emba

The story

emba: Modern British Gastrobar in Leeds – Michelin Recommended by Elizabeth Cottam

emba is a Modern British gastrobar by chef Elizabeth Cottam, set on the water at Mustard Wharf in Leeds city centre. The idea is straightforward: delicious food and drinks, great music, and top notch service, without any faff. It’s a place to hang out, whether you fancy a drink, a snack, or a full set menu with paired wines.

An ingredient-led philosophy

“People often ask me how I come up with the dishes,” Cottam writes. “Every dish begins with the ingredients.” That ethos drives emba’s Modern British cooking. The menu changes constantly, depending on what’s fresh, seasonal, and available. Nothing is forced; the ingredients dictate the direction.

Sunday feasting and the new tasting menu

On Sundays, the kitchen puts out a feast. Yorkshire puddings filled with caramelised celeriac, oxtail gravy and roasted Roscoff onions sit alongside côte de boeuf, pork chop, slow-cooked short rib or confit duck leg. It’s generous, comforting cooking meant for sharing.

In November 2025, Cottam introduced a new tasting menu format. Inspired by a trip to San Sebastián, she wanted to reduce the fuss and waste of traditional tasting menus. The result is around twelve plates served in four connected sequences, each exploring a single ingredient through multiple preparations. A sample sequence might start with venison tartare with blackberry and horseradish, followed by bone broth with mushroom, and onion bread with whipped bone marrow butter. Another sequence showcases crab: a brown crab and kaffir lime soufflé, then white crab with garlic and almond. The meal ends with a milk sequence of dulce de leche, ricotta, and yoghurt. The tasting menu is £95 per person.

A wine list worth exploring

Putting the wine list together was one of the real joys of opening emba, says Cottam. It’s a collection of unusual expressions of familiar grapes, alongside bottles from lesser-known regions doing something genuinely special. The same care extends to the beer selection, with a focus on craft ales that pair beautifully with food, especially oysters.

Michelin recognition

Three months in, emba received news that it had been listed in the Michelin Guide. “We’re officially part of the Michelin family,” Cottam wrote at the time. The restaurant continues to hold a Michelin Recommended status, a testament to the kitchen’s skill and the clarity of its Modern British cooking.