describe as remotely adventurous. And if you’re in Headingley and that’s what you want because you’re new to drinking or can’t afford craft beers, then that’s great — but this is Horsforth, it’s supposed to be more up market, offer more selection, be better than studentville? Or maybe that’s just the legend that I’ve been sold.
The staff were friendly enough, though I’ve never really liked the idea of having a boy band behind a bar — most of the chaps didn’t necessarily look old enough to be drinking in a bar never mind serving in one.
I kinda thought the interior of the bar was a little ‘meh’ and possibly too dark, but it does have a lovely beer garden which I’m sure gets abused by those worshipping the sun in the summer months.
All in all, taking the good and the bad, it’s not an awful place — and again I’d maybe just raised my expectations a little too high of what Horsforth would be — but whilst the food looked great and there was a little concrete beer garden, there is little else that I could find going for Kobe that would make me want to go back — it’s too generic, it’s not Headingley: be better!

Unilocal Horsforth Pub Crawl 19−07−13. number 1
Well, as a starting place goes, it aint half bad. nice beer garden and 241 cocktails on friday evening (actually available thursday-​sunday, which seems odd, but fine with me!). Although it was incredibly humid and Matt W was melting, we decided to stay out and laugh at him a bit, using the smokers as an excuse!
The barlady was lovely and we had a nice chat. the cocktails were ok. not maven, but hit the spot. I had a Tuscany burger (v) to line the stomach and was actually rather lovely… although that mozzarella really did look like poached eggs! chips should be fat too.
They still seem to have a lot of staff wondering about with plates of food trying to find the right table. It annoys me. Ask what area I am going to be sat in so that my food doesn’t arrive lukewarm!!!
Sorry to Andy W for only allowing you one bum cheek on the bench :(

Ok first thing’s first — the burgers are amazing! I was told this (numerous times!) beforehand, and after a trying the Indonesian Burger I was not disappointed. Excellent meat, toppings and size, with a good side of chips to boot. I’ll definitely be going back just to try another burger on the menu — burger win!
Aside from the magic burger, I was only in Kobe for a couple of drinks, but they weren’t cheap. We’re talking just over £4 a pint for decent but not difficult to find elsewhere pints, so while it’s not THAT expensive (I had a pint in Outlaws Yacht Club that cost over £5 recently!!), it’s still pricey if you’re out for the evening.
The staff seemed pleasant enough, although again I was only there a short while so had little interaction with them. But the place is decked out nicely and it’s clean all round.
Definitely mark Kobe down as a place to try the food, but at the moment it’s stuck on 4 stars for being a tad pricey.

Love this place, great food (especially when there is a 2−4-£12.95 deal on) burgers are awesome, cocktails 2−4−1 — what more could you want!

Visited Kobe today using a taste card which offered 50% off food. My husband and I both ordered burgers. Him a wully bully a spiced Indian based affair and I ordered the much anticipated Kobe burger. The menu described this as a burger succulent beyond compare. It arrived looking amazing served on a wooden block. My mouth watered. I took a bite. Much to my dissatisfaction it was dry, and pretty plain. Don’t get me wrong as burgers go it was ok but succulent it was NOT! Seriously disappointing. Had I paid full price (£16.50) I would have made a fuss. When the waitress cleared our table and asked how it was I was honest and explained I was not happy with my burger she apologised and said she would pass my thoughts on. Again had I paid full price I would have wished for more action. This aside my husband really enjoyed his burger and this blip would not prevent me from returning. But never will I order the Kobe burger again. Such a shame.

Kobe is a pretty classy bar/​restaurant with various offers on during the week. Their specialty seems to be their food which they pride themselves on with a good menu and well presented execution.
They have a wide selection of beers and spirits which will suit all tastes and being Horforth based the clientelle is generally young — both student and professional.
The bar itself is very stylish with low-​lit booths and a lit up bar area.
A really nice place to unwind after work or start your night out before coming into town.

I’m not quite sure what this place is getting at by naming itself Kobe… the website seems to indicate that the experience you’ll get here is akin to the pampering received by the kobe cattle with their ‘daily sake massages and beer breaks’; but then the menu takes pride in offering the very same meat for your dining pleasure. It feels as if they want to fatten you up only to serve you back to yourself with a side of chips and charge you for the pleasure — far too disturbing a load of mixed metaphors if you ask me. Unfortunately it appears to be more than merely a semantic confusion that Kobe is suffering from: the menu is equally baffling in terms of who it is trying to attract. Most of it is typical gastropub fare of the sort you’d expect from the same team behind Box and Arc, but who exactly would trust chefs that offer an £8 fajita on the same page as a £45 chateaubriand? That’s not variety, it’s aiming above your station. People don’t come here for luxury — even the kobe beef is served in a bun with mayonnaise — and such attempts at culinary greatness merely grate. Ignoring these misjudged attempts to register as a serious eating establishment, Kobe is a perfectly pleasant place to grab a drink and a bite to eat. My vegetarian sharing platter was very good, although the Halloumi was spoilt by heavy breadcrumbs, and the atmosphere was a nice balance between being lively without being overwhelmingly so. Similarly, the drinks were good, although the cocktails were generally overpriced by about a quid. All in all, Kobe would do a lot better for itself if it concentrated on good food and drinks and forgot any notions of being a culinary trailblazer.

Don’t you think there’s something really hot about a man who knows how to serve up a good cocktail or two? If so, you’ll be in heaven at Kobe…
Kobe is a creation or Arc Inspirations and it does not disappoint. It takes its name from the great Kobe Beef which comes from the Wagyu cattle. (You can try this dish on the menu and I’d definitely recommend that you do! It’s a little pricey but gorgeous and worth it).
Luxury is what Kobe is all about and that’s evident as soon as you walk in the door. With low mood lighting, soft furnishings and a stunning bar display, this is the ultimate place to socialise.
If, like me, you are a lover of trying out new cocktails, you’ll love the Kobe cocktail list. I personally favour the Pink 75 which is a champagne cocktail or the *cue Jamaican accent* Boom Ting. Whatever your flavour, the bartenders will ask your taste and whip you up the perfect delight.
I’m a frequent visitor to Kobe and love the relaxed yet classy atmosphere. Try it once… twice if you love it. Which you will…

Kobe is owned and run by the same folk that gave Headingley The Arc, The Box and Trio, yet it distinguishes itself from these student hangouts quite significantly.
By far the trendiest business to every grace New Road Side, Kobe takes its name from the area of Japan where the farmers treat the cows like gods. Seriously. If you haven’t read about this, get on Wikipedia now and look up Kobe beef, it’s ridiculous; they give cows beer and massages!
Kobe (the club) uses Kobe (the beef) for one thing on it’s simple, grill menu, the Kobe Burger. Now, this is no ordinary burger– indeed, it costs around £17 (which would probably get you about 8 Big Macs) but then again this is the poshest beef in the world. Despite my love of beef and burgers, I could not justify the price, so went for the rump steak and cheese sandwich, which was top drawer.
The service was pleasant and fast, and, while the prices are definitely on the expensive side, the quality you get makes up for this. Kobe by night is a similarly expensive but luxury experience, with the décor and upmarket drinks making you feel as special as those Japanese cows must do.

As our friends eat here at least once a week, we met them there for a Saturday lunch last weekend.
Disabled access has been improved since the previous owners, and instead of trying to navigate a huge step or the back door, there is now a flat access wide door at the front.
The bar is clean and friendly, and serves the usual bar food — burgers, chips, sausages and so on.
The Kobe burger was really succulent, and for main course, coffee and a drink, we each paid less than £20.
(This restaurant used to be Fat Franco’s in Horsforth if you’re confused as to the location — we were!)

Horsforth’s latest attraction. Very classy and furnished. Lovely food and drinks gets really busy.
Great place to relax with friends, lovely atmosphere. Great service too. It is a large bar with plenty of room, even when it is busy.
A really nice menu with plenty of variation. The house speciality are burgers and there are plenty to choose from. The cheese cake is possibaly the best I have ever had. They also have a fantastic selection of beers, wines and spirits.
A good night will be had by everyone!

Classy and spohisticated with lots of space to chill. A great crowd, not to pretentious with a varied age range.
The décor oozes class and style. The overhawk of what used to be a small italian was completed earlier in the year to add to another of Arc Insoirations portfolio of cool bars. This one beats the rest.
The atmosphere is great, a good mix of young professionals and stylish youths. The bar fills quickly which is impressive given the large amount of space dedicated to standing. There is also great food served daily with stylish booths for your party to sit in.
Service is second to none, even when the bar is full. There is table service if you set up a tab and the servers are very polite and friendly and offer great advice on the selection of cocktails on offer.
All in all worth the little venture from the humdrum of the city centre. Get yourself there and spend the night in Horsforth for a change.