The Man Behind the Curtain (restaurant)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Michael O'Hare |
| Defunct | 2023 |
| Headquarters | Leeds , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Fine dining, avant-garde cuisine |
The Man Behind The Curtain was a restaurant situated in Leeds, inaugurated in 2014 by chef Michael O'Hare and ceased operations in 2023. Renowned for its avant-garde culinary style and visually striking dishes, it received a Michelin star in 2015 and was honored with three AA Rosettes in 2016. This establishment followed the footsteps of three other Michelin-starred venues in Leeds: Pool Court, Rascasse, and Guellar.
Overview
Having previously served as head chef at The Blind Swine in York, O'Hare selected Leeds due to its emerging potential for upscale dining experiences. He opened The Man Behind The Curtain on Vicar Lane, positioned above the Flannels retail outlet. The restaurant’s title is drawn from a phrase in The Wizard of Oz. O'Hare acknowledged frequent curiosity about the name and embraced the enigmatic quality as integral to the restaurant’s identity. During its tenure, it stood as the sole Michelin-starred establishment within Leeds.
Designed to accommodate 40 patrons, the interior showcased artwork by Schoph, a close associate of O'Hare, alongside sculptures crafted by Gareth Griffiths. O'Hare described the restaurant’s concept as being defined more by what he chose to exclude than by explicit creative intentions, resulting in a unique fine dining environment.
Menu
Soon after opening, The Man Behind The Curtain established a reputation for innovative and unconventional dishes, including items such as olives encased in edible cellophane, salt and vinegar ox cheek, and chocolate pudding paired with pork rinds. The menu featured imaginative titles like The Insecurity of Postmen in Oakley Sunglasses and Inception of a Spacecat in Black. Emphasizing visual appeal, O'Hare stated, "I want things first and foremost to look great," while deliberately avoiding comparisons to Noma despite his experience under René Redzepi. The restaurant served a twelve-course tasting menu with many plates inspired by a "quite Spanish" culinary influence, reflecting O'Hare’s personal tastes.
Closure
O'Hare closed The Man Behind The Curtain in October 2023 and announced plans to open a new dining concept named Psycho Sandbar in early 2024.
Reception
In 2015, The Guardian commended the restaurant’s inventive approach, spotlighting a dish that combined smooth potato foam with puffed wild rice atop a chocolate dessert infused with salt and vinegar crisp flavors. Great British Chefs described the dining experience as astonishing and worth revisiting. Time Out awarded it 4 out of 5 stars in 2016, referring to it as a "destination restaurant truly worth a visit," despite its higher price point.
The Man Behind The Curtain achieved its Michelin Star just over one year after its launch and secured three AA Rosettes by September 2016.