La Piola Italian - Leeds

Featured reviews

• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “Great Italian restaurant in Leeds. The atmosphere is very intimate and cozy, with Italian decor/photos on the walls. The food was delicious, we ordered the mushroom and truffle arancini as starter, and tagliatelle ragú and gnocchi búfala as main. We didn’t have space for dessert, but we were tempted to get the tiramisu which looked amazing. The staff were super friendly. Thank you, hope to be back soon! ☺️🎉”

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• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “Food is simply amazing but what’s more important is that the atmosphere is also super relaxing and chill. We had a lovely time and everything just felt like being home: every bite felt like a cuddle, a warm hug! Absolutely recommend paying a visit here while in Leeds!”

• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “I have visited La Piola twice now, and while there is a lot to like about the restaurant, there have also been some disappointing moments that stop me from giving it a higher rating. My first visit was for my sister’s birthday after we had both seen so many positive reviews online. The pizzas and pasta dishes were very good and we left impressed with most of the food. Unfortunately, my sister ordered the duck special. We had seen photos online and expected something similar, but what arrived was quite different. The duck breast was served with a cream based sauce and, more importantly, the duck itself was overcooked, rubbery and lacking the quality we expected. My sister was visibly upset and barely touched her meal, which was especially disappointing given that it was her birthday. As a chef myself, I understand that mistakes happen. What disappointed me more was the response when we raised the issue. The chef came to the table but seemed unwilling to acknowledge that there may have been a problem with the dish. The interaction felt defensive rather than helpful. On that same visit, the upstairs dining area felt cold, there was little atmosphere or music, and the service was quite slow. Despite that experience, I decided to return recently for my partner’s birthday because I genuinely enjoyed some of the food and wanted to give La Piola another chance. We started with the mozzarella arancini and nduja arancini, both of which were excellent. Hot, crispy and full of flavour. For her main course, my partner ordered the seafood pasta. The sauce was delicious and full of flavour. She even commented that it reminded her of the seafood pasta sauce I make at home, which is a compliment. However, some of the mussels contained sand. As someone who has cooked mussels professionally for many years, I know how important proper cleaning is when serving shellfish, so this was disappointing. I ordered the pistachio pasta. The flavour was excellent and I finished every bite, but unfortunately it arrived almost cold. I chose not to send it back because fresh pasta is not always easy to reheat without affecting the quality, but it should have been served hotter. I had also mentioned that it was my partner’s birthday. Earlier in the evening I noticed another table receiving a birthday celebration while the owner was present. Later, after specifically requesting something for my partner, we were brought a small dark chocolate truffle with a candle in it. The chocolate appeared partially melted and felt like a bit of an afterthought. I appreciate the gesture, but for a birthday celebration it felt underwhelming. Something as simple as a small slice of cheesecake or a more thoughtful dessert presentation would have made a much better impression. One final point is the chef’s interaction with customers. On both visits I found her approach quite strong and sometimes unnecessarily defensive. Passion is important, but hospitality is equally important. There is a difference between explaining a dish and making a customer feel as though they are being challenged for raising a concern. That said, there is clearly talent in the kitchen. The pasta dishes are generally very good, the arancini were excellent, and the staff were friendly throughout both visits. I would return again because there is a lot of potential here. However, consistency, attention to detail, and a more welcoming response to customer feedback would make a significant difference to the overall experience.”

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• G

  Google user

  ·3 months ago

  “The food was really delicious and authentic as all the other reviews are chanting. Staffs were kind and lovely, and the two italian guys who seemed like owners/managers were really friendly. All was good but just one fly kept hovering over our food was a bit annoying/embarassing. I know that they can’t control flies slipping through the door whenever open, and that it doesn’t indicate poor hygene of restaurant or anything so it was okay. It was just a little embarassing as I brought my parents-in-law to celebrate her birthday and late Father’s Day celebration, and we were telling them how excited we are to try this popular restaurant. Restaurant is pretty small and packed, and the table was quite small too so it was a bit strained to move the drinks/water/food around on the table. That was another slight inconvenience. Nonetheless, the food was fantastic, staffs were lovely, so we’ll defo come back. Maybe for cooler weather!”

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• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “I had an absolutely wonderful experience at La Piola. The food was incredible from start to finish. We started with the mushroom arancini and nduja croquettes, and both were absolutely delicious - full of flavour and perfectly cooked. For mains, we had the mortadella pizza and the pasta with guanciale, pesto, and stracciatella, and they were equally amazing. Every dish tasted fresh, authentic, and beautifully prepared. The service was outstanding as well. The head chef kept checking in to make sure everything tasted good, which made the whole experience feel really personal and welcoming. I honestly can’t wait to come back and try more dishes from the menu. Highly recommend! 🇮🇹🍝”

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• G

  Google user

  ·4 months ago

  “Lovely small Italian café offering a great variety of meals. The portions are a good size and very filling. I’d recommend booking in advance, as it’s usually busy during both lunch and dinner times.”

• G

  Google user

  ·5 months ago

  “Very accommodating front of house. We turned up without a booking on a very busy early Saturday evening, he advised us to return 45 minutes later, which we did and were seated to a table straight away. Tasty food, good service from our friendly waitress, no long wait for food.”

• G

  Google user

  ·7 months ago

  “Let me tell you, I’m not just saying but this Italian Restaurant is the most authentic and delicious I ever eaten in the whole UK. The staffs are really nice and welcoming. The food was satisfying and taste hit the spot! Would definitely recommend this for a family dinner or a date night and as well a hangout with friends. A worth to try experience!”

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• G

  Google user

  ·9 months ago

  “La Piola is by far the best Italian in Leeds, if not in UK! Its so tasty, so cosy, so perfect I could eat here every day! On the first visit the owner even sang happy birthday to me and put a candle in my tiramisu (how cute) ! Always faultless, always delicious! I cant wait to come back and i recommend this daily ✨️”

• G

  Google user

  ·11 months ago

  “We went early in the evening for dinner and had no reservations. Luckily someone who had reserved didn’t turn up and so we got a table. The food was absolutely delectable and lip smacking . I could click only two photos although we had ordered 3 appetisers and a main course. The Bruschetta with Bufala and Parma - Belliisomo…Pappardelle Guanciale Pistacchio E Stracciatella was a first time for me… it was nice but would have loved some more olive oil in it. The Calamari Frito was very good too and the chili garlic mayo added that zing..we also ordered the Insalata Balsamica … fresh rocket and salad leaves, cherry tomatoes and some onion make it a lovely accompaniment for fibre.. while I wanted to try a dessert, we were too full and hence didn’t . Prior reservations are highly recommended”

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