About Forde
The dishes are built around strong northern produce: Yorkshire rhubarb, Whitby crab, Dales-sourced lamb. The small-plate format suits the room — a converted village restaurant — and the approach of ordering three or four plates per person creates exactly the relaxed, exploratory atmosphere Healy intends. The wine list is short, natural-wine focused, and sympathetically priced.
Forde is a restaurant that has built its reputation without a dining room in the city centre, which is itself a statement. Its regulars make the fifteen-minute drive from Leeds without thinking about it. First-time visitors invariably make a return reservation before they have finished pudding.
Best Occasion Fit
Forde is an ideal first-date venue for the Leeds diner who wants something beyond the city centre. The neighbourhood setting is intimate, the small-plate format creates natural interactivity, and the cooking is good enough to be the evening's subject without dominating it.
Also Explore in Leeds
Beyond Forde, Leeds's dining scene rewards deeper exploration. See all restaurants in Leeds or discover our First Date guide for the best tables across every city. Our editorial journal covers Britain's evolving restaurant culture in depth.