With a history that goes back nearly 180 years The Wellington in Shadwell has seen many changes.
Originally a traditional coaching inn, it was run by various breweries, and now it has a very different role.

Opened as a restaurant in 2019 The Ego at The Wellington has just undergone a remarkable transformation project.

The whole site has been reimagined and given a fresh look that combines the authentically rustic interior with a modern feel. The outside too has been redesigned with two outdoor areas with patios decorated with lush greenery, plants and great decor lighting.

It was a weekday evening when we visited and we were amazed just how busy it was.

The best thing about The Wellington is the design of the restaurant. It has been planned so as there are numerous breakout areas, some elevated, that give privacy and a great intimate feel – one would find it hard to imagine with this design that it can seat 115 people in the restaurant and around 40 in the bar area.

Our table was in one of the smaller breakout areas, and it gave a feeling of pure intimate dining.

The Wellington serves Mediterranean cuisine with great flair enveloping the best of French, Spanish, Italian and Greek food that brings a touch of summer into the coldest winter day.

For my starter I chose the Honey-Glazed Baked Feta. This was a golden oven-baked feta topped with honey and walnuts in a spicy tomato sauce. The sauce, however, was a tad too spicy and took over the taste buds, so there was little chance to enjoy the taste of the feta topped with honey. It came with a rosemary focaccia – a good partner for the dish.

My colleague chose the crab arancini. "This was 'definitely tasty'," he declared. The aranchi had a Grana Padana and lemon crumb and was topped with white crab. It was served with a house-made smooth chorizo mayonnaise. This was delicate and did not overpower the flavour of the crab.

For the main, my colleague chose one of the house favourites, Moroccan Lamb. This was a slow-cooked spiced lamb with vegetables, fluffy couscous, pickled golden shallots and flaked almonds.

It was amazingly presented, and the spiced lamb was cooked to perfection. There were big chunks of lamb which were very tender, and the gravy was very tasty. The dish had just the right amount of vegetables in it. The presentation was a work of art, and it boasted a great accompanying combination, including fluffy couscous, rice and bread. A real comfort food for any time.

I also ordered from the house favourites and was not disappointed with my choice of pan-fried sea bass fillets. The two fillets were succulent and moist and cooked perfectly. They were served on a bed of peppery rocket with a very large portion of sauteed baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes, red onion, chorizo and cherry tomatoes.

The choice of accompaniment to the sea bass was brilliant, as it gave the fish the ultimate flavour.

After such a feast, it was a while before we decided to order desserts.

My colleague opted for the traditional dessert of Apple, BlackBerry and Ginger Crumble. The crumble topping was crispy and not too thick, and there was plenty of fruit beneath it. There was an ample serving of custard in the accompanying jug, which was hot and very creamy.

I decided on the Pistachio and Sour Cherry Eton Mess, which was my heaven on a plate.

A combination I have never had before, I really loved every spoonful of it. The flavour of the lightly whipped pistachio cream was amazing and combined well with the cherry ice cream. The cream was light and the pistachio flavour really came through. The meringue was topped with sour cherries and candied pistachios. A lot of thought had obviously gone into the formulation of this dessert, as it was tangy and not overly sweet, as Eton Mess can sometimes be.

I finished my meal with a delightfully frothy cappuccino that was made just right.

The Wellington is a restaurant for all occasions, from family meals and celebrations to more formal business meals, and lends itself to being the perfect place for a romantic meal with its great Mediterranean vibe. The menu has many options, and the staff are efficient, eager to help with menu choices and very friendly.

The Wellington Shadwell, Wetherby Road, Leeds LS17 8LZ
Open Daily 11.00am to 11.00pm
Tel: 0113 318 9283