Indian restaurant chain Bengal Brasserie opens for business in Leeds city centre

The Bengal Brasserie restaurant group is the newest dining offering to join the lineup in Leeds city centre.

The restaurant group, which specialises in Indian and Bengali food, has opened its doors to customers this week after holding a VIP launch event and official opening by Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton on Sunday.

Marking a seven-figure investment, the new venue is a 120-cover licensed eatery in a completely refurbished 3,600 sq ft premises on Merrion Way close to Leeds Arena.

Serving authentic Bengali and Indian food, the group’s fifth Bengal Brasserie restaurant fuses interior design influences of traditional Indian craftsmanship with Yorkshire urban chic.

The group’s four other Bengal Brasserie restaurants are located in Haddon Road in Kirkstall, Roundhay Road in North Leeds, Goodramgate in York and Victoria Street in Wetherby.

House specialities include freshly prepared murg mohoni, chicken deshi and a range of korai dishes created by executive chef, Mohon Miah, who has been with the business since its launch in 1992.

Malik Dobir, Bengal Brasserie director, said: “We are excited to finally open the new restaurant, which is our largest so far, and we are really looking forward to welcoming customers through the doors.

“Each of our restaurants has its own individual character but our new Leeds city centre is especially exciting because we have gone a little bit further to create something really special that we hope will make it into a destination restaurant that people will seek out for a really excellent gastronomic experience.”

Helen Green, associate director at Merrion Centre owner Town Centre Securities, added: “We are delighted to welcome Malik and the Bengal Brasserie team to Merrion. Bengal Brasserie has been established in Yorkshire for over 25 years and I know his customers are delighted that he has finally opened a restaurant here in Leeds city centre.

“It has been worth the wait as the new premises are stunning, and Bengal Brasserie is a definite great new addition to our already varied range of restaurants and bars.”

Bengal Brasserie restaurants specialise in offering a wide range of vegetable and fish dishes, which are a hallmark of Bengali cooking, but also include a large selection of meat dishes on their menus.

Mr Dobir concluded: “While we base our dishes on traditional recipes that stretch back for generations, we always add our own twist and interpretation, and that’s what makes us a bit different, and what our customers tell us they really appreciate.

“Mohon is a genius chef, who puts a great deal of effort into rigorously researching and perfecting every new dish before it appears on our menu. We look forward to seeing what city centre diners make of our new venture and the dining experience we have created.”