Tucked away in the Trinity centre (or as the website states, ‘above Topshop’) is Mexican food and drinks venture Cielo Blanco. A welcome break from the plethora of chain restaurants packed into the shopping complex, the quirky front terrace filled with foliage and explosions of colour combinations is a far cry from a trip to Nandos.
The impressive deco isn’t restricted to outside of the restaurant; walking in, it’s easy to forget you’re a minute away from The Entertainer. Colourful murals, rustic tiling and mood lighting make it hard to resist the temptation of taking pictures of absolutely everything and putting them on Instagram. The restaurant boasts a balcony overlooking Briggate, ideal if you’re passing by in the evening to sit and enjoy a drink.
The drinks menu, moderately priced and featuring a lot of Tequila, offers something for everyone. From your standard fruity cocktail to something a bit more adventurous, all pay homage to an authentic Mexican taste. A recommendation from the waiter led me to the strawberry and kiwi margarita, putting a twist on an old favourite and not exceeding the overdraft at £6.50.
The only problem with the food menu is the amount of choice. With their aim being to bring ‘fresh and authentic Mexican food and drinks’, the menu feels influenced by the very current street food trend. Choosing the ‘street food experience’, you can select any six items from the market section of the menu to share between two. If, like myself, you often find yourself ordering one dish and then spend the whole meal daydreaming about another, this is for you. With a wide range of tacos, quesadillas, tostadas and empanadas to choose from, every taste is catered for.
From vegetarian options to fish, beef and chicken, it’s clear every combination has been carefully thought through and that a lot of love and attention to detail has gone into the menu. Recommendations would be the spicy chipotle pork tacos and the rump steak and jalapeño ketchup quesadillas, and everyone’s favourite sweet potato fries as a side. But be warned, each dish certainly comes with a kick! At £11.95 per person it’s not the cheapest meal out, but the portion sizes were just about right, and it delivers in selling real Mexican food in a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
Whether you’re still lurking in Leeds or already compiling your list of food places to cure your Freshers flu come September, Cielo Blanco and its taste of Mexico isn’t one to miss.
Emma Bowden
Featured images from the Made By Analogue wesbite.