Your Complete Nottingham Restaurant Guide
Nottingham’s dining scene is well known, with a variety that spans from a two Michelin star restaurant through to cosy independent cafes, historic gastropubs and excellent specialist restaurants serving up fine cuisines from all over the world. With the county boasting a fine food tradition that relies on its agriculture and local produce, you’ll find something to suit even the most discerning of gastronomes and at all price points. Here are some of our favourite restaurants in Nottingham, designed for all tastes, budgets and dining groups.
Welcome to our
Nottingham Restaurant Guide
Enjoy the finest British dining at Byron’s Brasserie
Ready to discover one of the best-kept secrets of the Nottingham restaurants scene? Then head to Colwick Hall Hotel to discover Bryon’s Brasserie, which has been recommended by Food & Drink and featured in Cosmopolitan, Stylist, Elle and on Virgin Radio, amongst others. Overlooking Nottingham Racecourse, Byron’s Brasserie is located in the ancestral home of Lord Byron and it provides a superb venue for sumptuous afternoon teas, light lunches, family Sunday lunches or intimate dinners. The menu is distinctly British with an emphasis on fine dining, the most carefully-selected local produce and expert presentation. The award-winning chefs are passionate about the dishes they create and you’ll find an ever-changing specials board packed with the creative team’s latest inspiration and creations.
One of the great advantages of the venue is that it offers something for all diners and occasions, all in a luxurious and stylish interior with plenty of comfort on offer. The afternoon tea with prosecco is always popular amongst the girls, and the lavish Sunday lunch with all the trimmings is loved by family groups and friends. In the evenings, the atmosphere becomes more intimate with an emphasis on sophisticated dining and an exciting cocktail bar with mixologists on hand!
Look out for enticing dishes such as the homemade focaccia bread with aged balsamic oil as an appetiser followed by pan-roasted king scallop, pressed belly pork, pea soup and crispy crackling for your starter. The Monkfish tail wrapped in pancetta with coconut and cashew nut rice is a superb mains choice, as is the guinea fowl served with wild mushroom mousse and baby leeks in a sherry jus. There’s also a wide range of steaks cooked exactly as you like them, and luxurious desserts such as the sherry trifle cheesecake with fresh raspberries and Crème Anglaise.
The service team will do everything that they can to ensure you have the perfect dining experience, with special arrangements available for birthdays, christenings, engagement parties and other special occasions. Our top favourite picks? The themed Grand afternoon teas with handmade cakes, dainty sandwiches and perfect pastries, and heavenly prosecco and Chambord cocktails! The Bistro does get busy at weekends in particular, but you can book online via https://colwickhallhotel.com/dining/. Alternatively, give the service team a call to make your reservation on 0115 9500 566.
Splash out on a two Michelin Star experience at Sat Bain
When it comes to restaurants Nottingham has always offered plenty of great choices, but the addition of Sat Bain to the Michelin star hall of fame has really put the county on the gastronomic list. It was opened in 2007 by Satwant Singh “Sat” Bains, the Roux Scholarship holder and winner of BBC show the Great British Menu in 2007. The restaurant has two Michelin stars and 5 AA rosettes and the venue is as exciting as the menu, with various different rooms and themed seating areas, including the Chef’s Table, which allows up to eight guests the chance to see what goes on in the restaurant kitchen from their own private dining area.
If you’re looking for the ultimate fine dining experience, then try the tasting menu, which offers 7-10 courses. Tasting dishes include scallops, veal croquettes, caviar, Tagliatelle of kohlrabi, pigeon, aged turbot and even cheese on toast with truffles! For dessert, expect tasting experiences such as chocolate with aged balsamic vinegar and Bramley apple waffles with caramel. As well as the restaurant itself, there are a small number of high-end rooms available on a B&B breakfast, with luxurious interiors and plenty of enticing personal touches to enjoy. This is a rare opportunity to enjoy incredibly cutting-edge and experimental food, but availability is highly limited and you will need to book well in advance. The restaurant website does publish details of forthcoming availability and you can contact the booking team on: https://www.restaurantsatbains.com/reception/reservations/
Enjoy a classic curry at The Cumin
If you’re hankering for a curry, then The Cumin is a local institution and comes highly recommended for spice-lovers. Run by the Anand family who originally hailed from Nairobi before relocating to the UK in 1975, the restaurant is the fifth in a very successful series of eateries. The Cumin is a traditional style Indian restaurant but with modern, stylish decor that combines with great service to create a comfortable, relaxed dining experience.
You’ll find room for 74 diners across two floors, and the first floor is particularly popular for private functions. Located in the middle of Nottingham city centre, the venue is very popular with lunchtime diners and business people and the menu combines traditional Indian favourites with African ingredients and flourishes. Look out for exciting dishes such as Tilapia Fish and asJeera Mogo which is a spiced Cassava recipe. Owners, Shelley and Sunny Anand work hard to create a regularly changing menu that adapts with the seasons and offers healthy options made with locally-sourced ingredients where available, and exotic imports where required!
Diners comment on the welcoming service and the delicious array of spicy dishes which will delight curry lovers of all ages and chilli tolerance levels! The restaurant also welcomes families and provides high chairs for small children. Book your table online and see the latest menu at: https://thecumin.com/
Taste tapas from around the world at Iberico
Iberico World Tapas is one of Nottingham’s restaurants which works particularly well for groups who want to share smaller platters together and enjoy a tasting experience. It combines hearty and simple Spanish food with intriguing ingredients from around the world. The wine and sherry menu is also carefully picked and designed to complement the dishes on offer. The venue is located in the city centre Lace Market in a grade II listed building and the interior is both intimate and exotic with a Moroccan feel and striking vaulted ceilings.
Iberico is noted in the Michelin Guide for having a ‘Bib Gourmand’ award, which recognises quality food at an affordable price. Diners can choose from traditional tables or high chairs, with various different menu options. The lunchtime express menu is popular for those short on time, and it offers sourdough bread and pickles to start with two tapas dishes from the main menu. Look out for options such as octopus carpaccio, spicy miso salmon and crispy seaweed. For a supplement, dessert can be included with options such as tahini parfait and churros served with hot chocolate. The main menu serves up a range of meat, cheese, fish and vegetarian dishes with plenty of desserts and wine such as a delicious 2012 Essensia Orange Muscat. You can see seating availability and make reservations online.
Dine in the courtyard at The World Service
Located in a 17th-century house, World Service is a fine dining lounge bar and restaurant that offers a taste of the world through menus that change every day. The venue has been referenced in the Michelin and AA guides and it offers a consistently high standard of food with a relaxing dining experience. On a fine day, it’s well worth dining in the courtyard to enjoy the historic surroundings and friendly service, and you’ll find a monthly menu that provides great value for money with the freshest seasonal ingredients. Those looking for the a la carte dishes will find tempting options such as the crispy soft shell crab served with king prawns and bok choi and beef carpaccio with cucumber and truffle cream. Vegetarians will enjoy the goat’s cheese roulade with saffron quinoa, olives and golden sultanas. The vanilla and white chocolate mousse is always popular for dessert as well as the five kinds of cheese from around the world served with crackers and home-made chutney. Look out too for an extensive menu of cocktails and digestifs – you can make your reservation here: www.worldservicerestaurant.com
Enjoy French flavours at La Rock
This French restaurant is located in a rather unassuming spot alongside a canal between Nottingham and Derby. However, the location belies the quality of the menu which – although on the pricier side – offers a superb fine dining experience. Owner Nick Gillespie has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry and has brought together a superb fusion of food, service and comfort for Francophiles keen for classic French cooking. Try the wood pigeon with parma ham and hazelnut to start, the loin of venison with forced rhubarb for your main and the unusual beetroot variations with apple and liquorice for dessert. The venue also has some very good dessert wines, with glasses of Sauternes and 5-year-old Madeira enthusiastically recommended by the service staff.
There is also a special tasting menu on offer once a month and La Rock is available for reservations for lunch and dinner between Wednesday and Sunday. Book online at https://www.larockrestaurant.co.uk/#
Enjoy a cafe with a difference at 200 degrees
200 degrees is a fine example of an artisan coffee shop that also sells great food. It’s one of a chain and independently-run, with a distinct hipster vibe and welcoming, pared back surroundings. With two venues in Nottingham city centre, the venue is well worth a visit for the coffee alone and you’ll find a huge menu which will take some review before you order! One of the nice touches here is that you can order food and extra drinks from your table and enjoy service so that you can focus on relaxing with your dining companions rather than needing to nip back and forth to the counter. Look out for delicious sandwiches served on homemade bread, freshly baked cakes and bakes and hot soups packed with flavour and nutrition. The prices are affordable and the venue is particularly popular with freelancers and those enjoying a break from retail therapy! You won’t need to book but you’ll find that the venues do get very busy at peak periods, so consider avoiding the commuter coffee peak period! Find out more at: https://200degs.com/nottingham-flying-horse-walk
Discover vegetarian fare at Cafe Roya
Cafe Roya is a rambling restaurant that covers two floors and which only serves vegetarian and vegan food. It’s well known for its unusual dishes and monthly menu changes with diners saying that they don’t miss meat at all! Enjoy everything from blueberry parfait with homemade granola for breakfast through to plantain and red kidney bean burritos for lunch. The Thai vegetarian curry is packed with flavour and local vegetables and the dessert trios are essential if you are planning to indulge. Accompany your meal with organic wines or the finest tea and coffee, with fresh pressed juices and smoothies also on the menu to enjoy. You’ll need to book ahead if you want to dine at a busy period, and you can do so by calling: 0115 922 1902.
Taste authentic Chinese at Shanghai Shanghai
This restaurant looks rather run of the mill when you first visit it but don’t let the everyday appearance put you off. The menu is superb and the chefs are incredibly skilled at serving up mouth-watering Sichuan dishes. Located in the Lace Market, Shanghai Shanghai is beloved by Chinese students which is a true recommendation of the authentic nature of the food on offer. You’ll find over 250 dishes on offer and trendy Bubble Tea which is highly fashionable in Hong Kong and well worth a try! The aromatic double cooked pork belly slices are a particular favourite with diners, along with the spicy duck and sizzling Cantonese style prawns. Make your reservation at: http://www.shanghai-shanghai.co.uk/indexnotts.html
As well as these venues, you’ll find dozens of gastropubs, European, Asian and African restaurants, cafes, bistros and takeaways to enjoy in and around the county. Treat yourself to a fine meal and enjoy a real dining treat when you dine at one of Nottingham’s best restaurants today.
