Mansfield Restaurant Guide

“There is a real buzz to this serious foodie venue near central Nottingham” where an “energetic team of chefs deliver a top gastronomic experience” with a “high, Michelin-starred standard of innovation and flavour”. Occupying a converted former Victorian coach house on the Park Estate with brick-vaulted rooms: “once inside, it has a cellar-like vibe that certainly distinguishes it from other culinary destinations in the area”. Sat Bains alumnus Alex Bond focuses on a tasting menu format with five courses for £95 per person and seven courses for £120 per person: “the selection is long on interesting ingredients, and the wine pairings very diverse and excellent”.

“A Nottingham lunch place of choice” – Corsican Stéphane Luiggi and local wife Louise’s relaxed city-centre Gallic fixture is a real local treasure; they “also do good dinners and speciality evenings” where you can explore a specific region of France through more elaborate six-course dinners with matching wines.

“Fine food and a great atmosphere make you feel you’re in Bangkok” at this funky street-food operation from Thai chef Ban Kaewkraikhot, who launched her UK business with Sukhothai in Leeds 22 years ago. She now has six Zaap sites across the north.

“A large restaurant near several other rival establishments” – Amita Sawhney’s 200-seater in the city centre has become one of the better-known venues in the city since it opened over 20 years ago, thanks to its “consistently good” standard of cooking.

2023 Review: This “simply amazing” and decidedly upmarket Indian (which opened in 2014) recreates the atmosphere of polo clubs under the Raj, with “delicious food” that is “not overpowering”, and “friendly, knowledgeable staff”.

“Very authentic and reliable Sichuan cooking” gives this Chinese venture near the Lace Market an added string to its bow, that complements its large menu of more standard Cantonese fare. “The ma po bean curd is very moreish”.

2021 Review: Tom Brooke, launched this 70-seater in Nottingham in September 2019 by splitting his existing Red Dog Saloon site (sibling to the well PR’d one in Shoreditch, as well as three others around the country) into two. The all-day format will offer Indian small plates cooked on a charcoal BBQ, with influences from Middle Eastern countries such as Persia, Turkey and Lebanon.

This “stalwart of the Nottingham Indian restaurant scene” is now in its seventeenth year, and “continues to serve very tasty and well-spiced food”. It’s very much a family affair, with Sunny Anand and his wife Monika running the service with his cousin Shelley Anand taking charge of the kitchen.

2021 Review: “Very reliable and reasonably priced (especially at lunch. or for the popular pre-theatre menú deli dia)” – Escabeche’s lively, city-centre spin-off provides “tasty tapas in a utilitarian but appealing setting”. On a nice day, nab one of the few tables outside.

This 15-year-old Lace Market venue offers “a bewildering number and variety” of “very satisfying burgers to choose between”, inspired by founder Anmarie Spaziano’s childhood home in Rhode Island, where US diner culture began. She acquired a taste for the craft beer served alongside them here in the Midlands. There’s now a second branch in Derby.

“Always a real treat to visit” – this well-established local institution is to be found near the castle in the atmospheric surrounds of the seventeenth century Newdigate House (also home to networking haunt the Nottingham Club), and – especially in summer when its terrace comes into its own – provides “a calm escape from the city streets”. Its rather ambitious food has proved “consistently good” over many years (and even “fabulous” on a good night) and reports this year suggest that it has attained a more consistent standard of late.

This “fabulous Spanish cellar-bar” is a long-term attraction in the Lace Market with “quality cooking”, “vaulted ceilings and perfect service” which makes it “just right for special occasions”. A spinoff tapas bar in Hockley is not so highly regarded.

2023 Review: This “fantastic” Grade II-listed seventeenth-century inn, just off the A1, has been run by Stephen & Laura Heath as a “good-value restaurant-with-rooms” for almost 25 years. “You may drive past it thinking it’s just a pub, but the food is excellent”, with a “changing menu” and regular themed dinners.