The underrated restaurants you have to try in Nottingham in 2024 - according to a popular food blogger

Sometimes it can be difficult deciding somewhere to go for a meal, particularly if you’re not familiar with the area. 

In a city as big as Nottingham, with so many highly-rated eateries, choosing somewhere to dine isn’t always the easiest of tasks. 

If you find yourself returning to the same old restaurants time after time, then 2024 could be the year to try some new places. 

Read more: Food and drink

When it comes to food in Nottingham, there are few better people to ask than Julia Head. 

With more than 22,000 Instagram followers, Julia (@thenottinghamfoodguide) certainly knows a thing or two about where (and where not) to go for a meal in the city. 

"No sign of slowing down"

In terms of the overall Nottingham food scene as we head into 2024, Julia said: “In the past three years, the food scene in Nottingham has just exploded and there’s no sign of this slowing down.

“Nottingham’s first ever independent Mexican restaurant, Taquero, opened at the end of last year and they are super popular.

“We’ve also had a handful of new pizzerias open in the city.”

Here at Nottingham World we’re always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, so we decided to pick Julia’s brain for three underrated eateries that we should try in 2024. 

L’Oliva

“It’s a tiny - and I mean tiny - restaurant on the high street in Beeston. It’s very intimate and there isn’t room for many tables.

“They serve authentic Italian dishes, including a really perfect tiramisu. I just love it!”

ViDa by Lorentes 

“For me, this is the ultimate Spanish tapas restaurant. We have quite a few tapas restaurants in Nottingham, but I would say this is the only truly authentic one.

“The owner is from Valencia and you can get proper Valencian paella, which is cooked the way it’s meant to be. The restaurant is quite hidden away on Stoney Street, down some stairs, so it’s easy to miss. 

“But those who know, know. It’s a really fantastic restaurant.”

The Good Fellow George 

“This is quite an old pub in Canning Circus. It’s well-known to locals, so it’s not necessarily that underrated, but I would say it’s lesser-known that they do food. 

“They actually do some really good small plates, like an absolutely cracking cheeseboard. They’ve also started doing themed nights, for instance French theme where they’ll do French dishes or chocolate theme where they incorporate chocolate into their dishes. 

“It’s definitely one worth checking out.”

You can follow Julia’s Instagram page here.