T&A reviews new brunch menu at Olivia Gardens' Eden Suite

We visited Olivia Gardens, just off White Abbey Road, to experience the independent restaurant’s new brunch menu. 

It is not only one of the most grand, elegant, and special places to visit in West Yorkshire, but serves up some of the most delicious bites to eat.

Care and attention to detail are at the heart of everything here - whether it’s the hand- painted ceilings, the golden butterflies above your table, or the way chefs balance flavours on your plate.

The gold and regal setting feels like something out of Bridgerton or a fantasy novel, where a princess is seated for a meal under a canopy of leafy willow trees.

Inside the Eden Suite at Olivia Gardens (Image: Newsquest) The space slowly filled up with families and groups of friends as the world woke up for breakfast on a cold Sunday morning. The Eden Suite also becomes a women only space from 4pm. 

Staff were so friendly and went above and beyond to make customers feel like royalty.

Hand painted ceilings (Image: Newsquest)

The food and drink

Even though it wasn’t on the menu, the team whipped up two different chai lattes for my friend to try. She can now claim to be the reason why chai lattes are on the drinks menu.

The frothy, chai-fuelled delights went down a treat and, for clarification purposes, staff only charged for the price of one.

The blueberry matcha drink, left, and the chai latte, right (Image: Newsquest) As a matcha fiend, I was delighted to read a menu offering a huge section of matcha themed drinks. 

I chose the ‘mystic blue matcha’, which blends creamy, matcha-infused flavours with sweet bursts of fresh blueberries. It was smooth, well balanced and the perfect way to wake up.

The cafe gave us all the time in the world to scan through the extensive menu before delivering our orders on a trolley.

The 'Dubai Dream' french toast (Image: Newsquest) When it came to ordering food, how could I not try something described as ‘Dubai Dream Toast’? Imagine crispy french toast, kunafa cream with a slight crunch of pistachio, and velvety chocolate. 

It was sweet and joyous to eat - especially as a self-confessed chocoholic.

My friend, who bases her opinion on having tried a number of breakfast places across West Yorkshire, said the full Desi breakfast thali was the best she’d ever eaten.

The Desi breakfast - including halwa (Image: Newsquest) It offered a mix of sweet, spicy and savoury flavours including halwa - a sweet dessert made with semolina, authenticity, and freshly made paratha.

You could taste the effort that had gone into making these dishes.

The portion size was fantastic for the price with the full Desi breakfast and Dubai Dream Toast costing £13 each. The latte was priced at £4 while the Mystic Blue Matcha was £5. In total, the bill came to £35.

It is not style over substance at this true gem in the city’s culinary crown.