Sometimes there's a perfect little spot to eat, drink or maybe both that in your eyes doesn't get the recognition it deserves. We asked food and drink lovers about their suggestions for Nottinghamshire's most underrated cafes, pubs and restaurants and you came back to us with suggestions that are certainly worth exploring if they're not already on your radar.
In coming weeks we will be taking a closer look at some of the recommendations and can't wait to find out more. They're not all newcomers, some have been around for years but still there's some people who don't know of their existence.
Here's just a few to start off with including a super-friendly pizzeria and a rather grand Victorian venue with a stunning terrace. If you have your own suggestions do let us know in the comments below or email lynette.pinchess@reachplc
Read more: Nottinghamshire pub that used to serve impressive carvery closes
ZHUG
It's all about fresh flavours at the neighbourhood eatery. Colourful Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes pack a punch, served in laid-back contemporary surroundings with an open kitchen and bar. It's just over a year since ZHUG opened in the parade of shops and takeaways in leafy Wollaton. A family business, it's run by Suda Sharma, helped by her son Aviv.
The counter is decked out with a Halloween pumpkin carved with ZHUG but there's no tricks, only treats here. Street food gyros from Greece, halloumi from Cyprus and Lebanese-style chicken are served, along with chicken schnitzel, a nod to Suda's half-Austrian half-Indian roots. Everything is made in-house with precision and passion.
Soft fluffy pitas are perfect for dipping in the homemade hummus, colourfully adorned with red harissa and a green herby dressing. Suda said: "People make me laugh, they say why don't you buy your hummus in? No, no. I'm really particular, you can get lots of different kinds of chickpeas. The best ones are La Macarena and they come from Mexico. They grow to 12mm so they're really good. We soak them overnight and put them in the pressure cooker for three hours.
"In the supermarket they slam a lot of garlic in to make it tasty but in traditional hummus you don't have any garlic in it, it's just tahini, salt, olive oil, a little bit of lemon juice and chickpeas."
Pitas also come filled to the brim with crispy-coated homemade falafel, lamb kebab, chicken or halloumi, with red cabbage, salad and a variety of sauces such as tzatziki, tomato fusion, sesame sauce and zhug, which inspired the business name. A traditional spicy sauce from Yemen, it's made with chilli peppers and herbs.
Served on the side, the zig (red, thick and fiery) and zag (traditional and green) take the food to another level. But be warned if you're that ten per cent of the population with a genetic dislike of coriander, you may want to avoid it - and ask for the garnish of fresh leaves to be left off whatever you order,
Want to share? Go for a mezze with labeneh (soft homemade cheese) spicy veg, roasted cauliflower, za'atar potatoes and loaded sweet potato fries. Mains of chargrilled veggie and meat options, including chicken wings, Mediterranean chicken and lamb kebabs, are served with salad, fries or spicy rice with a sauce.
Suda said: "I think people don't know we are here. When people come they really enjoy the food and they recommend it to friends and come back but we haven't really got that traction I think we deserve. We are working on our social media.
"I think there are things we've done wrong. For instance when we just thought we'd put ZHUG up [the sign outside] and that it would be enough but we should have put up Mediterranean street food. People drive by and don't come in as they don't know what it is. We only realised after about a month ago that we should do that so people know what we are."
Suda's husband Oren said: "It is tasty food, it's the flavours that they haven't experienced before. There's a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. We've travelled a lot so the flavours are very authentic."
Hot drinks, soft drinks and alcohol are served. Wine, beer ands spirits are on the menu and there's a cocktail list featuring classics such as Pornstar Martini, Mojito, Pina Colada and Aperol Spritz. For a final flourish, the dessert menu offers baklava with vanilla ice cream, Eton Mess, sticky toffee pudding and chocolate fondant.
The 45-seater restaurant is open seven days a week, from 11am to 11pm, except Sunday and Monday when it closes at 5pm. Takeaway and delivery are also available.
Rachel Regan, who works at ZHUG, got in touch to got in touch to tell us about it. She said: "Brilliant little place, been open about a year, trying to get their name out! Middle Eastern, Mediterranean inspired food, pitas and lots of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal too... not enough people know."
Address: 189 Bramcote Lane, Wollaton NG8 2QJ
Chai yo
It feels like the Thai restaurant has been around for ages but there's still plenty of food lovers who don't know it exists. Easy to overlook, it's located on a side street linking Upper Parliament Street and Wollaton Street in the city centre.
Those who make the effort to seek it out will be rewarded by delicious affordable food. The surroundings are more traditional than some of its contemporary rivals, with a carved-wood dining room.
Although it's one of the city's cheaper places to eat out it shouldn't be underestimated whether you're after a quick lunch or on a romantic date. A two-course lunch will set you back £8.95 with a starter and choice of main dishes including red Thai curry, pad Thai noodles and stir fried sweet and sour with beef, chicken or pork.
Howard Broadwell said: "Family-run Thai restaurant with delicious food, friendly service and very reasonable prices."
Address: 2 Parliament Terrace, Nottingham NG1 5FX
Lakeside
Pete Hobbs said: "I don’t hear enough about the Lakeside in Notts, considering how beautiful it is there, especially at night time with the fountains lit up." Becs Sheard, owner of Bakezilla's Bespoke Cakes in Stapleford, said: "I delivered a birthday cake here a few weeks ago and couldn’t believe I’d never heard of it before! Beauty."
The location, just off the A60 on the outskirts of Nottingam, is one of the most picturesque in Notts, both inside and out. The terrace overlooks a lake that is nothing short of stunning. In good weather, diners can enjoy alfresco eating.
The historic Grade II listed building, a former Victorian pumping station, has a restaurant serving world tapas and doubles up as as a wedding and events venue. Breakfast with Santa in the Grand Hall is coming up in December.
Address: A60, Arnold, NG5 8PH
No. 8 Delicatessen
The family-run business will be celebrating its 20th anniversary next year so you'd expect everyone to know about it but co-owner Rachel Hyman believes it deserves a shout-out for its "seriously good brunches and Friday lunch specials."
No. 8 has seating inside and out in a 'secret garden' at the rear. If you're in the know, you may have sampled the barista coffee or one of the delicious pastries. But if you've never visited before you're missing out on a Spanish breakfast bap with a chorizo patty, Manchego cheese and fried egg.
Or how about mixed mushrooms on toast, freshly baked banana bread or the 'Ultimate Breakfast Bap' with streaky bacon, sausage patty, fried egg and cheese on a brioche bun. As for cake, well, how can you possibly resist? Fans say the staff are extremely friendly too.
Address: 8 Gordon Rd, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 5LN
Strezza
Richard Miller told us: "Excellent family-run restaurant. Neapolitan pizza to die for," so checking it out for ourselves we discovered 11 different rustic wood-fired pizzas to choose from including red pepper, balsamic onion and goat's cheese and chicken, meatballs and smoked mozzarella.
There's more to Strezza than just pizza though. An array of small plates includes crispy cauliflower, red pepper and chilli honey; harissa roast prawns and aioli, and fennel sausage and mash.
For a good old pasta feast, delve into rich duck ragu and tagliatelle, lasagne, or papardelle carbonara but leave room for dessert. Berries, meringue and vanilla custard, vegan brownie sundae, crème brûlée with lemon shortbread, tiramisu... you are spoilt for choice.. Locals are lucky to have this on their doorstep.
Address: Unit 1, The Precinct, Candleby Lane, Cotgrave NG12 3JQ
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