Made ByRestaurant

Man Behind the Curtain The

Chef in Residence

Michael O'Hare

Chef

01CityLeeds, United Kingdom

Ascending above the polished floors of Flannels in Leeds, The Man Behind the Curtain stages an audacious tasting odyssey by Michael O’Hare, an experience where couture cool and culinary bravado meet. Expect plates that read like art installations: Gehry angles, Pollock splatters, and a Spanish–Japanese lexicon culminating in his anarchic Emancipation, a squid-ink-black riff on fish and chips. The Permanent Collection unfolds in 10 to 14 sequences, from scarlet-bunned XO veal sweetbread to delicate sashimi precision, each course choreographed with theatrical poise, exquisite textures, and a sly wink to classic British irreverence. This is fine dining reimagined for the aesthetically fearless: immersive, provocative, and thrillingly unforgettable.

At a glance

Hours: Mon: 6:30–8:30 PM; Tue: 6:30–8:30 PM; Wed: 6:30–8:30 PM; Thu: 12:30–2 PM, 6:30–8:30 PM; Fri: 12:30–2 PM, 6:30–8:30 PM; Sat: 12:30–2 PM, 5–5:30 PM, 6:30–8:30 PM; Sun: Closed
Rating: 4.5 (349)

The Man Behind the Curtain is a restaurant in Leeds, located in Coronation Buildings, 68-78 Vicar Lane Lower Ground Floor Flannels, 68-78 Vicar Ln, Flannels, Leeds LS1 7JH. Michael O’Hare’s dining room invites you to lean in: a sanctuary of polished surfaces, sculptural light, and a soundtrack with just enough edge to promise mischief. It’s here that couture surrounds and cuisine performs, with a front-row seat to a kitchen fluent in both precision and audacity. The Permanent Collection, 10 to 14 courses, unfolds as a study in restraint and contrast. One moment, a scarlet slider cradling XO-glossed veal sweetbread, its richness whispering of Iberian depth. The next, a minimalist sashimi vignette, bracing and crystalline, that nods to Tokyo alleys and discipline. O’Hare’s iconic Emancipation arrives like a mood board gone midnight: squid-ink-black, a subversive riff on fish and chips that coats the palate with iodine, citrus, and a subtle crunch, challenging nostalgia while honoring it. Presentations land with couture swagger, part Frank Gehry structure, part Jackson Pollock spontaneity, yet the flavors never bow to theatrics. Smoky, saline, umami-laced sequences glide into crisp, citrus-lit relief; textures oscillate from lacquered and sticky to feather-light and silken. Service keeps pace with an effortless cool: attentive, fluent, and intuitive, guiding you through pairings that drift from nervy, mineral whites to brooding, spice-laden reds, with the occasional maverick pour that recalibrates the whole composition. This is dinner presented with theatrical precision. For diners drawn to art and fashion, The Man Behind the Curtain makes a distinct impression. You leave with the sense of having attended a private show, marked by spectacle and finesse.

Address

Lower Ground Floor, Coronation Buildings, Flannels, 68-78 Vicar Ln, Leeds LS1 7JH, United Kingdom

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