We’re lucky enough to get to review them here at the Yorkshire Evening Post, and we’ve tried everywhere from Michelin Guide establishments to street food joints and a hidden hotpot restaurant.
There were some city centre restaurants that really stood out to our reviews team in 2023.
Restaurants are given a score out of ten for food, value, atmosphere and service when our reviewers visit. Those scores have been averaged out to give a total - and these were the highest rated city centre restaurants this year.
![These restaurants were the best-rated in Leeds city centre in 2023](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmNiZWI0MDQxLWZkMjAtNDFlYy05NGU4LTY4ZTE0ZjFlZjlkMjo4ZmY4YTI0OC1iNjcwLTQ3ZjItYWJhZS03YWU4N2Y4MDc4ZjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
1. Best city centre restaurants
These restaurants were the best-rated in Leeds city centre in 2023Photo: National World/Cut and Craft
![The Merrion Way restaurant scored 10 for food, 10 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for value](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjg4MTgwYmVlLWJkMTMtNGQ2YS05ODNmLWUwZTdjMjRjNjUwZjoyMDFiNjE5Ni1jNmQ1LTQ4MWQtYWEyMC03YWM2YzE0YmM3NDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
2. Blue Sakura - 9.75
The Merrion Way restaurant scored 10 for food, 10 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for valuePhoto: Jonathan Gawthorpe
![The Dakota Hotel restaurant, under new head chef Chris Nuttall (pictured), scored 10 for food, 10 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for value](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFlNjc1OWJlLWU3MmYtNDgyYi1hMjVhLTkyMjc4OTgxYzYwMToxYzQ0MjE2Ni1iYzVjLTQ1NWMtYjg0NC04YTI3MmExYTdmNmM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
3. Dakota Grill - 9.75
The Dakota Hotel restaurant, under new head chef Chris Nuttall (pictured), scored 10 for food, 10 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for valuePhoto: James Hardisty
![The new South Parade restaurant scored 10 for food, 10 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for value](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmYwNzIxODUwLWVlYjItNGE5OS1iODMwLWE4NzgxNzM2OGI2ODo0ZjE5YTFhNS05ZDJiLTQzNGItODJhNS02ZThlYTU1ZDZhYzE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
4. Olive Tree Brasserie - 9.75
The new South Parade restaurant scored 10 for food, 10 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for valuePhoto: James Hardisty
![The Swinegate restaurant, owned by Shyamal Kumar (pictured) and his wife Prachi Choudhary, scored 10 for food, 9 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for value](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU5MTI5MWMwLTBjZTUtNDM3OC1hNDc3LTVhZGI2YWQ4OWVkODo5MTVjMDA0ZS1mYTc2LTQ1OTktYWU5My1iOTczZjY4MmFkNDQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Aarti - 9.5
The Swinegate restaurant, owned by Shyamal Kumar (pictured) and his wife Prachi Choudhary, scored 10 for food, 9 for atmosphere, 10 for service and 9 for valuePhoto: Jonathan Gawthorpe
![Chef patron Simon Hawkins at Great George Street restaurant FINT, which scored 10 for food, 9 for atmosphere, 9 for service and 10 for value](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjhhY2M1ZDIyLWZkMjAtNDcyOS1hMzJhLThjYjc1NTczMjJjMTpkNTI5YjEzYi0zMGY1LTQ3MmYtYmVhZi01YWExM2JhZWY0NzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. FINT - 9.5
Chef patron Simon Hawkins at Great George Street restaurant FINT, which scored 10 for food, 9 for atmosphere, 9 for service and 10 for valuePhoto: Tony Johnson