Behind the doors of Akbar’s restaurant in Eastgate, Leeds, is a rich history waiting to be unearthed. The Akbar’s brand dates back to 1988 when young entrepreneur Shabir Hussain decided he was going to open his own restaurant after six months in his first job. Since then his dream has spread across the North with nine other restaurants being opened between 1999 and 2009. It is easy to see why the Akbar brand has expanded so quickly; the time and attention paid to the food is faultless and Shabir himself never misses the opportunity to return to his homeland to source the very best recipes for his restaurants.

Set over two levels, Akbar’s Eastgate seats over 80 people and it suitable for large bookings but manages to maintain a cosy atmosphere thanks to soft lighting, comfortable leather chairs and sumptuous textured wallpaper.  Once again, Shabir personally designs each restaurant, ensuring that each one is up to his high standards and is completely unique to that location. The feature that distinguishes this restaurant from the rest is the stunning LED ceiling that aids the effortless blending of authentic food in a contemporary setting.

On the menu you can expect to find the classics such as Dopiaza, Korma and Madras as well as mouth-watering, Eastgate-specific specialities such as Balti Lazeez, Karahi Fish and Potato and Chicken Tikka Makhani. The food is always well executed and perfectly accompanied by fantastic service and a varied wine list.