Building on the success of their city centre hangout, the folks behind Calls Landing Stew & Oyster Bar have branched out into suburbia with Stew & Oyster Oakwood. Rebecca Tredget (@eatlittlespoon) went along to their launch to find out more.
Before I settled down with the mister Calls Landing was my go to for first dates. Nice enough that it suggests you’re special, casual enough that says you’re playing it cool. And that pretty much sums up Calls Landing. I’d take my parents there for lunch, meet my friends for post-work drinks and take a date there in the evening. Like your Little Black Dress but with a whole lot more drink.
I was more than a little intrigued when I heard about Calls Landing sister bar opening in Roundhay. And then got excited about the prospect of sunny days spent at Tropical World and cricket at Roundhay Park topped off with craft beer and oysters. But how would it fare on a miserable, cloudy day without meercat-induced adrenaline pumping through my veins?
The bar itself is beautiful. Spacious and light. Airy but intimate. The same stripped wooden floors and exposed brickwork as the first Calls Landing. In short if I was going to imagine how my dream house would be decorated, it would be similar to these bars. We arrived at about 7ish and it was packed out. Of course it had atmosphere, where wouldn’t with couple hundred odd people and booze? I suspect that it’s the sort of place that would feel just as good with 200 people at a launch as with 5 on a lazy Sunday afternoon though.
We didn’t get a chance to sample the food, but had a sneaky look at the menu. Oysters, stews, other bits and pieces. Nothing over-the-top exciting but I don’t think this is the sort of place you go with food as a priority, more an after thought. From experience of Calls Landing food though it’s decent grub and fairly priced. I had a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc and my date had a pint of Theakston. There’s a huge variety of drinks and I noticed on Food & Biscuits blog that Stew & Oyster have their own Natural Blonde ale. The glass of wine came in at near the £6 mark (and was one of the cheaper on the menu). Stew & Oakwood is a lovely bar (and it really is) but it’s a shame there aren’t any nice supporting bars/pubs nearby because as a destination in it’s own right, for me, it’s too far from where I live to justify the expense of a journey over.
I might pop in on a sunny day if I was at Tropical World, but I suspect I would settle for a bottle of beer watching the cricket in the park. No doubt it’s a welcome addition to Oakwood for the locals and perhaps it will encourage a scene of trendy bars (the new Chapel Allerton, or is it the new Meanwood now?) But when I need my stripped floors fix, Calls Landing.
Stew & Oyster Oakwood is situated at 488 Roundhay Road, LS8 2HU. That’s Oakwood – not Roundhay, for anyone who is wondering.