6 amazing restaurants in Nottingham you'll want to book right now

When it comes to places to eat, Nottingham has more than its fair share of fantastic places to dine.

While we are very fortunate to have two excellent Michelin Star restaurants - Sat Bains and Alchemilla, we also have a ton of places to eat that you may have missed.

A lot of Nottingham’s best restaurants have started as pop-ups, small venues, or market stalls before branching out onto bigger and better things.

So if you fancy something a bit different and a change to your routine, here are some of the best places to get you started.

Read more: Food and drink news from around Nottingham

1 - L’Oliva

L’Oliva in Beeston is the perfect place to head to if you are craving excellently selected Italian dishes. The cosy, yet friendly space has an array of treats such as Gnocchi alla Boscaiola which translates as fresh potato gnocchi, spinach, smoked pancetta, mushrooms, peas in a pink tomato sauce or Casarecce con salsiccia e zucca which is short twisted pasta with a sausage in a pumpkin sauce.

Desserts are also on the menu, which comes to the table concealed in an antique book. Options include Panna Cotta With Mango Sauce and Tiramisù Tradizionale. If you ask nicely enough, the team will also prepare you a strong but tasty grappa which is one way to end your evening.

2- Paste

Nottingham has a few amazing Thai places where you can grab a curry to keep you warm on a cold afternoon. Those in the know head to Paste on Carlton Street which shares a location with a bubble tea cafe. The restaurant makes one of the best red Thai curries outside of, well, Thailand.

Friendly and attentive staff are on hand to help you select a dish or two but there really is an extensive menu on offer. Everything is easily labelled if anyone is vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free. Favourites include the traditional dish, pad prik Thai Dum Bhed Jay which features stir-fried mock duck with mixed vegetables in black pepper sauce and served with rice.

3 - The Rose Cottage

There are many reasons to go to The Rose Cottage in Rufford but the fish and chips alone make it worth the trip. The portion size was impressively large and almost defeated us. If aren’t feeling up for a traditional battered option then aim for the pan-fried seabass, crushed new potatoes, sauteed spinach & samphire, chickpeas, prawns and dill butter sauce.

The meal deserves to be rounded off with a dessert and there are a few old-school favourites on the menu including homemade sticky toffee pudding and hot chocolate fudge cake.

4 - Hip Hop Food Shop

You need to know where to go when it comes to the Hip Hop Food Shop as it's hidden down a side alley just off Market Square. It's easy to make a night of it as the venue, called Hidden, boasts a neon axe throwing space, rooftop bar and food hall along with a vintage clothing shop.

Stand-out dishes include the Kats- Wu Chicken Curry which is chef Jason’s take on a classic Japanese dish with free-range chicken breast coated in panko bread crumb and fried to perfection before being topped with our house-made katsu curry sauce & pickles. The Nuthin but a Cheese Thang Loaded Fries are a close second. The seasoned skin-on fries are topped with kimcheese sauce, smoked bacon bits and spring onion.

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5 - Everyday People

Everyday People does excellent ramen that has become a bit of a lunchtime favourite in the city. Head to Byard Lane just off Fletcher Gate and pop in. If you are stuck on what to order first, we recommend the Mazeman which has Japanese-style chopped pork belly along with medium thick Tokyo noodles loaded with beansprouts, chilli crisp, BBQ sauce, Kizami nori, egg yoke and spring onion.

If the noodles don’t tempt you then why not try a small plate such as broccoli coated in a yuzu and sesame seed sauce with rice crackers?

6 - The Lobster Pot

The Lobster Pot is absolutely worth the trek up Mansfield Road, especially for anyone who loves seafood. If you are feeling particularly up for a challenge then selecting the seafood platter will give you a chance to try a little bit of everything from lobster, crab, scallops oysters to king prawns and mussels.

There are other dishes if you aren’t a fish fan with chicken ga pow or Thai fried rice on offer along with sides such as skin-on fries and prawn crackers. We recommend stopping for a cheeky pint in some of the Mansfield Road boozers on the way down, after all, we need a little rest on such a long walk right?