Aglassto, Leeds, LS1.

The Electric Press is home to a new bar, Aglassto, and if you haven't been yet, it's about time you do. Some colleagues had mentioned it to me during the week, so Simon and i popped down on Tuesday evening for  bite to eat and a glass of wine. We'll be going back without a doubt.



I'm not sure how i feel about that end of town. Sandwiched between two of Cuthbert Broderick's architectural masterpieces, Leeds Town Hall and the Mechanic's Institute, The Electric Press is a typical Leeds anomaly- a fantastic development that just doesn't live up to it's potential. Don't get me wrong, i think that Epernay is a marvelous bar and Haha is one of the less offensive chain restaurants in Leeds, it just feels like the whole development gets swallowed up with the likes of the multiples, when what it really needs is for some more independents to move in- just like Aglassto has. Vodka Revs, Bourbon and Wetherspoon's dramatically transform the tone of the area from, architecturally, one of the most beautiful areas in Leeds with the potential to be cultural hotspot, to a drunken mess in the evenings. I should know, i was both drunken and a mess there this Friday just gone. It's a crying shame.

Along with A Nation of Shopkeepers, Aglassto are raising the bar (excuse the pun), and bringing good quality wine and food to an area that needs it so much. I can only urge that others will do the same.

The first thing that struck me about Aglassto was the building it is in. A beautiful, grand, georgian front towers above the doorway, and once inside it feels like you are in somebody's opulent living room. The ceilings are high and it is warm and dimly lit. With the decor, they have managed a vintage feel without it being cliche. It feels authentic, not like that faux-vintage crap that you see so often nowadays- wannabe-kitch with poor-quality patterned wall paper. Touches of stainless steel with the stools and some very nicely cut (heavy!) table numbers, remind you of the fact that it is 2011, not 1811. It's a mix that works beautifully.

We were made to feel comfortable straight away and looked through the wine list, which they clearly they pride themselves upon. I can see why. I couldn't believe the wines available by the glass. I hate being somewhere that only serves one or two wines by the glass, that will inevitably be a chardonnay, and something else equally shitty that i hate. At Aglassto, there was almost too much choice. I had two glasses of the very reasonably priced Sancerre, and Simon drank the Sangiovese (in lovely wine glasses- a small touch that makes a huge difference to me!). I am particularly fussy about the temperature of my wine and often bug waiting staff for a glass of ice to cool it down, but my Sancerre came perfectly chilled. By this point i had already decided that i really liked this place.

We weren't let down with the food either. If you're looking for a full meal, then i wouldn't recommend Aglassto, but the tapas that it offers is perfect for a light dinner with friends or a partner. We ordered the Manchego y Chorizo, a baked Camembert with fresh bread and the mixed antipasti. I wanted to go for the steak too, but our waiter said that would be a little too much food. He clearly underestimated the extent of my appetite, but we listened to him anyway. He was right in the end. There was ample food between us. I've been known to eat an unholy amount of cheese, and there was cheese aplenty, and the antipasti was varied and all really really yummy. The best thing about the food is how simple it is. It's food that you could make yourself at home; "sans tra la la"- "without, pretentiousness, frills and embellishment". It's so simple that there isn't even a kitchen. The bartender simply makes the food right behind the bar. It's fantastic. I'm annoyed that i haven't opened it myself.

We paid £39 for three large glasses of wine, two small dishes and one of the larger antipastis. You can't complain at this kind of value for money. Great food, great wine, great staff. Very impressed.

Aglassto,
18 Great George Street,
Leeds,
LS1 3DW.

0113 425 575

www.aglassto.com