When it comes to what's hot, and what's not, these are the people with their fingers on the pulse. Nottingham food bloggers are always eating out, visiting the newest spots on the restaurant and cafe scene, and sharing their views with their followers.
We asked seven of Nottingham's most prolific foodies, with varying tastes, for their recommendations for the very best places to eat and they came up with some first rate suggestions. From hearty Italian food to modern fusion plates, vegan and gluten-free, here's their top picks that are bound to leave you salivating,
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The Nottingham Food Guide
Julia Head started her blog @thenottinghamfoodguide on Instagram in 2020 and to date her account has reached almost 10,000 hungry followers. Originally from Cape Town and now living it up in Beeston, this South African writes about her passion for food at the LeftLion and works as an executive assistant at the University of Nottingham.
She said: "My first pick for dining out in Nottingham is Mesa for their modern fusion plates.
“Exploding on to the food scene in Nottingham in 2021, I highly anticipated Mesa opening its doors. As a long-time follower of @marcuscooks and his cooking on Instagram, it was a delight to gain such a talented and diverse addition to Hockley.
“Mesa makes my ‘Top 5’ list of spots to eat in Notts, ranking up there with the likes of many other sought after restaurants in the city. The menu is modern and seasonal, and you’re encouraged to order a few plates to share – or to have all for yourself.
"I'm not vegetarian but the veggie options are simply outstanding, and on occasion I have gone fully vegetarian with my choices. One of the standout dishes for me is the miso aubergine with maple tahini, teriyaki and crispy chilli oil.
"The dish is cooked to perfection and is bursting with flavour whilst still encapsulating the velvet texture of the aubergine – I think it takes a lot of knowledge in the kitchen to make such simple ingredients stand out like this
"Another favourite of mine is the charred gem lettuce with fermented chilli and burnt lime butter - I’m not sure how Mesa makes lettuce taste so good, but they do!
“I really love when businesses put as much effort and love into their vegetarian dishes as they do their meat dishes - this really shows some respect and passion for the ingredients. On the other hand, I can confidently say they serve the best aged beef cheeseburger in the city, perhaps even in the UK, so there’s something for everyone there.”
Mesa, Goose Gate, Nottingham, NG1 1FF
Guys Who Dine
Joe Corr and John Gains, of Bulwell, have been dining out for more years than they can remember and know all the best spots worth trying. They said: "Our personal Facebook pages were getting clogged up with all the places we eat at so we decided to set up @GuysWhoDine blogging pages on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
"It's become more of an online diary of all the wonderful establishments we've visited, whether it's street food, fine dining and everything in-between," said Joe. Their Google reviews have been seen over 300,000 times in the last year.
The duo tend to favour independent restaurants. "We find as a customer you are more appreciated and get better service than some of the bigger chains. Plus it's great to support small businesses.
"With our experience we have developed an eye for spotting a real gem or rising star chef before the well-known guides or critics catch on to somewhere. Which leads us on to our number one pick - Kushi-ya.
"It's a laid-back Japanese restaurant serving small plates, skewers and desserts. They're all served from an open kitchen so you can watch all the action.
"Their lunchtime offer is very good value and hard to beat at a very affordable £14. This includes a choice of snacks, two skewers and rice.
"The prawn toast is like no other you will have had before, and is an absolute must. Our favourite skewers are the beef and black garlic mustard, tiger prawns, and the chicken tsukune, tare, and egg yolk. If you can manage a dessert after, their Tira-miso is a perfect finish.
"Having recently been listed in the Michelin Guide and named by food critic Jay Rayner his restaurant of the year, it's no longer a hidden gem. The best time to go is lunchtime as it's walk-ins only. Don't be surprised if there's a queue. In the evenings booking is essential."
Kushi-ya, Cannon Court, Long Row, Nottingham, NG1 6JE
The Nottingham Bucket List
Leigh Campbell started The Nottingham Bucket List in 2014 when she moved from Hull to Nottingham to study at the University of Nottingham. She has been eating and drinking her way around Notts ever since.
Leigh, who has more than 8,000 followers on Instagram, works as a marketing and PR executive for Futures and lives in Sneinton. She said when she's not working she spends all of her spare time eating.
Her latest blogs on Instagram @thenottinghambucketlist feature the Little Brunette Bakery in Southwell, The Beeston Social and new Nottingham restaurant Rosa's Thai, which she described as "an absolute dream".
But it's 31K in Goose Gate, Hockley, that's her number one pick.
She said: "31K is almost always my first recommendation whenever anyone asks me where they should eat. I go there so often that I've been dubbed 'The Queen of 31K' by some of my friends. It's a real badge of honour.
"At first glance, many people don't realise you can order a top notch meal at 31K. For the most part, it looks like an intimate cocktail bar, with dim lighting, candlelit tables and a cracking drinks menu, but it's so much more than that.
"The main reason that I keep going back for more is that the menu keeps on changing. Each season brings a brand new menu with new flavours to explore, from Jamaican summer to pub classics - you're almost guaranteed to find something new from one visit to the next.
"What's more, there are no set dishes. You don't just order the pie and be done with it. Instead, you choose from a list of mains, sauces, carbs and greens, and pick and mix until you've created your own perfect plate. As a result, you can return time and time again and experience a new combination on each visit.
"And I really can't mention 31K without a shout out to the amazing staff. Absolutely everyone - the owners, chefs, bartenders, waitresses, doorman, the whole lot - are so lovely, friendly and talented. It makes the whole place feel like a home away from home."
31K, Goose Gate, Hockley, NG1 1FE
Grub with Gracee
Nurse Grace Jones started her blog in 2020, originally calling it Foodblogs101. After taking copious amounts of pictures and not knowing what to do with them, she began the blog after spontaneous date night at the luxurious MemSaab.
At first, Grace, of Beeston, kept her food blog quiet and hesitated to tell anyone out of fear of what people might say. Fast forward three years down the road, she has rebranded to @GrubwithGracee, is loud and proud about supporting small and independent businesses and is about to hit her 10,000 followers milestone.
Grace, who works at the Queen's Medical Centre, finds herself planning her restaurant visits as a break from the 12-and-a-half- hour shifts. Hard work means good grub is on the horizon, she said.
"My favourite foodie spot? Easy. Lombardo's, Nottingham's very own lasagneria and peritivo bar. Hearty, mouth-watering lasagna which is slow cooked for at least six hours.
"The lasagna is filling, delicious and leaves you craving more which each mouthful. Lombardo's is inviting from the get-go, the interior is warm and intimate; not to mention, ran the ultimate dream team, Ashleigh and Alessandro.
"I can’t not talk about Lombardo's and their menu without mentioning my favourite dishes which you will need to try. The best starter is Bruschetta All’Italiana. The freshly toasted sourdough is topped with picolino tomatoes and basil, freshly made basil and pine nut pesto, and creamy ricotta with honey. The pesto alone does something to me, it’s incredible.
"For mains, La Classica is always my go-to. Rich tomatoey layers with slow-cooked beef and pork. Puddings, it's got to be affogato Lombardo's and homemade cheesecake al pistachio. I really could rave about this lovely little restaurant all day. Make sure to go and show them some lovin’, you will not regret it!"
Lombardo's, Hucknall Road, Carrington, NG5 1FA
Glam Vegan
Vegan content and lifestyle creator Michelle Targett, of Mapperley Plains, wows her 11k Instagram followers with mouth-watering food images, either created by her own fair hands or when she’s dined out. When she’s not conjuring up delicious things to eat at home, Michelle, an accountant and civil servant, loves spending her time visiting fine dining restaurants and vegan eateries across the country. Follow her at @glam_vegan
Her favourite spots in Nottingham are Alchemilla, Paris Bar and Restaurant, Masala Junction in Carrington and Tamasha in Mapperley Plains but at the top of the list is No. Twelve, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant.
She said: "If you haven’t yet paid a visit to No. Twelve, Nottingham’s hidden gem off Wheeler Gate, it’s an absolute must. This cute restaurant set in an elegant Victorian mill is owned by Lauren Nally and Ritchie Stainsby and has won many awards, including Best Vegan Establishment in the UK for its outstanding plant-based cuisine.
"From their fabulous taster menus, supper clubs and brunch, No. Twelve, with its creative cuisine and wonderful service really packs a punch and stands its ground, even against some of its Mayfair counterparts.
"My favourites include zero waste tarts, smoked aubergine and blue corn tacos, deep-fried Brie and treacle tart."
No. Twelve, Eldon Chambers, Wheeler Gate, Nottingham, NG1 2NS
Holy Grub
Riona Ainge, who lives in Mansfield, and Lydia Reynolds, of West Bridgford, are best friends and foodies. The two of them launched the Holy Grail of Good Grub at the beginning of lockdown after finding out they both loved to picture and record their food adventures.
Riona, an environmental consultant in railways, and Lydia, a social and PR co-ordinator for White Rose, have amassed more than 4,000 followers. Find them on Instagram @holygrub
Their top spot is Pizzamisú, a cosy Italian restaurant. They said: "Nottingham's pizza scene is ever growing but this not your regular pizza spot. The flavours and combinations are amazing.
"As soon as we tried their pizzas, we understood the hype. The pizzas are made in a wood-fired oven and their dough is the real star of the show, which is fermented for up to 48 hours making for a light and chewy texture, which is exactly what we all want in a pizza.
"Most the ingredients are sourced straight from Italy itself, making it taste like we're back in Rome. The cosy and rustic decor transports you to the streets of Naples, whilst the atmosphere makes you feel like you're sipping wine on a square in Pisa.
"We definitely will be returning multiple times to try the rest of the menu, as everything sounds amazing, especially the tiramisu."
Pizzamisu, High Pavement, Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1HF
Gluten Free Moose
Rachel Offiler is the one to follow for gluten-free finds. She was diagnosed with IBS ten years ago and through the low-FODMAP diet discovered that cutting out gluten reduced the symptoms. The market researcher, who lives in Arnold, now makes it her mission to find the best places to eat gluten-free in Notts.
Rachel posts about all her gluten-free discoveries at restaurants, cafes and supermarkets, from sandwiches and cakes to lasagne and curries. Follow Rachel on Instagram and Twitter @glutenfreemoose
Her favourite spot is All Mine Cakes By The Lake near Southwell. Rachel said: "It's actual gluten-free heaven. And not just cake.
"All Mine Cakes is a 100% gluten-free cafe, meaning coeliacs and those avoiding gluten can choose literally ANYTHING off the menu, which doesn’t happen often. It’s so refreshing not having to second guess whether the food that’s arrived at your table is safe to eat because it looks too nice, or question the waiter about cross-contamination, or trawl through the dreaded allergy folder.
"The choice of cakes, all lined up along the counter as you walk in, is seriously extensive. You won’t be able to just pick one. There aren’t many places where you can order a slab of gluten-free Battenberg or a piece of cornflake tart.
"It's not all about the cakes at All Mine Cakes – though there is a huge range to choose from and they taste incredible. Breakfast is also served, featuring the classic full English, sausage and bacon butties, as well as veggie and vegan options. The lunch menu includes deliciously warm sausage rolls, open sandwiches, burgers, and the best triple cooked chips you’ve ever tasted.
"As well as being a gluten-free haven, All Mine Cakes also cater really well to vegan, vegetarian and dairy free diets. But it isn’t just for people with dietary requirements - friends and family who aren’t gluten-free say they can’t tell the difference.
"Whilst tucking in to a sausage sandwich or a slice of cake (or both!), you can enjoy the lovely views across the fishing lake. It’s only a stone’s throw away from the Southwell trail if you fancy a nice walk after your visit."
All Mine Cakes by the Lake, Maythorne Lane, Maythorne, Southwell, NG25 0RS
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