Voujon at Headingley— Headingley Leeds

Still a newish kid on the block, Syed Miah’s restaurant ‘Voujon’ serves some of the finest Bangladeshi food cooked with a contemporary Indian twist that can be found in Leeds. An old Bangla word, the name Voujon means “an invitation to dine”. This smart but relaxed family-owned restaurant is set back on Otley Road in one of Far Headingley’s old Edwardian villas. Located on the ground floor of the Ascot Grange Hotel, it is a quite separate business.

Why set up a fine dining restaurant here? According to Syed who was brought up in Leeds and has over 20 years experience running restaurants in Yorkshire, “I just love the people and the environment of North Leeds. We also wanted to avoid the high costs of running a restaurant in the city centre, so we could provide people with great food at a reasonable cost. This place just came up. It is spacious, quiet and has ample car parking. My family has always run restaurants and I have worked in them since being a child. I’m keeping up that tradition.”

So what to eat? The exceptional menu is full of authentic, freshly cooked dishes which are high in flavour. The portions are large, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. Most sought after are his seafood, fish and lamb. Along with classical fare, Syed also has a number of more unusual specials, a range of vegetarian and vegan options, and offers a wide range of reasonably priced drinks. He is constantly experimenting with spices, and orders are cooked to the customer’s own preferences. You can eat in, take away, or have your food delivered.

With a fistful of five star reviews, the people of Headingley can celebrate and enjoy the best of Bengali food at Voujon, and this should keep both them and Syed and his family very happy.