La Piola: An Italian restaurant in Leeds you can't miss

The best pasta in Leeds? Our experience at La Piola

At Leeds Food Tours, we're always on the hunt for the best restaurants Leeds has to offer. While we've mentioned La Piola before, our recent visit was so exceptional, we had to dedicate a blog post to this incredible Italian deli and restaurant nestled on Park Square in Leeds.

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Our own digital marketing guru, Georgia, has been singing the praises of La Piola's pasta for months. It didn't take long for our founder, Ellen, to be convinced, resulting in not one, but two visits within a single month – if that doesn't tell you how good this spot is, we're not sure what will! This cosy Italian spot has quickly cemented its place as one of our absolute favourite restaurants in Leeds.

What sets La Piola apart is the fresh, high-quality ingredients. It elevates even the simplest of dishes, transforming a classic bruschetta into a bite of pure heaven (as quoted by Ellen!).

During our recent visit, we indulged in the large meats and cheese board (£24). They offer you the option to create your own board by selecting any five items from their impressive menu. It's a fantastic way to sample a variety of meats and cheeses you perhaps haven't seen before.

However, the undisputed star of the show, and a must-try on any visit to La Piola, is their incredible guanciale, pistacchio, and stracciatella pasta. While typically served with parpadelle, on this occasion (as pictured!), it featured the paccheri shape – Georgia's all-time favourite pasta! This dish is a revelation: crispy, flavourful guanciale (cured pork jowl, similar to pancetta but with a distinct richness), tossed in a vibrant pistachio pesto, topped with creamy stracciatella cheese, and finished with crunchy chopped pistachios.

We can honestly say we've yet to encounter a flavour combination like this anywhere else. It stands out as some of the best pasta in Leeds we've enjoyed in recent years. If you're a pasta lover, this dish alone is worth a visit.

Beyond the exceptional food, the entire experience at La Piola is special upon each visit. The staff are wonderful, creating a genuinely relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

 Stepping inside feels like being transported to a charming deli tucked away on the streets of Italy – a little slice of authentic Italian life right here in Leeds city centre.

Being a smaller and incredibly popular Italian restaurant in Leeds, booking in advance is highly recommended. Trust us, we've learned this the hard way a few times!

Our Verdict:

Overall, we really recommend you go and experience this wonderful little taste of Italy in Leeds. Don't blame us if La Piola quickly becomes your new go-to Italian food spot in Leeds!

If you're searching for delicious Italian food in Leeds with a genuine atmosphere, look no further.

View La Piola's menu and website here.